Auto insurance premium

Haven't noticed any changes yet, knocks on wood. I use State Farm, not sure if that matters.

Would like to note though, that my ex used to have a mom and pop insurance plan, out of Genoa, all of her life until last fall.

For some reason they started factoring in your credit score to influence your rates and hers went up a lot after the adjustment. She ended up switching to State Farm as well and saved a good bit (think it was like $15-20 a month difference). Not to mention the multi-car discount since we lived together at the time.

lots of rate increases going on at the bigger companies, although mostly in home insurance. Also some companies have recently started using credit scores or are checking more frequently and adjusting their rates depending on your scores. Over all auto rates for Ohio are pretty good, Last I heard Ohio has the 11th lowest auto rates in the country, mostly due to the large number of companies fighting for market share.

Mine recently went up by $20 a month (!), but my agent said it was because I moved into a Toledo zip code. I used to live in Maumee. When I moved to Maumee from BG, it had gone up by about $2 a month. My policy is up for renewal in March and I plan to explore other companies and/or perhaps drop some of my coverage. The $20 hike seems totally unreasonable.

I only pay a little over 40 a month for plain Jane coverage

WHo is the carrier, Flinty? My policy also dropped $16 a month(State Farm), though my wife and I have been points-free for quite a few years.

My last 6 month premium with Progressive dropped about $80. I'll see what May brings....

I've began working construction for wages in the early '60's and went through a lot of rough financial times. I am retired now and hope I have enough to live comfortably. I do know of folks that don't qualify for welfare and/or aid that worked all their lives and have now out lived their savings.

So, this my slant on things...

Expect a lot of rate increases. Insurance companies are a "for profit" business that invests heavily in the stock market, bonds and securities. And they lost lots of money as did other industries and businesses. So as per usual, this will be paid for by consumers... It's the free market system, and the American way.

You can anticipate subtle (and not so subtle) cost and price increases over the next several years. So...

I suggest you save up some money and buy sealable 5 gallon plastic buckets, go to Sam's Club or some other bulk sales place and....... BUY DRY BEANS... Great Northern, Navy Pea, Pinto's and any other kind they have available and store them in the plastic buckets in a cool dry place. Beans are a great source of protien and fiber. And..... They go great with just about any kind of Road Kill.... Bon Appetit

Study the survival methods of those who lived through the Depression

Learn to survive without being an Urban Terrorist. And learn to share.

Much like we do here.

The carrier is American Commerce Ins. Co. (Columbus, Ohio). A person at AAA underwrites for them. We just started with American Commerce last July.

Flinty yours is a common issue, a lot of times companies will give you a great price to get you, but raise your rate after the first year , or first renewal, hoping you won't look else where. Often times they will even tell you that they are giving you a new customer discount, which really doesn't mean anything to you until it drops off. Sadly most companies are more interested in getting new customers than there are keeping older customers.

I have not seen an increase. Our insurance has actually gave my 23yr old daughter a $10 decrease for driving safely with no problems over the past year. I thought that was great for her being so young.

We use State Farm also.

My auto insurance rates have been steadily falling,but my house insurance rates have been going up.We use State Farm.

'Flinty yours is a common issue, a lot of times companies will give you a great price to get you, but raise your rate after the first year , or first renewal, hoping you won't look else where. Often times they will even tell you that they are giving you a new customer discount, which really doesn't mean anything to you until it drops off. Sadly most companies are more interested in getting new customers than there are keeping older customers."

I had that problem with Alstate years ago so I dropped them and went to State Farm.So far I have been very happy with them.

I recall State Farm dropping state of Florida for homeowners insurance due to high losses. This could be still having marginal effect on Ohio.

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Florida's largest private insurer is pulling the plug on homeowners' policies in the state, citing the losses suffered since the brutal 2004 hurricane season.

The decision by State Farm Florida comes two weeks after state insurance regulators rejected the company's request to raise rates by more than 47%. The decision means State Farm Florida - a subsidiary of national insurance giant State Farm Mutual - will no longer renew policies for its roughly 1.2 million customers in the Sunshine State.

The company said it has paid out $1.21 in claims for every dollar of premiums it has collected since 2000 and suffered billions in losses after the 2004 hurricane season, when four major storms hit the state. And it said its net worth had dropped by nearly 25% since 2006 even with no major disasters.