To my fellow USAA members, have you experienced large increases to your premiums in the last year on Auto insurance? We are in FL in a low crime county.
Mine increased 16% this year - no claims and aside from a new car, no changes to the policy.
My son is dropping USAA after a 35% increase(total) the last two years (he's 28) also with no fault on his part. He's switching to GEICO or Progressive which could never touch USAA in the past - both about 30% less.
USAA could offer no reasonable explanation about my increase. In fact when I called, the rep said the FL Insurance Commissioner mandated the increase. When I called the Insurance Commissioner's office, I was told in no uncertain terms that they do not mandate rate increases, merely approve or deny requests. (Did I mis-hear the rep?)
Did any non USAA people experience large premium increases without cause?
This is correct. If USAA told you otherwise, they're mistaken/lying.
I will say, however, that their service is first rate. In a past work life, I dealt with them frequently as a vendor and the homeowners we worked with never had anything but praise for their claims process, and we always got our checks in a timely manner. Definitely couldn't say that about a lot of the insurers we dealt with.
so there was no benefit to using them other than the annual dividend (if they outperformed the estimates and they usually did).
Liberty Mutual offered me a discount through my employer and then when they jacked up their rates I switched to Arbella, but all through an independent agent.
I checked out USAA, Progressive, GEICO and a few others. GEICO saved us 40% over the premium we had been paying. The others offered some savings, but couldn't even come close to GEICO.
I will say, however, that their service is first rate. In a past work life, I dealt with them frequently as a vendor and the homeowners we worked with never had anything but praise for their claims process, and we always got our checks in a timely manner. Definitely couldn't say that about a lot of the insurers we dealt with.
Their service is first rate. No quibbling or nit picking.
Just find this increase unwarranted.
I checked GEICO for myself and they were more expensive.
I guess I better do some due diligence.
Again their service is great. 3 months after we moved into our house, we had a homeowners claim. We had a serious underground gas leak which necessitated PG&E shutting off our gas. USAA stepped in, put us up in a hotel and authorized repairs. No paperwork, no inspection, no bullshit. Auto claims have been handled similarly. One phone call, then I can take my car to one of their authorized repair shops or get a cash settlement. I've always opted to use their repair shops. No delays, no paperwork and no nonsense.
This is true of almost all insurance quotes I have ever gotten when I have tried to shop around.
Needless to say, been a Geico auto insurance customer for 16 years or so.