conversation: User (fox157): "I am doing the yearly budget for my wife and myself and looking at some of our expenses. My wife and I have two newer Honda accords with excellent driving records (no accidents ever), and are a few years over the age of 25. I am currently paying $950 per 6 months with State Farm for the two vehicles. I got a quote from GEICO for around $450 per 6 months for the same coverage. Something seems way off to me in that there would be such a huge difference. Is there something in the details that I am missing or has State Farm been overcharging us?  I have never changed insurance companies before, so I was not sure if PF had any experience changing, saving money, or getting screwed by some devil in the details?"
  Self: "My parents have used SF my whole life, and I've been using it the entire time I've been driving as well (18 years now.) I'd been thinking about switching insurance companies when I wrecked my 2002 Mustang a month ago. The way that played out has made me change my mind.\n\nRunning the numbers for the insurance cost:\n\n1. 7.5 years ownership\n2. ~$80 monthly insurance (avg--it's varied a bit over time.)\n3. ~7200 total insurance cost over life of vehicle. \n\nLooking at the payout numbers: \n\n1. KBB value for car is 1500-2800.\n1. $4300 payout (4550 before deductible.)\n2. $325 covered rental while I seach for a new car.\n3. 2 covered tows (to repair, back to a friend's when he bought the totaled car.) - unknown $.\n4. ~$5k total return (2/3) on my insurance. I was hoping to get $2k and expecting the worse at closer to $1.5k.\n\nIs SF a bit spendy? Yes, I think so. It's obvious that you can get insurance at lower rates. I'm not sure what the difference in worth is, though; I might save a few hundred dollars a year switching to Geico, but will they be as good about taking care of me next time I'm in an accident? I dunno.\n\nBottom line, IMO, is that you don't want to look just at how much your insurance costs you every month. Do some research on how easy it is to work with an insurance company when you have to make a claim and how harshly or generously they deal with claims. A few hundred dollars difference per year may be worth it.\n"
  User (fox157): "That is true. I have had no complaints about State Farm, but I have not really experienced a major claim with them either. I am just having a hard time justifying something that is double the price for seemingly the same coverage."
  Self: "Oh, I don't disagree with that at all. Just saying--look at more than the monthly cost. If cost were the only thing that mattered then we'd all be eating ramen for every meal. :)"
  