There are so many factors that will help us to get to the bottom of this answer.  If you are paying too much for car insurance, then it is important for you to compare rates today to lower your insurance premiums. I guarantee that you will be able to save anywhere from 5-30%.

Accident statistics 

Florida is one of the most dangerous states for car insurance. NWI ranked Florida as the #17 most dangerous state for auto accidents. For two years in a row, Florida has been ranked as the states with the worst drivers by Smartasset. It was reported that in 2015 Florida had the 9th highest fatalities rate per 100 million vehicle miles driven. In 2015 there were over 600 motorcyclist and over 600 pedestrian facilities making it one of the deadliest states. In 2013 there were 2,407 deaths reported from car accidents. Slightly over 400 of those deaths were people killed in accidents involving a pickup or SUV.

In 2017, it was reported that Florida had 387,900 total car accidents, 161,218 injury crashes, and over 240,000 injuries. There were over 2700 crashes involving a fatality and over 42,000 commercial vehicle crashes. From 2016 to 2017 there was almost 8000 less auto accidents. Although the accident rate in Florida seems to be declining, Florida is still high in auto accidents. In 2017 every month there was around 33,000 auto accidents. Those more likely to be in an auto accident were those who were 25 to 34 years old. The worst time for accidents in Florida was from 4PM to 5PM. From the reports, we notice a lot of loses in Florida, which means higher insurance premiums.

States that Require PIP Insurance Coverage

15 states in the United States use a no-fault system and require personal injury protection insurance coverage. Florida is one of those states. The other 14 states include Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. Florida PIP covers the cost of medical, loss of wages, and more.

The cost of PIP will vary for each driver. Things that are taken into consideration is your driving history, vehicle model and year, age, credit, etc. Because this coverage is mandatory in Florida, you will be paying slightly more than other states. PIP might cost you $5 to $20 extra a month on your insurance policy.

High crimes areas will increase insurance rates. 

Florida is among the worst states for car theft in 2017, it was reported that Jacksonville had over 3000 motor vehicle thefts. The second worst Florida city for car thefts was Miami with slightly under 2000. Orlando was the third worst Florida city for car thefts with 1240 motor vehicle thefts. Many people don’t know that where you live affects your car insurance rates. If your zip code shows that you live in a high crime area, your rate might be a little higher because there is a higher chance of a crime being involved with your vehicle. Insurance carriers are preparing themselves just in case your vehicle gets broken into, your car gets stolen, etc. Always remember that vandalism and other crimes play a role in insurance premiums. Not only does crime affect your rates, but if you have a vehicle that is among the top stolen cars, then you might pay slightly more.

Population Density

As I said before, where you live matters. If you live in a state with high congestion there will obviously be a greater chance for auto accidents. Florida is the third most populated state in the U.S. Miami was ranked 5th for the most congested city in the U.S. Areas that are more densely populated are at a higher risk for auto accidents, crime, auto related deaths, etc. All of this results in a higher premium.

Overall reckless behavior on the road

Florida DUIs and tickets statistics also help in causing higher insurance rates. Although DUI’s and tickets in Florida are not as bad as other states, they can still affect rates. Hillsborough County had almost 4500 DUI’s. Pinellas County had 3,155 DUI’s. Broward County had 3,104 DUI’s. If DUI’s and tickets were bad enough, Florida was ranked as the second-worst state for distracted driving. With texting and phone related accidents on the rise, we will also see a rise in insurance rates.

In 2015 it was reported that Florida had the most uninsured drivers with 26.7%. The 2nd highest state after Florida was Mississippi with 23.7%. After Mississippi was New Mexico with 20.8%, Michigan with 20.3%, and Tennessee with 20.0%.

All of the above statistics will increase rates. Insurance carriers will always take a look at the trend. Florida is a high tourist state with many young drivers and senior drivers who have bad driving habits.

Most and least expensive cities for auto insurance. 

Cheapest

The cheapest city in Florida for car insurance is Mayo, FL, which is in Lafayette county. Expect to pay less if you live in nearby cities such as Day, FL.

Most expensive 

The most expensive city for car insurance in Florida is Miami, FL. The only cities in the U.S. that cost more for auto insurance is Detroit, Michigan and New Orleans, Louisiana. The Miami-Dade County area is very expensive compared to other counties in Florida. If you live in cities such as Hialeah, Opa-Locka, Miami, Miami Gardens, and Homestead expect to pay more for insurance.

Best car insurance in Florida 

Two popular insurance carriers in Florida are GEICO and State Farm auto insurance. There is no definitive answer when trying to find the right fit for you. I’ve dealt with many awesome local insurance agents throughout the U.S. You must compare quotes to see which carrier gives you the best auto insurance rates in your area.

Minimum coverage car insurance Florida

Auto insurance is a requirement in Florida. The lowest amount of coverage that you can have is 10,000 personal injury protection and $10,000 property damage liability. Medical payments coverage is not required in the state of Florida. Bodily Injury Liability coverage is only required for some people. If you have been convicted of a DUI, then you must have Bodily Injury Liability. Other insurance coverages that are not required in the state of Florida are Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and collision/comprehensive coverage.

Bottom line  

Auto insurance in Florida is undeniable high because of several reasons. It is high because of high accident statistics, reckless driving behaviors, high crimes rates, PIP coverage, and more. If you live in the state of Florida and you want to cut the monthly cost of auto insurance, then take the time to compare rates now, which can be done in under 2 months.

The post Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive In Florida? first appeared on Quote Raters.

Texas policyholders are able to save 17%. California policyholders are able to save around 15%. Georgia policyholders are able to save a whopping 22%. Washington policyholders are able to save 13.5%. Alabama policyholders are able to 20%. Not only can you save, but with multiple policies your insurer is less likely to drop you and you can end up saving a lot on your deductible.

Bundling insurance policies

The reason that you want to bundle your policies is because this leads to managing your policies easier.

Also, the obvious reason is that you will be able to enjoy discounts from your insurance provider.

GEICO

GEICO allows you to save 5% or more when you insure multiple insurance policies. With GEICO, you can combine your Homeowners, Renters, Condo or Mobile Home policy with your auto insurance to receive a greater discount. What I love about GEICO is that on average GEICO offers cheap monthly auto insurance quotes. GEICO might give you the best quote on this list. On top of an already cheap insurance rate you will be given a truckload of discounts that you may be eligible for. For home and auto insurance you want a company that has the funds to pay your claims.

GEICO received amazing ratings from the top financial analyst companies. GEICO received an “A++” from A.M. Best and Fitch ratings. Also, for the 27th consecutive year in a row GEICO was named to the Ward’s 50 top group of financially high-performing insurers.

State Farm

State Farm allows policyholders to save up to 17% when they bundle policies. With State Farm you can save up to $800 by combining home and auto insurance. I know many people who insure with State Farm. State Farm is willing to work with you while some companies might not. In the J.D. Power insurance rating study State Farm was better than average in both the auto claims part of the study and the homeowners part of the study. State Farm received 4 out of 5 Power Circles for overall satisfaction in the homeowners study, which reveals happy customers. Better Business Bureau helps us to know how a company handles customer complaints. BBB gave State Farm an “A+” rating in their rating system.

Usually people who need home and auto insurance have multiple cars in their household. With Start Farm if you need insurance for more than 1 car you can save up to 20%. State Farm offers additional ways to save with their Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear program.

Farmers 

Farmers is another insurance company that gives you a 10% discount when you bundle your home and auto policies. Farmers customers are even eligible for a discount if they are a homeowner. Are you a non-smoker? If so, you can easily qualify for a home owners discount with Farmers.

Farmers excels in coverage options.

Accident forgiveness – Farmers offers their customers accident forgiveness. Accident forgiveness is a great coverage option for drivers under 25 or drivers who are more prone to get into auto accidents. Throughout the world customers all around the world have complained about their premium skyrocketing after an auto accident. With accident forgiveness if you ever get into accident you will not have to worry about your rates going up.

Incident Forgiveness – Some auto insurers will bring your premium up after receiving a situation. With incident forgiveness, you are given peace of mind if you were to ever receive a traffic ticket.

Small Claim Forgiveness – With small claim forgiveness you will not have to worry about rates going up after something as insignificant as a small fender bender.

No Fault, No Foul – Don’t worry about rates going up if someone else caused the accident.

Safeco 

Safeco offers very affordable and competitive insurance rates. In my Safeco vs State Farm auto insurance review customers were actually able to save slightly more with Safeco.

Safeco has a plethora of package deals to help customers save. When you bundle home and auto you can end up saving up to 15%.

If you have a newer home that is less than 10 years old you can easily qualify for their newer home discount.

Another way that you can save with Safeco is by driving less. If your car is usually parked or if you live close to work, then you should think about taking advantage of Safeco’s low mileage discount, which allows drivers to save up to 20%.

Safeco is a member of Liberty Mutual Group. BBB gave Liberty Mutual an “A” grade which shows that Safeco handles customer complaints well. Safeco received an “A” A.M Best rating which shows that they are backed by billions in assets to pay any claims.

Auto-Owners Insurance

Auto-Owners Insurance is one of the highest rated insurance companies on this list. In the J.D. Power auto claims study, Auto-Owners Insurance was the second highest company on the list. AOI received 4 out of 5 Power Circles in overall satisfaction, First Notice of Loss, claim servicing, estimation process, and the settlement process. The only category that AOI did not receive 4 Power Circles in was the rental experience category where they received 5 out of 5 Power Circles.

In the home insurance study, Auto-Owners Insurance was 6th on the list.  AOI received 4 out of 5 Power Circles in overall satisfaction, policy offering, price, billing, and the interaction part of the study. In claims, Auto-Owners Insurance received 3 out of 5 stars.

With Auto-Owners Insurance you are able to get a multi-policy discount when you have multiple qualifying policies.

Here are more ways that you can save with Auto-Owners Insurance.

• Payment history – Paying your premium for 3 years will make you eligible for this discount.
• Advance Quote – Request a premium quote prior to the effective date of the policy to qualify.
• Green Discount –Enroll in paperless billing and pay your policy online to qualify.
• Mortgage-free discount – Have you paid off your mortgage? If so, you will be eligible for AOI’s mortgage-free discount.

Amica Mutual 

Amica Mutual was the highest rated insurance company in both the home and auto J.D. Power claims study. The Amica homeowners insurance service is one of the best in the Unites States.

When it comes to handling your claims, you will not have any problems while using Amica. They have an awesome reputation and they offer various discounts that you can take advantage of such as their multi-line discount. When you combine auto with your home, condo, renters, life or umbrella policies you will be able to save up to 15%.

I love Amica Mutual’s loyalty discount because most of us will easily qualify for it. To qualify for this discount, you have to have had auto insurance with any company for at least 24 months. Another way to save with Amica is if you have burglar alarms, sprinkler systems, or fire alarms installed in your home.

MAPFRE Insurance

MAPFRE is not as well-known as all the other insurance companies on this list, but it did rate well in both J.D. Power insurance studies. MaPFRE also received an A+ rating from BBB. By insuring both your auto and home through MaPFRE, you will be able to receive a discount on both homeowners auto insurance.

Bottom line

This comparison features many awesome companies with great reviews and a load of discounts. I highly recommend that you get a quote to find the best insurance rates in your area.

The post Home And Car Insurance Bundles first appeared on Quote Raters.

There is no denying that young drivers are less experienced, riskier, and get into more accidents than older drivers. This is why premiums are so high for young adults.

However, there are many companies that you can take advantage of today. In this article, I will help you to find the best car insurance for new drivers under 25.

How age affects auto insurance rates?

The younger you are the more expensive your insurance premium will be. When you are in your teens such as 16 -19 years old, you are usually looking at $3000 – $6000 a year on your premium. Always remember that your premium can be cheaper than this.

That is why it is crucial that you compare quotes today! Rates vary depending on your car, state, driving history, discounts, gender, etc. When you turn 20, average rates begin to lower. After 21 you can end up paying hundreds less. Average rates continue to lower as you age, but then they will jump back up at the age of 65.

GEICO

GEICO is among the top Fort Lauderdale insurance companies. I have been using GEICO since I was 19 years old because they always gave me the cheapest insurance premiums in Florida. As a young college student, I needed to save as much as possible. I was paying hundreds less than other insurance companies with one year old car. What I love about GEICO is that you have many discounts available to you.

Defensive Driving Discounts – If you have completed a defensive driver’s course you may be able to save on car insurance. Every state has different rules and qualifications.

Good Student – If you do well in school, then you can end up saving 15% discount on certain coverages.

Organization discount – GEICO offers awesome savings to alumni association members. All that you have to do is search for your college, fraternity, or organization and you can save big. With hundreds of universities and organizations available to you there is a strong chance that you will find your organization. Just to name a few colleges that qualify for a discount, you have Xavier University, West Virginia University, University of Wisconsin, University of Utah, University of North Carolina, Ohio University, Hawaii Pacific University, Princeton University, Purdue University, and more.

Customer loyalty – GEICO offers a multi-car discount like most auto insurers do. This is great if you are on your parent’s policy. Insure multiple cars and save up to 25%.

Liberty Mutual 

Many young drivers have been able to receive a cheaper premium with Liberty Mutual. Liberty Mutual offers many discounts for teens. If you have a child that is over 100 miles away for school, then you are eligible for a Liberty Mutual discount.

Just like with GEICO there is a discount for students, under the age of 25, who maintain a B average.

Alumni and Professional Affiliations – You can save up to 10% on your auto insurance by being a member of the 14,000+ employers and associations that partner with Liberty Mutual.

Accident forgiveness – If you know anything about me, then you know I love accident forgiveness and you should as well. Once again, statistically younger drivers get into more accidents than older drivers. If you have ever been in an accident then you know by now that insurance companies will jack up your premium after your first accident. With Accident forgiveness you don’t have to worry about your premiums going up after an accident even if it’s your fault. This is going to save you a lot in the long run.

Erie Insurance 

Erie Insurance is an American multi-line insurance company that was founded in 1925. Erie is one of the best hidden secrets. It’s not one of the most popular companies such as GEICO or Progressive but Erie does have great reviews and they are known for offering cheap insurance for drivers 20 – 30 years old.

On average 20 year-old females with no accidents can pay thousands less than the national insurance average. If you are under 21 years old, unmarried, and you still live with your parents, then you may qualify for their young driver’s discount.

This discount is not available in North Carolina. Erie also offers a reduced usage discount. Why pay for inactivity? This is perfect if you are not using your car for 90 consecutive days during the policy period.

Nationwide

Nationwide is known for their awesome song. “Nationwide is on your side.” They are also known for having many discounts for young drivers.  If you are under 25 and you are trying to save with Nationwide, then you can save with their anti-theft device discount.

Nationwide is another company that offers accident forgiveness and a good student discount. If you are young and you would like to show off your impressive driving habits, then Nationwide offers a SmartRide program for all ages. You will immediately save when you sign up for the program. You could save up to 40% by driving safe. It’s simple to get started.

Sign up! In about 10 days you will receive a small device, then drive. The amount that will be discounted to you all depends on how well you drive. The device factors in your nighttime driving, miles driven, hard braking, and idle time in traffic. To track your discount all that you have to do is go online. The best thing about this program is that your premium will never increase because of it.

AAA

There are many discounts for being an AAA member that young drivers can take advantage of. If you drive less than 10,000 miles a year, then why are you paying extra for car insurance? One thing that stuck out when I compared AAA to Allstate and many other insurance providers was that AAA offers a reduced mileage discount on top of low premiums.

In addition to their reduced mileage discount AAA also offers a safe driver’s discount. If you have less than 3 points on your license, then you will qualify. Another thing that I love about AAA is that you are given deals for various different companies.

You are given deals for IHop, Bass Pro Shops, AMC, Macys, Papa John’s, PetSmart, Amtrak, Barnes & Noble, Busch Gardens, Champs Sports, Dell, CVS, travel vacations, and more. The only drawback of AAA is that you will have to pay a fee to sign up for AAA.

COUNTRY

COUNTRY Financial offers extremely low rates especially in Oregon and Georgia. If you want to take advantage of your clean driving record, then COUNTRY Financial is a great company to do it with. One thing that we all hate is when our auto insurer jacks up our prices for nothing. COUNTRY increases insurance rates far less than some of the largest insurance providers in the world. Out of a 5-point scale for insurance rates increases COUNTRY receives a 5.0 score.

If you or your fiancé is at least 21 years old, then you can save with their engaged couple discount. If you are a newly licensed driver or if you have a newly licensed child, then you may qualify for up to a 10% discount by completing their Simply Drive course. You can also save 10% with their new vehicle discount. Are you a teacher, firefighter, police officer, or paramedic? If so you can be saving 5 – 10% on auto insurance with COUNTRY.

Additional coverage options with COUNTRY include emergency roadside assistance, vehicle rental and trip interruption, safety glass coverage, personal effects coverage, and The Keeper – new car coverage.

Travelers

Travelers is an old insurance company that was founded by James Goodwin Batterson who was an American designer and builder.

Travelers has been around for almost 200 years and it is perfect for young drivers who are having difficulty finding an affordable insurance quote. With Travelers you can save up to 15% with consistent on time payments.

Their other discounts include multi-policy, multicar, home ownership, safe driver, continuous insurance, hybrid, early quote discounts, and more. There are a plethora of discounts that you can take advantage. Also, Travelers offers a great IntelliDrive Program. IntelliDrive is a great 90-day program where your good driving behavior will be rewarded with up to 20% savings.

Choose the right company

There are many awesome companies on this list. Not only are they awesome because of affordability but they are awesome because of discounts and claim satisfaction. Don’t be afraid to compare quotes today. Compare quotes to see which one offers the cheapest insurance in your state.

The post Best Car Insurance For New Drivers Under 25 first appeared on Quote Raters.

In this GEICO Vs Farmers comparison, we will take a look at features, insurance rates, mobile benefits, ease of use, and more. Make sure that you start a quote today to compare rates to help you save over 25% on car insurance.

Let’s learn a little information about both companies. 

GEICO was founded in Fort Worth Texas in 1936 by Leo Goodwin Sr. and his wife Lillian Goodwin. Today GEICO is the second largest auto insurer in the U.S.

Farmers Insurance Group was founded in 1928 in Los Angelous California by Thomas E. Leavey. Today Farmers is a leading U.S. insurer group of automobiles.

Auto insurance rates comparison 

If we’re honest with ourselves, the car insurance price is a huge factor in our car insurance decision. For me pricing is what I cared about most in my car insurance plan. As a safe driver I did not want to purchase expensive car insurance.

G

GEICO offers the cheapest monthly car insurance rates in the United states. GEICO is far cheaper than Farmers. You will actually save over $100 a year with GEICO insurance. In fact, new customers report an average annual savings of over $500. I currently have GEICO insurance for a financed car and I’m paying 30% less than what I would with other car insurance companies.

F

Farmers is cheap as well, but when it comes to pricing there is really no comparison.

Which company offers more car insurance discounts?

Who doesn’t love to save a little money? GEICO offers more discounts to help you save money on car insurance. Below I will showcase the discounts that you can be using with each company.

With Farmers depending on the state that you live in, you may be eligible for some auto insurance discounts. However, compared to other major insurance companies, Farmers falls extremely short in the discount options category. There is just not a lot to choose from. If you don’t care about discounts, then it doesn’t matter but if you do, then it might be a problem for you.

Here are the discounts that Farmers has to offer.

Distant student discounts – Do you have a child who is away at school over 100 miles from your home? If so, then you might qualify for this car insurance discount.

Homeowners discounts – If you own your home, then you can save on Farmers homeowner discount.

Homeowners discounts – Seniors and experienced drivers can start saving on car insurance today.

Safety discounts – Does you car have anti-lock brakes, restraint systems, etc. If so you can easily save money.

Here is what GEICO offers their customers 

Air bags discount – With GEICO you can save 40% with full-front seat air bags.

Anti-lock braking system – This allows for a 5% discount on the collision part of your insurance premium.

Anti-Theft discount – Does your car have a built-in Anti-theft system? If so, then great news! This can save you up to 25% on part of your premium.

Daytime Running Lights discount – Although it’s not much, every penny counts. Save 1% on certain car insurance coverages.

Driving History & habits discount – If you have had a clean driving record for the past 5 years like I have, why not take advantage of their driver history discount? Start today and save over 25% on most coverages.

Drivers education discount – With GEICO you or your child maybe able to receive discounts for driver ed courses.

Multi-Car discount – When you insure multiple cars with GEICO you can save up to 25% on your car insurance.

Military discount – GEICO offers awesome discounts to service men/women. Whether you are active or retired you can save up to 15% on car insurance.

Availability comparison  

GEICO is one of the few car insurance companies that is available is all 50 states.  With Farmers, products & features may not be available in all states. Depending on what state that you live in it may be hard for you to get insurance.

Website navigation and ease of use.

Both websites make it easy to find what you are looking for. However, when looking at both you will notice that GEICO offers the more beginner friendly website. GEICO makes it easy for you to start an auto quote. GEICO pops out more and everything is right in front of your face. If you look under the zip code box you will see other insurance products that you can select such as homeowners, renters, condo, motorcycle & ATV, boat, and more.

Once again, Farmers is easy to navigate through as well. With Farmers you are given a drop-down menu where you are easily able to select a type of insurance such as auto, home, life, business, condo, and renter’s insurance. For faster search, go to their search icon on the top right menu.

Locations served 

GEICO insurance is available in all states. Whether you need an auto insurance provider in Florida, California, North Carolina etc. you will have no problem being insured. Although Farmers is available in most states it is not available in all states.

Mobile features

GEICO offers many awesome mobile features to make the lives of their customers easier.

As we progress in society we are becoming more and more technology based.  It’s awesome to be able to pull your info up on your phone in a drop of a hat. GEICO Mobile allows for easy insurance ID card access for iOS and Android users. This is great for those who don’t want to worry about losing pesky papers.

Easy Estimate – This feature allows you to take pictures of minor damages for a quick GEICO inspection and estimate process.

Gas Finder – This awesome feature allows you to find the cheapest gas station near you

Virtual Assistant – GEICO customers are given Kate. Kate is GEICO Mobile’s new 24/7 virtual assistant. You can talk or text with Kate to inquire about billing info, coverages, etc. The more questions that Kate answers, the smarter she grows. With Kate you will immediately be given the right answer or she will lead you to the right place.

GEICO offers many more mobile features such as GEICO destinations, smart watch, accident assistance, vehicle care, and more.

The Farmers mobile app allows for quick and easy access to your insurance. You are easily able to view and update your account information. You are able to manage your payment methods, pay your bill and enroll in auto pay, report a claim, view your ID cards,  stay connected to your agent and more.

Popularity comparison 

The popularity comparison matters because it reveals what most people are choosing. During the second half of 2016, GEICO’s growth accelerated dramatically. GEICO easily blew by Allstate. Not only is GEICO a larger company, but “GEICO Car insurance” receives 10K – 100K average monthly searches in Google. Farmers car insurance receives 1K – 10K average monthly searches, which means more people are interested in GEICO.

Which is the better car insurance provider?

Both companies are great companies that offer competitive rates, but it is clear that GEICO is a better overall car insurance choice. You are going to be saving money with their discounts and their cheaper quotes. GEICO customers are given more features, better claims, and more support options available to them.

The post GEICO Vs Farmers first appeared on Quote Raters.

It’s simple, NC is a mostly rural state, which means fewer crimes, less accidents, and a cheaper cost of living, which all result in cheaper insurance rates. With this review, we will help you to find the best auto insurance companies near you.

North Carolina is the ninth most populous state.

Below I have made a list of the largest North Carolina cities from the largest to the smallest.

• Charlotte, NC  -Average annual rates $851
• Raleigh, NC – Average annual rates $795
• Greensboro, NC – Average annual rates $768
• Durham, NC  -Average annual rates $768
• Winston-Salem, NC  – Average annual rates $841
• Fayetteville, NC  – Average annual rates $977
• Cary, NC  – Average annual rates $787
• Wilmington, NC – Average annual rates $836
• High Point, NC – Average annual rates $820
• Greenville, NC – Average annual rates $802
• Asheville, NC – Average annual rates $725
• Concord, NC – Average annual rates $763
• Gastonia
• Jacksonville, NC
• Chapel Hill, NC
• Rocky Mount, NC
• Burlington, NC
• Huntersville, NC
• Wilson, NC
• Kannapolis
• Apex
• Hickory, NC
• Wake Forest
• Indian Trail
• Goldsboro, NC
• Mooresville, NC
• Monroe, NC
• Salisbury, NC
• New Bern
• Holly Springs, NC
• Matthews, NC
• Fort Bragg, NC
• Sanford, NC
• Garner, NC
• Cornelius, NC
• Thomasville, NC
• Asheboro
• Statesville
• Mint Hill
• Kernersville
• Morrisville, NC
• Fuquay-Varina
• Lumberton
• Kinston, NC
• Carrboro
• Havelock, NC
• Shelby, NC
• Clemmons
• Lexington, NC
• Clayton, NC
• Boone, NC
• Elizabeth City
• Lenoir
• Leland, NC
• Morganton, NC
• Hope Mills
• Albemarle
• Laurinburg
• Roanoke Rapids
• Pinehurst, NC
• Eden, NC
• Henderson, NC
• Stallings
• Graham, NC
• Murraysville
• Harrisburg, NC
• Reidsville, NC
• Mount Holly, NC
• Masonboro
• Knightdale
• Hendersonville, NC
• Spring Lake, NC
• Lewisville, NC
• Piney Green
• Mebane
• Southern Pines
• Newton, NC
• Waxhaw
• Davidson, NC
• Smithfield, NC
• Archdale
• Tarboro
• Summerfield, NC
• Lincolnton, NC
• Kings Mountain
• Belmont, NC
• Mount Airy, NC
• Weddington
• Washington, NC
• Waynesville, NC
• Dunn, NC
• Elon
• Winterville, NC
• Rockingham, NC
• Morehead City
• Myrtle Grove, NC
• Clinton, NC
• St. Stephens, NC
• Oxford, NC
• Half Moon
• Roxboro
• Siler City
• Pineville, NC
• Conover, NC
• Wesley Chapel, NC
• Black Mountain
• Kings Grant
• Marion, NC
• Butner
• Brevard
• Fletcher, NC
• Elon College
• Lake Norman of Catawba
• Oak Island, NC
• Forest City, NC
• Aberdeen, NC
• Mills River
• Etowah, NC

North Carolina car insurance rates  

Even though North Carolina has very affordable rates compared to other states in the United States, rates never remain the same. A 25 year old driver will receive cheaper insurance rates than a 19 year old driver. A single female on average will receive better insurance rates than a single male.

Rates are dependent on a number of factors such as age, city, driving history, home ownership, gender, car, if you are a full-time student, marital status, etc.

Never expect to receive the same quote as someone else. This is why the most important thing that you can do when searching for insurance is to compare rates. Comparing rates can save you over 30% on auto insurance.

North Carolina car insurance minimum requirements

The minimum liability coverage limits are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury liability, per person per accident.
• $60,000 of bodily injury liability total per accident.
• $25,000 of property damage liability, per accident.

Coverage options

• Liability coverage
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive car insurance
• Vanishing Deductible
• Uninsured motorist insurance
• Underinsured motorist insurance
• Medical payments coverage
• Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance
• Accident Forgiveness
• New Car Replacement
• Rental Car Reimbursement
• Deductible Fund

SR-22 Requirements

NC is rare in their SR-22 requirements. In North Carolina, SR-22 car insurance forms are not required, which takes a little burden off of those who have been convicted of DWIs or other major traffic violations.

Auto-Owners

On average Auto-Owners Insurance offers, some of the cheapest insurance quotes in North Carolina. Average annual rates with Auto Owners can be around $500. Auto-Owners Insurance does well in the J.D. Power Insurance Auto Claims Study. Auto-Owners Insurance was the second company on the list after Amica Mutual. Auto-Owners received 4 out of 5 Power Circles in every rating factors category expect the repair process and rental experience  category.

In the repair process Auto-Owners received 3 out of 5 Power Circles. In the rental experience process Auto-Owners received 4 out of 5 Power Circles. In the U.S. Home Insurance Study Auto-Owners Insurance was 6th on the list and received 4 of 5 Power Circles in overall claims satisfaction. With Auto-Owners Insurance, not only are you getting an affordable insurance company, but you are also getting a company that excels in claims and has great reviews.

Allied Insurance

Allied Insurance was founded in 1929 by Harold Evans. Today Allied Insurance runs under Nationwide Insurance. Average annual rates with Allied are slightly under $700. Better Business Bureau allows us to know how well companies handle insurance complaints. Most Allied Insurance companies received an “A” or higher with BBB. This is a good sign just in case you have to file an insurance claim in the future.

Just by switching to Allied Insurance from another company you might be eligible for a discount with Allied. One great thing about Allied Insurance is that each year that you drive without an accident you will receive a discount on your auto policy. Allied Insurance offers many extras for their policyholders such as a single deductible, bonus emergency lockout coverage, bonus airbag replacement, and bonus accidental death benefits.

North Carolina Farm Bureau

In my Farm Bureau vs State Farm car insurance comparison, I revealed on average how Farm Bureau’s across the United States offer affordable insurance rates. One disadvantage of Farm Bureau is that you have to pay annual membership fees ranging from$20 to $75 a year depended on your needs. In the 2017 U.S. Auto Insurance Southeast Study NC Farm Bureau was 4th on the list.

The top company on the list was Farm Bureau Insurance-Tennessee. In overall satisfaction NC Farm Bureau received 4 out of 5 Power Circles. In the price category NC Farm Bureau received 4 out of 5 Power Circles. In the claims category NC Farm Bureau was one of three companies that received 5 out of 5 Power circles. Some of the benefits of being an North Carolina Farm Bureau member include Grainger discounts, 20% off choice hotels, vision plans, and more. If you have years of driving experience, then you can easily receive a discount on your auto policy.

Erie Insurance

H.O. Hirt and O.G. Crawford founded Erie Insurance in 1925. Erie Insurance has offered auto insurance coverage in North Carolina since the early 1990s. Erie Insurance offers coverage in only a few states. Erie offers insurance in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin the District of Columbia, and North Carolina. Drivers in eastern states can take advantage of Erie’s low premiums and their excellent customer service.

Erie insurance was the third best insurance company on the J.D. Power Auto Claims Study. In the J.D. Power Renter’s Insurance Study Erie Insurance was the top rated company on the list. Erie and USAA were the only two companies to receive 5 out of 5 Power Circles. Erie has various discounts that you may be able to take advantage of such as their safe driving discount, multi-car discount for adding more vehicles onto your policy, reduced usage discount, unmarried young drivers discount, and more.

Penn National

Penn National Insurance is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was founded in 1919. Similar to Erie Insurance Penn National only offers insurance in a few states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Wisconsin. Penn National has a very long history and a great reputation in the states that they insure in. Penn National Insurance has over $1.5 billion in assets. In the past ten years Penn National has received a consistent financial strength rating of “A-.”

A high financial strength rating helps us to know if the insurance company that we desire has the funds to pay our claims. BBB rated Penn Insurance with a “A-” rating. Penn National has a variety of home and auto insurance discounts that you can take advantage of. A few Penn National discounts include: new homebuyer discounts, antilock brakes discounts, paying your premium in full discounts, driver’s education course discounts, low annual mileage discounts, and more.

GEICO Insurance

GEICO might offer the cheapest monthly car insurance rates in the United States on average. When I compared GEICO to some of the top insurance companies such as Progressive, State Farm, and Allstate I was able to receive cheaper quotes with GEICO. GEICO has one of the best financial strength ratings in the auto insurance industry. A.M. Best gave GEICO an “A++” financial strength rating. Standard and Poor’s (S&P) gave GEICO an “AA+” corporate credit rating and an “AA+” financial strength rating of its subsidiaries.

Moody’s Investors Services gave GEICO an “Aa1” rating for Insurance financial strength. Not only can you take advantage of the strong financial rating that GEICO has to offer, but you can also take advantage of their various insurance discounts. On top of already affordable insurance rates you can save up to 26% on your insurance policy by being accident-free for five years. If you’re an active or retired veteran, then you can save 15% with GEICO. With GEICO, you can also receive a discount by belonging to one of their membership discounts. For example, if you attend NC State or the University of North Carolina, then you can easily save with their membership discount.

Titan Insurance 

Titan Insurance is a Nationwide insurance company. Are you a high-risk driver? If so, then you know how hard it is to find affordable insurance rates. Many companies will not insure drivers who have a bad driving history. Titan insurance is one of the few companies that specialize in helping high-risk drivers.

What I love about Titan Insurance is that they have various discounts that you may be eligible for. Discounts include a mature drivers discount, paying bills electronically discount, farm use discount, multiple-car insurance discount, accident-free car insurance discount, advance quote discount, Travelink discount, and more.

A.M. Best gave Titan Insurance an Excellent “A-” financial strength rating. Although Titan Insurance offers cheap insurance rates for cities in North Carolina, they do have a higher than average customer complaint volume. Another drawback of using Titan is that they are one of the few insurance companies that do not have a convenient mobile app for their policyholders.

Utica National

The Utica National Insurance Group was founded in 1914. Utica National might not be the most popular insurance company on the list, but their cheap rates for NC drivers can’t be denied. Utica has over 20 ways that you can save on your auto premium. They even offer a rare hybrid car discount that you might be able to take advantage of. Demotech, Inc. rated Utica National “Above Average” in financial strength and A.M. Best also gave Utica National an “Excellent A-” rating in financial strength.

Those considering Utica will be glad to know that Utica receives less customer complaints than average. Although the company is not BBB accredited, Better Business Bureau gave Utica an “A+ rating” in their rating system. Utica’s extra coverage options include: Auto Essentials, Vanishing Deductible, Auto Extension Pak, Repair or Replacement, Limited Mileage Credit, Pet Injury Coverage, and RoadEase Rescue Squad coverage.

Progressive Insurance

Progressive is the 4th largest auto insurer in the world after Allstate. Good drivers will be able to save with Progressive Insurance. Progressive policyholders in NC on average pay slightly under $800 for their auto insurance. Progressive is ranked well across the boards.

A.M. Best gave Progressive an “A+” financial strength rating with an “a” debt rating. Fitch gave Progressive an “AA” financial strength rating with an “A” debt grade. Progressive received a BBB grade of “A+.” In the J.D. Power Auto Claims Study Progressive received 3 out of 5 Power Circles.

Progressive offers a convenient Name Your Price Tool to help you find the best insurance rate that fits your budget. Progressive also offers a Snapshot program that personalizes your insurance rate based on how you drive. Just by signing up for the Snapshot program you can save an average of $25.

Bottom line

North Carolina is a great place to live if you need auto insurance because of the cheap rates. Whether you live in Oak Ridge, Hamlet, Unionville, or Hillsborough, NC there are many great insurance providers that you can take advantage of today. Now that you know the companies that offer you the best rates I encourage you to compare quotes, which takes 5 minutes.

The post Cheap Car Insurance In North Carolina first appeared on Quote Raters.

Insurance products available 

It’s always awesome to have more insurance products available to you. Why you ask? It’s awesome because more insurance products mean that you have the potential to save more with a multi-policy discount. Nationwide gains the edge in this category. Nationwide offers 28 insurance options while GEICO only offers 24.

Nationwide insurance options 

Nationwide offers 9 forms of vehicle insurance such as auto, classic car, motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, RV, boat, personal watercraft, and scooter insurance.

Nationwide offers 4 forms of property insurance such as homeowners, renters, condo, and flood insurance.

Nationwide offers 11 forms of specialty insurance such as small business, identity theft, personal umbrella, pet, accident medical, specialty liability, travel, farm, wedding, dental, and legal plans insurance.

Nationwide offers 4 types of life insurance including term, whole, universal, and variable life insurance.

GEICO insurance options 

Just like Nationwide, GEICO offers various insurance products for their customers. These insurance products include auto, homeowners, renters, condo, motorcycle & ATV, boat, umbrella, RV, collector auto, mobile home, flood, commercial auto, general liability, professional liability, business owner’s, workers’ compensation, life, ridesharing, travel, overseas, Identity Protection, pet, jewelry, and landlord insurance.

Car insurance rates comparison

Nationwide costs slightly more than GEICO and other well-known insurance companies. Nationwide is not for those who desire minimum coverage.

With Nationwide you will have to choose coverage options that are more than the state requirement, which is why Nationwide can cost slightly more.

However, I strongly recommend that you compare quotes yourself. Rates differ per person depending on age, gender, driving history, car, state, etc.

Insurance claims comparison 

We compared overall claims using the J.D. Power (2017) U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. A few companies that did not do well in the study are Mercury, COUNTRY Financial, Liberty Mutual, and Safeco.

However, both insurance companies were on the top half of the insurance list. This means that they rated higher than a majority of insurance companies for overall claims satisfaction. In overall claims GEICO is 4 spots ahead of Nationwide with 4 out of 5 stars. In the initial claims reporting process GEICO is 2 spots ahead of Nationwide.

In Claim servicing GEICO is 7 spots ahead of Nationwide. In the settlement category which reveals on average which insurance company offers the fairest settlements to their customers, GEICO beat out Nationwide yet again.

Nationwide discounts

Unlike many of the larger insurance companies, Nationwide doesn’t offer a lot of discounts to their customers, but there are some discounts that you might love.

• SmartRide discount – SmartRide is only available to Nationwide members who have auto insurance. With this discount you can save up to 40% when you drive safely.  All that you have to do is plug in a small device and track your discount. This device is going to measure 4 driving factors. SmartRide measures miles driven. It’s simple. The more miles that you drive the greater the chance that you get into an accident. With SmartRide the less that you drive the better and the more money that you can save. SmartRide also takes into consideration hard braking & acceleration. This program lasts approximately 4-6 months.
• Nationwide Family Plan discount – Nationwide offers a great family discount that can potentially save you up to 25% on auto insurance. What makes this discount so awesome is that anyone who lives under your roof can enjoy the same discounts that you are entitled to. If you have a large family, then this discount is going to help you save a lot of money.
• Paperless documents – When you sign up for paperless which takes 2 minutes you can save money on your auto insurance.
• Accident free discount – Depending on where that you live you can save up to 10% on your auto insurance. All that you need for this discount is to be free of all major violations for at least 5 years.
• Anti-theft device – In 2010 alone almost 750,000 vehicles were stolen. It is great to have factory-installed anti-theft devices. Not only is it a good deterrent, but it also helps you to save 5% on your auto insurance with Nationwide.
• Roadside Assistance & Roadside Assistance Plus – Up to $100 in lock-out services, gas delivery, ditch extraction service, car towing up to 15 miles, jump start a dead battery, and replace a flat tire. With Plus you will have car towing service up to 100 miles and you will also be given trip interruption coverage.

GEICO discounts

GEICO is rich in insurance features and easily beats out Nationwide in this category.

• Anti-Theft System – GEICO’s anti-theft discount allows you to save more than Nationwide. Instead of a 5% discount you are given a 25% discount.
• Good Driver Discount – Just like Nationwide GEICO offers a good driver discount for drivers who have been accident-free for 5 years or more. However, instead of a 10% discount you are given a 26% insurance discount.
• Seat Belt Use – Making a habit of always wearing your seat belt can save you 15% off the medical payments portion of your premium.
• Air Bag discount – Having airbags in your vehicle can help you to save up to 40% on the medical payments or personal injury portion of your insurance premium.
• Military discount – Are you a service man or woman? Whether you are active or retired you can save 15% on your total car insurance with GEICO’s military discount.
• Incident forgiveness – Incident forgiveness is different from accident forgiveness. With accident forgiveness your rates won’t go up after an accident. With incident forgiveness you will not have to worry about your rates going up after a traffic citation.
• Driver’s Education – Completing  a driver’s education course can earn you a discount on most GEICO coverages.
• GEICO Emergency Road Service – Jump starts, change a flat tire, lockout services, and towing. With GEICO’s mobile app you are given a GPS locator to help you to be found by their roadside assistance team.

Mobile app comparison 

Nationwide

The Nationwide app allows you to do basic things that you would expect such as pay bills, get your insurance card information, collect and exchange accident information, start claims, locate agents, and find accident help. Although the Nationwide app is easy to use it’s boring and basic compared to some other insurance apps.

GEICO

The GEICO mobile app is far more intuitive than Nationwide’s app. In fact, GEICO has the #1 rated Insurance app in the world. One of the impressive things about GEICO’s app is that along with digital ID cards, vehicle care, and the chat with an agent feature, customers will be given a virtual assistant to help them find answers to their questions.

Which is better?

Although Nationwide offers more insurance products, GEICO is the clear insurance winner. With GEICO you will receive better insurance rates, features, claims, etc.

The post Nationwide Vs GEICO first appeared on Quote Raters.

Have you been wondering; how much is car insurance in Florida per month? If so, you are in for good news. That is exactly what this article will help you to find out.

There is no real way to answer this question. 

Unless you compare quotes, which can be done in minutes, you will not find the real answer to this question. You will be able to get averages, but you will not be able to find out how much you will end up paying for auto insurance. A similar styled question would be how much will my pay check be in two weeks? Of course, you would be able to estimate how much you will make, but there are a lot of variables to this question. How many hours will you work, how much do you get paid an hour, will you do overtime, will you call off, etc. For auto insurance there are many things that you have to ask yourself as well. For example, how old are you? What part of Florida do you live in? What type of car do you drive? Are you married or are you single? What gender are you? Do you have a clean driving record? These are just a few things that insurance companies check when determining your rates. Once again, the best way to save on auto insurance is to compare rates yourself. Below we will give you an auto insurance average for Florida drivers.

Average car insurance in Florida per month

In a 2012 study, Florida had average monthly premiums of $88.50. This study done reveals the expensive cost of auto insurance in Florida. The only states that were more expensive than Florida were Washington D.C. with a $98.50 monthly average, Louisiana with a $89.67 monthly average, New Jersey with a $98.67 monthly average, and New York with a $93.50 monthly average. Another recent study done by Value Penguin reveals that Floridians are now paying $153 in monthly premiums. The average annual car insurance rate in Florida is $1,830. Once again, gender and age play a huge role in how much you will end up paying for auto insurance. I’ve noticed a trend, young female drivers pay less on car insurance than men. However, the rates become similar as both genders enter into adulthood.

Once again, these are only averages. You might end up paying more than this or you might end up less than this. If you have a bad driving record with DUI’s and tickets, then expect to pay more for car insurance. If you have a clean driving record and you have full ownership of the vehicle, then you might end up paying less.

The higher rates do not just stop on auto insurance. Floridians pay more on home insurance premiums as well. Florida is the most expensive state for home insurance due to hurricanes and other weather conditions.  Florida residents pay a little more than $170 a month for homeowner’s insurance. The above statistics reveal to use that Florida is an expensive state to live in for those shopping for insurance.

The city that you live in matters. 

What city in Florida do you need auto insurance in? Some cities in Florida actually offer decent rates compared to some other Florida cities. I’ll give you a few examples. Bradenton residents are paying over $1200 a year on auto insurance while those in Bristol, FL are paying less than $1000. Those in Miami, Florida are paying over $2000 a year on auto insurance while those in Palm Bay are paying slightly above $1000. Orlando residents pay over $1400 on their yearly insurance premium while Sanford drivers pay just a few dollars above $1200. Tampa drivers pay over $1800 on their yearly insurance policy while Tallahassee drivers pay less than $1000. Auto insurance premiums in Fort Lauderdale, which is the city that I reside in are on the expensive side. Broward County average insurance rates are slightly above $1700 a month. What is the average rate in your city? Make sure that you take the time to get a quote, which can save you hundreds on your insurance premiums.

The amount of coverage that you have also matters. 

Obviously if you choose to get full coverage you will be paying more than someone who just wants liability. If you just leased a vehicle, then you know that your leasing always requires that you have full collision and comprehensive coverage. I used to drive an older model Toyota Camry and I was able to get a low monthly rate of $50 a month for liability insurance. I remember also having to pay around $180 for full coverage for a newer model Hyundai.

What type of auto insurance do you want? Florida requires that you have $10,000 property damage liability per accident and $10,000 (PIP) personal injury protection. You can choose liability, collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection, auto medical payments, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Other types of coverage that you can get include: accident forgiveness, incident forgiveness, emergency roadside assistance, GAP insurance, personal umbrella policy (PUP), etc. You don’t need all of these insurance options. Choose the coverage that fits you best and what you are trying to do.

Discounts that you are eligible for matter as well. 

Certain car insurance discounts can help you to save 20% or more. Discounts have a huge impact on how much you end up paying in Florida. Insurance companies like State Farm and Progressive are rich in discounts. Discounts that you may apply for to lower your rates are multi-car, home and auto, membership, good student, safety features, military, safe driver, away from vehicle, prior insurance, and more depending on the company. Insurance discounts save me over 20% a year on my insurance premium.

Compare rates in Florida today

In Florida you will get good rates with many insurance companies such as State Farm and Farmers insurance. With many reputable carriers such as GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, and more, you are sure to find the right fit for you and your household.

Are you paying too much for auto insurance? If so, then don’t be afraid to switch. The most important thing you can do when finding the right insurance carrier is compare quotes. You will easily be able to save over $50 a month.

Bottom Line

In this article, we learned that insurance rates in Florida are expensive compared to most states. Floridians have to pay an average monthly insurance rate of around $153. However, rates vary per person. Depending on your city, the amount of coverage that you need, your driving history, etc. you might pay more or less on insurance. Get a quote today in minutes!

The post How Much Is Car Insurance In Florida Per Month? first appeared on Quote Raters.

In this article, we will look at the cost, features, claim reviews, mobile app, and more. For the most affordable rates get a quote.

Let’s find out about both insurance providers. 

GEICO 

GEICO has been insuring people since the 1930s. Today GEICO is the second largest home and auto insurer in the United States.

Mercury

Mercury was founded in 1961 by George Joseph. The current CEO is Gabriel Tirador.

Auto insurance rates comparison 

As I always say, it’s hard to gauge insurance prices without comparing rates. You must make sure to compare insurance rates right now to get the best possible price. My auto insurance rates in Fort  Lauderdale, FL were cheaper with GEICO than with Mercury.

Not only were they cheaper overall, but I was able to qualify for more discounts. Although their rates are decent, Mercury is not known for having the cheapest auto insurance rates. However, GEICO excels in offering low rates. Once again, someone else’s rates might not be your rates. I encourage you to compare rates today, which can help you to save 15% or more depending on your state.

Auto claims comparison 

Using J.D. Power, we will see which company is better for insurance claims. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you were to ever get into a car accident, then it’s imperative that you have a company how handles your claims with integrity and in a timely fashion. According to J.D. Power, Mercury is the better company for insurance claims. GEICO scored 870 points while Mercury scored 840 points in the overall customer satisfaction index ranking. Mercury was one out of the four companies in the bottom half of the study while GEICO was one out of seven companies in the top half of the study. In the actual U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, GEICO received 4 out of 5 Power Circles, which is better than most. Mercury received 2 out of 5 Power Circles, which is among the rest. The only auto insurance carriers that Mercury received a higher score than is COUNTRY FINANCIAL and Safeco.

Better business Bureau Accreditation

Mercury Insurance Group received an “A+” rating from BBB while GEICO received an “A-” rating. These positive scores reveal companies that will handle customer complaints well.

Financial strength comparison

Mercury

Never overlook a company’s financial strength. Companies that have a positive financial strength rating are better equipped to pay out future claims. Better financial strength means a more trustworthy insurance company. Mercury received an “A+” grade from A.M. Best. Mercury has total assets of over $4 billion and Mercury is ranked as the fourth largest private passenger automobile insurer in California.

GEICO

GEICO’S assets exceeds $32 billion. A.M. Best awarded GEICO with an A++ rating which is a better grade than Mercury. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) gave GEICO a powerful AA+ rating for financial strength. From Moody’s Investor Services GEICO received an “Aa1” rating. For 27 years in a row GEICO was listed in Ward Group’s top 50 groups of financially high-performing insurers.

Auto insurance discount comparison 

GEICO discounts

Military discount – GEICO is committed to serving active and retired members of the army. Military personnel will be able to save on their auto insurance policy with GEICO. In total, you will be able to save up to 15%.

Membership And Employee Discounts – If you are a member of one of their 500+ groups you will qualify for special savings. A few organizations that are included are Academic Room, American College of Sports Medicine, Association of American Geographers, Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Music Teachers National Association, School Nutrition Association, National Speech and Debate Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Audubon Society, Boat Owners Association of The United States, American Bass Anglers, Institute of Internal Auditors, Alameda County Bar Association, Florida Bar, Kentucky Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, National Association of Credit Management, American Probation and Parole Association, California Association for the Education of Young Children, San Diego Association of REALTORS, and more.

Multi-Car – Maybe you have more than one car in your home. You might have one for your wife, one for your son, and one for your daughter. If so, then you will be able to save up to 25% with GEICO’s multi-car discount.

Federal Employee discount – Active or retired federal employees can save up to 8% with GEICO’s awesome federal employee discount. If you qualify for this discount, then make sure to sign up for it.

Five-Year Accident-Free – This is one of the best good driver discounts that you will find among insurance carriers. With GEICO you will be able to save up to 26% on most insurance coverage. To qualify you have to be accident free for at least 5 years/60 months.

Good Student – Your teen driver can help you to save on car insurance. Full-time students who maintain a B average can save up to 15% on certain coverages. Usually policyholders who qualify range from 16 to 24 years old.

Mercury discounts 

Mercury Insurance RealDrive – When you verify how many miles that you drive you will be easily be able to save with Mercury. When you sign up you will immediately save 5% on auto insurance. The less that you drive the more that you will be able to save on auto insurance.

Alumni Association Discount – Alumni association members will be able to receive special savings from Mercury.

Good Driver Discount – Having a clean record doesn’t just look good on your license. Insurance carriers such as Mercury will be help you to save because of it.

Occupational Discount – Certain occupations will qualify for an insurance discount. The amount that you will be able to save varies.

Multi-policy discount – When you bundle your home with your auto policy you will be able to save. To qualify you can also bundle condo or renter’s insurance as well. The more that you bundle together the more that you will ultimately be able to save.

Auto Pay Discount – Setting up automatic billing will help to shave off some of your monthly auto insurance payments.

Car feature Discount – Built-in features such as electronic stability control, rear-view cameras, collision preparation systems, parking assistance, and more will help you to save on your insurance policy.

Availability comparison 

You want to make sure that your insurance provider is available in your state. Mercury is only available in 11 states. The 11 states that Mercury Insurance is available in includes Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. If you do not live in any of these states, you will not be able to use Mercury.

GEICO is available Nationwide. Not only is GEICO available in all states of the U.S. but GEICO is also available in Mexico, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Spain, and more.

Roadside assistance comparison 

Mercury

With Mercury you will be able to extend the life of your vehicle for up to 100,000 miles. The Mercury Mechanical Protection plan gives you benefits such as 24-hour Roadside Assistance, Rental Vehicle Assistance, Road Hazard Tire Protection, Trip Interruption Coverage, transferrable coverage, and more.

GEICO 

Roadside assistance coverage with GEICO is going to cost you $14 a year for each vehicle. Emergency roadside service covers jump stars, towing, flat tires, and lockouts.

Mobile app comparison 

GEICO 

GEICO has the more intuitive app of the two insurance companies. With features such as Digital ID cars, a personal virtual assistant, Vehicle care, gas finder, accident assistance, and more. GEICO has arguable the best auto insurance app in the world.

Mercury

Mercury Portal helps Mercury customers to view their policy information, request auto policy changes, contact your agent, pay your bill, and more.

Bottom line

I believe GEICO comes out on top in this insurance comparison. However, before making any decisions make sure that you compare quotes now which can be done in under 3 minutes.

The post GEICO Vs Mercury first appeared on Quote Raters.

History

Amica Mutual is a Rhode Island-based mutual insurance carrier that was founded in 1907 by A.T. Vigneron. The current CEO is Robert A. DiMuccio.

Farmers Insurance Group was founded in 1928 by John C. Tyler and Thomas E. Leavey. The current CEO of the company is Jeffrey J. Dailey.

Car insurance rates comparison

The state that you live in might be a huge factor in how much you pay on auto insurance and which company offers cheaper rates to you. You will never find the same rates with any company because different auto insurance companies rate individuals differently and different companies offer different discounts that you may be eligible for. Insurance carriers will take a look at your credit history, your age, driving habits, driving history, gender, and more when giving you rates. Knowing this, the only way to truly compare prices between Amica and Farmers is to compare quotes today, which can save you 10% or more on auto insurance.

Auto insurance claims comparison

The U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study rates the top insurance companies. Amica Mutual was the highest rated auto insurance company in the study. In the Auto Claims Satisfaction Study Amica received 5 out of 5 Power Circles in almost every category. Farmers received 3 out of 5 Power Circles in almost every category. In the Index Ranking Amica received 901 points out of 1000 points. Farmers received 849 points out of 1000 points. According to J.D. Power, Amica does slightly better in the claims comparison.

Home insurance claims comparison 

Amica received 5 out of 5 Power Circles in every category of the J.D. Power Home Insurance Study. The only other insurance carrier to receive 5 out of 5 Power Circles was USAA. Farmers received 3 out of 5 Power Circles in the study.

Customer complaints 

Better Business Bureau takes into consideration type of business, failure to honor commitments to BBB, government Action (per action), BBB Trademark Infringement, complaint resolution delayed, and more.

Farmers Insurance Group has had BBB accreditation since 06/01/1951. Farmers received an “A+” grade from Better Business Bureau. Amica Mutual Insurance Company received BBB accreditation in 01/01/1957. Amica also received an “A+” financial strength rating.

Financial strength comparison

A.M. Best, which is a leading insurance rating agency gave Amica an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating. Farmers received an “A” rating from A.M. Best. From S&P Farmers received an A+ rating and from Moody’s Farmers received an “A2” rating.

Having a stable company by your side is crucial. These great financial strength scores reveal to us that both companies are equipped to pay out any claims that you might have in the future.

Insurance discounts and features 

Amica policy discounts 

Loyalty discount – Those who have been with an auto insurer for multiple years will qualify for this insurance discount. The amount that you will be able to save varies.

Multi-line – Combining auto with home, life, renters, condo, or umbrella insurance will help you to save 15% with Amica.

Multiple auto – Insuring multiple vehicles will usually result in savings with any company. Amica Mutual is not your average company. With Amica you will be able to save up to 25%.

Legacy – If your parents have been Amica policyholders for 5 years or more and you are under 30 years old, then you will qualify for this discount.

Home ownership – Are you a homeowner? If the answer is yes, then you may be able to receive a discount with Amica.

Forward-collision warning – Does your car have a collision-avoidance feature? If so, then you will easily be able to save with Amica.

Claim-free – Insurance companies give discounts to drivers who are claim-free. With Amica if you have had no claims in the past 36 months other than glass or towing, then you will be able to save.

Farmers Policy discounts

Multi-line Discounts – If you make Farmers your one stop shop for insurance, then you will be able to save.

Alternative Fuel – You can save if you have a vehicle that uses alternative fuel. For example, electric/ gasoline hybrid, ethanol, methanol, compressed natural gas, etc.

Good Student – College students with a 3.0 GPA or A/B students will qualify for this discount.

Good Driver – Having a clean driving record can mean extra savings with Farmers.

Senior Defensive Driving – 55 year old drivers or older who complete a Department of Motor Vehicles approved driver safety course, may save more on auto insurance.

Business and Professional Group – Being a member of a qualifying professional occupation or business group can result in savings. This discount applies to you or your spouse. A few of the professions included on the Farmers list include teachers, nurses, engineers and more.

Loyalty Discount – If you have been with Farmers for three consecutive years, then you will be able to qualify for their loyalty discount.

Accident/Incident Forgiveness – Accident and incident forgiveness are two awesome coverage options to have. With accident forgiveness if you are in an accident, then you will not have to worry about your insurance rates rising. With Incident forgiveness, your insurance rates will not rise when you receive a citation.

Roadside assistance comparison 

Amica 

If you ever have trouble on the road you will be able to use Amica Mutual roadside assistance for towing, changing flat tires, jump starts, delivering fuel, and unlocking car doors. Without this coverage, you will have to pay out of pocket for any services.

Farmers

Farmers roadside assistance allows you to receive emergency towing of up to $150, dead battery/jump-start, flat tire change, lockout entry assistance, and roadside winching for when your vehicle is stuck in ice, snow, and mud.

Mobile app comparison

Amica

Amica’s mobile app is available for iPhone and Android. To create an online account, you will need to go to Amica.com. You cannot do it on the app. Amica’s app has various features that you will love such as the quick pay feature, access policy information, report and tracking a claim, request emergency repair services, easily find a taxi or rental car service with their GPS feature, contact an Amica representative, and more.

Farmers

The new and improved Farmers Insurance app received great reviews online. Currently the new app has over 100,000 downloads. With the app, you are able to instantly view ID cards, pay bills quickly, connect with your insurance agent, and more.

Bottom line

Whether you are a teen driver who needs insurance or an older driver both companies are great choices. They both do well in several categories, but Amica does better in auto and home insurance claims. I encourage you to check which company gives you better rates. Compare rates now!

The post Amica Vs Farmers first appeared on Quote Raters.

The jingle alone, ‘Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there’, has been their calling card for decades and illustrates the kind of service they strive to provide each customer.

Most people have heard of State Farm but you may not know all that they offer and whether they would be a good choice to handle your own insurance needs.  The information provided below will give you a detailed look at this popular insurance company so you can decide if they are right for your needs.

History of State Farm 

State Farm was founded by a retired insurance salesman and farmer George Jacob Mecherle, known to others as G.J. back in 1922.  When they first started out they were a single-line insurance company for automobiles.  Now this well-known company insures more homes and automobiles than any other US insurance company.

Mercherle had a vision for his company to do the right things for their customers and run the company fairly.  They have stuck with that original vision and much more.  State Farm currently holds spot #33 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest US companies for 2017.

Over the years, State Farm has been a leader in efforts to improve auto safety by helping to get multiple seat belt laws passed. They continue that endeavor by being an active advocate for teen driving safety and seat belt safety. There are now nearly 19,000 State Farm agent offices on and offline, making the statement ‘State Farm is there’ more than true.

Financial strength

State Farm has been financially strong, paying their customer’s claims reliably and promptly since the very beginning back in 1922.  The financial strength of an insurance company is very important. State Farm excels in this area with excellent ratings from both A.M. Best and S&P Global, two of the most well-known insurance rating companies around.

Their A++ rating with A.M. Best is the highest rating an insurance company can get.  They achieved this rating because of their performance in operations and their excellent financial condition.  Their AA rating with S&P Global is earned from their superior claim-paying ability.

State Farm’s assets include a net worth of $97 billion at year’s end in 2017 up from 2016’s total net worth of 87.6 billion. The total assets of the company are $241,183 billion US dollars.

State Farm home insurance rates 

There are several factors that are considered when it comes to getting a home insurance policy. There is no ‘one-rate-fits-all’ with any insurance company.  State Farm’s home insurance rates will vary depending on what you want to cover, the deductible you choose, and other factors.

The only way to get an accurate rate quote is to speak to an agent over the phone or in person or you can go online and get a quote. The quote will involve answering several questions about the type of coverage you are looking for, what you want to include in that coverage, and the value of the home and its furnishings.

Homeowner’s insurance coverage options 

There are many different coverage options that you will be able to choose from.  State Farm offers coverage for homeowners that can include losses to the property due to many different forms of weather, non-weather related losses including vandalism and theft, and what is called accidental direct physical loss that includes such things as damage to the heating and cooling systems, water damage from faulty plumbing, etc.

State Farm additionally offers insurance coverage for condominium owners, renter’s insurance, manufactured home coverage, and farm/ranch insurance that includes coverage over your farm home and its contents, the personal property of the farm, farm buildings and structures, and more.

Keep in mind that insurance coverage may NOT cover intentional harm or damage to property or people. It also may not cover business services that you conduct out of your home.  This will require business owner’s insurance. To get the best and most accurate idea of what insurance will cost, you will need to contact a State Farm agent so you can tell them exactly what you need.

Insurance products available 

State Farm offers a variety of insurance coverage including:

• Vehicle Insurance – Includes motorcycle, boat, car, motorhome, and off-road options.
• Home & Property – Includes manufactured home, condo, farm or ranch, renters, and traditional homeowner offerings.
• Life Insurance – Includes term, whole and universal life policies with different options within each including final expenses, survivorship, and other products.
• Health & Disability – Includes short and long-term disability, and individual credit disability. Health insurance options include Medicare supplement insurance, individual medical coverage and supplemental health insurance.
• Small business – Small business insurance coverage is based on the type of business you own so it is tailored to fit what you need specifically. The agent you speak with will get information about your type of business and design coverage that works great for your industry.

Home Insurance claims 

• Claims comparison – When it comes to claims, State Farm has earned high ratings from two well-known insurance rating companies and for good reason. On the J.D. Power site they are on par with the majority of others.
• Homeowners – For home insurance policies, State Farm performed about average when compared to others in all areas. They are very consistent in how they handle things and ensure a stable process the whole way through.
• Property Claims – When it comes to property claims, State Farm performs better than most other insurance companies and is among the best when it comes to the estimation process.
• Automobile – For automobile coverage, State Farm performs about average when compared to others and is better than most when it comes to the representatives handling the different claims.

BBB Complaints Rating

State Farm holds an A- rating with the BBB and is not accredited with the BBB.  There have been 1,420 complaints total with 122 in advertising and sales, 346 in billing and collections, 30 with delivery issues, 915 with products and services, and 7 with warranties and guarantees.  In the last three years 1420 complaints have been closed.

State Farm discounts and features

Although discounts will vary by state, State Farm offers the opportunity for many discounts if you qualify.  These potential discounts can include safe driving discounts, active military service member discounts. Multiple vehicle, veteran discounts, multiple insurance bundle discounts, and students.  Your agent will be able to determine which discounts you may be eligible for so you can enjoy even more savings.

Locations served 

There are over 19,000 State Farm agent offices across the US to choose from. These include community offices, online and offline offerings. With so many offices and agents to choose from, chances are no matter where you are in the US you can find a State Farm Insurance Agent.

Mobile app 

The State Farm mobile app offers users the ability to perform a variety of tasks regarding insurance.  You will be able to manage your insurance and State Farm banking accounts, get roadside assistance, contact your agent, access your ID cards and even save money with the communities section that offers deals on travel, entertainment, fitness, dining and electronics.

Website

There is a lot you can do on the State Farm website once you are a customer. You will be able to access your account, see your policy, make changes, email your agent, add a vehicle or remove one, pay your bill, print out ID cards and Dec pages and much more.  The site is easy to navigate and makes accessing your insurance policy super easy. If you are not a customer yet, you will be able to find out a little about the products State Farm offers but to get any real information you will need to get a quote which you can do for free right on the website.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a reliable insurance company that has been around for decades, State Farm is an excellent choice.  Since day one the company has aspired to fulfill their mission of taking care of every customer by providing them fair rates, special discounts, rewards for good driving, ease of use, fast claims, and help every step of the way. The rates are competitive and the coverage offerings are expansive. You will certainly be able to find what you are looking for when it comes to all your insurance coverage needs.

The post State Farm Home Insurance Review first appeared on Quote Raters.