Car insurance recommendations?

[Dave T]

Any recommendations for car insurance? I just renewed my car insurance and then got some ads in the mail for Pemco (get a free first aid kit for Washington and Oregon residents, see their website) and Amica. In British Columbia, I think there is only one insurance company, ICBC, which is government owned.

My initial thoughts are:

1. use a reputable company
2. get more liability coverage than the legal minimum, which is extremely low in most states. How much?
3. comprehensive (fire, vandalism, flood, etc.) is usually worthwhile
4. collision coverage is less useful as the value of the car goes down. If the car is worth $2,000 to the insurance company and your deductible is $500, then one has a very narrow coverage ($500-$2000) because any more than that and the car is declared "totaled".
5. rental car coverage after a collision. I suppose it depends if you have a second car or can use the bus?
6. towing. Costs about $6-12 every 6 months. I suppose it calculates to a tow every 3-6 years or you'll pay more in premiums than for a tow. I stopped towing coverage when Saab provided it for my car between 2005-2009 and 2011. I haven't needed a tow since 2002.

[Dave T]

What happens if your car is only worth $3000, someone hits it and is clearly at fault and the repair costs $4000?

If you have collision coverage with a $1000 deductible, your insurance company will declare it totaled, pay you $2000 ($3k minus deductible). The insurance company will try to collect $2000 from the other insurance company.

What if you don't have collision? Try to collect the full $4,000 from the other insurance company? The other insurance company can't force you to total the car, can they?

[Shazam]

Well my car isn't even worth $3000 any more. I removed collision, so I only have liability. So it's pretty cheap. If I smack someone else's car, I'm SOL for my car. If someone hits me, it'll be totaled pretty easily.

I have USAA and I haven't found anyone that can beat them. Can't remember the cost off the top of my head, but it's great compared to the other big ones (Geico, Farmers, and all of them)

[Turbotogo]

Just liability on my 900, $20 dollars a month here in Arkansas.

[rpiereck]

On the C900 I have German insurance with liability and comprehensive (no collision) through USAA, it costs me $380 a year.