Agent Blog

Nothing is more frustrating than being told something costs one thing, and when it comes time to pay, the price goes up. Worse yet, you pay for something on payments, and the monthly amount turns out to be higher than quoted. You feel stuck. The money you used to pay the down payment is gone, and now you can’t go elsewhere. Often, you are on contract, like a cable bill, and now trapped for three years.

Jesse, from Forest Grove, Oregon, got stopped and cited for speeding three times on the same road he travels daily from home to work within three months. The difference in the insurance price from what he used to pay increased by $150 a month. He was suspended for a month and needed an SR22 certificate while applying for a Hardship Permit. The permit allowed him to continue driving the country roads to work. He would have been suspended for a year if he had gotten one more ticket. Jesse is lucky he lives in the 97116 zip code. If he lived in Hillsboro 97123 or Portland 97203, he would pay $200 to $250 more a month.

Madelene from Eugene, Oregon 97401, completed a quote request form. She hadn’t had insurance or a car for two and a half years. The vehicle identification number she submitted revealed a car with a reconstructed title. The price was astronomical at around $300 a month for liability only. Yes, she had a ticket or two on her record about to fall off, but what a shock. I encouraged her to keep looking at other cars. She fed me five more VIN numbers. By the end of the day, we found one with a clean title and a good maintenance history, and it came in at $180 a month. The year, make, and model do make a difference in the cost of insurance. Add a rough crash and repair history; you have the ingredients for high insurance prices.

Jose in Tillamook, Oregon 97141, has four vehicles on his policy and claims to be the only driver. Despite my interrogation, he refuses to reveal any more drivers. One day, his son was driving one of the cars to pick up his girlfriend from the airport in Portland, Oregon, and got in a crash. It totaled the newer SUV. So far, the insurance company has refused to pay the $135,000. The other party has a judgment against the driver and the client. The insurance company is charging the client for a permissive use accident. The customer argues that he shouldn’t have to pay extra for the accident because he wasn’t driving.