Auto Insurance and your Remote RD / Laser Jammer

[Unkind]

For those who are familiar with my recent "incident" I thought I'd post some interesting information. I've seen this question posted somewhere around here a while ago and I don't believe there was a concrete answer. My insurer is USAA and while I can't speak for all other insurers I'm pretty sure you wouldn't see any different with any other company as USAA is pretty great about covering almost everything and with service in general since they only cover U.S. Military members and their families.

I was told that under part D of my contract "any device used to evade law enforcement" is listed as an exclusion. This includes radar detectors and laser jammers. I tried the whole "parking sensor" thing....that didn't fly. They said the "primary use" of such was as a laser jammer, though it could be used only as a parking sensor. Basically if you have a remote RD or a jammer and get your front end messed up, you're S.O.L.

Really makes me think twice about if I want to spend such a large amount of money on something that can so easily be taken away from me.

[Laser-InterceptorUSA]

I'm sorry you had this experience with USAA. I hit a deer a few weeks ago. Took out both Sensors. Progressive cheerfully paid for them both as well as made an allowance for the reinstallation. Not a word about them was said otherwise and our renewal just arrived with a lower rate then the last policy period.

Cliff

[Qui-Gon]

Sounds almost like GEICO...

[supercowpowers]

Why would you ever give your insurance company a written record that you use countermeasures? That could be extraordinarily incriminating if you ever get into an accident and someone claims it was caused by your speed.

[MadHatter]

Countermeasures don't "cause" speeding, any more than cars "cause" accidents. They can't make a presumption that you were speeding because of the countermeasure, they still have to prove it, I would think. Yes, they could probably try to get the triers of fact (judge and/or jury) to think less of you, but there are tons of stories to counteract that, especially of the many abuses out there that are documented.

I'm going to see if I can find out about my own insurer's take on this, then I'll have an idea whether to report them or not.

Just a thought.

MH

[Unkind]

I'm sorry you had this experience with USAA. I hit a deer a few weeks ago. Took out both Sensors. Progressive cheerfully paid for them both as well as made an allowance for the reinstallation. Not a word about them was said otherwise and our renewal just arrived with a lower rate then the last policy period.

Cliff

I'll have to take that into consideration when I purchase my jammers. If Progressive gets close to our rate with USAA I just might make the switch. The thing is our rates are so incredibly low with USAA, I'm not sure I'll find anything better. Right now we pay $110 a month for 2 cars both full coverage with comprehensive.

Oh and sorry to hear you hit a deer as well, feels pretty bad doesn't it? Hope it wasn't your benz. My poor poor 2010 truck My stomach still churns thinking about it.

[tjbender]

Geico is still the only insurance company I've ever had ask me point blank if I used a "radar detector or any other form of speed-enforcement countermeasures."

And that wasn't as part of any claim at all--that was during the phone call to get a quote!

[supercowpowers]

Geico is still the only insurance company I've ever had ask me point blank if I used a "radar detector or any other form of speed-enforcement countermeasures."

And that wasn't as part of any claim at all--that was during the phone call to get a quote!

At least they're nice enough to let you know you're not welcome early instead of taking your money and then dicking around by not paying claims and dropping you.

[Unkind]

I spoke with Progressive today and they said they would cover jammers if they're "primarily used as parking sensors." However, my premium for the same coverage I currently have with USAA would be $40 more a month. They do not cover remote installed radar detectors, actually, I don't think any company does.

[Paperlantern]

I'm sorry you had this experience with USAA. I hit a deer a few weeks ago. Took out both Sensors. Progressive cheerfully paid for them both as well as made an allowance for the reinstallation. Not a word about them was said otherwise and our renewal just arrived with a lower rate then the last policy period.

Cliff

I'll have to take that into consideration when I purchase my jammers. If Progressive gets close to our rate with USAA I just might make the switch. The thing is our rates are so incredibly low with USAA, I'm not sure I'll find anything better. Right now we pay $110 a month for 2 cars both full coverage with comprehensive.

Oh and sorry to hear you hit a deer as well, feels pretty bad doesn't it? Hope it wasn't your benz. My poor poor 2010 truck My stomach still churns thinking about it.

State Farm covers both mine and my wife's vehicles at full coverage and 0 comprehensive and $100 collision deductibles for $80 a month...