Good Sam Vehicle Insurance 50% Increase

[rrtribble]

My Good Sam insurance 6 month premium, through National General) for my DP and 2 cars is increasing over 50% ($483.00). Company Agent informed me the reason was the high insurance claims over the last 12 months. I understand rates WILL go up based on my claims, which I've had none; so why 50% in a single renewal period. Agent indicated strong possibility of similar increase at the next 6 month renewal. When I asked why he said it was all related to the company's expenses over the last period. I was taught that insurance rates were based on the company's expenses and profit margin for the geographical area you reside but now, according to this agent, the company bases premiums on National expense.

Needless to say I'm looking. Already contacted FMCA, which I joined earlier this year and had already planned on transferring my Emergency Roadside Service from Good Sam due to the lower cost and better service. Agent is to provide me a quote based on RV, 2 cars and S&B. Should get email with quote in a couple of days. Also will be contacting State Farm, which is where I have my life insurance policy.

Anyone else experiencing 50% premium increases? Richard

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by rrtribble

My Good Sam insurance 6 month premium, through National General) for my DP and 2 cars is increasing over 50% ($483.00). Company Agent informed me the reason was the high insurance claims over the last 12 months. I understand rates WILL go up based on my claims, which I've had none; so why 50% in a single renewal period. Agent indicated strong possibility of similar increase at the next 6 month renewal. When I asked why he said it was all related to the company's expenses over the last period. I was taught that insurance rates were based on the company's expenses and profit margin for the geographical area you reside but now, according to this agent, the company bases premiums on National expense.

Needless to say I'm looking. Already contacted FMCA, which I joined earlier this year and had already planned on transferring my Emergency Roadside Service from Good Sam due to the lower cost and better service. Agent is to provide me a quote based on RV, 2 cars and S&B. Should get email with quote in a couple of days. Also will be contacting State Farm, which is where I have my life insurance policy.

Anyone else experiencing 50% premium increases? Richard

If a company is so poorly managed that they put all their eggs in one basket and have to LEGITIMATELY raise their premiums 50% in one renewal period to stay afloat, it's time to find another insurance company. I would suggest The Hartford thru AARP. Still considerably cheaper than National General even with our other vehicles insured through USAA.

Also, if the agent is indicating that the rates will go up AGAIN the next 6 months, that kind of blows their reason for raising the rates out of the water. After all, how do they know that they will experience "high insurance claims" over the next 6 months?!?

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Background - my mom worked in insurance for most of her life. Her explanations didn't assuage my frustrations with insurance companies, but here's some of what she taught me:


It's about the size of the risk pool, premium income, and the amount of claims paid out over whatever the analysis period is. With traditional automobile policies the domicile or principal locale of garaging and use sets the base premium, with adjustments based on miles driven and a couple dozen other factors.


With RV insurance most of those things come into play, too, but the risk pool is much smaller than with auto insurance. It takes far fewer big claims to result in a premium increase and let's face it, almost any RV claim will not be small...


In this case the premium increase isn't based on the individual policy holder's claims history but the history of the insurers entire risk pool.


Your only choice is to change insurers and hope your new choice hasn't had the recent claims experiences as your current carrier.

[lwmcguire]

This don't help you directly yet, but each time I have had them check rates they were already twice as high as I was paying for less coverage. Shop around and with a good record you should be able to beat their price.

[Ray,IN]

I use this independent insurance company:

Twyla Stenzel
FCIS-Farm and City Insurance Services
Ph:1-800-331-1520 or 641-585-2925
Fax:641-585-5166
Last year my Winnebago MH policy increased by $195 despite no claims. Twyla told me Nationwide is the lowest cost policy available for me, and "Nationwide has had some terrible rate increases."


Someone must pay for all the damages from flooding, fires, storms, wrecks, etc, and it is us-the common pool of insured. Of course no company is in business to lose money, so_ here we are.

[Hit_the_Rhod]

My insurance thru The Hartford DID go up $136.14, an increase of about 16% my last annual renewal. The annual renewal prior to that, it went up about $75.00. I had one comprehensive claim three years ago (window glass) and a comprehensive claim two years ago for an awning that came off "in flight" so to speak ($13k+ including paint), so I am still ahead of the game!

[CountryB]

Also, if your policy has comprehensive and collision (most do if there is a loan out o the coach), note that the value of your coach decreases each year (depreciation) so the insurance payout would be less and less each year in the event of a total loss. That factor should be helping to lower the premium cost.

[Domo]

Go to any other camping world or agent of national and you'll probably get a different rate quoted. Seems their own reps complete against each other...imo

[veraken]

I had The Hartford for my MH, Auto and home owners. Their rates went up @ 18%. Shopped around and found SAFECO had the best overall rates.

[waroland]

After purchasing a S&B last year we went with Farm Bureau insurance on the house, motor home, car and truck and it is all lower than I was paying National General for the car and motor home.

[aether_one]

To answer the OP's question:

No, my NG insurance on my gas MH and Toad did not increase 50% for a 6 month policy when renewed in September this year, basically the same as 6 months prior.

[garyre]

I have National General insurance on MH/tow vehicle, renewal is not until. Feb2019. Thanks for notice of price increase, will need to check around before renewal date on competitive rates...One inclusion with National General that I really like is the option for insurance premium to essentially turn "on and turn off" when your unit is garaged. Minimum premium is 30 days when not garaged, otherwise insurance premium is reduced while garaged...


Are there other insurance companies that offer this option? When I was first shopping for RV insurance National General was the only company offering this option which can save you a considerable amount if not a full time RVer...

[rrtribble]

Garyre,

State Farm allows garaging, I used it for years but Nat Gen was over a Grand cheaper but not now with this increase. Problem is that SF and other predominately auto insurers don't adequately cover MH requiring claim for loss or damage to contents be filed under homeowner's policy so end up with 2 deductions.

[Jim.B1]

This sounds like another Good Scam's bait and switch deal where they post attractive prices on the initial offer and once you commit, the rate goes up.
Example:
1) Good Sam Roadside Assistance (changes made in January 2018)
Sign up for a 2 year plan @$69.00 only to find later they no longer cover motorized RV's. If you want this coverage now, it will cost you more!

I see the Good Sam offers in RV magazines for Insurance, Roadside Assistance and Loans, and frankly, just don't trust the company.
I had a recent online purchase and told "no shipping fee" only to find the cross border fees were as much as the product ordered! Even their customer service department isn't transparent and trustworthy.