South Carolina's Top Three Automobile Insurance Companies

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Trey Mills

"Trey's Top Three" continues with this second article to determine the top three insurance companies I believe evaluate and handle their claims in a professional, ethical, and reasonable manner. This analysis is based on my observations, experiences, and interactions over five years working in the trenches against these insurance companies: Direct Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, Nationwide, Dairyland Auto, Selective Insurance, Specialty Risk Services, Liberty Mutual, GMAC, Infinity, Farm Bureau, Auto Owners, Sentry, Occidental, Chubb, Bristol, Sedgwick, GEICO, Progressive, Viking, Great Central, Gateway, USAA, Safeco, Ohio State Casualty, James C. Green, AIG, Great Falls, Crawford & Co, Horace Mann, Lancer Insurance, Affirmative, Cottonstates, Zurich, Scottsdale, Cinncinati, Companion, Montgomery Insurance, Frontier Adjusters, Gallagher Bassett, First Acceptance, Constitutional State Services,  Foremost, Assurance, Penn National,and others I cant recall at this moment. (I have settled claims against all these companies).

And the winners of "Trey's Top Three" evaluation are:

  1. State Farm
  2. Farm Bureau
  3. Nationwide/Travelers*  (tied)

 

If you have Allstate please switch immediately as ALLSTATE IS THE WORST insurance company you could be with. When you go in and switch or modify your coverage make sure you have:

  • PIP/Medpay
  • UIM

 

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Three Coverages South Carolina Insurance Policy Holders Should Add

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Trey Mills

As mentioned in my previous post, I am amazed at the insurance coverages my clients never even knew existed. This challenge goes out to all insurance salesmen to better inform your clients of  the coverages and give them examples of why they need it. I know they probably don't want to pay the extra money and you don't get much additional commission but it's your job to explain why $50-$100 extra a year can save them $1,000-$25,000.  I have these three things and so should you:

  1. Personal Injury Protection (P.I.P) and/or Medical Payments (Medpay) coverage- this covers you and all the passengers in your automobile regardless of fault or liability- if you don't have health insurance this is a must;
  2. Underinsurance (U.I.M) coverage-exactly what it sounds like, except easier to understand when I explained that it helps cover you and your passengers or family when someone injures them that does not have enough insurance or assets to go after; and
  3. GAP Coverage & Renters Insurance-both of these coverages take care of your possessions when they are damaged. The first being your automobile that is over financed and not worth what you owe on it. The second for your possessions while renting someone else's home or apartment.

I can not help you if you are not helping yourself by taking advantage of the insurance coverage that actually benefits you and not someone else. As much as I comment about how I hate insurance companies, they are a necessary evil. If you are able to play the game of insurance successfully you can and will come out on top.

 

Previous or Related Posts I Have Written on these Coverages:

 

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Nationwide Is Not On Your Side: Marketing Jingles are Flashy, Fictional, & Frustrating

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Trey Mills

I had a client come in today with three young kids all under the age of 10 and all boys. They were tough to contain for her much less for my soon-to-be-married and "kidless" self. As I was informing my client's mother, who owned the car, on how she had been swindled out of depreciation from State Farm with her property settlement one of the boys yelled out in a melodic manner:

 "Nationwide is on your side..."

I quickly turned towards him with the indignation of an elementary teacher, ruler in hand and asked who taught him such lies and slander? All in the room looked perplexed but none more than him. I quickly indicated to him that he had been lied to and should never repeat such blasphemy. As if on cue, all three boys chimed in: "Nationwide is on your side..." 

At that point I realized what I was up against and what all Americans must face, mind numbing advertising that showers us night and day through all mediums of media.  Since the more money one entity or individual has the more exposure they will be able to give their flashy, fictional, and frustrating jingle or flat out lies......Yet at the same time I realized how effective such a childish and simplistically thought out plan can so easily massage and manipulate mainstream society.

Try not to let those insurance company jingles persuade you too much during this massive blitz of corporate marketing and advertising to get us consumers already in the mindset of spending to sell ourselves short of the true coverage and protection we need.  Be on the lookout for "Trey's Top Three" where I pick out:

  1. the top three insurance companies that treat injured parties fairly;
  2. the top three things you need to add or include with your insurance; and
  3. the top three insurance horror stories from this year.

 

To help get your mind off that previous jingle, think about this:

The only hands that come from Allstate are wrapped around your throat.

Or maybe since I have renamed one of our local adjusters "Low Ball":

Nationwide will chap your hide.

Don't worry, last one:

Like a drunk driver, State Farm doesn't care.

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