Insurance company won't renew my policy... 1 claim only

[skboston]

@eye.surgeon

How is that my fault exactly?
By your response I would have to assume you've never encountered an animal on the highway. When you're moving at highway speed and something comes running fast from the side late at night at collision course and you can't see it, tell me how do you avoid it?

If you can answer that question you might be onto something big!

 

[Barry]

Fact of life - insurance companies practice legal extortion.

 

[Twiddler]

If the coyote was driving on the highway and it wasn't your fault, why wouldn't you simply go after the coyote's insurer?

Sorry, but that one was too tempting to pass by... :biggrin:

The coyote is clearly uninsured after all of those roadrunner incidents

 

[electracity]

Fact of life - insurance companies practice legal extortion.

Insurance companies are in business to make money. $1200/year on a $100K expensive to repair car is no way to make money.

 

[supratachophobia]

Insurance companies are in business to make money. $1200/year on a $100K expensive to repair car is no way to make money.

Time X amount of people who never make claims? Yeah, its a great way to make money.

 

[electracity]

Time X amount of people who never make claims? Yeah, its a great way to make money.

How is insurance not a free market? How is money legally accumulated to buy a model S except through capitalism?

 

[FlasherZ]

How is insurance not a free market? How is money legally accumulated to buy a model S except through capitalism?

It's about a free market as the ACA is considered optional healthcare. If you can live with fines, suspended license, and the occasional impound fee, then sure - it's a free market. It's state-sponsored extortion, and regulated on the other end so not just everyone can get in on the cash cow.

 

[JMG]

Here's an idea that might work. Title the car under your name AND the name of the company. You will then be able to add the car to your personal policy.

If you use your car for commercial purposes such as ferrying passengers rather than personal transportation for yourself this may not work though.

That still may not work. A vehicle titled to a business (or used in a business, regardless of how it is titled) will need to be on a commercial auto policy. There are some exceptions, like if you are a realtor and drive your car in a business, some companies will allow a "business use" rating on the personal auto policy. But if you are using in a method of carrying materials or customers on a regular basis, then it will definitely need to be on a commercial auto policy.

If you do use it driving to/from clients houses, etc, then you might be able to get it on a personal auto policy (but it will need to be titled to you personally).

I realize in this world of nothing is my fault this may not be well received...but hitting a coyote with your car is indeed actually your fault.

Hitting an animal is considered a comprehensive claim in most states, so it will not go down as a collision (at fault) claim. You can't help it if an animal darts out into the road in front of your car.

A single comp claim should not be a reason to non-renew. A single comp claim is not a bad claim history. Your agent should be fighting for you here. There are pretty strict regulations about how/when an insurance company can refuse to renew a policy.

Now if they are truly non renewing because your agent is no longer representing them, then that is the reason and not your claim history. Maybe your agent is trying to ignore the fact he lost his contract? If all else fails (and if the lost market is truly the reason), then you might be able to find another agent that represents them and sign a BOR (Broker of record) letter and transfer your policy to them and get a renewal.

Just a few suggestions.

 

[Shaggy]

If the coyote was driving on the highway and it wasn't your fault, why wouldn't you simply go after the coyote's insurer?

Sorry, but that one was too tempting to pass by... :biggrin:

Because the ACME insurance company rarely pays out...

 

[slappy]

Ok ,so the insurance company is Commerce Insurance. I think it's MA only company and I have/had other vehicles through out the years with them on my other companies.

I had Commerce a decade ago when I lived in MA and they stunk. I had a claim in NJ and it took them weeks just to get an adjuster out. I never understood that strange insurance monopoly MA setup that prevents "normal" companies like State Farm, Geico, etc from operating there.

 

[hybridbear]

When you're moving at highway speed and something comes running fast from the side late at night at collision course and you can't see it, tell me how do you avoid it?

This is exactly why these claims are usually handled under the comprehensive part of your policy. We have a document from Geico as part of our policy that comprehensive claims for hitting animals will NOT increase our insurance rates. However, too many claims does give Geico the right to not offer us a renewal.

 

[skboston]

Well, I don't see how 1 claim is too many. I've had no other accidents or violations with the car or on the policy.

I still haven't looked into new insurance company as I still have time, but I should have it all changed within the next couple weeks and will update what happens next.
MA is weird for sure, it took out of state companies like Progressive and Geico ages to comply and enter the local market. I remember in 2010 it was Progressive that entered first and shortly after Geico.
I still prefer to deal with local companies as their rates are much lower compared to Geico and Progressive for my case.

 

[skboston]

I got my new policy written by a new insurance company and I can't be "happier" - went from $1200 a year to $3100...

I still have time until the old policy expires, but chances to find cheaper than that are slim to none.

 

[Canuck]

The problem now is that my policy from $1200 a year would probably double, how fun would that be?

I feel your pain but it's a damn good deal compared to our rates in BC. I have 30+ years safe driving any my Tesla insurance is still over $3k (with the maximum discount). I had to declare my 17 year old daughter as the principal driver of our Leaf and her insurance was over $3k. Then she had a minor at-fault accident in a parking lot and it doubled to over $6k! So I pulled the comprehensive from it and paid $3.5k (if she totals it, I would be more concerned for her than the loss of the car) and sure enough she was rear ended stopped at a light and the repairs were $15k! It wasn't her fault, so no cost but I went after them for accelerated depreciation/diminished value and they gave me $5k for that. As I said in another thread, for my two vehicles, my kids vehicle and my wife's vehicle I pay over $12k after tax dollars in vehicle insurance alone. And we've only had one at-fault accident on the policies.

That's ICBC and socialism insurance for you! (I'm all for socialism when it comes to education, health and caring for the elderly, sick, weak and those truly less fortunate, but it ends there!)

 

[kort677]

I am getting a new Tesla tomorrow to replace my 2014 Tesla, and my premiums went down about $300 a year to $980 a year.

 

[S'toon]

I feel your pain but it's a damn good deal compared to our rates in BC. I have 30+ years safe driving any my Tesla insurance is still over $3k (with the maximum discount). I had to declare my 17 year old daughter as the principal driver of our Leaf and her insurance was over $3k. Then she had a minor at-fault accident in a parking lot and it doubled to over $6k! So I pulled the comprehensive from it and paid $3.5k (if she totals it, I would be more concerned for her than the loss of the car) and sure enough she was rear ended stopped at a light and the repairs were $15k! It wasn't her fault, so no cost but I went after them for accelerated depreciation/diminished value and they gave me $5k for that. As I said in another thread, for my two vehicles, my kids vehicle and my wife's vehicle I pay over $12k after tax dollars in vehicle insurance alone. And we've only had one at-fault accident on the policies.

That's ICBC and socialism insurance for you! (I'm all for socialism when it comes to education, health and caring for the elderly, sick, weak and those truly less fortunate, but it ends there!)

I looked up the Tesla insurance rates here in SK. We're the ones who invented the "socialist" insurance model you're writing about. The rate is something like $107/month. Somehow I don't think "socialism" is the problem.

 

[RAW84]

I got my new policy written by a new insurance company and I can't be "happier" - went from $1200 a year to $3100...

I still have time until the old policy expires, but chances to find cheaper than that are slim to none.

I, too, feel your pain. MA rates are always high. I always get jealous of rates I see people post here from other parts of the country.

Add a claim, and it almost makes one want to just turn in his car and start hitching

 

[green1]

I looked up the Tesla insurance rates here in SK. We're the ones who invented the "socialist" insurance model you're writing about. The rate is something like $107/month. Somehow I don't think "socialism" is the problem.

Alberta, not so socialist, full coverage for under $900/year...

 

[William13]

I had a near miss of a deer today. I slowed down due to the area then scanned the area. I had to slam on the brakes. Slower reaction or driving faster or not scanning carefully or looking away. Bam.