Debra
Lakewood,#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, January 03, 2005
I have been an insurance agent for many years; a title that I often don't admit to. Why? Reasons such as yours. But here's the reason all of that happened to you: Nearly every insurance company will rate the highest rated driver onto the highest rated vehicle in the household. Even if my 17 year old son had a 85 Mazda Pickup that he drove exclusively, he would be rated (and I would be charged) on my 04 Dodge Ram. Is that fair? Well, from the company's point of view, yes, as my 17 year old has ACCESS to my 04 Ram, and may very well take it with or without permission and wreck it. And while we're on the subject, let's discuss teenaged drivers. There are folks that do nothing in this world but sit in their big offices in New York and compile actuarial tables. That's the statistics that tell us in the industry that a young man aged 16 - 21 years of age has a 74% chance of being involved in an at-fault accident. A girl of the same age has a 54% chance. Do I agree? No. Does it matter? No. Siimply put, the insurance companies do not make a thin dime on teenaged drivers. In my experience, almost every young driver I add to a policy has an "issue" sooner or later. So here's the bottom line: If you initially had your young driver rated on a liability only, lower valued vehicle, and you sold that vehicle, that young driver will be rated on the most valuable car you have. Period. And as for credit checks? I remember very well when this started (about 5 years or so ago) and the uproar it caused in my office. That is such nonsense, we thought. Rating someone based on how many late bills they have had. Really. Then we saw the actuarials. Here's what the statistics show - people with good to excellent credit are far less apt to have an accident. Why? Who knows. I suppose it could be skewed, but it is very clear in the numbers that poor credit = less responsibility = more careless driving. Again - is it fair? I don't really know. Is it a fact of life in insurance? Yes. And as for the 14 year olds? You won't be charged for them, but they will be listed on the policy as the company will keep track of when they will turn 16 and send you a letter asking if they are licensed. Standard procedure. I even had to list my 8 year old to Progressive. Make sense? Nope. Does it matter? Nope. Sometime, it just "is what it is". I know this was not very calming to you, but sometimes if we have knowledge, we aren't so angry. And by the way - I have access to over 80 companies in my independant agency. And I have found the best rates through Progressive. I really do believe that what you are facing is an insurance issue, not a Progressive issue. Good luck. And by the way.....the insurance premiums got so high with my 17 year old son that I actually pulled his license. Remember - I am a licensed insurance agent. If there were decent rates to be had, I would have them. But the figures don't lie, and I can't afford the rates. So, he has no license now. Again - it just simply is what it is. I totally know how you feel.