I have three teenagers and car insurance!! UGH

by InsTeacher » Fri Mar 14, 2008 04:43 pm

OK Community...time to help out the ol' InsTeacher. I have three teenagers, a 16 yr. old daughter, a 17 yr. old son and a 19 yr. old daughter. I also have car insurance. The entire household has clean MVRs, and the 16 yr old and 17 yr. old qualify for good student rates, the 17 yr. old had driver's education. We are married, mult-car homeowner, and would like a multi-policy discount. Home has zero underwriting problems, and no HO losses ever (well, since 1989 or so).

My car insurance rates suck, at least in my opinion. SO...here's the question!

Do ANY OF YOU know a carrier (Pacific Northwest region) that gives decent rates for my exposure situation?

4 vehicles total, 2 full coverage/2 liability only. Carrying $500k CSL, 250/500 comp/collision deducts, UMBI @ $500k, 25k UMPD, plus the typical endorsements. All "normal" cars- nothing "hot" or collectors, etc. Hondas, Toyotas, VWs. Credit excellent, nothing on CLUE.

I'm going crazy. Renewal date doesn't matter, I have no problem switching mid-term.

I'm paying more than $4000 a year, and it's killing me. HELP!

Total Comments: 26

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:01 pm Post Subject:

I have three teenagers, a 16 yr. old daughter, a 17 yr. old son and a 19 yr. old daughter.

What I want to know is do you have any hair (or money) left? :lol:

fireyone...

I thought under insurance was meant to cover more than just property damage. right or wrong?

Under insured motorist and Uninsured motorist are two TOTALLY different things...'under' applies to the at fault party being insured just not high enough limits, 'un'insured means, well that the at fault party is uninsured...

Ins. teach...You could (if orgeon allows) exclude the kids from mom and dad's cars (or the more expensive one)...carry high liablity and if you must carry coll/comp on the kids cars have the highest deducts possible...(told you my moronic story, i raised my deducts and can't believe how much I saved..recouped the difference in little over a year! I'm still kicking myself over that one!)....

are you wanting (i assume) a company that can write everything including your HO as to get the mulitline discount? Have you tried American Family? Do they operate in OR? I'm thinking they do but could be wrong...sorry dude, I didn't have three but I had a boy and girl teen at the same time...We bought them safe, but older vehicles and carried high liablity limits ONLY...no coll/comp or UMPD....and they paid the premiums..(I did not have to exclude them as they were rated on their own vehicles thus no 'bad' rate on our cars and they could still drive them in a pinch)....

carriers that don't hate teenagers

:lol: Don't think one of those exsist....think they all hate teenagers(drivers)... :roll: I know it's frustrating but don't have to tell you the reason...sucks for the kids that can actually drive....been there done that, but couldn't buy the hat or tee shirt cause i was broke!

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:10 pm Post Subject:

ins teach...found this cool page on your states DOI site...

http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/ins/publications/consumer/2085_survey.pdf

It actually shows side by side rate comparisons for companies in your state! Soooooooo cool...with differing needs and scenrios...as well as different areas of the state...it is freakin' awesome, and should save you tons and tons of time.....I think if you go thru this you should be able to easily 'narrow' it down to a few companies then contact those companies directly for quotes......this one is for auto they also have one for HO...Let me know if this helped...and good luck brother!

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 01:41 pm Post Subject:

Lori...I have both uninsured and underinsured both on my policy..just took a look at it. I understand the difference between the two now. I feel for the OP about teenage drivers. I haven't had to go through it yet. Didn't they recently pass some law about now 18 is the legal driving age? I'm not sure but I thought I heard something about it.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 01:21 am Post Subject:

Wow three teen drivers at once, I am curious, is everyone working and helping you pay the insurance? If all three got a small job and pitched in it would help you no matter what your rates were. Is there anyway you can get the 19 year old their own policy? The sooner they start on their own policy the better for them right? I feel for you, really, gosh I think people have outrageous rates for one teen and you have three. Good luck I hope the site that Lori listed for you helps you out. :D :D

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 02:12 pm Post Subject:

If a teen is listed on your insurance and after a couple years they got their own policy at the same company I wonder if this would do anything to help them out? Goodnatured..the three job thing is a wonderful idea. Getting them to help pay will also get them use to having to pay for insurance on their own since eventually they would have to do it anyway.

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:35 am Post Subject:

Right fireyone, insurance can kill you with teens and if they truly see what it costs for them to drive they may be a little more careful. I don't think paying it for them and telling them how much it costs would affect a teen, they still see it as YOUR insurance, because it is YOUR bill, just like the electric, heat and everything else in the household that you provide for them that is a need. Their driving is a privilidge so I think they really need to be aware of that and that it cost a fortune to have them on the policy and that the privilidge can be taken away at any time.

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:24 pm Post Subject:

You got that right goodnatured. I preached to my teen for years about leaving lights on, turning the heat up to 90 in the winter and then running around in shorts. Even showing him the bills never got me anywhere. I just got a smart ass answer like "it's your bill, pay it". After several warnings and more comments like that I decided I could be a smarty pants too. Change all the bulbs to low watt. If anything had over one bulb I removed all the others, went to a home improvement store and bought a box that goes over the thermostat. I set the thermostat at 72 and locked it up. This may sound drastic but My heating and electric was through the roof. Especially when he decided he was too hot after turning it up and instead of turning it back down he would just open his window (in the middle of winter). Now he is on his own and seeing how it is. Teach them young to pay. You have to give them heat and electric but not a license. If they want to drive let them help pay toward that luxury.

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:50 pm Post Subject:

Anyone who has ever had teenagers knows that they have ZERO clue on what the value of a dollar truly is, unless and until they actually have to go out and EARN ONE! :? It's amazing how money gets really expensive when you have to pay for something yourself! :shock:

With my kids, they have some choices. My wife and I firmly believe that education is hugely important, unless you like minimum wage! So, we've made a "deal" with the kids: stay on honor roll, have a job to pay for gas, oil and maintenance, no activity on the MVRs and we will pay for their insurance. Fall off honor roll, get a ticket or get into an at-fault wreck and it's all on the kid. If the kid has a problem with that, it's no problem with us- you aren't driving anymore! How do the words "mass transit" sit with you, kid?

So far, we've been lucky. No tickets or wrecks, but I do believe, as the parent of teenagers, that it's only a matter of time before "stupid" creeps in. Every kid does "stupid" at some point in time, I think it's written into their genetic code!

InsTeacher 8)

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:05 pm Post Subject:

You made me smile ins. teacher. I tried all kind of bribes with my teen. Nothing worked..and I never signed for him to get a license. You are definately correct about education..It should always be top priority. Glad to know their are still parents out there like myself. Keep up the good work.

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:36 pm Post Subject:

Did you find any help on that link I gave you?

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