AC Insurance "Recommendations"

MikeTuggle

MikeTuggle

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MikeT
Played by the rules, searched first, found nothing current...

Anticipating a purchase soon -- need recommendations for "good" insurance brokers.

Thanks!
 
AOPA worked for me...high time military rotor wing, low time GA on my Arrow and since I work in the Insurance business... I did a little shopping as well, no doubt every situation is different.
 
MikeTuggle said:
Played by the rules, searched first, found nothing current...

Anticipating a purchase soon -- need recommendations for "good" insurance brokers.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Over the past 18 years of ownership, I've been through AOPA Insurance Agency, Avemco, AIR-Pros, Travers, Falcon, and a couple others. So far, these guys are outperforming all of them by a wide margin with regard to response time and ease of doing business:

http://www.wings-insurance.com

With the exception of Avemco, the agencies all work with basically the same underwriters, and quote the same premiums. What I found over the years was that brokers are eager for new business, but after the first year, their responsiveness drops off significantly. Some brokers are still messing around with paper forms (I dislike paper). Some brokers are lazy and won't shop the markets every year. Some brokers "forget" about your renewal until a few days before the expiration of your current policy.

All of the agencies mentioned above have been good in some ways, but I haven't found them to be consistently good--except for Wings. None of these guys are making much money from recreational piston airplane pilots, so I can understand how we end up at the bottom of the priority list, but I think that most of the problems I've encountered have been related to business process more than anything else. Wings seems to have their act together all the time.


JKG
 
Ok.

AVEMCO, they write their own insurance, often have great rates and I hear they take care of people if anything happens and you actually use their product.
These guys are probably the easy choice for normal stuff, 172, Bo, Aztec, etc.

https://www.avemco.com


Great broker, they are all pilots, small shop and they know their stuff, also great at insuring odd balls (amphibs, warbirds etc). Quoted me the best rate on my amphib.

https://www.airpowerinsurance.com
 
If you're insuring something generic, like a 172 or a Warrior, it probably doesn't make a ton of difference. If it's something a little unique, or you've got some other odd circumstances, a good broker can make a difference in terms of "selling you" to the underwriters.
 
Wenk Insurance in Lake Bluff Illinois. Wendy did a great job for us. Wendy's number is 847-235-2491
 
I think Tom Johnson at Airpower Insurance has been a great service to me. Very easy to work with, and came up with a comparable quote at half the other companies. AOPA was by far the highest.
 
I almost hate to admit it, but I like AOPA insurance services too. They are easy to deal with and I don't have to shop around every year because they do that for me.
 
I think it depends on what you are insuring.

The type clubs usually have specific relationships either direct with underwriters or with specialist brokers (I used Tom Johnson at AirPower for my Yak for example, he is a big Red Star Pilot's Association supporter and operated a Yak himself until very recently).

And of course the major organizations all have similar arrangements (e.g., EAA, AOPA, IAC, etc.).

'Gimp
 
Thanks, folks.

My only "special circumstances" are a lot of rust and getting back into the air. I am counting on a couple of full days with a CFI before flying home from the plane's old home base. (It is a Saratoga, fixed gear.)
 
I can highly recommend Travers Ins in St Louis. I had zero problems with my claim.
 
JOhnH said:
I almost hate to admit it, but I like AOPA insurance services too. They are easy to deal with and I don't have to shop around every year because they do that for me.
Click to expand...

Travers beat AOPA for me. AOPA only won my business one year out of 15.
 
Tom Hauge took care of me from the get go. Everything was pretty much pre-filled out. Very smooth and easy, communication has been over the top. Rate was where I expected it to be. The Beechcraft guys on Beechtalk swear by Wings as well. That's who turned me on, plus Tom is a member and answers general questions you don't really feel like calling and asking about.



JGoodish said:
Over the past 18 years of ownership, I've been through AOPA Insurance Agency, Avemco, AIR-Pros, Travers, Falcon, and a couple others. So far, these guys are outperforming all of them by a wide margin with regard to response time and ease of doing business:

http://www.wings-insurance.com

With the exception of Avemco, the agencies all work with basically the same underwriters, and quote the same premiums. What I found over the years was that brokers are eager for new business, but after the first year, their responsiveness drops off significantly. Some brokers are still messing around with paper forms (I dislike paper). Some brokers are lazy and won't shop the markets every year. Some brokers "forget" about your renewal until a few days before the expiration of your current policy.

All of the agencies mentioned above have been good in some ways, but I haven't found them to be consistently good--except for Wings. None of these guys are making much money from recreational piston airplane pilots, so I can understand how we end up at the bottom of the priority list, but I think that most of the problems I've encountered have been related to business process more than anything else. Wings seems to have their act together all the time.


JKG
Click to expand...
 
Great service and prices.

Gregg Ellsworth
Aviation Insurance Resources
Toll Free: 1-877-247-7767
PH: 301-682-6200
Fax: 301-682-9793
 
James331 said:
Ok.

AVEMCO, they write their own insurance, often have great rates and I hear they take care of people if anything happens and you actually use their product.
These guys are probably the easy choice for normal stuff, 172, Bo, Aztec, etc.

https://www.avemco.com

https://www.airpowerinsurance.com
Click to expand...

Depends on the plane. They were DOUBLE on my Comanche for the same coverage as what I'm paying now. Said until I have 1000hrs in PA24s I was still "high risk."
 
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When I was looking at Comanches Wendy quoted me 2,200 for a 4 man partnership. Hull value of 75k. She found a place that she said "loved Comanches"
 
For years I let USAA handle it for me but frankly, the general agency went stupid a while back and has been worse than useless. It's one of the few bad sides of an otherwise great company.
 
Good rates on a mooney and cessna 150. Great service too...

Brenda L. Perez
True-Course Aviation Insurance
Camarillo, CA 93012
T - 805.727.4510
 
Henning said:
I can highly recommend Travers Ins in St Louis. I had zero problems with my claim.
Click to expand...

I'll also recommend Travers. I'm on my second year with them and they've been absolutely amazing. I haven't had to file a claim, but I've heard they're great even then.
 
JGoodish said:
Over the past 18 years of ownership, I've been through AOPA Insurance Agency, Avemco, AIR-Pros, Travers, Falcon, and a couple others. So far, these guys are outperforming all of them by a wide margin with regard to response time and ease of doing business:

http://www.wings-insurance.com

With the exception of Avemco, the agencies all work with basically the same underwriters, and quote the same premiums. What I found over the years was that brokers are eager for new business, but after the first year, their responsiveness drops off significantly. Some brokers are still messing around with paper forms (I dislike paper). Some brokers are lazy and won't shop the markets every year. Some brokers "forget" about your renewal until a few days before the expiration of your current policy.

All of the agencies mentioned above have been good in some ways, but I haven't found them to be consistently good--except for Wings. None of these guys are making much money from recreational piston airplane pilots, so I can understand how we end up at the bottom of the priority list, but I think that most of the problems I've encountered have been related to business process more than anything else. Wings seems to have their act together all the time.


JKG
Click to expand...

x2. Great people to work with.
 
Be sure to shop around,they all want new customers,after you get a company don't get complacent ,there could be a better rate elsewhere .
 
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