With car prices still high and interest rates making monthly payments painful, personal finance expert Suze Orman has a simple message for drivers: take care of the car you already have. Orman argues that spending money on routine car maintenance is not wasted cash. She calls it “one of the smartest financial moves you can make this year,” especially for households that depend on one or two vehicles just to function day to day. Skipping maintenance might feel like saving money in the moment, but Orman s ...

Core Insights - Costco has partnered with American Family Insurance to provide discounted car insurance to its members, offering benefits such as free roadside assistance and lifetime renewability for Executive Members, although the coverage is described as simple and lacks a mobile app [1][2][22]. Group 1: Insurance Offerings - Costco's auto insurance includes standard coverage options like liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance, with exclusive discounts for members, particularly for Executive Members who may receive enhanced benefits [3][11]. - The insurance features accident forgiveness after three years without an incident and includes optional emergency roadside assistance, which is free for Executive Members [11][22]. - There are nine types of auto insurance coverage available through Costco, including new car replacement and GAP insurance [13][11]. Group 2: Customer Satisfaction and Pricing - American Family Insurance, the parent company, has the lowest average monthly premium for full coverage at $151 and for basic liability-only coverage at $89, making it competitive among major insurers [15][16]. - J.D. Power's customer satisfaction scores indicate that American Family scored better than average in three out of five regions, while CONNECT by American Family was rated better-than-average in California [8][12]. Group 3: Discounts and Claims Process - Costco members can qualify for various discounts, including good driver, defensive driver, and multi-vehicle discounts, which can lower premiums significantly [17][12]. - Claims for Costco car insurance are managed by American Family Insurance, allowing members to file claims online or via phone, with a claims representative typically contacting them within one business day [18][20].

Core Insights - Farmers car insurance offers a variety of coverage types, including accident forgiveness, new car replacement, and custom parts coverage, with rates around the national average and 18 available discounts [1][5][12]. Coverage Options - Farmers provides all standard car insurance coverage types along with several add-ons, totaling 17 different coverage types [4][8]. - Notable coverage options include liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments, personal injury protection, gap insurance, new car replacement, accident forgiveness, diminishing deductible, OEM parts coverage, rideshare and delivery coverage, custom parts coverage, and roadside assistance [10][11]. Pricing and Discounts - The average monthly cost for full coverage with Farmers is approximately $182, which is slightly below the national average of $190 [7][12]. - Basic liability coverage costs around $108 per month, also below the national average of $113 [13]. - Farmers offers 18 different discounts, including bundling, loyalty, ePolicy, good payer, youthful driver, and safe driver discounts [14][17]. Customer Satisfaction - Farmers scored at or above average in customer satisfaction across several regions, with a J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction score above the industry average [7][19]. - However, Farmers has received more complaints than average, indicating mixed customer satisfaction ratings [19]. Claims Process - The claims process involves gathering key information, reviewing coverage, filing the claim through various methods, and working with a claims representative [15][16]. - Farmers does not specify a deadline for claims submission but emphasizes that quicker submissions may lead to faster payouts [15].

Core Insights - Liberty Mutual offers a wide range of auto insurance coverage options across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including specialized policies like Mexico Car Insurance and teacher auto insurance [1][24][26] - The company provides various discounts, including the RightTrack program for safe driving, military discounts, and good student discounts, which can help customers save on their premiums [2][15][24] Coverage Options - Liberty Mutual offers 17 different types of coverage, including liability, collision, comprehensive, and specialized options like accident forgiveness and new car replacement [3][10][25] - The average monthly cost for full coverage is $216, which is above the national average of $190, while basic coverage averages $128, also higher than the national average of $113 [6][13][29] Customer Satisfaction - Liberty Mutual has received below-average customer satisfaction scores across all regions according to J.D. Power, although it scored above average in auto claims satisfaction [5][6][24] - The company has an "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating from A.M. Best, indicating strong financial stability [24] Discounts and Savings - Liberty Mutual offers 12 different discounts, including homeowner, military, early shopper, good student, and multi-policy discounts, which can significantly reduce insurance costs [4][15][21] - The RightTrack program allows drivers to earn discounts based on safe driving habits, with potential savings of up to 30% [15][24] Claims Process - The claims process involves several steps, including contacting Liberty Mutual, submitting a claim, documenting damage, and receiving payment, with a typical response time of one to two business days for claim reviews [17][19][22] - Customers can track their claims through Liberty Mutual's mobile app, which has received high ratings from users [20][23]

Core Insights - GEICO has a rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, noted for its discounts but lacks certain coverage options like new car replacement and a diminishing deductible program [1] - The company has a high credit rating indicating financial strength, but its premiums are on the higher side of average [2] - Customer satisfaction scores are below average in several regions according to J.D. Power, with mixed reviews regarding the claims process [8][24] Coverage and Discounts - GEICO offers a total of 11 different coverage types, including liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance [5][12] - The company provides 23 different discounts, including those for safe driving, vehicle safety features, and military service [6][17] - Average monthly costs for full coverage are approximately $202, which is slightly above the average of $190 across major insurers [15] Customer Satisfaction and Claims - J.D. Power scores indicate that GEICO scored below average in customer satisfaction across seven out of eleven regions [8] - The claims satisfaction score is five points below the average, with customer reviews highlighting slow response times and mixed experiences [24][25] - GEICO's mobile app is highly rated, facilitating payments, claims management, and roadside assistance requests [23][28] Financial Strength and Premiums - GEICO maintains high credit ratings, reflecting its financial stability and low risk of claim denial due to resource issues [23] - The average annual cost for basic coverage is $1,440, which is 6.2% higher than the average for other insurers [13][16] - The company offers accident forgiveness coverage, allowing customers to waive surcharges after their first qualifying claim, although this is limited to certain states [9][10]