I called Geico this morning and received a quote 5.00 per year cheaper than i’m paying now on two cars. They only have a six months policy though, and I’m afraid they will jack up the prices after the six months. I was wondering if anyone has Geico and what experiences you’ve had with them, Good or Bad.

Thanks

 

  • duffmanasu 8:23 pm on October 10, 2009 Permalink

    My answer is going to be very long, but I’m really just trying to give you good advice and educate you. I’m an insurance agent.

    I’ve never had any personal experiences with Geico, but I work in the insurance industry and I just want to share with you what I’ve heard often. I can’t substantiate this information, and I’m not intending to discredit Geico, I’m only trying to help you.

    My only word of advice is to double check the coverages you previously have on your auto, and what coverages Geico is offering you. I don’t mean some simplistic answer like, "I have full coverage." That is not an answer, it gives me no idea what limits of coverage you carry. I’m not trying to be mean, but whenever I offer to quote somebody I ask what coverages they have now and that is the answer 80% of the time. Auto insurance is very confusing, and there are lots of different coverages offered and lots of different limits to each coverage.

    This is important because if somebody just tells me they have "full coverage", I can prepare them a quote of $200 or $2,000 depending on what coverages I provide. If I’m telling you I’m going to charge you $200 and you’re paying $1,000 right now…I sound awesome. But your current company may be offering you the same coverage I was offering for $2,000. I wouldn’t be cheaper if you compared us apples to apples, but because I’m offering less coverage, I’m saving you a ton of money.

    I’ve heard a lot of stories that Geico representatives don’t try to provide apples to apples quotes and won’t properly advise their customers about their coverages. I’ve heard that they’ll be more than happy to sell lowball coverages to get the business.

    For example, you need to know IF you carry all of these coverages, and if so WHAT LIMITS your insurance company offers you:

    Liability (depending on the state, it can range from $10,000 to millions of dollars).

    Personal Injury Protection or Medical Payments (it depends on what state your in whether you’ll be able to purchase these coverages).

    Comprehensive/Collision/Full Glass – there can be a range between no deductible (best, but most expensive coverage) and a $2,000 deductible (cheaper, but it will cost you more out of pocket money to fix your car if there’s an accident.)

    Emergency roadside service – is there a limit to the amount that can be reimbursed or a limit to the number of times you can use it a year?

    Rental Reimbursement – is there a limit to how much they’ll reimburse you, or how many days you can have the rental?

    Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist bodily injury protection – this may be two separate coverages or one coverage in your state and, like liability, it can range from $10,000 to millions.

    A few other minor coverages: Death/dismemberment, loss of earnings and use of non-owned cars.

    There may be more coverages or different coverages based on your state, but where I am (Arizona) that’s pretty much the extent of it.

    I’d recommend you get a full printout of your coverages from your current insurance company and call back Geico and ask them to requote you with the exact same coverages. As far as I know, you may have already done that, but from my experience in quoting people, almost nobody follows this practice unless prompted to by the quoting agent.

  • LS 8:23 pm on October 10, 2009 Permalink

    good and bad. I was with them when I first starting driving. Long story short my car was in an accident(i wasn’t driving it though). Geico has very good customer service and I had no problems getting a rental and eventually my car after it was fixed. The following 6 months though my insurance premium literally doubled!!! It went back down after that and then a year or 2 later it went right back up…apparently my vehicle code when up..there fore increasing my rate…..I eventually changed over to Allstate and saved about $300/ every 6 months. I’m still with them.

  • sahara78 8:23 pm on October 10, 2009 Permalink

    I just switched to Geico this month and the saving was almost $1,000 from my previous premium calculated yearly. It was a no brainer. $995 for six months for two cars in NJ. Many of my friends are long time Geico customers and they say they are excellent. I actually asked them the question you are asking to Geico after I got my quote. Your premium will stay at current level or even lower later on if you don’t get into an accident or drive drunk.

  • wtafe 8:23 pm on October 10, 2009 Permalink

    Overpriced and beligerant when i called in for a quote, I recall it being $600 for 6 months for a 18 yr old driver…

    now I’m with Mercury paying $180 for 6 months at 21.