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Reflections: How auto insurance companies take advantage of good drivers

Considering that I am about 40 years of age and have only one accident when I turned 16 years old and that was another driver's fault, why do insurance companies feel the need to penalize proven driving history with a probationary time frame? Or to require my social security number in order to quote me a rate?

Let me be more specific...
If I am with insurance company A and in five years decide to go with company B, why would company B put me on a probationary period for two years of good driving experience to reduce my rates? Before you comment, this is common. As most people shop for pricing of insurance, it baffles me that these insurance companies can't take into consideration your past driving experience. Mine, happening to be about two decades worth. Do they take into consideration my past driving? Yes and no. Yes, being that they see if I have any traffic violations. However, beyond that, they now want to know my social security number because they have determined high risk drivers are often linked to bad credit. Give me a break. This sounds like the insurance lobby folk have been working over our government officials again with green backs. My social security number should not be of any relevance to my auto insurance other than to prove my identity. That's it. Further, if I decide to go with my above example, company B after five years of good driving, i've been told (now) by three different insurance companies that I have to prove with them a good driving history for a few years before I can save money. Come on, folks. If I have at least two decades of a good driving history, what in God's name does my social security number or my having to (now) prove myself another few years with your company before I am given an insurance break on pricing.

I open this up for debate, so I am open to both sides. I can figure a few insurance agents out there are Helium writers too. This is not a direct attack on you. However, it is a direct attack on the industry and how they have managed to get into the pockets of the right political folks in Washington. We all know that insurance is a very big game in Washington. I am commenting on auto insurance and my personal experience. However, it's quite possible this problem spans into other insurance such as life, dental, business, home, etc. I am what you would call a fantastic driver, given not only my experience in tens of thousands of miles, but also for about two decades worth of good driving examples. This social security requirement and putting me on probation with the new company for a few years before I can save money on my auto insurance is about as fair as gas prices are right now. And, I would encourage writers from the auto insurance industry to respond to this. Hopefully to help shed some light on why three companies have told me the same answer of proving myself with them before I can save money. Isn't my driving history worth anything? I'd say it's worth 100% of what i'm asking to be insured for. If I wrecked or had speeding tickets or anything, i'd understand. However, I have none of the above. Zero violations and accidents against me. I would like to hear someone counter my debate here. I can't be the only person that feels this way. It's irritating. If I stay with company B long enough to get the discount, then there is a better deal going with company C by that time. I am beginning to think one guy owns all the insurance companies and he's just laughing at all of us. I mean, that would make sense, in a sick kind of way wouldn't it?

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Reflections: How auto insurance companies take advantage of good drivers

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    by Mick Phipps

    Considering that I am about 40 years of age and have only one accident when I turned 16 years old and that was anothe... read more

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