Safeco only has to afforded coverages for which limits of liability or premium charges are indicated. In doing so they are fine, price is good for coverages offered. They have to pay out for what is written into the policy, and they will. Like all insurance companies they will try their best to pay as little as possible, but with time they will pay what is fair. I recommend getting umbrella insurance, as well as the OEM parts endorsement, and the optimum package. Estimate your annual miles well, this number will significantly change your premium charges. Adding home owners/renters insurance can sometimes lower your rates greater than the cost of the coverage, so that is also worth looking into.
I pay about $3000 a year for insurance through them, but than creates large amounts of coverage for me. Auto, Home, & Umbrella.
The amount of risk a insurance company takes on is significant. Take for example I am driving along and a car with a few people in it is stopped in front of me. I can stop in time and hit that vehicle, while at the same time I get hit by another vehicle behind me who can't stop in time and isn't insured. For the car I hit in front of me my insurance is liable for a combined single limit of $500,000 plus $1,000,000 in umbrella, which could easily be reach if injury's where incurred. Plus my insurance company has to cover me and anybody I have in my car up to $500,000 plus $25,000 in medical payments. They also have to pay to fix my car that doesn't have deductibles so around $30,000, a rental car and towing for both me and the car in front. Any items in the car that where damaged included clothes that involved parties are wearing. Legal fees, plus $400 a day to me for time spent in the court house.
The cost for the coverage is good, and so far I haven't had any troubles getting in touch with reps. When filing a claim, if you stand your ground you will get what is fair. If you wish, you can simplify things by getting an attorney to help settle your claims. They will generally charge 1/3 to 1/2 settlement amount for their services, but sometimes that amount is nothing compared to the help they provide. When dealing with property damage an attorney usually isn't needed and sometimes isn't allowed. Well your allowed to have the attorney, but the attorney may not be allowed to get paid from your settlement money. Best thing usually with property damage is just to spend a large amount of time negotiating with the insurance company and not accepting the small checks they are quick to send.
For example recently a insured through AAA caused a nickel sized door ding in my car. The insurance was quick to send me to a preferred shop to get the car fixed. I decided I wanted a cash out because I could barely see the dent. I was first told I would get about $150. I later settled for over $1200, that is after they sent me 3 checks that I refused to cash. Safeco would have handled the situation the same, try to settle for a small amount in the start, but later settle for a fair amount. I just had to explain to the insurance company that the dent couldn't be fixed with paint-less dent repair, and that the paint required large amounts of blending because it is a tristage. Then I had to get a quote from a non-preferred shop to back it up.
All in all after this long review, simply put safeco is just another insurance company. They will try to collect money, and never try to pay it out. Don't get citations and don't make claims, that will keep your rates low. Also don't be a young male as am I, that never helps with rates either because we are statistically proven to be a hazard.
Good luck with your insurance, and if you are shopping around check safeco out. You may find they offer the coverage you need at the rates you want, but they won't cover what you don't pay for. So watch out for little things like the OEM parts add-on, because like most insurance companies now-a-days they won't pay for factory new parts if aftermarket or used parts are available.
