Car Insurance is higher in NC (Brevard: appointed, sales, deductible)

[Father John]

At least in my case, it is.

We have a 2003 Camry XLE (34,000 miles) and a 2003 MINI Cooper (33,500 miles). Both are driven for pleasure (not to work). We have full coverage with a $250 deductible on each and full glass.

In Mesa, AZ, we pay $915.00 a year for that coverage with Progressive.

I just called them and got a quote for Brevard, NC for the exact same coverage. It would be $1,173 a year - more than 20% higher.

Mesa is a city of 500,000 near Phoenix where the highest incidence of red-light running in the country is located. Tons of accidents every day. Brevard is a rural town of 6,000 where you have more chance of hitting a white squirrel than being hit by a red-light runner.

What gives?

[southernlady5464]

Try a different company. Yes, I know what Progressive says...but I would shop around. Liz

[Father John]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

Try a different company. Yes, I know what Progressive says...but I would shop around. Liz

Once we get there, you bet we will!

I shop here every year. I have a form I designed and I send out for bids. You would be amazed at how STUPID insurance salesmen can be! (Maybe not...) Many give me six month figures instead of 12 or change coverages to make their rate look lower (hoping I won't notice).

I have shopped for many years. GEICO can't come close to Progressive in AZ. Neither can anyone else in the last 5 years. But before that, Allstate was lowest. And many years ago, Farmers had the best.

It depends on your age, your cars, your driving habits, your record, and your location.

I was quite disappointed to see the Progressive rates so high in NC, though.

[mm34b]

My auto insurance premiums dropped dramatically, but I was coming from a major metro area of millions.

[Father John]

Originally Posted by mm34b

My auto insurance premiums dropped dramatically, but I was coming from a major metro area of millions.

So am I. Phoenix is the 5th largest City in the nation and Mesa is 42nd, just 10 miles from Phoenix. This area is exploding with people and traffic. And with illegal aliens pouring in, there are lots of uninsured accidents, hit and runs, car jackings, and drive-by shootings.

That is why I was amazed my rates would go up in Brevard.

Something doesn't seem right and I WILL shop around.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Father John

So am I. Phoenix is the 5th largest City in the nation and Mesa is 42nd, just 10 miles from Phoenix. This area is exploding with people and traffic. And with illegal aliens pouring in, there are lots of uninsured accidents, hit and runs, car jackings, and drive-by shootings.

That is why I was amazed my rates would go up in Brevard.

Something doesn't seem right and I WILL shop around.

Yes, something doesn't sound right.

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by Father John

At least in my case, it is.

We have a 2003 Camry XLE (34,000 miles) and a 2003 MINI Cooper (33,500 miles). Both are driven for pleasure (not to work). We have full coverage with a $250 deductible on each and full glass.

In Mesa, AZ, we pay $915.00 a year for that coverage with Progressive.

I just called them and got a quote for Brevard, NC for the exact same coverage. It would be $1,173 a year - more than 20% higher.

Mesa is a city of 500,000 near Phoenix where the highest incidence of red-light running in the country is located. Tons of accidents every day. Brevard is a rural town of 6,000 where you have more chance of hitting a white squirrel than being hit by a red-light runner.

What gives?

Couple things come to mind:

You haven't JUST passed a birthday milestone that influences your rates, have you? (It takes only ONE of you to bump your rates up dramatically, and it's possible your "old" company didn't take the new age category into account.)

You don't have a $1M or $1.5M "umbrella" liability policy built into one quote but not the other, do you? (Be sure the quotes are apples and apples.)

I'd ask the companies themselves why this discrepancy between rates, if they are in fact for the same coverage and circumstances. They're sales people, of course, but they should have legitimate insights as well that may enlighten you.

Jan

[southernlady5464]

Another thought just came to mind...

NC has un/underinsured motorist coverage. Other states have no fault. Hard to compare apples to apples there. Liz

[Father John]

I had identical comparisons. AZ has un/underinsured coverage requirements, too. I did the same deductibles, the same 100/300 coverages - everything was pulled from my current coverage and put into the NC application. The agent working the numbers was from progressive and had my policy in front of him.

Maybe they just don't like MINIs in North Carolina. LOL.

[southernlady5464]

The reason I mentioned it was MI was a no fault state. But if AZ is the same as NC, you can compare apples to apples there.

Sometimes, if you tell them their comparison is unacceptable and you are going elsewhere, you might get them to reconsider. Liz