Anyone have experience with Geico?

[gmoney]

Just got my State Farm auto insurance bill, and it seemed a bit high, so I thought I'd try the online quote from Geico, and if it can be believed, I'll save about 25% on the first six months' premium. Now, its not a HUGE amount of money, but it would buy me a tank of gas every month.

A little background... I totaled TWO modestly priced cars in 2008, first something of a "no fault" weather incident, and the second was my fault making a turn I thought was legal but turned out to be "buses only". No injuries. I figured State Farm would jack my rates sky high or even drop me, but they have not. I've been with them since I learned to drive and was on my parent's coverage, and they allowed me to remain on my parents coverage up to age 25, which I'm sure saved me a ton of money back then. I was part of a chain reaction weather accident when I was about 23, and one driver sued EVERYONE, and State Farm took care of that for me as well.

So, I'd say I'm happy with State Farm overall, but if I can get the same thing from Geico for 25% less, why overpay? However, is it the same thing? I don't know if Geico will drop me the first time I get a parking ticket, or deny claims, or jack the rate after the first six months or what.

I'll probably look around on some of the consumer sites, but I thought I'd ask here as well. Anyone have any good or bad auto insurance experiences they'd care to share?

[HopeHoops]

1. Not personally, thanks to countless people I know who DO have personal experience.

If you think that 25% is worth six months of "Sorry we need more information" notices, regardless of how much you send, then go for it. Just don't expect your claim to ever be paid. And as for that rate, read the fine print (if there is any). That rate is subject to "adjustment" based on unspecified "information".

In contrast, on the few occasions when I've had to make a claim with State Farm, all it took was a phone call. They handled the details from there other than the requirement for me to get estimates. When I call for something, I call a local agent who knows me by name and by sight, as do the people who work in his office. I don't have to spend forever on hold with some phone bank in who-knows-where waiting for some disinterested person to explain why they can't help me (a common theme recounted by Geico customers).

And as for the rate thing, my wife backed out of a parking space into the corner of a pickup (sitting in a dumb spot) a couple of years back. Not only did they handle it and both vehicles were repaired, but our rate never increased and we never lost the "accident free" discount. I haven't figured out why, but I didn't complain.

[gmoney]

3. Thanks for the info.

I kind of suspected as much, but wasn't sure if I was just overpaying.

[HopeHoops]

5. By all means, please respect the opinions of people with DIRECT experience.

I simply relayed what people I respect have told me. If someone has a good experience, that would be different in my book. Still, you should take it into consideration. I'm happy with my State Farm premiums (I'm 46 and so is my wife and we have really clean driving records), but my daughters haven't been added into the equation yet. That is imminent and might be a shock.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. A Gecko stole my baby.

[hobbit709]

4. Three years ago Donna was rear-ended on the freeway.

The person that hit her took off leaving her bumper attached to the rear bumper on my truck. After assorted wrangling it turned out GEICO was their insurance company. They paid off the damage to my truck fairly quickly but it took a year and threat of legal action for them to pay all the medical and reimburse Donna for the time off work.

[cbayer]

6. I have been a happy Geico policy holder for about 20 years.

The rates have been very competitive and the two time I have made claims, they were paid rapidly and fairly.

I think it's one of the better companies out there.

:hi:

[Abies]

7. Geico worked OK for me.

I do not have them for my insurance, but I was in a collision with a Geico-insured person and I felt they handled things fairly and quickly. The other guy admitted fault and I had a claim number before I left the accident scene and a rental car the next morning.

Please stay absolutely clear of Allstate. With Allstate you are insured up to the point you file a claim.

[this_side_up]

8. best & worst

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[arbusto_baboso]

9. Just don't ever file a claim with them.

They'll jack up your rates and low-ball you on payout. Sure, that's par for the course for insurance companies, but they're one of the most flagarant offenders from what I've observed.

[madinmaryland]

10. I have had them for about nine years and never had a problem with them.

I got rear-ended 4 or 5 years back which was the other drivers fault and her insurance co paid and mine covered some of the miscellaneous charges. No rate increase.

Our rates have essentially been the same for the last six years with our two cars (same two cars!). We have horrid credit and that doesn't seem to have effect the rates. My wife has gotten caught twice by teh traffic cams and no difference in rates.

[gmoney]

11. Thanks for the input folks...

I think I'll stick with State Farm. If they didn't jack my rates or drop me after totaling TWO cars within 4 months, they will probably treat me right if something really serious happens.

[Zomby Woof]

12. Continuous policyholder for 27 years

Ever since I got my learner's permit in 1983. My parents had been with them for several years at that point. My dad was in the military, and back then, GEICO (Government Employees Insurance COmpany) was only for military personnel, their dependents, and civilian government workers and their families.

I have always received great service from them, and they are very affordable. If you are current or former military and/or government employee, let them know. They still honor their discounts from the old pre-Berkshire-Hathaway days. You can get other occupational discounts too.

Very highly recommend them.

[Shell Beau]

13. So far I like Geico, but I have never filed a claim with them either.

I had to pay my bill late one month, and they were very very understanding and are always willing to work with me. State Farm OTOH... I will not insure with them again.

[Zomby Woof]

15. Every time I have called them

Whether for claims or a billing question, they are unfailingly courteous, knowledgable, and efficient. Not once in 27 years have they ever pissed me off, and that's hard to do, LOL.

State Farm, Farmers, et all charge more because they use independent agents to sell their policies, and they make GREAT commissions. I worked for Farmers, and I can tell you: The higher rates do not equal better service. I was a claims rep, and was stymied from up above in settling claims, thereby pissing off the customers even more. It caused my hair to turn gray, and lots of intestinal distress. I found out that 80% of my colleagues were on anti-depressants, and I bolted, lol. My hair returned to normal a few months later. Four years later, I am still not gray, LOL. It was a HORRIBLE job. People wanting more than they are entitled to didn't help, either. Spoiled brats. :P

The higher rates go right into, as you may have guessed, sheer profits. You are paying more to receive equal or lesser service.

[Skittles]

14. I got better rates with USAA

but then, I had to serve in the military to get it :rofl:

[GOPisEvil]

17. I can get USAA now.

And I just had to have a dad in the military. I've thought about it, but then I work for an insurance company myself. So I'm being somewhat loyal.

[MiddleFingerMom]

16. Had a car policy with them for about 8 years and a bike for about 2.

.
Never filed any claims, so I don't know that end. Used highway assistance
three times with my car -- customer service reps were responsive and helpful
and made sure I either stayed in contact (even "How's your phone battery?")
or had direct contact numbers back to them and local towing company numbers
(always late at night and miles or so out into the desert between Tucson
and Phoenix).
.
Called 3 times for the bike -- having trouble with the electrical system
on my cruiser and had a dead battery all three times in a short period of
time. GREAT response and service on that, too -- until the 3rd time when the
CSR told me, "We don't cover dead batteries on motorcycles... to many potential
liability problems."
.
"But, but, but... you just came out twice." She couldn't decide whether
those had been "courtesy" coverages due to my longevity with the company
claim-free -- or just plain FUCKING MISTAKES!!!
.
Other than that -- I think my premiums went DOWN the longer I was claim-free.
.
Check into the possible horror stories about claims, though -- as obviously,
that's the overwhelmingly main reason to have it in the first place.
.
.
Only BAD experience with a company was horrendous. Waiting at a redlight on
a motorcycle and smacked in the ass by a drunk kid in a station wagon doing
55 MPH and had decided to blow the light and didn't see me sitting there.
.
2-3 days later, I call my ALLSTATE agent again to see what progress has been
made. He started asking ME questions about the other guy's insurance and
coverage and the police report and details and this and that. I was heavily
blessed by shots of sweet sweet dearly beloved Demerol, so probably sounded
pretty complacent to him -- but deep deep deep down in Marshmallowville...
I was fucking furious.
.
Took relatives calling his regional office to get him off his ass.
.
Could be one bad agent -- and it was 30 years ago -- but it soured me for life
on Allstate.
.

[GOPisEvil]

18. I used to have GEICO.

I left them when I bought my house. They do not offer homeowner's. They only act as an agent for Traveler's, who were hammering me on my rates. I also went to work for another insurance company, and went with them.

GEICO was always very easy and pleasant to deal with. I did have a claim, but the other person's insurance ended up paying, so I withdrew my claim.

[Flaxbee]

19. GEICO has been fine, but I haven't had a claim -- though for everyone here who has State Farm, could

you please ask them to quit being assh*les and just offer me more than a buck fifty for being hit by one of their drivers? SF handled the auto part immediately, but the actual injury/trauma? They've been AWFUL to me.

Isn't my insurance, though; SF is the insurer of the woman who hit me going 60+mph.

So, while I can't really offer experience with GEICO, my rates have been fair.

SF is awful if you're the other driver. Good neighbor, my butt.

[Corgigal]

20. I have Geico

and I have to stick with them because I have mechanical breakdown insurance. Almost no other insurance company offers that. The only other company that came close was USAA and Liberty Mutual. If you have a newer car you might want to look into Geico. Heres is some info

http://www.geico.com/getaquote/auto/mechanical-breakdown-insurance/

[graywarrior]

21. I used them for about 6 or 7 years

They are easy to deal with on the phone and a way way cheaper than anyone else. I don't know what they'd be like if I had an accident, but they make my life easy when it comes to car insurance.

[quakerboy]

22. Meh. Only from the other side

They were not generous in paying for the car their client totaled, but neither were they impossibly wrong in their offer. It was about average in how long it took them to take care of it. Longer than it took progressive, but less time than it took Farmers under similar circumstances. They did try to scuttle out of responsibility for medical bills of the person who had borrowed my car when it was struck by their driver, but I think that has been resolved since(actually, should go check that...)

That said, why not consider Progressive? I made the same move from State Farm, under my parents until 25. I hadn't done my homework or I would have switched earlier. Progressive charged me less than half of what I was paying even after the drop when I hit 25, beating Geico by a small margin.

Plus, at least by what I could find at the time, Progressive as a company does not donate money to political causes, and its top officers tend to donate to Democrats, if they donate at all. Which, as far as I could tell, was not true of any other insurer.

[old mark]

23. Geico - I called them to get a quote, got a quote nearly $300 higher

than my current insurance. I was told, yeah, but it will go down over time if you have no accidents. I said, yeah, but it will stay down all the time if I don't buy it from Geico.
I later got a report that Geico had turned me down for car insurance, affecting my rate with another company.

I would never give them a dime.

mark