[g®eg]

Anyone use Progressive?

I just moved to RI, which is cool because now I can shop for insurance (in Massachusetts it is what it is). Anyway, Progressive is $715 / year for BOTH my bikes with collision... seems like a good deal since I was paying $850 / year no cllision in Mass.

[snowborder]

My experience with Progressive is that they are expensive... ie for Japanese sport bikes.
They quoted me $1200 for my 929 when...
I went through All State and is about $450 for 6 months riding and with 6 months of storage. Depends on what you have for coverag also.

I use <A href="http://www.amica.com" target="_blank">AMICA</A> and have for years. I've always been happy with them, and their rates seem quite reasonable.

[Edited on 2/13/02 by JC]

[nhroketboy]

Hey Greg.... as a license insurance agent in NH I write a small amount of business with Progressive. How small? Small enough that if I have a good customer I refer him to an agent buddy of mine that writes with EMC.

Progressive is notoriously bad when it comes time to handle claims. They will NOT pay you what you are owed. They will take any means necessary to screw you out of your investment. I have been in this business for over 12 years and have filed only 6 complaints to our insurance dept... all have been against Progressive.

The only time I would ever suggest going with them is if you are saving some serious $$$$$ or you are taking out liability coverage only.

I had the best luck with State Farm, unfortunately not early enough to cover my accident... but anyway, they had a good policy that would cover additions/improvements you may have made to the bike, I believe you can even take out a stated amount policy rather than actual cash value. The premiums also didn't seem bad.

I would shop, shop, shop and try to find someone other than Progressive(). Just my 2 cents.

[g®eg]

good advice from everyone. I figured the progressive price might be too good to be true (really cheap). I have a call in to the guys who wrote my home owners and have the insurance on my company car...hopefully they will work a good deal.

[RandyO]

Insurance rates differ a lot between companies, models, age groups etc.

It is hard to compare what different people are payin unless they have a very similar bike, garage address and are in the same age group.

I have Progressive for year round full coverage (liability, collision $100deductable, comprensive $100deductable)
99SV650 (considered a standard) $119/yr.
My wife's CM250C $89/yr
82XV920 (also considered a standard)$138/yr

I am 49, my wife is "older than me" and the garage address is Farmington, NH. We get a multiple bike discount that may amount to $10
can't speak about making claims, cause I've never made one. They were by far the cheapest MC insurance for me.

[g®eg]

Well,

Here are the quotes so far. Progressive with collision is $715 for both bikes for the year. Geico with same coverage is $1050. My agent who offers something through
"universal underwriting" is $1318.

I have a couple more to check, but it looks like I'll be going with Progressive. The crazy thing is I never buy insurance thinking I'll need it. I think I'd rather pay the lowest price.

Any other companies I should check in with? next on the list I think is Allstate, but people say their rates have gotten really high lately.

Did you call Amica? A bud of mine at work had a '96 Audi A4. He bought a '98 cherokee sport, and got them both insured through Amica for what it was costing him JUST for the A4 through his old insurance company.

I've had several claims through them, and they've always been very reasonable to deal with. Their prices seem to be very good, especially in the context of my bud with the A4.

1.800.24.amica

[g®eg]

Did you call Amica? A bud of mine at work had a '96 Audi A4. He bought a '98 cherokee sport, and got them both insured through Amica for what it was costing him JUST for the A4 through his old insurance company.

I've had several claims through them, and they've always been very reasonable to deal with. Their prices seem to be very good, especially in the context of my bud with the A4.

1.800.24.amica

thanks JC...
I called Amica and they were very nice. They offer m/c policies through....Progressive! hahaha. anyway, it's looking like Progressive.

[benVFR]

I have progressive, and I've made a claim.

I low-sided my bike at low speed before it had frame sliders and the quote for a 100% repair at the Suzuki dealer was ~$2700. Progressive was fighting over $50 or something, they thought it should cost $2650 or some nonsense. The adjuster went in and fought with the service manager like twice and then just ignored the whole thing and my bike would have just sat there and not gotten fixed. Progressive also didn't want the bike fixed by a Suzuki dealer, they wanted it fixed by a used-bike dealer who seems to mostly do harleys, and as far as I'm concerned they may have never worked on an SV650 yet, so I really wanted the dealership doing the work.

I ended up having to call both of them every day for a week and eventually I got the service manager to lower the price "cause I want to keep you as a customer".

I ended up getting the bike back a month after the accident.

I took out my policy (full coverage, $500 deductible) at 24 years old with a bunch of speeding tickets (but not a single accident claim in my 8 years of cage driving.) And Progressive's quote for my SV650 was $900 and State Farms quote was something like $3500. $3500/yr to cover a $5800 bike? Ridiculous. (This was with the bike garaged and off the road from December 1st to April 1st)

Another thing I don't like about Progressive is they don't offer any MSF or training discounts. They do have a lot of motorcycle options on the insurance, and the price was right for me though.

I just wish they factored accidents more in deciding who was a safe driver and put less emphasis on speeding tickets.

I'm totally interested in changing so I'll probably call Amica since it's mentioned here. I can't find any reference to motorcycle insurance on their webpage though.

But if no one can beat progressive I'll just stick with them. Now that I actually know how to control the bike I think my chances of getting in an accident are a lot lower, so hopefully I won't have to deal with another claim. (my accident was like my 2nd ride, I was practicing in a parking lot)

Ben

[nhroketboy]

I'm sticking by my opinion that Progressive is the worst company... if anyone from that company ever checks in here, it is just my PERSONAL opinion but hell,

You might want to check out EMC, there's an agency in Providence that writes with them.
http://www.burnscotter.com/

Other than that I would try State Farm.

Again, I would only use Progressive if it is sooo financially crazy not to. Just hope you don't ever have a claim if you take a policy with them.

Good luck!

That's odd, my m/c policy is through amica.

[g®eg]

for BenSV:
In some states, you are eligible for a discount for taking a state approved motorcycle safety course. For classes in your state call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. Progressive requires a passing certificate upon completion as proof to obtain a discount...

maybe NH doesn't qualify?
re: Amica quoting Progressive for JC...could be a Rhode Island thing. Pprogressive can't sell into Massachusetts so???

Finally, I sent one more request for quote to the guys in Providence. We'll see what they come back with. Personally (and I KNOW this will bite me in the ass somehow) I just can't see spending 30% to 45% more for something I hope I'll never use....

On a brighter note, it's supposed to be 50° here tomorrow. Time to head over to the local Triumph dealer's and see what he'll let me test ride

That would make sense.

[benVFR]

for BenSV:
In some states, you are eligible for a discount for taking a state approved motorcycle safety course. For classes in your state call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227. Progressive requires a passing certificate upon completion as proof to obtain a discount...

maybe NH doesn't qualify?

On a brighter note, it's supposed to be 50° here tomorrow. Time to head over to the local Triumph dealer's and see what he'll let me test ride

I faxed Progressive a copy of my MSF completion card and they sent me back a letter that said that there were no discounts for MSF in New Hampshire.

I took my MSF course in MA, but I don't think that mattered. The NH course sounded disorganized and the MA one seemed more professional so I just went and took it in MA. (MA has had it for like 10+ years, NH just started in 00 or 01.)

This winter isn't bad. I've rode my bicycle 50 miles so far this week.

Ben

[nhroketboy]

Ben, are you a roadie or true bike rider (mountain)?

[benVFR]

80 % road (true rider)
20 % mountain...

Heh...

I enjoy both. I have a Trek 2200 and and a Giant Iguana SE. My mountain bike was bought first and it doesn't fit perfect and it isn't as nice as my road bike. Plus I think my personality just fits riding on the road more, and it's more convenient during the week. It's easy to just pop outside and ride the road bike at lunch and have fun but going mountain biking seems to take more time, whether it's driving to a fun place or riding to a fun place. I'm also of the opinion that every mountain bike rider needs to ride on the road for good conditioning, even if it's on a mountain bike.

In 2000 I did 2 mountain bike races (XC in Eastern Fat Tire, great technical courses). In 2001 I did the Mt. Washington Bicycle hillclimb. (a trip and a half.. awesome) My best time for 100 miles is like 5:40 or something. (Only done it 3 times) For northern MA or Southern NH I can typically average 20-21mph for 40-50 miles when I'm in shape. I'm hoping to ride about 5000 miles this year.

I don't know how enthusiastic I am about trying a conventional road race... I'm chicken to crash on pavement.

Ben

[nhroketboy]

We'll have to hook up for a ride Ben... off road though. I'm riding my second Fisher now and am hoping my buddy will sell me his Ted Wojik this spring. I'm a strictly hard-tail guy, (ha, ha, he said hard tail). Anyway... I ride a lot of off-road in Durham/Madbury, where the UNH Team rides. There's a ton of good off-road stuff, as I'm sure you already know. I never got into the road riding, I'm a little uncomfortable wearing neon green & pink!

Have you been to the Pedro Festival?

I dunno if I'll get hardcore like I used to be, but this past fall I picked up a Rocky Mountain Oxygen Race...and I'd be interested in some rides. Post something on here if you guys do something...

[nhroketboy]

Look at you JC... dropped 30lbs, now you're talking about biking. What's next, gonna convert and become a Krishner... give up booze and sex?

I'm ready to ride now... it's almost mud season!

Actually, I lost 45lbs since this time last year. I'm not giving up the partying/booty, or getting into any rediculous religious...uh...anything. I used to be hardcore into riding...I was on a mtb team, road team....rode 60+ miles a day, 5 days a week. Ahhh yes, the days of being in shape. I miss it, but I'm so fucking lazy now...hahahaha.

[Stoneman]

Not for not, but I use State Farm and pay about $450/year for full coverage. That's for the whole year too, I don't like playing the 'on again/off again' game with insurance...

Then again, I live in a small NH town with about 3000 other hicks. But I do have a driving sheet that's as long as my left arm...

[nhroketboy]

But I do have a driving sheet that's as long as my left arm...

Well, if your left arm is as long as your third leg then you must be maxed out on your safe driver credits!

[Chuck]

Rich and Ben you are absolutely right on the mark with your comments about Progressive. I have dealt with practically every insurance underwriter in existence over the years. NEVER have I come across a company as pathetic as Progressive Insurance.

"Smokin" Al, while smokin up his rear brake slammed into my '01 748 causing about $1900 in damage. Progressive put up such a damn fuss, trying every fucking trick in the goddamn book not to pay. First, they accused their own insured, Smokin Al of not being a resident of the state (even though he has lived in it for years, pays taxes and is a registered voter), then that he might have a conflict with his principal place of garaging, then that he might have been deceptive on the application, next, that the crash might not have even occured (so they call a friend of mine that wasn't even on the ride), then that the dealer was swapping parts and finally that the dealer might be padding (overinflating) the bill. To say they suck would be an extreme understatement. I contacted their General Counsel in Ohio (where they are based) and asked how far up his ass he'd like me to shove the damn lawsuit? I am not one to be fucked with. Especially when it is ME that they owe. They paid the claim.

While they may be cheap now, I would almost guarantee that you will have problems IF you ever need the insurance. Also, be advised that if they do not pay on a claim where you are at fault. You are subject to litigation, judgment, and lien attachment. If I ever have an accident with anyone that is covered by Progressive, the first thing I will do next time is file suit along with an ex-parte request for attachment. That way the person that selected Progressive can bitch them out to get me my fucking money.

Chuck
'02 Ducati 998S Bostrom 090/155

[g®eg]

Chuck,

What do you think of Geico?
Slightly more money than Progressive....good rap or bad?