I would love to have OldRider's or magic's rates. I'm at about $300/yr for just liability & comp. Texas also has ridiculously low liability limits. Property is only $25k. So if somebody totals your new anything, their insurance will not cover your loss. And, that's why I carry uninsured/underinsured motorist.
Should I switch to Progressive insurance?
- Thread starter Velvet
- Start date
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
switched to geico and I saved a boat load of money ..... the carrier I was with on the new Tenere was going to be 1200 a year (no accidents or tickets ) the 2012 Tenere I traded in was through them 700 a year . so a huge jump in price for the same bike but a new bike .... never really believed that geico was a viable choice , but I plugged in all the info and clicked on the maximum coverages and the rate quoted was 600 a year . 50% savings and maximum coverages on everything (medical to the max ) and when renewal came around before I opened the envelope I was thinking "here we go " rate was the same .... no one was cheaper with the coverages I chose . and insurance like seat belts or helmets are useless till needed . the previous carrier I did not carry the maximum coverages ,always felt like I left something at home (helmet ) ....
I hope that no one has that wreck where they need their insurance , but to cheap out on financial protection is a burden on your family and I don't want that .
last September a Friday morning (my day job is a commercial vehicle driver of 42 years accident free operation ) things changed . had a pickup truck left turn into my path (just like they do to motorcyclist ,but I'm in an 80000 lb truck going 55 mph. ) I moved right to try to miss him but he kept coming . massive impact , hood blows up on my truck , cant see a thing , on the brakes as hard as I can be , try to keep truck going straight but feel it turning left , I hear myself saying ,STOP STOP STOP , hood finally falls where I can see that im about to plow into the trees . into the ditch and trees I go , truck stops and rolls over on its side . im hanging side ways in the seat belt gathering my thoughts . after a few minutes and I get the engine off and the window rolled down some guys help me out . I got a sprained thumb out of this . the guy in the pickup was lucky to be alive (s10 truck) had I not pulled right I would have hit him square on and I don't think he could have survived . he had a trip to hospital . seat belts worked for me , not having good coverage is shooting craps . never that Friday morning did I believe that I would be in a wreck like that . be prepared .
I hope that no one has that wreck where they need their insurance , but to cheap out on financial protection is a burden on your family and I don't want that .
last September a Friday morning (my day job is a commercial vehicle driver of 42 years accident free operation ) things changed . had a pickup truck left turn into my path (just like they do to motorcyclist ,but I'm in an 80000 lb truck going 55 mph. ) I moved right to try to miss him but he kept coming . massive impact , hood blows up on my truck , cant see a thing , on the brakes as hard as I can be , try to keep truck going straight but feel it turning left , I hear myself saying ,STOP STOP STOP , hood finally falls where I can see that im about to plow into the trees . into the ditch and trees I go , truck stops and rolls over on its side . im hanging side ways in the seat belt gathering my thoughts . after a few minutes and I get the engine off and the window rolled down some guys help me out . I got a sprained thumb out of this . the guy in the pickup was lucky to be alive (s10 truck) had I not pulled right I would have hit him square on and I don't think he could have survived . he had a trip to hospital . seat belts worked for me , not having good coverage is shooting craps . never that Friday morning did I believe that I would be in a wreck like that . be prepared .
Velvet
El lobo solitario
GEICO raised my rates then gave me the discount. Total BS. As I indicated in my previous post, my car and truck are insured with State Farm who actually gave me a discount starting last April or so by lowering my premium altogether and they continue to do so nearly a year later. I really wish that they could to better with my motorcycles but they are more expensive than I what I am paying with GEICO.
SilverBullet
Well-Known Member
Insurance cannot be compared to other's rates, just too many variables. Shop around and compare rates yourself. That is the only way.
I switched to Geico ~10 years ago. I've compared rates to all available companies many times since and nobody comes close for me.
I had to start a second policy last year with them as they have a maximum of 9 bikes per policy. They wanted to give me the 15% COVID discount upon renewal but I balked. I said I didn't plan on keeping it one year so they relented and gave me the discount up front. Just received my renewal and it went down another $5 lower than the discounted rate.
Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
I switched to Geico ~10 years ago. I've compared rates to all available companies many times since and nobody comes close for me.
I had to start a second policy last year with them as they have a maximum of 9 bikes per policy. They wanted to give me the 15% COVID discount upon renewal but I balked. I said I didn't plan on keeping it one year so they relented and gave me the discount up front. Just received my renewal and it went down another $5 lower than the discounted rate.
Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
SilverBullet
Well-Known Member
You came out good for that, relatively unscathed. Very lucky
Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
Very true... the guy who turned left in front of me had more luck.
Velvet
El lobo solitario
I'm not really trying to compare rates to what other people have, I essentially wanted to get a general opinion of Progressive on whether they are a good company or not, especially if a claim is involved (something I have never needed for motorcycles.) Progressive definitely undercut GEICO quite a bit in their quote for me.
As far as I'm concerned, GEICO pulled a really unethical move on me by raising my rates $270.00 and giving me a $300.00 discount. That was a slap in the face since I have been with them for 33 years or so with no claims. I also did the two policy thing with them for quite a few years when I had a motorcycle collection.
Yeah, I've never had a bike claim either. I've dealt with Progressive on other people's cars, and they seemed ok, but, who knows. State Farm has frustrated me a couple of times, and I've even tried to leave. But, since I've been with them for so long, nobody even comes close to their prices. I also have to admit, that on the few claims that I've submitted, they were taken care of quick & easy.
I think the individual agents make the difference in the companies.
Dirt_Dad
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
I've had two bikes totaled under Progressive. Neither raised my rates and both experiences were extremely reasonable. The settlements were favorable and kept me as a customer.
My rates have been untouchable by all other companies with whom I comparison shopped.
They have gone up twice. Just this week when I removed DM's XT from the policy they would have gone up $10, due to a less favorable multi bike discount.
The other increase actually pissed me off when they inexplicably went up about 15%. I later learned that was because my Circuit City credit card from the '80s was finally closed. That changed the average years of credit and dropped me from the top x% of customer ratings down to the top xx%. Which is why I went rate shopping. Still no one else came close.
When I totaled my gen 1 Tenere, the service desk guy at Romney took one look at who I had for insurance and then said, "thank you, thank you, thank you" they are easy to deal with. I asked who is the worst. He said State Farm is a PITA. I have them for my cars. Only one claim with them for massive hail damage. They were no problem to deal with either. I don't switch my cars to Progressive because State Farm has me on some sticky program where they guarantee for life they will always give me their best rates. My agent tells me they stopped that program years ago, but I'm grandfathered in. Doesn't help at all when they quote me bike insurance.
My rates have been untouchable by all other companies with whom I comparison shopped.
They have gone up twice. Just this week when I removed DM's XT from the policy they would have gone up $10, due to a less favorable multi bike discount.
The other increase actually pissed me off when they inexplicably went up about 15%. I later learned that was because my Circuit City credit card from the '80s was finally closed. That changed the average years of credit and dropped me from the top x% of customer ratings down to the top xx%. Which is why I went rate shopping. Still no one else came close.
When I totaled my gen 1 Tenere, the service desk guy at Romney took one look at who I had for insurance and then said, "thank you, thank you, thank you" they are easy to deal with. I asked who is the worst. He said State Farm is a PITA. I have them for my cars. Only one claim with them for massive hail damage. They were no problem to deal with either. I don't switch my cars to Progressive because State Farm has me on some sticky program where they guarantee for life they will always give me their best rates. My agent tells me they stopped that program years ago, but I'm grandfathered in. Doesn't help at all when they quote me bike insurance.
Last edited:
AusTexS10
Well-Known Member
It evidently makes a huge difference which state you live in, as well as city within that state. In Texas, the insurance companies appear to have the state insurance board that "regulates" rates pretty much in their pocket, so advantages in some states often don't apply here. It's always interesting, and frustrating, to see national ads about some nifty insurance benefits only to see your state (and others) listed as "does not apply in the states of ...." Makes you wonder why. When I first got back into riding back in 2017 after a 40-something year hiatus I checked around for coverages. I found my best rate at Geico and was more than somewhat disappointed in the quote I got from State Farm that has had my home and auto insurance for over 50 years. I thought about giving them an aloha, but I do value the guaranteed renewability clause I have under them and don't know where I'd be with others trying to get coverage with good rates in my 70s. No claims yet, aside from one tow on my previous (non ST) bike that cost me nothing, so I can't speak to their claim service.
I've dealt with progressive several times as a dealer repairing customers bikes. The adjuster for Progressive in this area is really a stand up fair guy. He has always treated customers fair and did everything he could to get their bike fixed and back on the road. Some adjusters try to cut every corner they can to save the company a buck. I have a friend that owns an auto body repair shop he says that Progressive is one of the best to deal with.
Velvet
El lobo solitario
That's definitely good info. Thanks!
They don't even offer that anymore. I didn't even know that I had it, until I had to comp claims close together. I told her that I was worried about getting dropped. She told me that unless I don't pay my bill, or I get a D.W.I., they can't drop me. That's when I learned they nolonger
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
One of my students had to get 3Bs at A level and his dad promised him a Escort RS Turbo. The car was 23,000 quid and the insurance for a 17 year old, new license holder was 25,000 quid.
Quite right too. Although his driving was fine, his attitude was not in the right place. I wonder how many minutes he lasted before he totalled it?
Quite right too. Although his driving was fine, his attitude was not in the right place. I wonder how many minutes he lasted before he totalled it?
Same thing in Arizona when my wife had her 6 month old Mitsubishi totaled. State Farm hung us out to dry on that one, and only the leasing bank received any reimbursement. We didn't get any money from the other driver's company, so wound up out the down payment we had made on the Mitsubishi, and had to replace her vehicle on our own.
I have the un/under insured coverage on my cars and trucks, but the S10 is worth around $6500.00 and it's paid for. It's covered by my insurance and I have health insurance, so that's all I need on it.
When my kid got crashed on his two week old R6. . . . he didn't even get enough to pay for the bike since he didn't have gap. It sucks paying for a bike that you don't have anymore. On the bright side. . . . he didn't have to pay any "out of pocket" medical bills.
Dirt_Dad
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
A year later after posting this and a significant change happened. Last year I was definitely annoyed when they dropped me from what they said was their top 5% of customers down to the top 10% and increased my rates by 15%. This week I received the 2022 bill and the rate has dropped 48%.
I won't be calling to complain this year. I can only guess that moving to a new zip code in 2021 is the reason for the change. I am amazed by the substantial fluctuation caused by factors I do not understand.
Ft. Worth TX is a city of almost 1 million people. The town I worked in, and hate driving in, has a population of about 49K. Insurance is cheaper in Ft. Worth because the smaller town is/was rated at being #2 in the state for vehicle crashes. So yes, your zip code is very important for car insurance.
Dirt_Dad
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
DM and I have each totaled a bike with Progressive. Each time claims processing was low hassle, reasonable and better than anticipated. Rates did not go up as far as I could tell...at least not around the immediate years after the claims.
There have been rate increases for other reasons that seemed like BS. Even with the higher rate no one came close. Last week they dropped my premium 48%.
Coincidentally I also heard from my State Farm agent last week. They have our cars/house/other stuff. I've had them for 40 years and have all kinds of sticky features on my vehicle policies. They wanted to quote the bikes, so I sent the my fresh Progressive rate sheet. Today they told me the rate would be double my Progressive rate. I was not surprised.
There have been rate increases for other reasons that seemed like BS. Even with the higher rate no one came close. Last week they dropped my premium 48%.
Coincidentally I also heard from my State Farm agent last week. They have our cars/house/other stuff. I've had them for 40 years and have all kinds of sticky features on my vehicle policies. They wanted to quote the bikes, so I sent the my fresh Progressive rate sheet. Today they told me the rate would be double my Progressive rate. I was not surprised.