When it comes to auto insurance, carelessness can cost big money and big trouble. Carelessness, that is, about your choice of company and coverage. Now that the state is allowing insurance companies some leeway in setting their own rates, we've found that many Boston area consumers will save hundreds of dollars-and avoid second-rate service-by simply choosing the right auto insurance company. We break down your options, with ratings of insurers for price and service, and also advise you on which coverage options are and aren't worth the cost.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Boston Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Auto Insurance Companies

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Auto Insurance Companies Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Auto Insurance Companies.

• Subscriber from ACTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: Claim representative responded very reasonably when confronted with an opposing view, i.e. I was able..........
• Subscriber from WESTFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: Argumentative, sarcastic, unresponsive and unreasonable........
• Subscriber from ASHLAND, MA wrote Another Insurer: very satisfied with my treatment.......
• Subscriber from WESTFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: Metropolitan told me that if I submit a claim that my rates would rise -..........
• Subscriber from NATICK, MA wrote Another Insurer: Staff are all patient and friendly with good service - and mostly helpful explanations about..........
• Subscriber from FITCHBURG, MA wrote Another Insurer: The company did an excellent job. Their local agent was not as good at helping..........
• Subscriber from SHERBORN, MA wrote Another Insurer: I have insured with USAA for 51 years. I would not do business with any..........
• Subscriber from LEXINGTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: especially liked their Concierge evaluations in Woburn, a drive-in claim center........
• Subscriber from WAYLAND, MA wrote Another Insurer: Have been happy customers for 37 years. Car was severely damaged in collision; appraiser thought..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: my car was hit twice in one month and liberty mutual was great both times!.......
• Subscriber from ANDOVER, MA wrote Another Insurer: Seems to have improved customer since the previous claim.......
• Subscriber from WESTFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: The service was excellent and had no after effects.......
• Subscriber from MEDFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: Plymouth Rock is balking at coming out to photograph my car since it has been..........
• Subscriber from NORTH ANDOVER, MA wrote Another Insurer: 2 out of 4 claims that we have filed with Amica have been denied. We..........
• Subscriber from MAYNARD, MA wrote Another Insurer: I mainly interacted with my insurance agency, Thomas A. Cocco Insurance (Maynard). I attribute the..........
• Subscriber from MEDFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: Consistently been an excellent performer from complex near total collision to simple broken glass........
• Subscriber from NEEDHAM, MA wrote Another Insurer: It is always a pleasure to deal with AMICA........
• Subscriber from BURLINGTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: Experienced vindictiveness from an employee after responding to a customer service questionnaire regarding service.......
• Subscriber from WEYMOUTH, MA wrote Another Insurer: quick and easy.......
• Subscriber from NATICK, MA wrote Another Insurer: Am getting runaround between car insurer, health insurer and claimants. They all claim it's the..........
• Subscriber from CHELMSFORD, MA wrote Another Insurer: They were the carrier for the person who rear-ended my car. They handled the claim..........
• Subscriber from CHESTNUT HILL, MA wrote Another Insurer: Never dated and not clearly explained numerous "temporary" statements of annual premium adjustment of existing..........
• Subscriber from HAVERHILL, MA wrote Another Insurer: Really appreciate accident forgiveness policy........
• Subscriber from BOSTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: We have been with AMICA for over 30 years and have always received great service........
• Subscriber from WATERTOWN, MA wrote Another Insurer: Would not pay me and would not subrogate against party that damaged my car. Actually..........
• Subscriber from WALTHAM, MA wrote Another Insurer: The other driver was at fault, so cannot judge premium increases. Very fast and professional..........
• Subscriber from BOSTON, MA wrote Another Insurer: I was hit in rear and got paid immediately - no problem.......
• Subscriber from CAMBRIDGE, MA wrote Another Insurer: Good support systems in place; web access to current claims information; good back-up if something..........