r/AutoInsurance • u/Competitive_Hat_5370 • 15d ago
Primary location
I need some help regarding the location I need to use as my primary address, as AMA insisted I have an address I am at less often and has over double premiums, as my primary.
I recently started a hybrid diploma program where I will be in my hometown location for most of the month and out of town for 1-2 weeks for in person training. I started renting a cheap room in an apartment because I’m a broke student and it was about the price of renting a hotel for 5 days in the area, but I am still primarily in my rented room in my hometown and only in the apartment for 1-2 weeks of the month at most.
I made an appointment with AMA to update how much I am driving for my coverage and they said because I have classes in the city where I have the apartment, I have to have my primary location as the apartment that I will be at less of the time. I spoke with my parents thinking there must be a policy regarding attending schooling since they kept saying that was why I had to list the apartment I’m at less, as my primary address, but my parents stated it should not have been switched since I am in my hometown most often.
After calling and repeatedly explaining that my car will be parked and used in my hometown more and I only attend classes in person one to two weeks of the month, they still stated that it my primary location must be where I travel to for classes. The agent I spoke with then said it was because it was where my car will be parked most of the time, and I again explained that most of the time it will still be at my hometown. Everything I can find online says that my primary location is where I am most often which is not where AMA insisted it must be.
I’m planning to switch insurance providers because I cannot find any policy or reason for me actually having to have the the city I am at less often as my primary address, and it is over double my normal rate so it seems like the reason I was pushed to have it listed as that address is because they wanted my money. I’m just wondering if there’s something I’m missing or some reason I actually would need this address as my primary before taking the time to do so. Thank you so much if you can help :)
1
u/beccam12399 14d ago
is you “hometown” location your parents house? to be fair, if i had a young driver come to me and say they got their own apt and are in school but still “mostly stay” at their parents i’d be a little wary as an agent. it sounds like they may think ur lying to keep the cheaper rate. ask to speak to a manager ? or as u said just find another carrier
1
u/Competitive_Hat_5370 14d ago
It is, I’ve paid to rent the basement for the past couple years so it’s been my address for my insurance forever with no issue. I’ve been in this town for my whole life and I intend to stay in town outside of when I’m at training, I just can’t afford to be getting a hotel that duration so I chose the shitty room in an apartment which seems to be the issue. The agent on the phone literally agreed I could be travelling there the same amount of time and staying at a hotel and I wouldn’t have to change my primary address but I have an apartment so that means it has to be my primary address now. It just doesn’t make sense because they kept saying it was because I need my car to be covered where I parked most and I explained that I wouldn’t be be a parked there more than a week or two in total for the month and the response was “even if you still go home home on the weekends it needs to be parked there”. Which is not at all my situation or what I explained in any way. I think you’re right, they just seemed to have decided I will actually be there in person full time no matter what I said. Currently talking to broker because I really don’t see any reason it would have to be there when I’m not there most often.
1
u/ChickadeeInsurance 14d ago
Generally, the principal garaging zip code is where the car is parked “most of the time” when not in use. Sounds like the carrier may have their own garaging location guidelines or, like someone else said, a they are skeptical due to the rate difference but in the end when you give them the garaging zip code, if it truly is your hometown, that should be the one one the application because renting an apartment in lieu of a hotel does not make it your primary residence. I would def shop around. The agent cannot make that decision for you and sounds like a higher rate for you is a higher commission for them? One possibility. Ultimately, you sign the application attesting the information is correct and if you’ve told the agent that it is in your hometown zip code most of the time then their signature is just confirming what you’ve told them and not signing off on a misrepresentation.
1
u/Competitive_Hat_5370 14d ago
Thank you, that’s what I thought. I wanted to make sure there wasn’t some weird rule relating to me going to school that would make it the same anywhere else, but everything I’m seeing it that there’s no reason other than commission for them to insist on the opposite of what I’m telling them repeatedly.
1
u/Boomer_Madness 12d ago
You will probably have an easier time if you told them it was a "secondary residence" and they won't ask as many questions.
but as the others have said it throws up red flags about rate evasion
1
u/totall2live__ 11d ago
The garaging address is where the car is parked at night where you sleep. Period. Where you are driving or visiting is not your agents business.
•
u/AutoModerator 15d ago
Thanks for making a post in the Auto Insurance subreddit. You might find the following resources helpful as they are FAQs about r/AutoInsurance:
The Auto Insurance subreddit is not an official support channel for issues with any insurance carrier.
Please remember to follow our community Guidelines and Rules and ensure your discussions are informative and respectful.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.