Car insurance rates and metaphorical sodomy

[Beej]

So I recently moved into DC, a couple blocks north of the Dupont metro. Between that and selling the e30, I had to make a couple insurance policy changes. Here's my history:

Policy setting #1 - GEICO
Location: Arlington, VA
Age: 24
2005 Subaru WRX STi - Primary car - 15k commute miles
$2200 year

Policy setting #2 - GEICO (added BMW as daily)
Location: Arlington, VA
Age: 24
1990 BMW 325iS - Primary Car - 10k commute miles
2005 Subaru WRX STi - 5k pleasure miles
$1700/yr

Policy setting #3 - GEICO (turned 25)
Location: Arlington, VA
Age: 25
1990 BMW 325iS - Primary Car - 10k commute miles
2005 Subaru WRX STi - 5k pleasure miles
$1200/yr

Policy setting #4 - GEICO (moved to DC...really thought I made the STi my primary but apparently I didn't)
Location: DC (Dupont area)
Age: 26
1990 BMW 325iS - Primary Car - 1k pleasure miles
2005 Subaru WRX STi - 5k pleasure miles
$3200/yr (2000 for STi, 1200 for BMW)

Policy setting #5 - GEICO (sold e30)
Location: DC (Dupont area)
Age: 26
2005 Subaru WRX STi - Primary Car - 5k pleasure miles
$4100/yr

For the record, my record is 100% clean. No moving violations in probably 4-5 years, and whatever I had before that (two speeding) somehow got erased when I moved from NJ to VA. All coverage between settings has stayed the same (pretty low reliability numbers, $500 deductible for comprehensive and collision).

I mean, holy shit, GEICO. The reason for the $900 increase even though I dropped a $1200 car was because I lost $840 worth of 'multiple car discount' and made the STi my primary (which I thought it was, but I guess I checked the wrong box).

I'm currently in talks with Progressive. When I give them the VIN (WRX/WRX STi isn't in the drop down and isn't an option to a phone representative), I get quoted at $1500/yr (and this is with me upping my liability protection). That seemed low and I wanted to make sure my ass was covered so I verified the fact that it was "the fast WRX, the STi" and the representative was familiar with the car and "it has the turbo" but said that the VIN was in and agreed it was a low rate.

Not sure if anyone else here lives in DC, but I'm curious as to what everyone is paying.

[.RJ]

My rates with State Farm went up as well when I moved from Vienna to Falls Church on the truck - I think $800/yr to $960/yr. 1 speeding ticket in the last 6 years.

Insurance on the GTI is $1100/yr.

I was thinking about moving to DC for a few months before I make my exit to the left coast, I hadnt even thought of insurance costs. Damn.

[Apoc]

That's part of the problem with driving a car that a lot of nair-do-wells drive. You're getting whored for all the kiddies that drive STis and wreck them doing d0rift0 around the high school parking lots.

I just switched from an '01 S4 to an '08 Legacy and my insurance rate went down 25% despite the replacement cost being 2x as much.

That said, it still looks like you're getting royally whored.

[mrbaggio]

If you have a clean record why not go to a different company. I have State Farm and they are crazy cheap.

[CaptainHenreh]

If you have a clean record why not go to a different company. I have State Farm and they are crazy cheap.

+1

Julie and I pay 1600 a year (total) for both of our cars.

[WRXtranceformed]

My best advice is to shop around. I've been with more insurance carriers than I care to think about, and with personal insurance like that you can drop it and pick up a new policy whenever you want. I will shop around occasionally for insurance every year or so just to see if there are better rates out there. Now that I work for Liberty I'll probably stay with them for a while just out of principle, but they are giving me a really good discount and it's directly withdrawn out of my paycheck so I just never see it.

FWIW GEICO gave me a stupidly high quote this year just for the IS... I laughed when they told me what it was, I think it was 3 times what I was paying with Allstate and twice what I was paying with Progressive.

[Beej]

I won't even consider $4100 a year for insurance. The only reason I really need the car is to go out of town to see family and friends, so I'd sell it before paying that much.

Uh, I am shopping around - see last paragraph. I think this Progressive thing is going to work out.

[Ole]

FYI: Your credit rating also affects your insurance costs. Erie Insurance and Esurance are by far the lowest I have encountered. I have Esurance for the past 2 years (including anaccident) and my rates are incredibly cheap. Excellent customer service as well.

[Evan]

I have esurance as well. I havent had to deal with them for the past 5 years until last week and customer support was prompt and helpful.

Commercials sure are annoying though.

[Sijray21]

If you have a clean record why not go to a different company. I have State Farm and they are crazy cheap.

+1

Those rates are REALLY high....$4k/yr for a guy with a clean record is absurd. Looks like having a car inside DC is really expensive.

My history in the last three years: No moving violations, 1 claim for >$1k.

my stats: (liability and comprehensive with USAA)
Location: Arlington, VA
Age: 24
1998 Acura Integra RS - 10k miles
~$500/yr

(i currently have a quote for an '04 BMW M3 5k miles with collision for ~$1400/yr - with the Integra on the policy) -- i'm hoping the rates will go down after my 25th birthday.

I considered getting Geico insurance for the bike, but they quoted me over $2k/yr without collision coverage and i ended up going with Progressive at a little over $1k for the same coverages

[white_2kgt]

If you have a clean record why not go to a different company. I have State Farm and they are crazy cheap.

yea no shit, I didn't even pay 1/2 that for the house and 3 cars in MD! I'm right at 1,300/yr now for the house, 3 cars and an ATV out here in MO, haha State Farm FWIW!

[balactm]

wow. 4100 a year is bogus. that's what DC will get ya though. it sounds like you've got the right idea though...switch to progressive

[John]

STis, Evos, MS3s, and SRT4s have some of the highest insurance rates out there - there isn't getting much around that. I know you're surprised by the sudden increase, but don't forget that insurance companies are always changing their pricing algorithms and high risk vehicles are likely going to take a rate beating.

FYI - when I got a "quote" for moving into DC (Foggy Bottom area) my rate was double over what it was in VA - even though it was going to be parked in a secured garage in a zip code with less car thefts than in VA. I never changed my official address - then again, it was just a quote, which doesn't equal what your actual rate will be.

[John]

I considered getting Geico insurance for the bike, but they quoted me over $2k/yr without collision coverage and i ended up going with Progressive at a little over $1k for the same coverages

If you have USAA, why not insure your bike through them? I pay $300/year for my bike through USAA.

[JohnC]

I considered getting Geico insurance for the bike, but they quoted me over $2k/yr without collision coverage and i ended up going with Progressive at a little over $1k for the same coverages

If you have USAA, why not insure your bike through them? I pay $300/year for my bike through USAA.

So, the USAA bike insurance is actually written through Progressive, at least here in VA.

[Sijray21]

If you have USAA, why not insure your bike through them? I pay $300/year for my bike through USAA.

So, the USAA bike insurance is actually written through Progressive, at least here in VA.

right - they told me they wouldn't insure my motorcycle and helped me with progressive

i'd definitely go through USAA for bike insurance, but i'm actually pretty happy with Progressive ($118/yr for the SV ) plus the service is incredible (from my one experience).

[Maengelito]

STis, Evos, MS3s, and SRT4s have some of the highest insurance rates out there - there isn't getting much around that. I know you're surprised by the sudden increase, but don't forget that insurance companies are always changing their pricing algorithms and high risk vehicles are likely going to take a rate beating.

MS3's? really? I've got comprehensive on the STi (since the bank owns it) and just liability on the Miata. The STi is the fun car and Miata is the daily but geico charges me just over $1700/year. I don't consider that terrible because geico for some reason does not know about two reckless tickets I've got on my record, so I'm hesitant to switch.

[Jewels]

STis, Evos, MS3s, and SRT4s have some of the highest insurance rates out there - there isn't getting much around that. I know you're surprised by the sudden increase, but don't forget that insurance companies are always changing their pricing algorithms and high risk vehicles are likely going to take a rate beating.

MS3's? really? I've got comprehensive on the STi (since the bank owns it) and just liability on the Miata. The STi is the fun car and Miata is the daily but geico charges me just over $1700/year. I don't consider that terrible because geico for some reason does not know about two reckless tickets I've got on my record, so I'm hesitant to switch.

Our Mazdaspeed 3 costs less to insure than the Focus. So that's about 800 a year. State Farm FTW!

[John]

So, the USAA bike insurance is actually written through Progressive, at least here in VA.

I had heard that, but when I called I was able to get it taken care of through USAA. I just checked my policy, and I thought it was $160 every 6 months, but it's actually $83 - so my annual premium is $166.

[John]

STis, Evos, MS3s, and SRT4s have some of the highest insurance rates out there - there isn't getting much around that. I know you're surprised by the sudden increase, but don't forget that insurance companies are always changing their pricing algorithms and high risk vehicles are likely going to take a rate beating.

MS3's? really? I've got comprehensive on the STi (since the bank owns it) and just liability on the Miata. The STi is the fun car and Miata is the daily but geico charges me just over $1700/year. I don't consider that terrible because geico for some reason does not know about two reckless tickets I've got on my record, so I'm hesitant to switch.

Our Mazdaspeed 3 costs less to insure than the Focus. So that's about 800 a year. State Farm FTW!

I think it depends on whether the insurance company uses the ISO rating system as well - the cars I mentioned have very high ISO ratings. Oddly enough, my truck is the most expensive vehicle on my policy with my little fiberglass POS being 50% less.