Currently with GEICO. Rented a car from Enterprise in early June for a trip around NV/UT. A non-impact crack started to form on the windshield which I think was due to the extreme temperature changes. We were driving near a mountain top with snow and then went down to Zion National Park which was in the 90's.
Returned the rental car to the airport when we returned to Vegas. The Enterprise worker took my insurance information and wrote it on the car window and said that I'll eventually hear from them or my insurance. I havn't heard a peep since I returned the car. I looked in my GEICO mobile app and I do not see anything regarding the rental in there either.
When I called GEICO/Costco Citi Visa (card I rented the car with which has rental car coverage) the night before returning the car, they basically said don't worry about it. I tried to confirm with GEICO that my policy covers glass and she seemed to indicate it does, but without saying so.
Long story short, GEICO has raised prices on me a lot over the past couple years and I looked at what Costco was able to offer me through American Family and I can save about $450-500/year with similar coverage. I'd like to switch to save, but I'm concerned about doing so while this rental car situation is unfolding.
Two questions:
- Should I hold off on switching insurance until I get more information/close this ordeal with Enterprise?
- Any thoughts on American Family compared to GEICO for auto insurance?
Rental car had a cracked windshield. Want to switch insurance to save money. Should I wait until this situation is resolved?
byu/ohwowverycool69 inInsurance
Posted by ohwowverycool69
2 Comments
Switching insurance after the fact won’t have any impact on any claim for the windshield.
you can switch now without issue – as long as the policy was in force at the time of the loss, it will cover any damage
you will need to read the application carefully though – this may qualify as a prior loss depending on the wording, and if it does, you will need to disclose it which could affect your rates
anecdotally, american family has probably the worst reputation (either them or allstate) for claims handling, but with any major national insurer any service experience is dictated far more by the quality of the person you’re dealing with than by the company itself or any of its policies; i wouldn’t be particularly wary of switching for such a significant savings as long as the coverages are equivalent
if you’re already in shopping mode though, you should also get prices with the rest of the major carriers and have a local independent agent run your info as well to hit all of the smaller carriers; you may find a better insurer for a similar or better price