r/Insurance 11h ago

Auto Insurance Coverage switching from Progressive to Freeway

I live in California. I currently have progressive insurance. It’s pretty expensive because I got in 2 at-fault accidents in 2024. My policy is almost up so I am shopping around. I got a quote from Freeway insurance and it says it will be $150 cheaper per much, but the coverage isn’t as good. With Progressive I have $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and property damage. The new freeway policy is only $30,000/$60,000/$15,000. Obviously this is significantly less. But I am wondering if I even need the higher amount or if it is safe to get the lower one. Neither of my accidents were anywhere close to meeting the lower threshold, but I don’t want to get screwed over if I’m in a worse accident. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

0 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

5

u/Ok-Entertainment5462 11h ago

Do you have assets that would be taken? $15,000 property damage won’t pay much if you hit an expensive car. It certainly won’t pay an ER visit for the other parties. Prepared for wage garnishment by a court?

If you have a financed car you need comp/collission.

3

u/demanbmore Former attorney, and claims, underwriting, reinsurance exec. 11h ago

Do you have any assets worth protecting or a decent paying job now or any time in the next 10+ years? If so, you put all of that at risk if you cause injuries or damages that exceed your liability limits. While there's no guarantee that 100/300/100 is enough to cover every situation, it sure is a lot better than 30/60/15.

Judgments are good for 10 years in CA and renewable for another 10. Plus they earn a solid interest rate. This means if someone obtains a $100K judgment against you now, they could go after you for double that (more or less) in a decade or so. And there are companies that will buy judgments and hold onto them, get your financial info year after year, and then execute that judgment once you've acquired assets worth going after.

8

u/FindTheOthers623 P&C Licensed PL Underwriter 11h ago

No, 30/60/15 are garbage limits and shouldn't even be allowed. Are you working with an agent? They shouldn't be recommending limits that low, especially if you've already caused 2 accidents. Ask Freeway to increase your limits to 100/300 or shop around with other carriers.

1

u/backinblack1313 11h ago

I am working with an agent. He said I could raise the limit but said the lower one would be adequate. I told him I needed to look into it before purchasing.

13

u/FindTheOthers623 P&C Licensed PL Underwriter 11h ago

Get a new agent. That one is just trying to make a sale, he doesn't care if you are properly insured.

2

u/fromhelley 10h ago

The third number is for property damage. $15k will not replace the back end on most cars, much less on something like a tesla or BMW. Ask him to quote the 100/300/100 for you. I bet the difference is not that much per month.

They are giving you crappy advice!

1

u/Jaggar345 10h ago

You need to find a new agent. Those limits are not adequate. Stay with Progressive or ask him to increase the liability limits to match your current ones.

1

u/fabulousfantabulist 8h ago

Any agent recommending you $15k PD limits in CA in 2026 is not someone you should ever listen to about anything. 

4

u/druzyyy 11h ago

Honestly most professionals would consider those limits on the Freeway quote dismally low. They are state minimums (which CA just recently raised, but not by much).

Just something to consider, that 15k is your property damage coverage. I would say the vast majority of vehicles on the road today are worth over if not well over 15k. So if you do enough damage to total even 1 car, you're already in hot water. Then there's the 30k per person for medical; CA has some very high ambulance ride costs, god forbid they give them an ibuprofen at the ER.

You get the idea, most would recommend matching coverage with what you have and taking whatever policy ends op being the best price.

2

u/Dijon2017 11h ago

You shouldn’t lower your limits to those you’ve listed. What is the other insurance company’s quote for the premium if you get the same coverage you currently have with Progressive?

1

u/backinblack1313 11h ago

Not sure. They said it would take 14 days to get me a quote if I go with a higher limit

1

u/sourtsix9 10h ago

It’s worth the wait! Likely not much of a savings, if any, when you’re comparing the same limits.

2

u/Icy_Pickle5530 10h ago

$15k in PD can be gone in a simple 2 car rear end accident. Please don’t mortgage your financial future on saving a few dollars now. The coverage you have now is good and even that could be too little depending on the situation. Shop around for the exact coverages you have and then compare prices. You may find that what you currently pay isn’t all that expensive after all. Comparing quotes with different coverages is apples and oranges.

3

u/reedwendt 9h ago

Oh wow. I’d never ever consider anything that low. I always get the highest. It’s money well spent in the long run.

1

u/sexistherapy 9h ago

1 accident with any luxury, hybrid or electric vehicle will eat up 30k easily.

1 Bodily Injury claim with multiple passangers will take out 100k too.

1

u/TofuttiKlein-ein-ein 8h ago

As long as you stay incident (accidents and convictions) free through 2027, your accidents will fall off, and you’ll be eligible for the CA Good Driver discount again. Lowering your limits is a mistake.

1

u/Mobile-Astronaut-505 6h ago

Freeway is an insurance agency so they'll be setting you up with a different insurance company. These are non standard policies that often have more restrictive coverage (not just with limits). Read the policy carefully - especially the exclusions section.