Why are car insurance companies quoting me rates at more than the value of my car?

[mobilehaathi]

OP are you sure they quoted you 1500 per month? Are you sure they weren't quoting you a 6 month or year rate? It is just hard to figure out how you could possibly be charged an order of magnitude more than any rate I've every heard of. It isn't like you're driving a bloody Ferrari.

 

[heehee]

How many quotes did you get? How many miles per year and did you have any claims/tickets have you had?

 

[snberk103]

I think that so long as the child is still claimed as a dependent on taxes everything is fine.
....

I don't believe that is the case. There is very specific language in the policies insurance companies issue. If there is a large claim made on the policy the insurance company looks for reasons to not pay it out... and invalid residency declarations are an easy excuse. So, you end up paying a huge amount in premiums... for no coverage. Which can bankrupt the driver - and the parents if the driver has put someone into hospital due to negligence.

Plus now the parents may get audited by the IRS to confirm residency/dependant status.

 

[ejb190]

The other thing to look at is your credit rating. Like it or not, a lot of insurance companies use your FICO score or some variant of it as a factor in your insurance rates.

 

[dukebound85]

1500? I'm 26 and have had a very bad driving record and mine is only $78 per month full coverage.

No kidding. I'm 27 and I pay less than 500
a year for full coverage with high coverage limits andlow deductibles. I bought my car brand new a year and a half ago too.

Not sure what your driving record is but it must be something aweful op

 

[gnasher729]

Lots of my students are being quoted £4000 for a £200 car, 3rd party fire and theft. They can reduce their insurance a lot though by having a black box fitted.

Something needs to be done, as it is ageism, pure and simple..... There was a similar problem with females being quoted much less than males over here, but all that happened was that female quotes went up to the same price as male quotes

I have seen one relative getting a car on a Friday and destroying it on the Saturday. And while the family talked about it, someone said that his son managed to write his car off on the very first day, so one day without crash was comparatively good. Statistically, 3.3% of drivers cause about 25% of accidents, which makes them about 10 times more likely to cause accidents.

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OP are you sure they quoted you 1500 per month? Are you sure they weren't quoting you a 6 month or year rate? It is just hard to figure out how you could possibly be charged an order of magnitude more than any rate I've every heard of. It isn't like you're driving a bloody Ferrari.

In the UK, someone was quoted £24,000. Which I wouldn't interpret as "we want to charge £24,000 a year to insure you", but "we do not want to insure you at any cost" .

 

[Eraserhead]

the "full coverage" may be part of the problem.

Certainly in the UK getting full coverage can be cheaper than getting third party fire and theft only.

I've been quoted £2,000 (~$3,000) a year for a car that's worth £100 (~$150) before.

Because you might well crash into another car, and that might well cost a lot more than £2000.

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The quotes I received were for a smart car.

Why don't you just get the train and use a bike to get to the train station?

 

[mobilehaathi]

In the UK, someone was quoted £24,000. Which I wouldn't interpret as "we want to charge £24,000 a year to insure you", but "we do not want to insure you at any cost" .

That would certainly be my interpretation. But if we take OP at their word that they have a spotless driving record....

I suspect we don't have the whole story, which isn't to suggest that OP is lying or concealing something. Perhaps they don't know the whole story either.

 

[robbieduncan]

That would certainly be my interpretation. But if we take OP at their word that they have a spotless driving record....

I suspect we don't have the whole story, which isn't to suggest that OP is lying or concealing something. Perhaps they don't know the whole story either.

I've had a few "we simply don't want your business" quotes. Doesn't mean that more reasonable quotes aren't out there...

 

[samiwas]

Wow. We pay $117/month for TWO cars. One is a 1-1/2 year old SUV, and the other is a 9-1/2 year old small SUV. I'm 38 and my wife is 31. But even before she turned 25, her insurance wasn't much higher than it is now.

$1500/month sounds like "yeah, we just want you to go away". Is there not more to this story?

 

[Nermal]

Certainly in the UK getting full coverage can be cheaper than getting third party fire and theft only.

That boggles the mind. My third-party is $135/year...

 

[zioxide]

1500 a month?? no way. there's something wrong.

I'm 24, 3 year old subaru (~$27k car when new), full coverage because I still have a loan on it, and my insurance is $80 a month. Just over $1000 for the entire year.

There's no possible way you should be being quoted 18,000 a year on insurance. You either read it wrong or there's some bigger problem here.

 

[Hummer]

Why don't you just get the train and use a bike to get to the train station?

Because a 30 minute commute with 30 pounds of gear in a car is much easier than a 3 hour commute with 30 pounds of gear on a bicycle.

For those of you asking, here are two of my quotes. I did find a much better one:

 

[pvmacguy]

Have you looked into quotes on different vehicles? Insurance companies may see smart cars also as a high risk coverage. What about a volvo or if your looking for fuel economy a prius c or w/e that entry level prius is now.

What about a used car? There has to be cheaper options. Also have you actually visited an insurance agent at an office? They may be able to tell you more info.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Lol! "Affordable and streamlined" only $500/mo!

Wow those are some seriously expensive insurance quotes.

 

[yg17]

Because a 30 minute commute with 30 pounds of gear in a car is much easier than a 3 hour commute with 30 pounds of gear on a bicycle.

For those of you asking, here are two of my quotes. I did find a much better one:

Image
Image

Jesus ****ing Christ

You may want to consider contacting an insurance agent - maybe they'd be able to figure out why the rates are so damned high.

 

[eric/]

I literally pay $78/month for right around the same coverage.

That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. Are you sure you don't have multiple drunk driving convictions?

 

[samiwas]

Jesus ****ing Christ

You may want to consider contacting an insurance agent - maybe they'd be able to figure out why the rates are so damned high.

Agreed. Do this. There is something seriously wrong here, and you need someone who actually knows why the quotes are so high to explain it to you. There's no reason, even under age 25 with a Smart car, that you should be paying nearly 13 times what I am for two cars.

There are nearly 40 State Farm agents in the NYC area that you can walk right into the office and ask. I never call my agent. I always go to the office.

 

[notjustjay]

I agree that the highest rate looks like a "go away, we don't want your business" quote.

Unfortunately it looks like you've got a worst-case scenario going on:

- male
- under 25
- you've asked for "full coverage"
- brand new car
- relatively desirable car
- business commuting (vs pleasure driving only)
- big city
- someone said lease vs buy was a factor, I don't know if that's true

Ways to reduce the rates (not all of which will work for you):
- get a cheaper car, something generic like a Honda Civic or Hyundai Accent
- get a used beater car and insure it for liability only
- if you do have comprehensive insurance, take a higher deductible ($1000, say)
- do not buy additional coverage "upgrades" like rental car insurance or "first one's on us" type of things if you don't need them
- ensure you use snow tires if your carrier offers a discount for using them (I don't know if that's a big deal in NYC; it is in Ontario)
- combine the policy with your home insurance if applicable
- move to a suburb
- suck it up or wait it out, rates should drop like a rock after you turn 25

Good luck! I'd buy a Smart car too (or maybe a Fiat 500!) if I could justify a small commuter car.

I currently drive a 2012 Subaru Forester (which is sort of exploiting a loophole because the Forester is very SUV-like, but insurance classifies it as a station wagon!), full coverage, $1000 deductible, and I pay about $70/month (Cdn). Male, mid-30's. This includes a small discount for using winter tires and bundling my home insurance.

 

[zioxide]

I agree that the highest rate looks like a "go away, we don't want your business" quote.

Unfortunately it looks like you've got a worst-case scenario going on:

- male
- under 25
- you've asked for "full coverage"
- brand new car
- relatively desirable car
- business commuting (vs pleasure driving only)
- big city
- someone said lease vs buy was a factor, I don't know if that's true

All of those points cover me (except business use) and, like I said earlier in the thread, I only pay about $80 a month. (No way business use alone makes increase by 500-1000%). Something has to be off here. Like others have said, the OP should either call on the phone or go to an office so you can speak with an actual person and determine what your best quote could be.

When I got my car, I checked quotes online and they were much higher than the insurance company ended up actually giving me once I called them and actually set it up.

Lease vs buy isn't a factor itself, but if you lease or buy with a loan you have to carry full coverage because you don't hold the title. If you pay for the entire car straight up (so you actually own it right away), you can cover it however you wish as long as you have the minimum liability in your state.

I currently drive a 2012 Subaru Forester (which is sort of exploiting a loophole because the Forester is very SUV-like, but insurance classifies it as a station wagon!), full coverage, $1000 deductible, and I pay about $70/month (Cdn). Male, mid-30's. This includes a small discount for using winter tires and bundling my home insurance.

Subaru rocks. I have an 09 Legacy and it's awesome.

OP should go check out the Impreza and the Honda Civic. Both a little cheaper than the smart car for the base model, get around 40mpg, and you'll actually have some room in the thing for passengers or stuff. A smart car is just a glorified go-cart imo.

 

[yg17]

Just for S&G's, I'm with Progressive and quoted replacing my vehicle (2012 Acura TSX) with a 2013 Smart car and my premium went down $227 every 6 months.

Granted, there are a ton of differences in our situation, but I'm not sure if the Smart car is the problem. Either that, or a TSX would cost you $2,000/month to insure.

I wouldn't buy a Smart car anyways. It has an EPA estimated 38 MPG highway, which, frankly, is terrible for a car that size with an engine that small. I was surprised when I looked it up, I was expecting it to be 50+. You can do much better than 38 MPG and still have a car capable of carrying 4 passengers with stuff in the trunk.

 

[zioxide]

I wouldn't buy a Smart car anyways. It has an EPA estimated 38 MPG highway, which, frankly, is terrible for a car that size with an engine that small. I was surprised when I looked it up, I was expecting it to be 50+. You can do much better than 38 MPG and still have a car capable of carrying 4 passengers with stuff in the trunk.

That's it??? Wow, pretty pathetic.

I was expecting the glorified go-cart to get 50 minimum. 38 is awful for something that small. My dad's Civic (2011, last year before redesign) gets over 40 in real world application and they have gotten even better with the redesign they did for 2012/13. I'd imagine you could get at least 43 or so on the highway with the new ones. Even the '13 Impreza with all-wheel drive gets 36-38, and both of these are real cars with seats for 4 normal people (not midgets) and a trunk that has room for more than a loaf of bread.

Not to mention the fact that if you get hit in one of those things you'll probably be dead.

 

[puma1552]

That's it??? Wow, pretty pathetic.

I was expecting the glorified go-cart to get 50 minimum. 38 is awful for something that small. My dad's Civic (2011, last year before redesign) gets over 40 in real world application and they have gotten even better with the redesign they did for 2012/13. I'd imagine you could get at least 43 or so on the highway with the new ones. Even the '13 Impreza with all-wheel drive gets 36-38, and both of these are real cars with seats for 4 normal people (not midgets) and a trunk that has room for more than a loaf of bread.

Not to mention the fact that if you get hit in one of those things you'll probably be dead.

You can get 45 in a diesel Jetta or full size Passat and not drive a tin can death trap too.

OP, don't get your quotes online, call the companies and talk to someone for a quote. Don't even mention your online quote, just call them up like it's your first time and ask for a quote. No way it should be remotely close to that. No way. Also, I'd stop with cut-rate/internet/heavy TV advertising companies, they usually aren't that good anyway.

 

[rever3nce]

Those are crazy numbers, even if you're just 22. Any tickets or chargeable accidents? It might be cheaper to use a rental car instead.

I too had this situation come upon me a week ago. I got "benefits" through work and called metlife to see what I could do. They wanted 2K a month or something crazy like that. I pay $150 for progressive right now. IDK where they are getting these numbers from, but it's not correct lol.

Basically the guy was nice and said it's going to be that way till you turn 25 and your rates go down. No tickets and No accidents for me either.

 

[zioxide]

You can get 45 in a diesel Jetta or full size Passat and not drive a tin can death trap too..

Yup. I actually test drove a 13 Passat TDI with my grandfather a couple of weeks ago. They get upwards of 50 on the highway.

Keep in mind though, diesel (at least near me) is 60-70 cents more expensive per gallon than 87 octane gasoline.

My grandfather is trying to choose between the Passat TDI and the '13 Accord. We did the calculations, and taking into account the extra cost of the TDI (about 1400 more than the Accord v6) it would take him 12 and a half years to start actually saving money.

They're great cars no doubt, and the diesel engines are great (so is getting 800 miles on a single tank), but don't fall into the trap of "It gets 45-50mpg" without realizing that it's also going to cost you more each time you fill up the tank. You need to drive ALOT to actually realize the savings with the diesel.