(no subject)

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Hello hello...

We just moved into the area from NY and are looking to get both car insurance (though we'd rather keep our cheaper NY insurance... boo MA prices!) and renter's insurance. I looked back through older entries that were tagged with insurance but there wasn't anything all too recent so I thought I'd come asking for any advice anyone might have--especially with the change in recent laws for car insurance.

We are both 23 and unfortunately have both had a couple tickets on our driver's histories so we don't have perfectly clean driving records (though I'm almost to 3 years with no new points on my license). We will both be using the T to get to work/school so are hoping to get some low mileage/public transportation use discounts.

We'll probably try to shop around a bit but so far have been looking at Amica, Arabella (someone recommended Wedgwood-Crane & Connolly on another site?), and perhaps Plymouth Rock (as I know they have public transit & low mileage discounts).

Thoughts/advice/opinions? Anything that might be of help on both companies and specific agents would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

[doceydo.livejournal.com]

I used to work at Plymouth Rock Assurance, and I can vouch for what a great company it is. I would definitely recommend them!

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll definitely check them out...

[nuns.livejournal.com]

Aren't auto insurance prices regulated in MA? If I'm not making that up, you should go with whoever has the best discounts, because the base prices will be the same regardless of what company you choose. Again, it's more than possible that I'm mistaken.

[pushupstairs.livejournal.com]

as of April 1, auto insurance rates went from "dictated by the state" to "regulated by the state". companies can now set their own rates, given that the state insurance regulators approve the rates.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Just as someone else replied... hopefully the new law means prices will be lower...

[libberding.livejournal.com]

I work for an agency. We pretty much rock. And if you call the main line, you'll get to speak to me! Hahahaha... ok, lame.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Any specific agency? :)

[ellf.livejournal.com]

I use Assurant for my renter's - I have a decent amount of it, and it's $300/year. http://www.assurant.com/inc/assurant/index.html

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

I'll check them out--thank you!

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

no comment about the insurance, but I love your Keith Haring icon!

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

:) Thanks! I hadn't signed into LJ in forever and when I did this morning and saw it, it made me smile.. I'm glad you like it too!

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

A couple of my friends have recently gotten rid of their cars and now use zip car and rentals when they need a car, which is pretty rare. They all seem really happy with their choice so it might be worth considering. I need a car for my job and use Hanover insurance through Endlar insurance agents. They are very nice and responsive to all of my needs.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

We've actually considered using Zipcar (and rentals as needed) but decided keeping 1 car (we had a 2nd one in NY because it was necessary for where we lived but sold it a couple weeks ago) made the most sense for us because of family visits and other such things. For the job I'm about to start, I'll probably be using them (Zipcar) though and for some reason am very excited about that... kind of strange, I know.

Also: thanks for the general advice and recommendation!

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

We're very happy with AMICA auto and homeowners' insurance. We've found their rates generally pretty low, and when we had some largish claims a few years ago (when we totalled our van and had some water damage on our house from a burst pipe) they handled them very efficiently and professionally.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice--it's good to hear more good things about Amica... we'll definitely be checking them out.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

If you're using the T for your daily transportation, are you sure it makes economic sense to have a car at all? I sold my car (which I was driving about 5,000 miles a year) last October and joined zipcar (http://www.zipcar.car). I've found that when driving isn't the zero-effort default, I walk, bike, and take the T a great deal more. And even though I've had a perfect driving record for over 20 years, so far I'm spending less on zipcars than insurance was costing me; when you add fuel and maintenance costs into the mix, I figure I'm saving at least $100/month.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

We've actually considered using Zipcar (and rentals as needed) but decided keeping 1 car (we had a 2nd one in NY because it was necessary for where we lived but sold it a couple weeks ago) made the most sense for us because of family visits and other such things. For the job I'm about to start, I'll probably be using them (Zipcar) though and for some reason am very excited about that... kind of strange, I know.

And luckily we've already found that we don't use the car as the default--we'd much rather walk or take the T than deal with the crazy roads and crazy drivers around here! :) Thanks for the response.

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

I switched my insurance from NY to MA about three years ago. If your current insurer also operates in Mass., you should be able to transfer the policy pretty easily, which is what I did. You're also likely to get a discount on renter's insurance if you use the same company for your car insurance. I have Amica for both, and I like them. It's also easy because I can pay both premiums at once in a lump sum.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately we currently have Allstate, which (despite their name...) doesn't insure cars in MA. However... I'm glad to hear another good recommendation for Amica! We definitely would like to keep the car & renter's insurance under the same company for the possible discount and convenience factor. Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated!

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

My partner and I have been getting our car and home insurance (and renters' insurance before that) from Dan Wiseman at Wiseman Insurance on Highland Ave. in Davis for the past 6 years or so. We get a discount for having multiple policies with them. When I worked downtown and didn't drive as much as I do now, I got a low mileage discount and a mass transit discount.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

We'll definitely look into Dan Wiseman--thanks for the advice!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

i just switched to progressive. $1200 a year for an 08 car and an 04 pickup. we were paying $2300 with Safety.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Yikes... what a huge difference! That's why we're doing our best to shop around, even if it's a huge pain in the butt at times. We'll check out Progressive (and not Safety!)--thank you!

[wellstar.livejournal.com]

My wife and I have been happy with Garret-Lynch (http://www.garrettlynch.com/) on Highland Ave. Their policies are with Commerce Insurance Company and include discounts for public transit, low mileage, safety features on cars, AAA membership, and multiple policies (i.e. having both homeowner/renter and car insurance with them). Arbella had similar discounts when I was with them (through another agent in another town) previously.

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Sounds great--we hopefully could get all those discounts you listed as we fit the bill on each of them! I think we'll definitely check out both Garret-Lynch and Arbella. Thank you!

[jenskot.livejournal.com]

I've had AMICA for years, and while they might not be the cheapest (actually I have no idea) and they don't brook no shenanigans from delinquents (refused to renew me once after three months of late payments), they are TOPS in customer service. No lie, they are all about "no shenanigans!" - if some jerk plows into you, they will handle your claim efficiently and in your favor. After 14 years of driving in this crazy state, I really think having a decent, professional insurance company handling your car is well worth the money. Even if they do think I'm ghetto and charge me the lump sum up front each year... :/

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Haha, sounds good... this is the 3rd or 4th recommendation we've heard about Amica, which is helpful. It would probably be worth the laugh for you to actually go to their office wearing some '80s ghetto gear to pay your bill or something. At least I would laugh... :). Thanks for the advice!

metlife

[yellow-lobster.livejournal.com]

i use Metlife for both renters insurance and auto insurance. i've had them for many years and think they're great. you're renters insurance is going to vary a great deal across the charts based on how much you are actually insuring in property value.

Re: metlife

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice! We'll definitely check out Metlife...

[joyfulkel.livejournal.com]

I have liberty mutual for both car and renters, and i like them a lot, mostly because my agent kicks butt (but she is based out of framingham). Check around, you may be able to get discounts for random things (i get one as a framingham grad).

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

:) Thank you, will do!

Commerce

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

I'm not very happy with Commerce. They revised the rates 4 times in 3 weeks as they waited for my old driving record to come through (which was clean). In the mean time, they raised my rates because they didn't have my old driving record (never told me I needed it), lowered them after they got it, still managed to direct debited the higher rate....arg

Re: Commerce

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I'll definitely take that into consideration... thanks for the advice!

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

I use Liberty Mutual. Someone hit my car and caused damage that was close to $2000. Liberty Mutual was very responsive with a very quick and generous appraisal of the damage and I had a check for the full amount in less than 5 days.

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

About 5 years ago I had Commerce and my car was totaled by a sudden winter storm accident. Despite the fact that the police report clearly stated that I was not at fault in any way, Commerce decided it was my fault and wanted to surcharge me. I appealed to the Mass Insurance Board and won without even a hearing based on the clarity of the Police Report.

Commerce took many many many weeks before they paid me and when they did it was such a lowball number that it was ridiculous.

I would not recommend Commerce.

price comparisons

[medicine-health.livejournal.com]

i tried to have a look but couldnt find any price comparsison sites for car insurance in the USA - in the uk we have loads of them comparethemarket, moneysupermarket... you need sites in order to compare the comparisons sites!!

:)

health insurance (http://www.health-on-line.co.uk/)