COUNTING DOWN THE BIG FOUR - #4 Progressive

Ever wonder where insurance companies rank with the rest of the business world? Many think of insurance as a scam and therefore look for the cheapest way to make sure they have the minimum amount of coverage needed by law.  We've all been there; price is the determining factor for lots of shoppers.

Don't forget to think about company history, assets, net worth, etc. when choosing an insurance company.  Also, think of the access you have to live people should you need to file a claim or simply get an insurance document you may need.

The "Big Four" insurance companies pretty much offer the same basic products, but not all coverages nor companies are the same in how they actually protect you.

PROGRESSIVE

Quick facts about Progressive Insurance:

• 1937 - Created by Joseph Lewis and Jack Green 
• 1991 - 1st to use consumer's credit history; more accurate policy premiums
• 1995 - Website launch; 1st major insurance company to do so
• 1997 - Real time insurance offered online; another 1st
• 2009 - Name your price introduced
• 2010 - Android App released
• Currently #157 on Forbes Fortune 500; $24.4B in total assets
• 450 offices country wide; 25,000 employees

DEDUCTIBLES - HIGH OR LOW?

CHOOSING YOUR DEDUCTIBLES

When deciding on your insurance deductible, a general rule of thumb to remember is to choose the highest insurance deductible amount you can afford. If you can only afford a $500 deductible, don’t choose a $1,000 deductible in hopes of saving money on your auto insurance policy. If you were to get into an accident, you will have to pay the $1,000 deductible before your auto insurance would kick in.

In fact, I very rarely advised customers to go with anything higher than $500 unless they are older with older cars and still want full coverage, but don't drive very often. The difference in the monthly premium is not nearly worth the amount you pay out of pocket in the event of an accident, which is the reason for insurance in the first place.

It actually angers me when co-workers advise people (especially younger, uninformed drivers) to go with a higher deductible (like $1000 for instance) to make the monthly premium cheaper. Personally, I tell young drivers I give them the same advice on coverages I would give my own daughters, who are 25 and 19, just as I would hope their insurance agent does for them.

In the end, the choice is solely left to the customer (of course) but if you do the math, the long term savings are really not beneficial should you have an accident requiring a claim to be filed in a five year period. Again, just my #twocents.

COMPARE BEFORE YOU SHOP, Part 4 ~ Renter's/Tenant's Insurance

Do Your Homework - RENTER'S/TENANT POLICIES

Ever stop to think just how much the stuff you've accumulated would actually cost to replace?  Go "shopping" around your apartment or rental home/condo one day and you would be surprised.  Ever stop to think about someone slipping and falling on your stairs or in your kitchen and you being sued?  What if you're cooking a fabulous meal for you and your significant other and the kitchen goes up in flames?  Do you have coverage if the neighbor (either upstairs or next door) causes a water leak that leads to your apartment being flooded and they have no renter's insurance?  

These scenarios are very real and could happen to anyone, yet could be avoided for merely pennies a day.  Most renter's insurance policies (depending on the amount of personal property you insure) run about $15-$25 per month and usually cover a minimum of $100,000 for your personal liability should you damage your rental unit due to negligence on your part.  Your liability coverage would also cover you should someone injure themselves at your residence and attempt to collect damages from you.  Most renter's insurance policies also provide you with some minimum coverages for jewelry, furs, computer items, silverware, etc. as well as basic medical expense coverage (usually $1,000) should you need it.  

Be sure you compare products and get the best possible liability coverage to protect your personal assets.

WHAT'S YOUR AUTO INSURANCE SCORE?

KNOW YOUR SCORE! 

"Why is my quote so high?"  If I had a dime for every time I heard that ... Your auto insurance score is quite similar to a credit score.  It is calculated by analyzing your credit file. Auto insurance scores can vary by credit reporting bureau, and factors heavily in determining your auto insurance rate.

Usually there is a direct correlation between people with good credit scores and good auto insurance scores. Just as a low credit score indicates a risk to creditors, a low auto insurance score pretty much says you're more likely to file an insurance claim, resulting in losses for an insurance company. 

Credit Karma provides both scores (auto insurance and credit) directly from TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting agencies. Like the other scores available through Credit Karma, the auto insurance score is completely free to members.

AUTO INSURANCE 101: TO FILE OR NOT TO FILE

AUTO INSURANCE FOR DUMMIES

I get it all of the time ... "Why is my quote so high?  Why did my premium increase?"  The answer is fairly simple, though most things are often easier said then done.

Consistency is the key!!! If you want lower insurance rates, be consistent; pay your bills on time, don't cause accidents, don't get moving violations, don't settle for the limits of liability just to "get off cheap," and most importantly STOP SWITCHING COMPANIES EVERY SIX MONTHS!!!

When getting an auto insurance quote, there is "soft pull" on your credit to access your consumer history report, which can quickly identify trends in timely bill paying, accident or loss history report (claims filed) and previous insurance companies and coverages you've had on your current or past vehicles.

While we can't control reckless drivers, we can certainly control whether or not we follow simple, daily laws/rules to keep our own costs down.  Also, before you submit a claim keep in mind that insurance companies frown on drivers with multiple claims on their consumer history report.

Consider getting a few estimates, then determining if it is better to settle a claim on your own or between you and the other driver, without involving your insurance company.