datmrman

I currently have 21st Century insurance and it is almost time to renew my policy for another 6 months. Interestingly, after checking the new policy online, I noticed that the premium increased a little more than $200.

In the six months I've been with 21st, I have not been involved in any accidents nor violations/tickets.

So I called them up. I spoke with a representative and she told me, based on my VIN number, the car is now rated as a "High Performance" vehicle, thus the premium increase. She also stated that the Dept of Insurance regulates this and there is nothing she can do to decrease the premium. It looks like I will be looking for a new insurance company.

Anyway, I am just interested to see if others have the same experience or is this insurance company full of baloney.

jimmyl729

i renewed my insurance policy last week for another 6 months and the payment remains the same. I am using Mercury Insurance.

Ernie Golfs

When I purchased my RL in May of 2005 my old insurance company gave me the "high performance sport sedan" line. I shopped around and saved $500 a year going with GEICO. When I bought the 06 TL it insured for less then the 06 Subaru Outback I sold in July. I honestly don't know how the insurance companies come up with their rates. I'd shop around for different rates.

TBnDFW

My insurance with State Farm just came up and the price went down $50 for 6 months. I haven't had a claim since 1999 and paid my last ticket in 1989.

Of course, I live in Texas and not the PRC.

jdb8805

I live in texas and have Texas Farm Bureau Car Insurance and I saw no increase on the TL or any other vehicles...

But you need to be comparing with people in your own state because Insurance is state regulated --

NC Silver

I just purchased mine a month ago. Perhaps this is a result of incidents like the "Don't drink and drive" post earlier this week. I hope it doesn't rise that dramatically next year!

gqchicago

Yeah shop around...we went with Geico for a while since they had a reduced rate...but we also check with an agent / broker...who found us a cheaper rate through Traveler's, so we switched. We would only use A rated companies though, and they do jack the rates, since they figure you won't shop around / move, and they can get you!!

wasupdog

iTrader: (2)

when i shopped around a couple months ago i saved over 400$ with mercury. it was ridiculous how much cheaper they were than everyone else.

Fermin3344

I was involved in an accident and was scared if my insurance would rise to the point that I wouldn't be able to afford my car. Total damage on both vehicles was approxiamately 10k. And it was the person driving my car's fault. Amazingly when renewal came up my insurance drop 200 dollars for my six month premium with Gieco. I love the little creature.

dragontales

21st century is dicking with you. Drop them!

chfields

With my insurance, my 95 Saturn was $325 for 6mo and I was quoted $365 for the TL

Will Y.

It sounds like 21st Century is taking a very unusual approach to your premiums. Since when did a car's VIN mean "high performance"?? Either every car or every car w/same option package, i.e. BMW M3, SRT-8, etc., is high performance or not. My recollection was that State Farm's hi-po designations 1) did not change in the middle of a policy period and 2) only applied to added horsepower versions of cars rather than stock engine with modded suspensions, like the A-specs.

Also, the Calif DOI has been all over the major insurers to reduce use of zip codes in their setting of rates, which would generally lead to a rate reduction for those of us in urban and suburban areas. Rate increases are possible for rural areas, however.

I recommend shopping for another insurer. By the way, 21st Century has paid me in cash and gas cards on several rate quote challenges since it has never come close to the Auto Club's rates here in the west Los Angeles area-- Auto Club was usually about $400-$600 less per year than 21st Century for the 2 or 3 cars I insure. My TL's base premium (before dividend return) with Auto Club went down a little less than $100 from last year-- probably due to lower value of car since purchase.

ubnpast

lol, i pay $700 year with NJM for full coverage. this is one of the best insurance companies out there.

Chester

One thing you might check...and its just a thought, is your credit rating. Many insurance companies are increasingly basing your insurance on your credit. If you paid off and closed a CC with a large balance, or perhaps a medical payment got sent to the wrong address, something stupid like that could do it... Perhaps pull a credit report on yourself and see?

DrEvil777

You were lied to! I used to work for Progressive during medical school and there is no such "dept of insurance." Cars are rated from 30 to 60, basically a modifier by which they charge. Every company uses their own rating system, but the standardized rating system comes from NTSA based on accidents, mortalities and crash ratings.

A Ferrari or 911 turbo rates 56 which means much higher rates, and if the same driver chooses a ford focus station wagon which rates 34 they will pay much less. Likely your company may have uprated the TL due to accidents, or just because they want to charge more!

You need to shop around for a different insurnce company.

ubnpast

my dads 2004 mustang mach 1 was $350 more a year then his 2006 Z06. Go figure, it must be the age group driving mustangs...

leedogg

I'm paying more than 1400 a year here....anybody know what a good insurance company in maryland is??

stevencrosbie

1600 a year w/ Esurance.com.......I can't wait to be 25......

At least I don't have any tickets

billmatt

I'm paying $680 per year for my 2006TL with USAA (Ex-military) and have full coverage.

gammah

I too have 21st century insurance and also have a 2006 Acura TL. I too got the same increase and same story with the representative. I just did not understand!!! When I bought the car in December 2005 and got insurance, no problem. Then when it was time to renew in June 2006, BAM! an increase of $200!!!!! What the hell?


Gammah

groman

wowwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!! u cant be serious i am 24 and paying 1400 a year for liability and thats mercury all the others were way more for me ( i wanted to but a 330ci before i bought this cl and geico wanted from me 10k a year for full coverage - wtf are they smoking)

is that company of yours in ny by anychance?

dragontales

Being 25 don't really mean too much according to my agent at StateFarm and former agent at Allstate. The major factors in calculating your premium are your accident and ticket history, and number of years you are licensed.

Don't buy into the hype that your premium will go way down once you turn 25. You will be disappointed.

MichaelBenz

iTrader: (2)

State Farm....nope...same as always...no increase.

INSPIRE 32V

iTrader: (1)

Holy God!!! after seeing some of these rates i wana cry. i am currently paying $2200 a year for libality cuz i have had more than 15 speeding tickets and one suspension and to top it all of i am only 21.

datmrman

Thanks all for the replies. It's nice to know that I am not the only one that think this is .

Thanks Gammah for your post since it seems we are in the same situation. Nice to know that I am not alone.


I've already started my comparitive shopping. So looks like I will be switching companies soon enough. Thanks again to all.

neuronbob

I agree with the other posters who say 21st Centur is BS-ing. When I upgraded from an Intrepid to the 2G TL five years ago, I had a minimal change in my rate. When I upgraded to the 3G TL three years ago, there was no change in my rate. Still waiting for the quote on my RL, I'm sure it will go down as the RL is certainly no "performance sedan" in the same way the TL is.

Ka0tik

USAA is the cheapest insurance by far compared to any other public insurance company, but there is one catch, u have to have had one of your immediate family be an officer in the military

DEG

Who is NJM?

ubnpast

New Jersey Manufactures

Fermin3344

Goddamn 700 is ridiculous cheap. Would you have a phone number or a certain website.

jennarocks

Well... Im w/ state farm and my premiums just increased by $45 every 6 months. Apparently, the risk category for a 3G has increased in WA state. not a bad increase but an increase nonetheless. I used to pay $599 every 6 months for full coverage.

noah82

I also have 21st Century and I am in San Diego as well. My renewal is in December, so hopefully they won't pull that crap with me.

ubnpast

Plus I also get dividends back at the end of the year. You have to be in a union that offers this insurance to you; or I believe there is a 2-3 year wait, but im not sure. www.njm.com

EDIT: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company's rates are among the most competitive in the state – even before the return of dividends to policyholders – and have not had an overall rate increase since 1996. In addition, tiers, credit scores, profession or education do not figure in rate decisions.

To apply, certain membership eligibility criteria and the Company's auto underwriting rules must be met. If a New Jersey resident does not meet NJM's requirements, consideration will be given for coverage with another company in the NJM Insurance Group, the New Jersey
Re-Insurance Company (NJRe), which currently does not provide dividends for Personal Auto Insurance.

nfnsquared

Not true anymore. Enlisted personnel (I think it's E5 and above) have been eligible for several years now.

I'm paying $588.95/year for my 2004 6MT/Navi with USAA, $100,000/$300,000 coverage. No accidents/tickets for the last 13 years.

A lot of the rate info posted here is incomplete if you don't know the coverage limits, accident/ticket history, credit rating, etc.

nfnsquared

Tried to edit first post and it timed out on me:


Not true anymore. Enlisted personnel (I think it's E5 and above) have been eligible for several years now. USAA has great rates and is one of the most respected insurance companies, if not the most respected.

I'm paying $588.95/year for my 2004 6MT/Navi (own it) with USAA, $100,000/$300,000 coverage. No accidents/tickets for the last 13 years. Age: 45. I also lease a 2006 Toyota Tundra Quad Cab Limited and I'm paying $616.10/year for it (more than the TL). At a little over $1200/year for both cars, I can't complain. Geico and Progressive have called me a few times soliciting and when I tell them that I'm with USAA they all say, "Well, I doubt we can beat them". And they're always right!

A lot of the rate info posted here is incomplete if you don't know the coverage limits, accident/ticket history, credit rating, etc.

meburdick

I got a premium/renewal letter somewhat recently from my insurance company (homeowner's and auto were about to renew for another year), and just plain didn't want to pay what they wanted for everything.

So, I called my agent and asked her if that was the best she could do. I told her point blank that I would be shopping the rates if she could't do better, and would be more than willing to move ALL of my policies somewhere else to save money. I explained that I understand that many insurance companies (and businesses in general) will reduce rates somewhat to gain customers, but then push them back up at renewal time. I explained that I would gladly switch my insurance every year if that's what it took to get good rates.

She told me that she could try and write my policies as a new customer, and use my credit rating for premiums. I "re-applied", and my insurance went down about 5%.

Make the call to your agent - it might be worth it. But, you might want to research to see who else you could move your policies to and for what cost first. Nothing wrong with being "armed" and "informed" when you call your agent.

geekybiker

They probably had higher than expect losses on the TL in the last year, so adjusted the rate accordingly to represent the risk they feel they're exposed to.

I doubt they raise them for "no reason" but it may be for a reason that has nothing to do with you in particular.

Netcub

This is Interesting....I just bought an 06 WDP last month....my previous car was an 03 Toyota ECHO...I thought the insurance would be at least 25-50.00 per month more, and my premium only went up 2.00 per month on the new TL.

Kracker

I actually got 56 bux back from USAA as an Insurance rebate / Dividend... I pay less than 100 bux a month and have a zero comprehensive deductible... (For glass and vandalism)...

There is an option to get a quote in 5 min on their website... But like may have said you have to be eligible... In the military, reserves, ROTC or recently separated (2 years), or have a family member that is eligible or a member.

malzoo

Id recommend looking for a broker and letting them shop for you. I got put with Allied and pay $78 a month for $100,000/$300,000 with uninsured motorist coverage.