Mark Ridley

Hi folks. My wife and I are moving to MA some time soon (she's originally from Boston).

Do you have any good insurance companies I could check out (bearing in mind we have no credit history) for:

- car
- house buildings and contents
- life

Many thx

Mark

SanDiegogirl

Geico

Amica

Mark Ridley

Thanks for this. Do they cater for "foreigners"?

Pulaski

Contact a traditional "brick and mortar" insurance broker in the area/state where you are moving to, using yellowpages.com. A good broker will help you find the best deal to get you started as an immigrant with no credit history (a lack of credit history is part of your insurance problem).

kins

We got a car insurance policy with Geico very easily when we arrived with no credit history. They've also been excellent when we've claimed.

I can't help with house insurance as I haven't really found anywhere that gives reasonable quotes.

Sally Redux

Yes GEICO have annoying ads but they're actually good.

We used Liberty Mutual for home insurance but we didn't make a claim.

Life insurance seems to be commonly supplied through the employer.

Pulaski

Sometimes, but not necessarily the cheapest. They couldn't come close to what Erie charges for us for car insurance.

JAJ

Although it is often advisable to take employer provided life insurance, it is usually a good idea to arrange individual term life insurance as well. Reasons include: a. the amount of employer life cover is limited, and b. the options to continue this life cover upon ceasing service with the employer may be limited (or not available).

Many life insurance companies will want to see that a (non-U.S. citizen) applicant has at least a Green Card and an intention to remain permanently in the United States.

When taking out a new life insurance policy, consider the contestable period. Existing U.K. life insurance policies should normally remain valid (check terms and conditions, but it would be unusual for an existing policy to be revoked).

Mark Ridley

Thanks folks. Very useful and I appreciate your time.

Bob

If you're moving to the burbs and out in the Metrowest area, I could recommend my broker, he's been pretty helpful for Brit folks.

The big insurance companies are shit in this state, mostly because it's only been a few years since they moved in because prior law getting junked, rates were set by the state so the larger companies didn't bother.

Tim Beardsley

I've always found State Farm good. They were willing to insure me when I first moved to the US and some other companies were not. (PS are you the MR I know?)

Mark Ridley

Thanks Tim. Not sure if we know each other. I don't know many Beardsleys.