How's This for Irony? - Page 3

xoxoxoBruce · 01-13-2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune

I store my car in the garage.
My vehicle has airbags.
My vehicle has anti-lock brakes.
I do not own a sports car.
I've never gotten a ticket.

I'm much less likely to have my car stolen, to sustain serious injury, and even get into an accident.

Whoa Nellie! Where in hell did that come from? The only thing that could remotely apply is the brakes and that's not necessarily true. Did you know that anti-lock brakes take LONGER to stop? Yes, they allow you to steer and don't ruin(flat spot) your tires but in most cases it's a wash. The Insurance Companies have found that the parking lot fender benders have gone up with anti-locks and are dropping the discount for them like hot potatoes. If you know how to use the brakes properly you can stop faster and still avoid obstacles. Yes, most people don't know how.

Quote:

People who drive two-seater convertibles with turbo-charged engines are taking a huge risk, so they pay more.

C'mon....that's not true. Maybe the people that make that choice tend to drive in a riskier manner but just making that choice doesn't put you at risk. I think that's probably what you meant but that ain't whatcha said.

Kitsune · 01-13-2005, 11:11 PM

Whoa Nellie! Where in hell did that come from? The only thing that could remotely apply is the brakes and that's not necessarily true.

Insurance companies do their math. Its to their advantage. Statistically, all of the above apply even if it doesn't quite work out that way in one driver's specific world.

The Insurance Companies have found that the parking lot fender benders have gone up with anti-locks

Apparently Metropolitan Auto and Home has not found this to be true. Don't get me wrong on this -- I find the discounts I get to be very unusual, myself. Moving to Florida jacked my rates up big time because auto theft is higher in this state than average. Moving from one neighborhood to another caused it to fluctuate, too. And please, someone tell me why getting married lowers your rates? The way most couples treat each other in the car I would assume that accident rates go up after they tie the knot.

C'mon....that's not true. Maybe the people that make that choice tend to drive in a riskier manner

Thats probably the more correct version. Yet, in equal accidents, the driver of a convertible versus a sealed-top vehicle is at a greater injury risk just as is someone who rides a motorcycle rather than in a car. As for turbo charging, etc, you're correct -- the insurers just find that people that drive those cars tend to drive them recklessly. I shouldn't have used the term "risk" to describe them both.

I think that's probably what you meant but that ain't whatcha said.

Yeah. Me not communicate very well, sometimes.

Clodfobble · 01-14-2005, 10:16 AM

And please, someone tell me why getting married lowers your rates? The way most couples treat each other in the car I would assume that accident rates go up after they tie the knot.

Because it's not that getting married makes you safer, it's that getting married (in theory) proves you were one of the safer ones to begin with. Safe drivers tend to be the settlin' down type, statistically.

Another silly way they calculate how safe of a driver you are: when I was in high school, I got a huge discount on my insurance if showed them I got straight A's.

lookout123 · 01-14-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Yep. All the insurance companies have to do is include a simple clause that the insured waives their right to medical compensation should they not wear their seatbelt.

the military did that for years before seat belt laws were passed nationwide. if you were in the military and you were in injured while not wearing a seat belt they didn't have to pay for your injuries. same with motorcycle helmets.

garnet · 01-14-2005, 11:07 AM

I think what it comes down to is that the insurance companies can do almost anything they want, and we have no choice but to pay up. I don't get any breaks for having my car in a locked garage, although I think it would make perfect sense to do so.

People with bad credit get screwed with car insurance. One of my best friends is a very safe driver, never had a ticket or been in an accident. I always give her a hard time for driving too slow! But when she was getting divorced her husband maxed out all the credit cards, and she had to file bankruptcy. She now pays higher rates than me, even though I've had an accident and a couple tickets. She's technically a lower risk than I am, but she's still paying more. Not fair, but what can you do about it?

LabRat · 01-14-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garnet

People with bad credit get screwed with car insurance.... Not fair, but what can you do about it?

People with better credit (less debt to income ratio) are less likely to commit insurance fraud to make $$ to pay off their debt.

My husband is a new (less than 4yrs) insurance agent. So far, my favorite story is someone who called him for auto insurance a couple days after a very nasty storm went thru here, blowing lots and lots of trees down causing major damage. This person wanted full auto coverage, on an OLD car. After explaining everything and getting him pretty much ready to go, D told him he needed to take a picture of the vehicle before everything was complete. WHY?? was this fellows response, the car is fine... can't you do this without seeing the car?? Rrrriiiiiiiight, I BET your car is just fine.... he did not get insured by us

LabRat · 01-14-2005, 11:46 AM

This is also why a lot of companies are not paying anymore for when you back your #1 car into your own #2 car in YOUR driveway. Tons of people do this just for the $$.
Several years ago I took the $1600 for hail damage to my 10yr old Escort ($200 shy of what the whole dang thing was worth, and $700 more than anyone was going to give me on trade) and used it to help put a downpayment of my new Taurus. (before hubby was an agent). We pretty much all would do that same thing if given the chance. I paid well over that in my premiums over the 10yrs I owned the car, with no previous claims.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-14-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

I don't get any breaks for having my car in a locked garage, although I think it would make perfect sense to do so.

What if the garage burns down? While a garage does offer some protection from vandals and the weather it also introduces other problems like fire and a spot where thieves can work on the car unnoticed.

Kitsune · 01-14-2005, 05:58 PM

What if the garage burns down? While a garage does offer some protection from vandals and the weather it also introduces other problems like fire and a spot where thieves can work on the car unnoticed.

Since I am in an apartment complex, Met Auto and Home has it listed that the garages have sprinkler systems in them. Its important for more than just the cars contained within them, as the apartments are connected to the garages! With that minor ignition problem that (Ford? GM? Chrystler? Chevy? Some American car...) was having, I feel a bit better that the builder installed them.

plthijinx · 01-14-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

[i]Another silly way they calculate how safe of a driver you are: when I was in high school, I got a huge discount on my insurance if showed them I got straight A's.

??????? here in texas???

Kitsune · 01-14-2005, 07:05 PM

??????? here in texas???

Yeah -- straight As in Texas?

Speaking of insurance, do any of you pilots out there have a tough time getting life insurance?

Clodfobble · 01-14-2005, 08:02 PM

Yep, in Austin, with State Farm, about 8 years ago.

01-14-2005, 11:46 AM	#37
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	This is also why a lot of companies are not paying anymore for when you back your #1 car into your own #2 car in YOUR driveway. Tons of people do this just for the $$. Several years ago I took the $1600 for hail damage to my 10yr old Escort ($200 shy of what the whole dang thing was worth, and $700 more than anyone was going to give me on trade) and used it to help put a downpayment of my new Taurus. (before hubby was an agent). We pretty much all would do that same thing if given the chance. I paid well over that in my premiums over the 10yrs I owned the car, with no previous claims. __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

01-14-2005, 07:05 PM	#41
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	??????? here in texas??? Yeah -- straight As in Texas? Speaking of insurance, do any of you pilots out there have a tough time getting life insurance? Last edited by Kitsune; 01-14-2005 at 07:11 PM.

01-13-2005, 11:11 PM	#32
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	Whoa Nellie! Where in hell did that come from? The only thing that could remotely apply is the brakes and that's not necessarily true. Insurance companies do their math. Its to their advantage. Statistically, all of the above apply even if it doesn't quite work out that way in one driver's specific world. The Insurance Companies have found that the parking lot fender benders have gone up with anti-locks Apparently Metropolitan Auto and Home has not found this to be true. Don't get me wrong on this -- I find the discounts I get to be very unusual, myself. Moving to Florida jacked my rates up big time because auto theft is higher in this state than average. Moving from one neighborhood to another caused it to fluctuate, too. And please, someone tell me why getting married lowers your rates? The way most couples treat each other in the car I would assume that accident rates go up after they tie the knot. C'mon....that's not true. Maybe the people that make that choice tend to drive in a riskier manner Thats probably the more correct version. Yet, in equal accidents, the driver of a convertible versus a sealed-top vehicle is at a greater injury risk just as is someone who rides a motorcycle rather than in a car. As for turbo charging, etc, you're correct -- the insurers just find that people that drive those cars tend to drive them recklessly. I shouldn't have used the term "risk" to describe them both. I think that's probably what you meant but that ain't whatcha said. Yeah. Me not communicate very well, sometimes.

01-14-2005, 10:16 AM	#33
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	And please, someone tell me why getting married lowers your rates? The way most couples treat each other in the car I would assume that accident rates go up after they tie the knot. Because it's not that getting married makes you safer, it's that getting married (in theory) proves you were one of the safer ones to begin with. Safe drivers tend to be the settlin' down type, statistically. Another silly way they calculate how safe of a driver you are: when I was in high school, I got a huge discount on my insurance if showed them I got straight A's.

01-14-2005, 11:07 AM	#35
garnet ... Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 657	I think what it comes down to is that the insurance companies can do almost anything they want, and we have no choice but to pay up. I don't get any breaks for having my car in a locked garage, although I think it would make perfect sense to do so. People with bad credit get screwed with car insurance. One of my best friends is a very safe driver, never had a ticket or been in an accident. I always give her a hard time for driving too slow! But when she was getting divorced her husband maxed out all the credit cards, and she had to file bankruptcy. She now pays higher rates than me, even though I've had an accident and a couple tickets. She's technically a lower risk than I am, but she's still paying more. Not fair, but what can you do about it?

01-14-2005, 05:58 PM	#39
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	What if the garage burns down? While a garage does offer some protection from vandals and the weather it also introduces other problems like fire and a spot where thieves can work on the car unnoticed. Since I am in an apartment complex, Met Auto and Home has it listed that the garages have sprinkler systems in them. Its important for more than just the cars contained within them, as the apartments are connected to the garages! With that minor ignition problem that (Ford? GM? Chrystler? Chevy? Some American car...) was having, I feel a bit better that the builder installed them.

01-14-2005, 08:02 PM	#42
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Yep, in Austin, with State Farm, about 8 years ago.

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