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Cheapest Car Insurance in New York

Written by Todd Clay. Posted in Rates Last Updated: 03/18/2009

Looking for cheap auto insurance in New York? Check out the 25 cheapest insurers per our independent research in the Empire State.

Did She Just Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in New York?

Did She Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in New York?

Your goal: the cheapest car insurance in New York.

Just think if you had to call every car insurance company in the city. If you called 30+ insurers, it would be a waste of a good Saturday. But don’t worry. We’ve done the hard work for you.

Our sample rates in six separate categories of drivers gives you a good idea of what companies charge for premiums. Our list compiles the 25 cheapest car insurance companies in New York. I didn’t say ‘best’, I just said cheap.

Bear in mind, every driver is different. What you see below is a sample of drivers ages 20-69, both male and female. Prices listed are NOT the same as the price you will receive from the companies below, even if you just get liability coverage.

In addition, these are NOT actual quotes from these companies. This is a general guide to help you shop for car insurance in New York.

Rank

Car Insurance Companies in New York

Average Premium

1

GEICO GENERAL INS CO

$551.80

2

ALLSTATE PROP & CAS INS CO

$566.00

3

USAA CASUALTY INS CO

$867.70

4

MERCHANTS PREFERRED INS CO

$875.67

5

GEICO IND CO

$896.97

6

NEW YORK CENTRAL MUT FIRE INS CO

$909.30

7

PROGRESSIVE DIRECT INS CO

$985.23

8

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INS CO

$993.80

9

ERIE INS CO

$1,082.80

10

UNITED SERVICES AUTO ASSOC

$1,083.30

11

AMICA MUT INS C

$1,150.33

12

ERIE INS CO OF NY

$1,163.43

13

STATE FARM MUT AUTO INS CO

$1,173.10

14

LIBERTY MUT FIRE INS CO

$1,193.80

15

EVEREADY INS CO

$1,205.03

16

MERCHANTS MUTUAL INS CO

$1,236.27

17

METROPOLITAN GRP PROP & CAS INS CO

$1,256.07

18

TRAVELERS PROPERTY CAS CO OF AMER

$1,331.07

19

AUTOONE INS CO

$1,387.73

20

STATE FARM FIRE AND CAS C

$1,392.63

21

NATIONWIDE INS CO OF AMER

$1,454.47

22

RESPONSE WORLDWIDE DIRECT AUTO INS CO

$1,459.70

23

METROPOLITAN CAS INS CO

$1,514.97

24

PROGRESSIVE PREFERRED INS CO

$1,536.63

25

NEW SOUTH INS CO

$1,563.23

Rates collected in 2007-2008.
All data is courtesy of the New York State Insurance Department.
For more information, view our Disclosure.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Texas

Written by Todd Clay. Posted in Rates Last Updated: 03/18/2009

Looking for cheapest car insurance in Texas?  Check out these top 25 companies according to our independent research in the Lone Star State.

She maybe able to save $ on her auto insurance in Texas.

She could save money on her auto insurance in Texas.

The cheapest auto insurance in Texas: that’s your goal.

However, finding it could be difficult – especially if you have to call 40+ companies.  But don’t worry.  We’ve done the hard work for you.  Taken from our sampled rates for five separate categories of drivers throughout the state, we’ve compiled a helpful list of Texas insurers.  Notice I didn’t say best – I just said cheap.

Keep in mind, every driver is different.  What you see listed below is a sample of drivers ages 18-64, both male and female.  Prices listed will NOT be the same price you get from the same company, even if you just get liability coverage.

In addition, these are NOT actual quotes.  It’s just a general guide to help you shop auto insurance – to help narrow your choices.

I hope it helps.

Rank

Texas Auto Insurance Companies

Average Premium

1

GENERAL INS COMPANY OF AMERICA

$327.28

2

ALLSTATE FIRE AND CASUALTY INS COMPANY

$332.15

3

USAA COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$356.52

4

UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

$356.92

5

SAFECO INS COMPANY OF AMERICA

$374.04

6

GEICO

$375.64

7

SAFECO LLOYDS INS COMPANY

$413.76

8

BEACON NATIONAL INS COMPANY

$444.96

9

AAA TEXAS COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$450.56

10

SAFECO INS COMPANY OF ILLINOIS

$462.88

11

TEACHERS INS COMPANY

$465.60

12

METROPOLITAN LLOYDS INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$486.32

13

AMICA MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$492.32

14

SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY

$533.44

15

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INS COMPANY

$567.12

16

GEICO INDEMNITY COMPANY

$569.12

17

PROGRESSIVE COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$580.80

18

FIDELITY NATIONAL INDEMNITY INS COMPANY

$588.80

19

SOUTHERN COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$603.24

20

LIBERTY COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$618.32

21

STATE FARM COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$630.32

22

IDS PROPERTY CASUALTY INS COMPANY

$667.84

23

MID-CENTURY INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$735.44

24

FARM BUREAU COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$740.08

25

FARMERS TEXAS COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$765.16

Rates collected in 2007-2008.
All data is courtesy of the Texas Department of Insurance.
For more information, view our Disclosure.

Nationwide Review

Written by Todd Clay. Posted in Our Reviews Last Updated: 03/18/2009

If life comes at you fast, maybe you should worry about your auto insurance. Is Nationwide a good choice?

Is Nationwide on your side?

Is Nationwide on your side?

Car Insurance can be a pretty boring topic. That’s why you gotta love Madison Avenue’s attempt to make things more interesting. Such is the case with Nationwide Insurance’s “Life Comes At You Fast” commercials. From radio to TV spots, they’re always good for a laugh. I found out later that not everyone appreciates the lighter side of insurance – more on that below.

But the more important question is: how good is Nationwide auto insurance?

About the Company

Nationwide has a good reputation in the industry. Started in 1925 as Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Nationwide outgrew their home state of Ohio in a few short years.

As the name implies, Nationwide is now a big company. They currently insure cars in 50 states including the District of Columbia. They are the 4th largest auto insurance company measured by premiums collected. According to their website, they are #106 of the Fortune 500 and boast over 35,000 employees.

With all the uncertainty with financial services companies, it’s important to know how strong Nationwide is. In March of 2008, A.M. Best rated Nationwide Insurance with an A+ for financial strength – it’s their 2nd highest rating. From the looks of it, Nationwide won’t be going bust anytime soon.

Getting a Nationwide Online Quote

So with their reputation in the industry and their commercials that make me smile, I decided to get a quote from Nationwide. To save time, I recommend doing what I did. First off, I grabbed an online quote. Second, since it made sense, I called them on the phone with my online quote in hand.

To start, I grabbed my current auto insurance policy and matched coverages at their website. I input my personal info, then matched the coverages I have with my current policy.

One interesting thing: they apparently pull personal info from a state database. When I was an agent with a different company, we could grab some info from prospects, but it wasn’t as sophisticated as Nationwide’s.

Within a minute, I got back my car insurance quote. However, they did not automatically email me the quote. I guess they expect people to buy right then. Not me. I called instead.

Nationwide Call Center Quote

After waiting a few minutes, I got Jeremy on the phone. He told me he was in a call center  Amarillo, Texas. At the time of this quote, the others call centers were in Portland, Oregon, Des Moines, Iowa, San Antonio, Texas, and Lynchburg, Virginia.

My quote was not saved online, so Jeremy had to ask the same questions again. Despite the technical problems, he did a good job of not making it too painful. As he reviewed my coverages, Jeremy explained what each coverage did. In my mind, this is one of the agent’s most important jobs, so Jeremy passed that test.

Nationwide Positives: Service & Options

First off, Nationwide has both call centers and local offices to service their car insurance policies. I like that. If I want a local office, I can choose a local office. If I want extended hours with 6 days a week policy service, I can choose the call center.

Second, I like the policy options they offer. For one, they have ‘Accident Forgiveness’. In my case, it was an extra $24/term. That means they won’t raise my rates if I have an at-fault accident. Two, they have ‘Diminishing Deductible’. For another $20, I could get $100 off my deductible every year I don’t have an accident. That’s a great coverage for accident-prone customers.

Nationwide Negative: Price

Nationwide could not beat my current car insurance premiums. They were slightly higher even after they gave me a long-term credit for being with my other auto insurance company. According to my state rates, they don’t even show up in the Top-25 cheapest car insurance rates, so I’m not too surprised.

Not to say you won’t get a better rate, especially if you don’t live in Texas. As for me and my premiums, Nationwide was not on my side.

“Life Comes At You Fast” Commercials Drives Calls for Nationwide

So even though I won’t be switching to Nationwide this go around, I’m still impressed with their commercials. I even like them better than GEICO’s. Jeremy told me something interesting. He said people never call him to say they want a quote because they saw Nationwide’s commercials. But, he told me several people have called to complain about them.

I think that’s funny. I guess some people don’t have anything better to do than to harass some guy in a call center for a commercial that makes most people smile. I say, go back to your TV and stop bothering people. Such is life.

Quote Process: 8
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Price: 4
(Scale 1-10: 10=Cheapest)

Customer Service: 9
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Claims: *
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Overall Rating: 8
(Scale 1-10: 10=the best)

Do you have your own experience with Nationwide Car Insurance? Leave a comment or write your own review.

Cheap Auto Insurance Rates in Texas (Age 35)

Written by Todd Clay. Posted in Rates Last Updated: 03/18/2009

Looking for the best car insurance rates in Texas?
We compiled the cheapest rates for 35-yr olds.

State Capitol of Texas in Austin

Texas State Capitol in Austin

If you’re looking for the best auto insurance rates in Texas, you’ve come to the right place.  If you’re a male or female in your mid-30s, even better.

No doubt it would be downright painful to get quotes from 40+ car insurance companies in Texas.  But rest easy.  We’ve done the hard work for you.

We put together the best rates for clean, 35-year old men & women drivers according to the Texas Department of Insurance.  That means drivers who haven’t had any accidents or tickets for the past 3 years. In addition these only show prices for liability coverage.  One more thing: this is not comprehensive research, but sample rates from five different cities in the Lone Star State.

Every driver is different.  Prices listed are NOT the same as the price you will receive from these companies below, even if you just get liability coverage.  In addition, these are NOT actual quotes.  This is a general guide to help you shop for the best car insurance rates in Texas.

I hope it’s helpful to you.

Rank

Texas Auto Insurance Company

Average Premium

1

GEICO

$177.20

2

GENERAL INS COMPANY OF AMERICA

$191.20

3

USAA COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$209.00

4

SAFECO INS COMPANY OF AMERICA

$219.00

5

RESPONSE INS COMPANY

$221.60

6

UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

$225.60

7

SAFECO LLOYDS INS COMPANY

$242.40

8

WARNER INS COMPANY

$251.20

9

SAFECO INS COMPANY OF ILLINOIS

$271.00

10

AAA TEXAS COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$290.00

11

BEACON NATIONAL INS COMPANY

$303.80

12

ALLSTATE FIRE AND CASUALTY INS COMPANY

$318.20

13

LIBERTY COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$319.80

14

AMICA MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$327.00

15

TEACHERS INS COMPANY

$352.40

16

SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY INS COMPANY

$364.00

17

METROPOLITAN LLOYDS INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$375.20

18

FARMERS TEXAS COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$378.60

19

SOUTHERN COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$387.80

20

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INS COMPANY

$403.00

21

GEICO INDEMNITY COMPANY

$413.20

22

PROGRESSIVE COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$417.60

23

FIDELITY NATIONAL INDEMNITY INS COMPANY

$426.00

24

CONSUMERS COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY

$434.20

25

STATE FARM COUNTY MUTUAL INS COMPANY OF TEXAS

$448.00

Rates collected in 2007-2008.

All data is courtesy of the Texas Department of Insurance.

For more information, view our Disclosure.

Motorcycle Insurance

Written by Todd Clay. Posted in Research Last Updated: 03/23/2011

7 Essentials for Motorcycle Insurance: The perfect introduction for anyone considering a bike.

Ready to Ride?

Ready to Ride? Don't forget your insurance binder.

Before you get motorcycle insurance, consider this situation:

You can almost smell the open road.  That down payment is burning a hole in your pocket.  You’ve been eyeing that new soft-tail for months, and you’re ready to plunk down a wad of cash and ride into the sunset.

Before you buy that new Harley Screamin’ Eagle or Ducati 848, you need to get motorcycle insurance.  In fact, dealers won’t even let you drive your new bike off the lot until you provide them proof of your bike insurance, called a binder.

I spoke with Darla Mason at Wild West Harley-Davidson in Lubbock, Texas, about motorcycle insurance.  “You gotta have it.  Unless you’re paying cash, you’ll need a binder from a company before you can take the bike.”

Besides simply needing motorcycle insurance, what should you know?  I found 7 things riders should know when shopping for coverage.

1. Good Driving Has Its Own Rewards

All at-fault accidents and tickets count.  It doesn’t matter if you just picked up your bike, motorcycle insurance companies count every incident you’ve had (usually in a 3-year period) even if it’s in your car.  Stay clean and you’ll pay less money for your motorcycle insurance.

2.  Get Comprehensive and Collision

Every motorcycle insurance policy includes basic liability.  But unless you’re paying cash for your bike and you don’t mind losing the bike in an accident, get “full-coverage” for your new ride.  Collision covers your bike if you’re in an at-fault accident and comprehensive covers your cruiser in any incident other than collision.  Both coverages pay out minus your deductible.

3. Gap Insurance – What’s That?

Comprehensive and collision coverage in your motorcycle insurance only pay out what your bike is worth at the time of the accident.  If you total your bike and you owe more than your bike is worth, then you’ll still owe the balance on your financing.

Gap insurance is different from motorcycle insurance.  Gap insurance covers the ‘gap in coverage’ between what your bike is worth and what your insurance company pays after a total loss.  Finance companies typically offer this coverage.  Get it if you’re worried about paying extra if your bike is totaled.

4. Where Do You Ride and Where Do You Park?

You may just ride on the weekend – if so, tell the agent who gives you a quote.  Whether or not you commute to work on your bike can make a big difference for the price of your motorcycle insurance.

Same with where you park.  Additional discounts can be available whether or not you store your bike in a garage.  We all know how unattended bikes have a tendency to ride off by themselves – it makes sense for motorcycle insurance companies to give a discount to owners of garaged bikes.

One more bonus for riders in northern states.  You could be eligible for a “lay-up” policy, where most coverage is suspended during the winter months.  That translates to extra money in your pocket.

5. Motorcycles Need Chrome Coverage?

Motorcycle insurance usually does not cover additional parts like chrome air filters or saddlebags.  If you want extras like paint jobs or sidecars covered, then make sure you talk to your agent about additional equipment or optional coverage.  There’s nothing like losing your favorite custom mirrors (and then some) after laying down your bike only to find out they weren’t covered under normal comprehensive.  Make sure all your extras have coverage.

6. Get All Your Discounts!

If you’ve taken a motorcycle safety course, you could be eligible for a 10-20% discount.  When you’re getting quotes for your motorcycle insurance, ask about discounts.  That could be another $100 in your pocket at the end of the year – it’s definitely worth asking.

7. Shop Around – Big Time!

This is the most important part to getting the cheapest motorcycle insurance.  After going through this checklist and getting a quote, do it again.   The more quotes you get, the more money you’re likely to save.  Darla Mason said some of her customers save $500 after shopping their motorcycle insurance.

At the least, get 3 quotes from reputable motorcycle insurance companies.  You can also check with your current car insurance company – though they’re not always likely to have the best rates for motorcycle insurance.  Make sure each company quotes the same coverage, then go with the best.  If you want to shop online, get a quote for motorcycle insurance here.

After getting your binder, you’re ready to go.  Turn the key, hear that sweet hum of the engine, then give her some gas.  But don’t go too fast…I was an insurance agent after all.

Do you ride?  If so, you may have some additional tips for other bike owners.
Feel free to leave a comment.

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Car Insurance Guidebook Unravels the Car Insurance Mystery

Unless you work in the car insurance industry, the topic is probably a mystery to you. The words deductible, comprehensive, collision, liability, premium, loss of use and bodily injury are all gibberish when they reach your ears.

Unfortunately, insurance is something that you are required to have by law if you want to drive. Because of how confusing it is many people go around in almost an insurance daze while they get car insurance quotes from the auto insurance companies that they have heard of. In reality, they are completely lost as to what they are actually buying.

Instead of looking at what each insurance company offers in the terms of protection for both themselves and their car, they are instead looking for cheap car insurance. Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage makes having to buy the required product all that much less painful, but misses the whole point of having insurance.

Learning about insurance through your insurance agent or websites like Car Insurance Guidebook will give you the upper hand when you looking for car insurance. You can take your knowledge and not only find the best price for insurance, you can use it to find really great insurance to protect you and your assets. Then you aren’t stuck settling for just average car insurance that can hurt you financially if you ever need it because there isn’t enough protection.

For example, when looking for insurance the car insurance rates are just the first of many factors that need to be taken into account when you are shopping around for car insurance. You also need to take into account the type of vehicle that you are driving. Many people don’t know this.

Are you driving around a vehicle that is a new sedan and can be protected under any blanket insurance policy? Or do you have an old car that you fixed up that needs special protection and could be better covered under classic car insurance?

Don’t just assume that when you compare car insurance that it will be a one-size-fits-all policy. This is where the insurance knowledge will come in handy; you will know what you need to protect yourself and your vehicle.

You will understand what your insurance agent is talking about when they use insurance terms and you will actually be able to make an informed decision. This is much better for you instead of the “nod and smile” approach people take in their insurance agent’s office.

Also just like your life changes your insurance needs will change. This year you may just need to learn about the best deductible to have. Next year you may need to educate yourself on car insurance for young drivers. As the years pass, motorcycle insurance may be something you will need to know.

Many wise people say that you never stop learning, so take their advice and educate yourself on the insurance that you spend a lot of money on and can’t get away with not having.