Auto Insurance in Detroit

[karl jr.]

I'm looking for a new policy, any recommendations?

[Chub]

USAA if you qualify.

[jt1]

I'm looking for a new policy, any recommendations?

AAA in the Dime building. BUndle homeowners/renters and auto. If you go with higher deductibles you should see rates equivalent to what you would get in the burbs

[Hamtragedy]

Agree with jt1. Bundling is about the only way to get a decent rate. Paying a year in advance gets another discount from some carriers, [[such as AutoOwners). I found AAA to be pretty expensive though.

Otherwise, expect to get red-lined. Average credit scores and points on your record?....bend over....you'll be making a payment equal-to or more than your car payment. In Detroit, you are essentially paying for the 50% or more of the driving public that don't have insurance, mostly because they can't afford it. The average person in Detroit who has decent credit, owns a house, owns a car, and pays for health insurance, can expect to shell-out @ $8000 a year to the insurance companies.

Yippie.

[fryar]

I rode into town 5 years ago with AllState, making payments on my car loan, meaning the bank required me to get comprehensive and collision coverage, which in turn resulted in laughable premiums, given that I walked to work and drove the car like 3 days a month, which of course would not be taken into consideration in determining the premium. I did find that AAA's rate of somewhere around $250 per month, though still 30%+ more than the car payment, was noticeably better. I had heard that from some other people as well. That said, I'm not surprised some have had the opposite experience - it seems to be a bit of a crap-shoot, really.

The real difference in insurance rates came when I wised up and traded down, exchanging my relatively nice car+loan for a 1999 Saturn, which I have been driving since. My rate [[sans comprehensive and collision) went way down to like $50/month. Also, once you get rid of comprehensive and collision coverage, going from state minimum coverage levels to maxing out all of the things that someone could sue you for - property damage, or I don't know what - made a completely negligible difference in my premiums. I pay more now, in Connecticut - which, that's marginally more, like $20/mo, but hey, who'd-a-thunk-it.

So I say, go with a smart and sensible car. Once the FMV of the car exceeds the deductible by a negligible amount, the decision gets real easy. Besides, who you trying to impress that you have to bleed big bucks for that ride?

[Zacha341]

Hanover Citizens works for me:

http://www.hanover.com/thg/citizens/

Before that I was with a company called Michigan Millers.... who paid off great for an big damage car accident I was in...

I've given up on the big brand name insurance companies more than decade ago. If the the insurance company has tv commercials I steer away [[pardon the pun). They have to pass that advertising cost on to the consumer.

And you're already penalized with sky high insurance rates [[even just for no-fault) if you live in Detroit proper or most of the inner ring suburbs. I do purchase Alstate or AAA for towing service ala cart. But cannot afford those big name companies for my car insurance.

I'm looking for a new policy, any recommendations?

[MizMotown]

Get a quote from Unitrin Direct. They have saved me big bucks!

[BrushStart]

Anyone have anything more they can offer on the topic of affordable car insurance in Detroit? Suggested companies?

I know there is legislation to bring the cost down in the city, but I really don't have time to wait around to see what happens in Lansing.

[Neilr]

What jt1 said. I switched to AAA several years ago and my rated dropped to half of what I was paying MEMIC. I went through their office in the Dime Building [[the lobby of the Dime is well worth a visit). They do check driving records and credit scores. My policies are not bundled, however.

[Zacha341]

As I stated before lower-rate insurance can be found but not with the big name folks! Try the leads I mentioned below also try using a local underwriter - I had good luck with finding lower insurance thru:

Valenti Trobec Chandler
www.vtcins.com/

Hanover Citizens works for me:

http://www.hanover.com/thg/citizens/

Before that I was with a company called Michigan Millers.... who paid off great for an big damage car accident I was in...

I've given up on the big brand name insurance companies more than decade ago. If the the insurance company has tv commercials I steer away [[pardon the pun). They have to pass that advertising cost on to the consumer.

And you're already penalized with sky high insurance rates [[even just for no-fault) if you live in Detroit proper or most of the inner ring suburbs. I do purchase Alstate or AAA for towing service ala cart. But cannot afford those big name companies for my car insurance.