Updates
Just as I predicted, my rates went up at renewal due to insurance fraud in NY.

-------------------------------------------------------

When it was time for me to insure an automobile, an automobile that was for the very first time registered in my very own name, I didn't want to use my parent's insurance company because I prefer to waste a lot of energy finding the best value for my dollar. Some would say that's practical, others would say that's just darned cheap. I really don't care what you call it, because that "I've been screwed by a major corporation" feeling doesn't leave me all warm and fuzzy.

My neighbors recommended Amica even though their son is a head muckety-muck at another huge insurance company (which coincidentally also starts with "A" but does not end with "llstate"). Their son, incidentally, is also insured by Amica, and if the president of a large insurance corporation believes he gets better service from somebody else, well that's almost good enough for me!

I read the epinions on various well-known agencies and as you can see Amica is one of the most highly-rated insurance companies listed. USAA would have been great, too, but I did not meet the time served in the military requirement. Amica's customer service has an excellent reputation, and in fact, Amica is one of the rare agencies that does not have various websites condemning it for unconscionable business practices. For me, that is more important than getting the lowest premiums.

I also called Erie, Tri-State Consumer and Liberty Mutual for quotes. (Erie did not have a local office and Tri-State requires 18 months prior insurance coverage.) Amica's quote was slightly lower than Liberty Mutual's for slightly better coverage, so that's who I went with.

By the way, Amica's quotes are for single limits only. Most companies will give you a per person/per accident limit. For example, Liberty Mutual quoted me for a $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident liability limit. That means if I were driving alone, I would only be covered for $100,000. With Amica, I have a combined single liability limit of $300,000. So I am covered for $300,000 regardless of how many people aren't in the car with me. Obviously, single limits are better, so companies that offer them usually charge more.

Another point about their quotes: they offer a dividend rate and a non-dividend rate. The dividend rate costs more up front, but at the end of the year Amica will give back a little something, which usually comes to around 20% of the cost of the policy. So you end up actually spending a bit less than the non-dividend rate. Amica also offers an automatic payment plan, which deducts the premiums directly from your bank account every month. This avoids the small service charge that is otherwise incurred if you don't pay your policy in full but spread out the payments.

The following is the story of my experience with Amica. It's a boring, brief story because I haven't had to file a claim yet. But boring and brief is how I want to keep my dealings with any insurance company. Despite this, there are always opportunities for an insurance agency to disappoint. So far, Amica has failed to annoy me at all!

After signing on for coverage after business hours, I arranged to pick up my forms at the local branch, rather than waiting for them to arrive by mail. The next day I was in and out of their office in seconds with an envelope and a smile. I guess I had exceptionally low expectations because their efficiency impressed me.

I requested help via their website twice. Each time I received a response within an hour or so. Their agents have always been professional and pleasant, and best of all, return my calls. I rang up Amica after completing a defensive driving class and they immediately applied the discount over the phone, retroactive to the day I took the course. No fuss, no questions, no DNA from the instructor required. You can't help but contemplate the wonder of the human condition when an insurance company is willing to take me at my word.

Yes, Amica does not assign a representative to each customer so I do not have a personal agent. It doesn't make a difference to me, as long as my problems are resolved.

Is it possible to fall in love with an insurance agency? Absolutely not. I do have one major quibble -- the rates are somewhat high. They only accept safe drivers, so since I have a clean driving record I wasn't penalized for not having a record of insurance under my own name. It's reasonable to start coverage at a higher rate, but unlike most other agencies, Amica does not offer a discount if you stay with them, accident free, for a few years. That's irritating because I'm expecting a swift and merciless rate hike if anything happens to my car/driving record. (I don't know if this is standard practice, but Amica does not increase rates for other than collision [otherwise known as comprehensive] claims.) To compare, I'm a safe driver over 25 with a 14 yr. old car, $250 deductible comprehensive, towing, no collision and I'm paying about $1K. net. Granted, I am in a no-fault state and my fellow New Yorkers seem to have a knack for insurance fraud, so our rates are sure to be jacked up shortly.

You can find cheaper insurance but service is going to suffer. My parents left Allstate because Allstate never wanted to pay on a valid claim. What's the point of paying a company not to keep their end of the bargain? I haven't had to really test Amica yet so I'll be updating this epinion if I ever have to file a claim.

Recommended: Yes