OAIN: GM and MetLife Officials Consider Expanding Auto Insurance Deal

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, September 07, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Consumers who are thinking about purchasing a new General Motors vehicle any time soon may want to wait a while before they buy auto insurance online or in person.

That's because, according to Online Auto Insurance News, officials at the automaker and their counterparts at MetLife Auto & Home are mulling the possibility of expanding beyond the Pacific Northwest a sales offer that includes a full year of free insurance for anyone who buys a new GM car, truck, or crossover.

A pilot program that offered the no-cost coverage to residents of Oregon and Washington wrapped up this week, and a MetLife spokesman said officials--who have already stated they are considering introducing the offer to other states--are now measuring its effects on sales.

"Next steps will be determined after this analysis is complete," MetLife spokesman David Hammarstrom said in an email.

The trial offer, which was launched in early July, applied to new 2010 through 2012 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

Insurance policies provided by MetLife included coverage for both liability and physical damage that is far more extensive than what is mandated by state law in Oregon or Washington.

The policies cover replacement of any vehicle that is damaged beyond repair without any deductions for depreciation. Officials have said that could save buyers thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

GM officials said they introduced the sales incentive in Oregon and Washington in an attempt to boost sales in what has been a relatively slow market for vehicles made in the U.S.

But not everyone was a fan of the GM/Metlife offer.

Insurers typically consider several key factors--such as a motorist's age, gender and driving record--before writing policies.

Source: http://www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/auto/auto-getting-started.shtml

MetLife officials said they were not considering those criteria, however, and some associations that represent independent agents complained that those who accepted the free coverage could wind up missing out on discounts or having problems with their existing coverage.

To learn more about this and other coverage issues, readers can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/buy/ where they will find informative resource pages and a rate-comparison generator that can help users quickly evaluate their coverage options.

# # #