Geico car insurance

[NotworkSte 19]

Not sure if this has been covered before, tried a search and didn't see it...

My wife and I have just got into a big row with Geico over a policy they have when covering new resident drivers. This is the first I have heard of this so I am not sure if it is new or whether it was "buried" in the small print and we missed it, or whether we've been taken for a ride...

Our monthly renewal came in, for both of us, and it was more than a car payment a month in itself, so we called them and their policy is, for new drivers, they jack the premium as if the license had points. It doesn't matter how many years of driving somewhere else you may have had, they adjust the premium as if you were a new driver and just got 2 points. These 2 points doubled the premium.

Has anyone else encountered this?

[Lioncub4 4]

Not sure if this has been covered before, tried a search and didn't see it...

My wife and I have just got into a big row with Geico over a policy they have when covering new resident drivers. This is the first I have heard of this so I am not sure if it is new or whether it was "buried" in the small print and we missed it, or whether we've been taken for a ride...

Our monthly renewal came in, for both of us, and it was more than a car payment a month in itself, so we called them and their policy is, for new drivers, they jack the premium as if the license had points. It doesn't matter how many years of driving somewhere else you may have had, they adjust the premium as if you were a new driver and just got 2 points. These 2 points doubled the premium.

Has anyone else encountered this?

We were with Geico and yes, Geico (and other insurers) jack the premiums up for foreign licence holders. We switched insurers recently to Progressive, and while the premiums are a lot less than Geico, there is still a "penalty" because of my UK licence. In fact in the driver details section online I am listed as having a driving violation!! It would be great if insurance companies recognised foreign driving experience and didn't penalise us as much, but I can see why they don't. There are hundreds of different national licences, all with varying standards of driving. Who is to say just because I have a UK licence my driving is "better' than someone from a different country? I guess the upshot is - get a US licence (sorry - license) as quick as you can and watch those premiums come down!

[NotworkSte 19]

I guess the upshot is - get a US licence (sorry - license) as quick as you can and watch those premiums come down!

The point is... I have got a Florida license. I called them today and the fact I have one makes no difference at all to the premium.

Needless to say, we're shopping around now to see if given this Geico is still competitive.

[TBoneTX 46,208]

We have one car that's covered by State Farm, and another by Amica. Neither up-jacked us.

While we're here (and NOT intending to derail or trivialize this thread), exactly what region of (?) England does the Geico gecko (on the Geico commercials) sound like he's from?

[Otto 83]

While we're here (and NOT intending to derail or trivialize this thread), exactly what region of (?) England does the Geico gecko (on the Geico commercials) sound like he's from?

Cockney

We use GEICO - Karin has the same/similar experience with premiums when she first got coverage - new driver blah blah blah - never mind she's been driving in Germany for years. At any rate, the premiums have since reduced to normal levels after she was here/covered for 1 year. Now they're the cheapest out there (for us).

[NotworkSte 19]

Lucky it's not Glaswegian "nae car insurance? git it rite here ken? gud prices n'aw" or Geordie....

Drifting further OT from my own thread, the best insurance adverts ever are the Aleksandr Orlov character for comparethemarket.com / comparethemeerkat.com. Genius.

[milimelo 4,569]

We had Geico as well - despite my driving license from home country (5+ years of driving) - was treated as a brand new driver. We switched to USAA (military insurance) and they had no problems accepting my length of driving history. Over 50% savings over Geico.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I'm going to add a "spoiler" for NotworkSte. I know several contractors who work at Geico's Bethesda HQ who insure with other co's--all of them have said that Geico is the worst-clobbering quote they get.

My own personal experience with Geico in 1997, when I lived in Dallas: I called them to get a rate, and they quoted me one that was more than my monthly rent (for apartment, at that time about $500); same criteria for State Farm, I got a quote which was about 20% of my monthly rent.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Bruce and I have been with Geico since September 2007. He had nearly 20 years' experience in the UK, and I had no US licence and only a learner's permit in the UK. We were clobbered to begin with, but after 2 and a half years they have the lowest rate we can find -- I recently did a comparison. Since we were both new drivers as far as they were concerned, we had to prove ourselves. 30 months on with no citations and no claims, we have a decent rate. Once I've had a US licence for 5 years (Jesus, that'll be 2013) I'll be eligible for a much lower rate on my Mustang through specialist collectors' car insurance. Currently the 'Stang is the most expensive, but once I move it over it will be something like $125 a year.

[NotworkSte 19]

Some leg work by my lovely wife... and we have a winner! Progressive were half the price of Geico.

[doghandler 2]

Lucky it's not Glaswegian "nae car insurance? git it rite here ken? gud prices n'aw" or Geordie....

Drifting further OT from my own thread, the best insurance adverts ever are the Aleksandr Orlov character for comparethemarket.com / comparethemeerkat.com. Genius.

Found you L&BP man! Loved the Glaswegian - as we say here, "you're a pure laugh"!

Back to business - you all talk about how HUGE the quotes are, would anyone mind actually giving me a ball park figure of what we are talking for a British license?

To my horror, having had a clean license for 20 years, I've just got 3 points for speeding - great timing on my part. So, the insurance thing in the states is now of great interest to me. I could kick myself. (NotworkSte - to give you a bit of reminiscence, I got caught by the "revenue generating" cameras up at Sighthill).

[NotworkSte 19]

Found you L&BP man! Loved the Glaswegian - as we say here, "you're a pure laugh"!

Back to business - you all talk about how HUGE the quotes are, would anyone mind actually giving me a ball park figure of what we are talking for a British license?

To my horror, having had a clean license for 20 years, I've just got 3 points for speeding - great timing on my part. So, the insurance thing in the states is now of great interest to me. I could kick myself. (NotworkSte - to give you a bit of reminiscence, I got caught by the "revenue generating" cameras up at Sighthill).

C and my quote was around $400ish from Geico, just under $250 a month with Progressive. Both of us and 2 cars. Geico didn't really care whether I had a Fl license or not, they actually started insuring me on my UK license intil I took the test a couple of weeks later.

And I hear you on the points, I got caught fracturing the speed limit on the M74 a few months before moving. First points in about 10 years! The only good thing about Sighthill is the biscuit factory

[doghandler 2]

C and my quote was around $400ish from Geico, just under $250 a month with Progressive.

Yikes!

The only good thing about Sighthill is the biscuit factory

That is soooo true! £2 for a massive bag!

[Lioncub4 4]

Back to business - you all talk about how HUGE the quotes are, would anyone mind actually giving me a ball park figure of what we are talking for a British license?

We were $83/month with Geico (2 drivers/1 car). This was with me on my UK licence and Bren with her AZ licence. Progressive are $53/month.

[doghandler 2]

We were $83/month with Geico (2 drivers/1 car). This was with me on my UK licence and Bren with her AZ licence. Progressive are $53/month.

Very helpful. Thank you. Real figures for me to work with. So much more expensive than the UK, this topic has been an eye opener!