Does anyone have a feel for USAA's attitude about insuring high performance turbo cars such as the 335?

I realize age and driving record can also significantly impact their underwriting attitude, but what about the torque and high speed capability.

I also expect that many military or ex-military officers want high performance/high speed cars and they need to meet the needs of their customer base (which is limited to military and their families).

I am in Massachusetts, so they have to add any new or additional car. They can't cancel my auto policy. Currently MA auto rating does not recognize performance characteristics as much as it does garaging location, driving record, purchase price, etc. although they might be changing come April 1st.

But they could cancel my umbrella if they don't like high performance/high speed autos.

Anyone got a feel for their underwriting policies as respects 335's if it makes any difference I am not getting the increased speed sports package - just the seats.


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It all depends on your driving record. I switched from an 05 GTO to an 08 335i and my premium went from $455 to $408 (full coverage) for 6 months. USAA kicks ass!

by far, USAA is gonna be saving my ass on the premium. i looked around, and USAA is way better. u cant go wrong w/ them.

USAA definitley is the best insurance compnay ever.
I traded a 1999 Maxima in for my 335i and my insurance rate went up by just a few dollars for the 6 month policy. I even lowered my comprehensive deductible to $50... which was a good thing, because I recently got a cracked windshield (from a rock, apparently) and got it replaced. That part alone was quoted for $1400... I paid $50.

USAA never gave me an issue or surcharge for any of my cars (had a couple of m3's).

i insure my 328xi through USAA, and i asked what the difference would have been for a 335 (was considering it at the time) and the difference was very, very minimal

Thanks bimmermog, that was exactly the info I was seeking. It appears they are not concerned about the turbo charging (which would affect third party bodily injury and property damage liability premiums), but only the increased value (cost) as respects comp and collision.

Tambo:

USAA recently changed their policies so that the premiums are based on model specific statistics. Your area also has an effect on your premiums.

Why ask on the forums, though? Just give USAA a call and get a straight answer without all the guesswork and hassel.

When trying to decide which 3er I wanted, I called them up and asked them to quote me on the 328 sedan, coupe, and convertible. Took about 10-15 minutes and to get all of my questions answered.

Easy math here...more expensive the car the more it cost to cover. :)

Easy math here...more expensive the car the more it cost to cover. :)

That not always the case. 05 GTO ~$30K (New in 2005) vs 08 335i ~$48.5K with exactly the same coverage. I paid $47 less on a 6 month premium.

Easy math here...more expensive the car the more it cost to cover. :)

Hehe, what surprised me was when I asked for pricing, the 328 coupe cost the same to insure as the sedan.

The coupe cost more, is "sportier" so statistically would be driven harder and by more aggressive people, etc.

The convertible did cost about $100 more. Which isn't as bad as I figured it could be given that there's more cost, no roof to protect you (when it's down), higher chance of "break-in" when roof is down, etc, etc.

Easy math here...more expensive the car the more it cost to cover. :)
Not necessarily true since they take safety rating, cost of repairs, accident statistics, etc into account and sometimes a cheaper car may be more expensive to insure.

My rates dropped dramatically from my STI to my 335i coupe. Less boy racer I guess....

My question was not so much at the insurance cost as the underwriting attitude.

State insurance departments regulate not only the policy coverage, but the rules under which drivers and their cars are classified. Insurance companies have to work within these parameters. Inusrance companies have ways to avoid insuring drivers or cars they don't want. One way is to simply not appoint agents whose business is in undesirable areas so fewer drivers have access to them. Or they impose quotas on agents such as they will only insure a car if they also write the homeowners.

Massachusetts has what is called a high theft list and as you might expect BMW's are on it. Listed cars cost more unless they have an alarm.

Insurers can decline to insure the driver or car if they think the rates don't permit them to make money.

You just need to call USAA, like I did, before you make the purchase/lease and ask them to tell you what your premium will be if you trade one car for the new one, or add the new car without a trade or whatever. I'm in California, and it's not cheap either. I know all about "Taxachusetts", since I lived there until I was 18. The point is not to ask people on a car forum, but just discuss it directly with your insurance company. USAA is excellent, and they will answer all your questions accurately and without delay. I was surprised at the fact that my insurance only went up by about $7 a month.

I have been a USAA member forever (longer than I care to admit on this board :D) and I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Now, if I was a USAA underwriter, maybe I would lurk here and take notes about what some of you do and how you do it? :cool Then, and only then, would I write your policy.

Gary

Not necessarily true since they take safety rating, cost of repairs, accident statistics, etc into account and sometimes a cheaper car may be more expensive to insure.


Actually it's 100% true. I'm betting the claims and all that shit on a Veyron or any other 200K car are low, and it's expensive to insure. Yes they are based on statistics, but initially they will base it off value and "class" of car. When I went from an A4 to my 350Z my insurance dropped...but then after everybody crashed and claims came in it quickly went UP.

But the more expensive the car...the more it cost to replace, the higher the insurance. Lots of times I've been asked the MSRP on the car when I was shopping for insurance.

My rates dropped dramatically from my STI to my 335i coupe. Less boy racer I guess....
335 is a much safer car.

Does anyone have a feel for USAA's attitude about insuring high performance turbo cars such as the 335?

I realize age and driving record can also significantly impact their underwriting attitude, but what about the torque and high speed capability.

I also expect that many military or ex-military officers want high performance/high speed cars and they need to meet the needs of their customer base (which is limited to military and their families).

I am in Massachusetts, so they have to add any new or additional car. They can't cancel my auto policy. Currently MA auto rating does not recognize performance characteristics as much as it does garaging location, driving record, purchase price, etc. although they might be changing come April 1st.

But they could cancel my umbrella if they don't like high performance/high speed autos.

Anyone got a feel for their underwriting policies as respects 335's if it makes any difference I am not getting the increased speed sports package - just the seats.


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It is not considered a high performance car for USAA. It is not a problem if you have a clean record.

I have USAA and they are great. Here's the price for our 6 month 25/50/25 policy with $250 deductable:

2006 HONDA PILOT $279.02
2007 BMW 335I $423.47

Note, the wife and I are in our late 30s and both have clean driving records.

today, i just dropped my 06 E90 330i and added an 08 E92 335i .....
the monthly rate will be like $20 more each month!!! awsome!
the guy on the phone was like "hey, i heard those cars are pretty amazing''
i was like yeah, its got the twin turbo in it and so on. Ive NEVER had any issues with USAA!

Actually it's 100% true. I'm betting the claims and all that shit on a Veyron or any other 200K car are low, and it's expensive to insure. Yes they are based on statistics, but initially they will base it off value and "class" of car. When I went from an A4 to my 350Z my insurance dropped...but then after everybody crashed and claims came in it quickly went UP.

But the more expensive the car...the more it cost to replace, the higher the insurance. Lots of times I've been asked the MSRP on the car when I was shopping for insurance.
Your assertions are 100% incorrect. For example, insurance on a 1992 911 C2 was more expensive to insure than the 2007 335i.

Your assertions are 100% incorrect. For example, insurance on a 1992 911 C2 was more expensive to insure than the 2007 335i.
Makes sense. A 92 911c2 is more likely to crash, less safe (did they even have airbags or ABS back then?) and is probably more expensive to repair for even minor damage. It is not all about the price of the car, but in general, if you buy a more expensive car, you'd expect to pay more. Sometimes it doesn't work that way though.

One would like to think that insurance companies are sophisticated enough to differentiate the cost for vehicles based on their safety records or features, but they don't.

There are certain credits for such things as alarms, but the major things that determine the insurance costs are the limits, coverages, and deductibles selected, MSRP (insurers use "symbols" for purchase price ranges), vehicle age, garaging location, driving record, driver age/experience - none of which (other than MSRP) are type of vehicle related. In states that allow it, another major factor is whether the underwriter can and does decide to place you in the standard or preferred market, or if you have to get insurance through a high risk or assigned risk plan. (Some insurance companies have subsidiaries with higher or lower rates than others in their group of companies so that consumers do not know they are in a less than preferred company.). There are other minor factors such as mileage, use, multi-car discounts, etc. and some states may have credits for ABS, etc. but there is no differentiation based on brand.

Price is one thing, underwriting attitude is another. Just because an insurer gets a higher premium for a certain car/driver does not mean they are eager to insure it/him. Insurers charge a lot of money to insure underage drivers garaged in Boston, but despite this they do everything they can to avoid having to cover such drivers.

That not always the case. 05 GTO ~$30K (New in 2005) vs 08 335i ~$48.5K with exactly the same coverage. I paid $47 less on a 6 month premium.
me too, from a 27k car to a 45k bmw was 94 dollars less per year.

They gave me a quote in 15 minutes when I told them I was planning on purchasing the 328i coupe...been with USAA forever (except for a brief 2 year period when I was ex-communicated after getting a ticket for doing 110 on the freeway! (Ah, youth!)

Just because an insurer gets a higher premium for a certain car/driver does not mean they are eager to insure it/him. Insurers charge a lot of money to insure underage drivers garaged in Boston, but despite this they do everything they can to avoid having to cover such drivers.

Ahhhh... your phrasing is misleading. No insurer has to insure you. No insurer has to insure your car. Now, if you are a current customer, they generally cannot cancel you during the term of the policy, but can deny you renewal for any reason. By the same token, if you are a current insured and buy a Ferrari and your company has a policy of not handling exotic cars, they do not have to add that car to your existing policy.

Now, the confusing thing with insurance is that it differs from state to state. What I've stated above is, to my knowledge, true in NC and every other state, but I could be mistaken.

That said, I've been with USAA longer than most of you guys have been alive, and they've been very good to me. And the only thing that they said when I added the 335 was "cool car". :D

Does anyone have a feel for USAA's attitude about insuring high performance turbo cars such as the 335?

I realize age and driving record can also significantly impact their underwriting attitude, but what about the torque and high speed capability.

I also expect that many military or ex-military officers want high performance/high speed cars and they need to meet the needs of their customer base (which is limited to military and their families).

I am in Massachusetts, so they have to add any new or additional car. They can't cancel my auto policy. Currently MA auto rating does not recognize performance characteristics as much as it does garaging location, driving record, purchase price, etc. although they might be changing come April 1st.

But they could cancel my umbrella if they don't like high performance/high speed autos.

Anyone got a feel for their underwriting policies as respects 335's if it makes any difference I am not getting the increased speed sports package - just the seats.


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/images/misc/progress.gif


Where I live I think it has a lot to do where the car is being garaged, driving record and milage your going to drive in a year. When I got my quote for my car they had put that it was a sedan but when I told them it was a coupe the qoute they gave me didnt change in price.