Easy Money: Most Bay Area Consumers Can Save Hundreds by Changing Auto Insurance

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the San Francisco Bay Area? Now You'll Know.

Automobiles--Insurance

	Any consumer would be right to view with skepticism advertisements that promise big savings for low effort. But in the case of auto insurance, there's truth to the claims: most Bay Area drivers actually can save hundreds of dollars-over $1,000 in some cases-by simply switching auto insurers. And you don't have to forsake service for a better rate. We break down your options, including ratings of insurers for price and service, and also advise you on which coverage options are and aren't worth the cost. From Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine
	Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)	Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.


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	Name	Number of ratings	Checkbook's top rating for quality ()	What percent of customers rated firm "adequate" or "superior" on our survey for "Not unreasonably raising premium as a result of claim(s)"	What percent of customers rated firm "adequate" or "superior" on our survey for "Not unreasonably cutting coverage as a result of claim(s)"
1.	21st Century	86 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
2.	Allstate	172 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
3.	American Express		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
4.	Ameriprise/IDS	11 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
5.	Amica Mutual	72 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
6.	California Casualty	51 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
7.	CSAA	665 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
8.	Esurance		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
9.	Farmers	141 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
10.	GEICO	129 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
11.	Infinity		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
12.	Kemper		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
13.	Liberty Mutual	51 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
14.	Mercury	68 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
15.	Nationwide	26 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
16.	Progressive	22 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
17.	Safeco	58 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
18.	Sentry		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
19.	State Farm	569 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
20.	The Hartford/AARP	50 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
21.	Travelers	10 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
22.	Unitrin		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
23.	USAA	330 ratings	Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
24.	Wawanesa		Available exclusively to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.

Subscriber Comments/Reviews

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).

Subscriber from LIVERMORE, CA wrote about USAA, , on 11/20/09: My premiums were not raised nor was coverage as a result of my claim.......

Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote about MERCURY, , on 11/19/09: conflicting information between the claims processor, claims aduster and insurance agent about how my rates..........

Subscriber from ANTIOCH, CA wrote about USAA, , on 11/15/09: Never had a problem with company and service is impeccable. They make every effort to..........

Subscriber from CORTE MADERA, CA wrote about CSAA, , on 11/11/09: All info gathered by phone. Adjuster came to house. Check arrived within one day. Rates..........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about AAA/AUTO CLUB, , on 11/10/09: AAA is very easy to deal with, but they ended up tripling the cost for..........

Subscriber from SANTA CLARA, CA wrote about FARMERS, , on 10/28/09: They lied about coverage and low balled my claim and used non OEM replacement parts.......

Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote about ALLSTATE, , on 10/24/09: They have stood by us. Claim was fair and reasonable........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about USAA, , on 09/16/09: Have dealt with USAA for 38 yrs and am VERY happy with them.......

Subscriber from NEWARK, CA wrote about THE HARTFORD, , on 09/12/09: Paid claim, but then refused to continue coverage.......

Subscriber from ALBANY, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 09/10/09: Received excellent service and claim payment was fair and quick........

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 09/08/09: I switched to GEICO after having to deal with the claim process at State Farm........

Subscriber from SAN RAFAEL, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 09/08/09: The claims adjuster was wonderful! For example, she reminded us to claim the extra money..........

Subscriber from SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about CSAA, , on 09/08/09: Felt like the entire process was rushed -- not for me, but to clear the..........

Subscriber from LAFAYETTE, CA wrote about FARMERS, , on 09/04/09: This was for body work for $2500. If it had been a larger claim, my..........

Subscriber from FAIRFAX, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 08/30/09: Raised my premium $300/year as a result of a claim........

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about USAA, , on 08/26/09: You are able to start claim online any time day or night. You can schedule..........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 08/24/09: Car rental coverage inadequate for time in repair shop........

Subscriber from CORONADO, CA wrote about USAA, , on 08/24/09: A car backed into me but lied and said I rear-ended them. USAA payed for..........

Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote about AMICA MUTUAL, , on 08/24/09: I have been with Amica for 50 years and have been very pleased with their..........

Subscriber from PACIFICA, CA wrote about FARMERS, , on 08/19/09: Farmers will not replace with authorized dealer parts, but with off-brands which are cheaper. Check..........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 08/12/09: Our agent is Craig Estes. His office is extremely well run and responsive. He is..........

Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote about AAA/AUTO CLUB, , on 08/10/09: I have been using the same contact agent for 10 years and found him to..........

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about STATE FARM, , on 08/09/09: the other person is always right, may take 2 years to get repaid........

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about AAA/AUTO CLUB, , on 08/05/09: For the most part CSAA staff is very responsive, helpful, and professional. The person who..........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about AAA/AUTO CLUB, , on 08/05/09: They didn't raise our rate b/c long time customers with good records. The place they..........

See more comments at Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK.

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