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.

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

Back to Bay Area 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 SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Insurer: COLLISSION. OTHER DRIVER AT FAULT. STATE FARM CLAIMS WAS WORKING ON THEIR OWN BEHALF. I..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Insurer: A very good insurance company.......
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Insurer: Service rep was outstanding in explaining claim procedure and repair handling........
• Subscriber from SUNNYVALE, CA wrote Another Insurer: They took care of everything after my fender bender. I only had to call in..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: If You file claims with California Casualty and even if you are not at fault..........
• Subscriber from WALNUT CREEK, CA wrote Another Insurer: No raise in premium nor was my coverage changed........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Insurer: My last claims have gone smoothly, but I have been with CSAA so long that..........
• Subscriber from SUNNYVALE, CA wrote Another Insurer: I used to have 21st Century but changed to Metropolitan because I could save a..........
• Subscriber from SAN RAMON, CA wrote Another Insurer: We were involved in one accident, and State Farm was both my carrier and the..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Insurer: I was appalled at how easily they accepted the other insurance company's determination that I..........
• Subscriber from EL SOBRANTE, CA wrote Another Insurer: The Claim Payment Is Real Fast........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: Have dealt with USAA for 38 yrs and am VERY happy with them.......
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: I was not at fault. But they have changed from Local Claims Centers to using..........
• Subscriber from SAN LEANDRO, CA wrote Another Insurer: Claim was for windshield glass repair of a small crack caused by road debris. Claim..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: Took car staight to repair shop and everything was taken care of........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Insurer: Great service after my son totaled a car........
• Subscriber from LAFAYETTE, CA wrote Another Insurer: just happened, so don't know yet whether rates will be affected........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Insurer: For the most part CSAA staff is very responsive, helpful, and professional. The person who..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, CA wrote Another Insurer: Raised my premium $300/year as a result of a claim........
• Subscriber from ATHERTON, CA wrote Another Insurer: I filed a claim after hitting a deer and damaging my car's front end. I..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Insurer: Mixed result here. My wife had just taken delivery of a new 2007 Honda CR-V..........
• Subscriber from MISSION VIEJO, CA wrote Another Insurer: Terrible and obstructive service........
• Subscriber from PLEASANTON, CA wrote Another Insurer: It took nearly two months after my accident to finally get a check. it took..........
• Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote Another Insurer: They have stood by us. Claim was fair and reasonable........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Insurer: Body shop had to totally renegotiate the amount of payment. AIG's initial offer was about..........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Insurer: They took care of my claim within 24 hours. The adjuster came to my work..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Insurer: You are able to start claim online any time day or night. You can schedule..........
• Subscriber from ANTIOCH, CA wrote Another Insurer: Never had a problem with company and service is impeccable. They make every effort to..........
• Subscriber from SAN BRUNO, CA wrote Another Insurer: Hassle-free claims processing for both sides of accident........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Insurer: We've had both our auto and homeowner's insurance with CSAA for years. Our premiums have..........
• Subscriber from NEWARK, CA wrote Another Insurer: Paid claim, but then refused to continue coverage.......
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Insurer: Everyone at CSAA was a pleasure to work with........
• Subscriber from ALBANY, CA wrote Another Insurer: The accident was the other person's fault. My insurance rate/coverage was not changed........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Insurer: We've stayed with Farmers over the years and have established a good relationship with our..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Insurer: I have been with Amica for 50 years and have been very pleased with their..........
• Subscriber from MILLBRAE, CA wrote Another Insurer: Excellent company, but I was disappointed when I was in a collision (my first in..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Insurer: AMICA is a case of getting what you pay for. I believe their rates are..........
• Subscriber from BIRMINGHAM, MI wrote Another Insurer: Excellent at customer service, and they do not raise rates like other insurance companies for..........
• Subscriber from LAFAYETTE, CA wrote Another Insurer: This was for body work for $2500. If it had been a larger claim, my..........
• Subscriber from EL CERRITO, CA wrote Another Insurer: FANTASTIC. I will never give up Geico. I had to file FOUR auto claims in..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: They didn't raise our rate b/c long time customers with good records. The place they..........
• Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote Another Insurer: May not have the lowest premiums, but you get what you pay for when there's..........
• Subscriber from ALAMEDA, CA wrote Another Insurer: They were unreasonable with the estimate which my insurance company verified and were extremely unhelpful..........
• Subscriber from SAN MATEO, CA wrote Another Insurer: I've been pleased for 20 years now........
• Subscriber from CORONADO, CA wrote Another Insurer: A car backed into me but lied and said I rear-ended them. USAA payed for..........
• Subscriber from REDWOOD CITY, CA wrote Another Insurer: For some reason they delayed payment to the repair shop because the insurance company seemed..........
• Subscriber from DANVILLE, CA wrote Another Insurer: We have had all of our insurance with USAA for many years, and can't recommend..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Insurer: Took a while to convince insurer that claim should be under comprehensive rather than collision...........
• Subscriber from WALNUT CREEK, CA wrote Another Insurer: GEICO found it more expedient to pay off someone's claim against me rather than investigate..........
• Subscriber from HILO, H wrote Another Insurer: For both automobile and renters insurance, acting too slow and incompetently after having been notified..........