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

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the Washington DC 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 Washington 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 Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine
	Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)	Back to Washington 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.	AIG	25 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
2.	Allstate	303 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
3.	American Express		Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
4.	Ameriprise/IDS	10 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
5.	Amica Mutual	103 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
6.	Chubb	12 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
7.	Encompass	30 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
8.	Erie	343 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
9.	Fireman's Fund/Allianz	16 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
10.	GEICO	1217 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
11.	Liberty Mutual	104 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
12.	Metropolitan	13 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
13.	Nationwide	174 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
14.	Progressive	75 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
15.	Safeco	10 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
16.	State Farm	828 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
17.	The Hartford	36 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
18.	Travelers	112 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK subscribers Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
19.	USAA	1316 ratings	Available exclusively to Washington 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 ROCKVILLE, MD wrote about USAA, , on 11/22/09: No rate increase. Car was repaired correctly and in a timely manner........

Subscriber from TAKOMA PARK, MD wrote about STATE FARM, , on 11/21/09: Unfortunately, State Farm's rules do not cover rental cars to the extent I would like...........

Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote about ERIE, , on 11/18/09: Claim was against auto insured by Geico who did not wish to pay. I am..........

Subscriber from CENTREVILLE, VA wrote about USAA, , on 11/10/09: They are pleasant, knowledgeable to deal with. The best.......

Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote about LIBERTY MUTUAL, , on 10/15/09: good in all aspects.......

Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote about ERIE, , on 10/15/09: they dropped my insurance after ttwenty years of coverage and one accident.......

Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote about TRAVELERS, , on 09/28/09: In a claim settlement which required me to send the vehicle title to Travelers, have..........

Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/27/09: Excellent service........

Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/22/09: Two claims this year and difficulty with each claim. Each claim took part time job..........

Subscriber from BRANDYWINE, MD wrote about ERIE, , on 09/22/09: Always seemless and pleasant experience........

Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/19/09: They're the best!.......

Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote about USAA, , on 09/18/09: USAA has been my agency for 40-plus years and I have never had reason to..........

Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/16/09: I have had USAA insurance since 1966 and they have been great........

Subscriber from WOODBRIDGE, VA wrote about AMICA MUTUAL, , on 09/16/09: Amica truly was there and very helpful when we needed them........

Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote about GEICO, , on 09/16/09: This was a claim against a Geico insured motorist.......

Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote about STATE FARM, , on 09/16/09: new premium hasn't come yet.......

Subscriber from LAUREL, MD wrote about NATIONWIDE, , on 09/15/09: Claim representative was not forthcoming with information that would have helped speed up the claims..........

Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote about NATIONWIDE, , on 09/15/09: Excellent company to deal with regarding a claim. Not so good with paperwork........

Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote about GEICO, , on 09/15/09: Very good and helpful service. The original estimate for repairing the car was $1,5000 with..........

Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote about USAA, , on 09/15/09: The best insurance company on the planet, full stop........

Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/15/09: Have had USAA insurance for about 45 years and have never had a problem with..........

Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote about USAA, , on 09/15/09: Damaged and Airstream trailer. Agent worked with me to get it inspected at factory service..........

Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote about USAA, , on 09/15/09: Excellent auto insurer.......

Subscriber from CENTREVILLE, VA wrote about AMICA MUTUAL, , on 09/14/09: I've been an insured w/AMCA since 1971; and have had multiple policies (home/auto), and have..........

Subscriber from KENSINGTON, MD wrote about GEICO, , on 09/10/09: Premium was not raised due to accident nor was my coverage reduced. Accident was my..........

See more comments at Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK.

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