Car Insurance

 If someone has enough money in the bank to cover damages in accidents,
is it possible to not pay car insurance? If so, how would I go about
doing so, and proving this fact if I got pulled over?

  We are re shopping all our insurances.  We make a habit of shopping
Home, car and life insurances every 3 years or so.

My project this week is the car insurance.

I have asked all our family, friends and neighbors for recommendations
so after I asked here about baby formula and food coupons I wanted to
ask all of you as well which car insurance treated you well on your
wrecks.

What I'm getting from the people I've asked so far is
that you have to stand up to the company for where you want the repairs
done.
They will try and send you to the shop that gives "them" the best deal.
 Not the one that fixes your car right.  My mom said she even had this
happen to her with AARP insurance.

Other than that the ratings are as follows:

(1)Progressive: Thumbs down  I asked a friend who had been a
Progressive adjuster at one time and he said that he didn't even have
Progressive insurance when he was working for them.  Not a good
recommendation!

(2) Allstate:  Another thumbs down

(3) State Farm:  It seemed to depend on who I asked.  A couple said
they were ok, a couple said they didn't think they had been very fair
in that when they took their car to the shop where they said to take
it, they didn't like the work done there.

(4) Alfa:  I had never heard of them, but everybody liked them and said
the premiums were cheap.  Are they the new kid on the block?

(5) Farm Bureau:  People liked them, but said the premiums had gone up
recently and that if you had a claim too many they'd cancel you in a
heartbeat!

(6) AARP my mom's was the only opinion and she was ok with the payment,
etc.  but she said they tried to get her to take it to the shop that
they wanted her to use.  She refused and they seemed ok with it, but
she resented them pushing her in any direction.  She's VERY happy with
the premiums, though.

Anybody have anything to add?   I'm looking for reasonable rates, no
push towards any shop, taking care of fixing the car to the condition
it was before an accident.  Is there anything else to look for?
What is the best car insurance for the price in your opinion?

 jok18 wrote:

I don't think it is a bad thing going to a shop that has a relationship
with them as long as the work is done properly.

My car was in a hit & run on an icy night. I called Allstate and
reported it. They asked if it was safe to drive and I said yes.

They gave me two options. One was to get estimates on my own and then an
adjuster would have to review it or take it any of the shops where they
had a relationship and no competative estimates would be required and
they would guarantee that the work would be done properly. They gave me
4 places to choose that were nearby. All were reputable places. I picked
one in a nearby down. The guy took some photos and then entered all of
the info into a computerized estimation program. It produced a list of
parts and labor and he simply asked me to OK the job. The work was done
properly and their was no hassle.

 
jok18 wrote:

<snip>

If availiable in your state, Erie Insurance.

I've been with them all my life. Never a hassle or problem. As far as
rates, I went to Progressive and duplicated my policy there on the 2
cars we presently own, 1999 Nissan Quest and a 1999 Ford Contour (just
bought). They quoted me $1141.00 for 6 MONTHS. I currently pay $788 A
YEAR w/Erie for the same coverage.

 bicycle wrote:

progressive had excellent motorcycle insurance pricing for me, since i
had liability-only. it was something like $50/yr.

once i got a new bike and wanted full coverage, they wanted a LOT more.
so i switched to 21st.