car insurance

[zerogravityfat]

I'm getting a new car, hopefully next week sometime. I am shopping around for insurance but I don't want to run credit checks left and right. What's the best deal out there? Are they all more or less the same? I get discounts from geico for having renters' insurance and some discounts from societies i belong to. Any input is welcome.

[lordxizor]

Geico and Progressive have always been the cheapest when I've shopped around.

[wkiml]

I've flipped back and forth between Geico and Progressive over the years they are by far the cheapest in NJ

[Hyperplex]

I have no idea about the cheapest, but I've had Liberty Mutual for as long as I've been driving and I like them (as much as you can like an insurance company). They do seem to care about your well-being when you call in and have always been helpful.

[hefdaddy42]

Price is important, but service is just as important.

[wkiml]

Price is important, but service is just as important.

I've been lucky enough to never have to file a claim in all my years driving, so for me price is the only concern, until I need it service

[lordxizor]

Price is important, but service is just as important.

I used to pay more to have an agent with Farmer's Insurance. Good coverage, very nice agent. He didn't do anything for me. The one time I had a claim, he told me to call a 1-800 number anyway. I'd rather save money with Progressive and deal with the random customer service person instead of a dedicated agent who doesn't do a whole lot for me except give me a quote every 6 months. Now I've never had a major claim, so perhaps my opinon would change if that were to happen, but for now I'm happily saving hundreds of dollars a year.

[El Barto]

It's not so much about the voice you talk to, but how willing they are to pay up when you need them.  Do you want your car fixed by people you choose, using real OEM parts, or by the company that Geico contracts out to, for example.  The cheaper places manage to keep their rates lower by saving money elsewhere.

Also,  Geico will send your rates through the roof the first time you get a ticket.  In the industry it's known as being "off to see the lizard." 

It's also worth noting that a good agent can find you discounts beyond what your initial quote is. 

[Neon]

I recently went through having to purchase a new car insurance policy and I called around to all the big-name players.  I wound up going with 21st Century (which is a division of Farmers). 

[bout to crash]

Geico gave me the best price but I haven't gotten into any accidents or anything so I can't say anything about the service other than they found a guy pretty quickly to put my doughnut on for me one time...

[hefdaddy42]

Every insurance company is great if you don't have any tickets or accidents.  You find out when the rubber meets the road.