MrLittle
MrLittle New Reader
4/10/16 2:09 p.m.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/geico-dropped-me-for-autocrossing-my-brz-1770135735#

Just got done reading this. Anything of this nature ever happened to anyone on here?

Adrian_Thompson
Adrian_Thompson UltimaDork
4/10/16 2:18 p.m.

No need to read past the word GEICO. They have a lousy reputation for enthusiasts. Back in the 90's they were donating laser speed guns to Police departments.

drdisque
drdisque HalfDork
4/10/16 2:50 p.m.

This comes up every few months.

It pretty much always comes in conjunction with a claim.

So if you don't file claims, you probably have nothing to worry about.

There's a reason their rates are pretty much always the lowest - they do their best to rid themselves of anyone who files claims.

lrrs
lrrs Reader
4/10/16 5:50 p.m.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: No need to read past the word GEICO. They have a lousy reputation for enthusiasts. Back in the 90's they were donating laser speed guns to Police departments.

And regular radar guns in the 80s.

Tom_Spangler
Tom_Spangler UltraDork
4/10/16 7:13 p.m.
lrrs wrote:
Adrian_Thompson wrote: No need to read past the word GEICO. They have a lousy reputation for enthusiasts. Back in the 90's they were donating laser speed guns to Police departments.
And regular radar guns in the 80s.

"Geico", along with "Nader" and "Claybrook" were basically profanity in C&D in those days. They are the worst of the big insurance companies, IMO.

pjbgravely
pjbgravely Reader
4/10/16 8:23 p.m.

I am very worried about this. I always tape over my license plates at any event. I never post on my blog or Google+ about any event. I stay away from Facebook because they own anything you post.

If you post about an event on social media especially Facebook, everyone will know. If you read Facebook's TOS it is fine for them to put your photos and your posts on a billboard to advertise Facebook. I would presume Facebook sells information about who does what to any company that pays for it. If I ran an insurance company and thought people who race are higher risk ( I'm presume they all do ). I would use any means possible to find out which of my customers raced.

Opti
Opti HalfDork
4/10/16 8:31 p.m.

Guy seems like a cry baby, he literally refers to it as racing when speaking with friends on facebook, but when its not in his best interest he says I dont think its racing, come on guys to any layman its berkeleying racing. Expect people to consider it as such.

Time to suck it up and get a new insurance company, you wouldnt want to stay with them anyways after this, think if he has a weird claim later, they will be all about his "racing: activity.

There is enough autoxs and drag racers out there to mean that some insurance companies dont give a E36 M3 if you "race" as long as you know your not covered. If your worried about it pull the plate, its probably easier than taping it off.

Toymanswife
Toymanswife New Reader
4/10/16 8:42 p.m.

I've had one member of my region state that this happened to her but when we questioned her and asked to see the letter....she never responded. Outside of that, I've never had it happen to anyone I know although I'll admit that it worries me. When autocrossing, I honestly wasn't concerned. If I run on the track itself, I'll have the separate insurance to cover me.

Kylini
Kylini HalfDork
4/10/16 9:22 p.m.

I switched from GEICO because of this.

State Farm is fine with anything I do with my car with the clear understanding of while I'm racing, I'm not covered. Duh.

jeffpdesign
jeffpdesign New Reader
4/10/16 10:00 p.m.

My local agent warned me that I was about to be cancelled after an uninsured montero rear ended my miata on the freeway. An adjuster found my posts on a forum about a cat-back exhaust and Hawk brake pads. That was enough to make them think i was a potential problem. They some how missed my online results with my full name and car year and color from years of autocross. So I moved before being cancelled and a covered for the totalled miata. Then ended up at State Farm. Better deal.

Robbie
Robbie SuperDork
4/10/16 10:29 p.m.

Similar to clicking accept for software agreements, have any of these guys actually read their contract with their car insurer?

I bet it's in there.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
4/10/16 10:38 p.m.
Kylini wrote: I switched from GEICO because of this. State Farm is fine with anything I do with my car with the clear understanding of while I'm racing, I'm not covered. Duh.

Heck, my insurance company knows what the Targa Miata is and does We both know that when the clock's running, it's all on me.

Klayfish
Klayfish UberDork
4/11/16 6:09 a.m.

Just FYI...you and/or your car are NOT the big consideration for insurance companies when it comes to racing. It's the liability to others. Yes, you may know you aren't covered and your policy may say that, but a plaintiff attorney will put an entirely different spin on it if others get hurt. Just sayin'.

trucke
trucke Dork
4/11/16 7:31 a.m.

Did you explain to them that autocrossing is not racing?

Tyler H
Tyler H SuperDork
4/11/16 7:34 a.m.

That guy is the perfect storm of risk for an insurance company - (presumably) unmarried, 20-something, (presumably) financed BRZ, stuntin (see his blog post drifting video on a public street where he crosses the centerline,) ice racing autocrosser.

Combine all that with a claim on the way home from an event for road debris (a scratch that should have cost ~ a deductible to have fixed anyway.) Suck it up, buttercup.

I would be pissed about the fact that Geico, or one of it's minions, are scouring social media for facts about me. Ironically pissed anyway. If you put it out there, you can't be outraged for breach of privacy.

When you get a little older, deal with a local agent, have a general liability coverage, a few life insurance policies, homeowner's, etc, then they're a little less likely to pick on you for your auto coverage.

NickD
NickD HalfDork
4/11/16 7:50 a.m.

I have Geico. Never had an issue with them. And I autocross and they haven't dropped me.

Jerry
Jerry UltraDork
4/11/16 3:07 p.m.

Was Geico the company offering discounts if you plug in some OBDII doo-hickey to see your driving habits? (That set off big red flags in my mind.)

Robbie
Robbie SuperDork
4/11/16 3:20 p.m.
Jerry wrote: Was Geico the company offering discounts if you plug in some OBDII doo-hickey to see your driving habits? (That set off big red flags in my mind.)

Progressive. I wouldnt recommend autoxing while you have that thing plugged in either, but I dunno if they would drop you for doing it.

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