ArmyofOne

From my research, it does not appear that it does. :) Yes, NYS is awful.

Still more, pertainig to residency:

Steve, Barry, NY also says: Link is here http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMVfaqs.htm However, WA state says: hmm...

No, I understood you. I am saying, in New York state, If a person gets in an accident, military or not, and their insurance card says anything other than "State of New York" across the top, you are NOT covered and your claim WILL be denied. I have seen it happen to one of my soldier's. He had a $28,000 car. He slid through an intersection and t-boned a pickup truck. USAA Denied his claim, for the above stated reason. He is STILL paying for that car, and it was totalled. They stress that to all new soldiers coming in to Fort Drum. If it is the same in WA or not, I dont know, but the Army, and the state of NY mandate NYS insurance coverage, regardless of military, registration location, or residency. I "mess with geico" because I am insured with them now. We have not ever had a problem with them. I dont see where people say they are so horrible. I have tried ALOT of other companies for quotes... -Nationwide -US Federal -AMICA -American Family -USAA -Esurance -Liberty Mutual -Fidelity -State Farm -Farmers -21st Century -UniTrin -American Military Insurance the list goes on, but you see where I am coming from. No quote I have gotten has been less than $875/6 months. Some have been as high as $2,000+.

Well, I maintain Texas Residency, Texas plates, Texas Registration. I do not pay any state income tax (TX does not have one :D ). HOWEVER...Because Texas state minimum required coverage is one of the lowest in the country, pretty much anywhere I go, I will have to have my Insurance Coverage for the state which I am stationed in. I tried that here in NY too. Geico said it was a no-go. While it was legal just a few years ago, to do so...it is not anymore. According to WA state law, My wife has the same privledges I do with regard to liscensing. She can hold her TX DL for as long as it is valid. It is unfortunate that Insurance coverage does not work the same way :( .

Josh, you moved from a lower risk area to a higher risk area. Geico filed its rates with the Washington state insurance commission and can not discriminate against other customers by somehow charging you lower rates than they filed. If you ask they might be able to find a discount or two that they can grant you but these discounts, if any, are also filed with the insurance commission. An insurnance company can not depart from its filed rates and charge different premiums to people in the the same risk class. The insurance company I retired from actually was caught doing that by one state insurance commission auditor team and the total cost to the company was somewhere between $200 and $400 million not including a lot of innocent people who lost their jobs from the fallout. Jim, I know you are right. And like I said I dont expect special treatment. I just wondered maybe if there was a specific reason for it or if Geico was just blowing smoke up my behind. I understand that insurance is a business. I just want to make sure I am not being taken advantage of. That said, I checked other companies, and rates varied from $1,850/6mo down to about $900. Seems I am stuck. Its ok, I really dont want to switch insurance companies. We like Geico, have never had a problem with them (although we have never had to file a claim). Right before I left, I backed into my garage door . I immediately called Geico. I knew that the damage was not severe enough to need them to pay for it, so I told them I was going to pay for the fix myself (dime-szed dent in the trunk lid from the handle on the Garage Door), and I just needed a reccomendation for a body shop. She directed me to their Geico Express Claims Service, which I am entitled to as a Geico Customer, even if I dont file a claim. I used this service, the Geico Adjuster came and picked up my car, at the same time droppig off a free rental, and I had my car delivered back to me the next day. Total cost for Damage/rental was $380. And the service was fantastic. On that note, the lowest I found (wife just sent me an email) is American Family Insurance, for $629/6mo. Thats better. Jim/Steve do you know anything about that company? We dont want to switch, but we may if this company is reuptable. The last thing I want, is to switch insurance companies to some mom/pop outfit. Funny you should mention jersey, a Friend of mine got PCS orders to Fort Dix. He and his wife own a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. Their rate for full coverage is about $50 a month in NY, In NJ its going to be $330 a month. :o SO yes, it could be worse, and I am thankful it is not. I know you will always call 'em like you see 'em friends, thats why I am a member here. And as far as residency goes, better safe than sorry. We will go with WA. Geico says we have to anyway.

Those things dont really affect me, I dont drink beer, eat candy and rarely drink soda, and I dont smoke. What does affect me is the fact that I have to pay $900 more a year for car insurance without making any more money. Even if my wife were to get a job there, we cant afford to ensure 2 cars at that rate. I just checked, a second car, full coverage, even with no lein on either car, the insurance is still $1,560 for both every 6 months. That hurts just thinking about it.

My beef, sir, is that I do not have the option of just quitting my job and getting a better one. I also do not have the option of telling the army to "shove it" with regards to moving. Orders to PCS are exactly that. My pay will not change, but my insurance rates will, which means that I have to sacrifice MORE, because I am following orders. I think it is entirely unreasonable for me to pay that much money. You mean to tell me my driving record and all that other stuff they supposedly go off of when calculating rates means jack diddly? Thats bull*BLEEP*...flat out. 15 minutes just cost me ~68% more on my car insurance. Pardon me if I seem like I am complaining, but $900 a year increase is a little excessive, dont you think?

OK, someone explain to me how in the name of hell, with only a change of address, my insurance can go up by $900 a year? There has been no change in my driving record, which is flawless since 2004. I have had no lapse in insurance/registration, and NEVER had a DUI or serious traffic violation. On top of this, I JUST turned 25 on 1 April 2010...shouldn't my rate be DROPPING?! This was my response to "Beth": :egads: My wife is on the phone with our agent in NY right now, I cannot call from the computer. Sheesh. I hate insurance companies, almost as much as I hate Car Salesman. For those who are about to ask "How about switching to USAA?", here is my reasoning. When I owned my 2002 Ford ZX-2 (Escort), and my wife's Toyota Matrix AWD XR, full coverage on both (minimal, but full) with USAA was costing us $457 every MONTH. I had 1 at fault accident, and a small speeding ticket on my record, but my wife's record was (and still is) flawless. @ $457 a month, it worked out to around $2,075 every 6 months for insurance. Thats upwards of $4,000 a YEAR. I have never had a DUI, or any other serious traffic violations. My deductible was set at $1,000 per car, and I took glass/roadside assistance/rental car reimbursement off because I had to save a few dollars, I was not going to make it. I had 2 car payments totalling $500 a month, and an insurance bill almost as much? on E-3 pay ($1400 a month+free housing/utilities)...even with free housing/no utilities it was nearly impossible. After giving USAA 6 full months to find out why I was being charged so much, I called Geico for a quote. Geico quoted me better coverage (The BEST of full coverage, comprehensive and a $250 deductible), at $1,089 for 6 months. $1k for a driver with 2 cars/full coverage and under 25 is understandable. While not the greatest still, it was close to HALF of what I was paying USAA. Out of sheer desperation, I told them to lock in that rate. I called USAA, and spoke to the Regional Military Auto Insurance Manager. I told him he had exactly 2 business days to figure out why my insurance was so high, and match Geico's offer, or I was switching insurance companies. Not because I wanted to, but because USAA was killing us. We were paying so much in insurance that we could not afford to put gas in the car's we were insuring! 2 days later, USAA manager guy calls back. He says he cannot figure out why our rates are so high. We go over both mine and my wife's driving record again, and cannot find a single discrepency, yet his computer is showing that is the rate I HAVE to be charged, based on my record, credit history and age stereotypes. I told my wife to call geico, we started the policy while I was on the phone with the USAA Manager, and when she was done, I told him to cancel my USAA Policy and return my money for my payment that month. That was on 7 May 2006. 6 months later, USAA called me wanting my business again. The girl on the line insisted it was a mix up. Their Records showed that I was driving a 2006 (would have been Brand new at the time) Ford Mustang GT and My wife was driving I think a Toyota Supra TT. Both were a FAR cry from the actual vehicles we owned, and They had the right VIN numbers in their system. At any rate, It was deemed a Mistake on USAA's part, and we were reimbursed the FULL difference for our troubles. Totalling nearly $3,000. They made it right, but for that year that it was messed up, Our life was HELL. Anyway, thats my rant. Anyone know why my rates would go up by $900 a year? Also, Geico still has not given me a valid reason (I do not think) for the rate increase. However, they are not just jerking us around, because every other company I have checked has been either ALOT more expensive, or within $50 of The Gecko's estimated quote. I Checked: Esurance USAA (for kicks, more $$) NationWide Progressive Amica AIG State Farm Farmers and again with Geico. I am Active Military, My car will be registered in TX. My liscense and and my wife's liscense are both TX. In the state of WA, can I have a Texas insurance card? I know in NY it doesnt matter where your car is registered, you HAVE to have a New York State insurance card, or your insurance will not cover you. If I do not have to have a WA state card, then I may be able to use my Texas residency and get around the rate hike.

nope shes fine thank God. She needs new pants now tho. :D

Congrats on the move Josh! I'd rethink that 10mpg. I know that's what Penske tells you, but I just used a 26' Penske Freightliner to move. It got a little more than 7mpg and that's without towing a car carrier. It didn't seem really windy, and it's not that hilly either. Perhaps my truck needed some work? My diesel bill was almost 2x the rental fee. Mine was limited to 65 mph, so you go nowhere fast. The ride was truly abysmal too (actually it was something far worse than abysmal), so much so that the CD player was nearly worthless because each minor imperfection in the road would make it cut for 5-10 seconds. I was ecstatic to drop this thing off. I never did stop for breaks. Once I climbed up in to the bridge, I wasn't coming out until I reached the destination. It wasn't fun, but I did 6 hours at a time. The bumps just killed me. And, how none of my stuff broke, I'll never know. I was 45 minutes late to pick up my truck, so I was left with the !Removed! of the fleet. The Caterpillar engine ran great (a 7.2l I6 I believe), but the rest of the truck was falling apart (the abs light would come and go, the passenger's side mirror was held on with a rope, part of the rubber floor was gone, almost no weather stripping was left on the windows, there were some holes in the floor in the box container, it took forever for the air to build up past 100psi to release the brakes for the first time after starting, etc.). It only had 276k miles, but it felt more like 676k miles. Had I not been in a time crunch, I would have just told them never mind. It was a manual transmission too, kind of felt like a real truck driver. lol The Penske guy gave me 25% off because it was a manual. Luckily, the lift gate worked because I wouldn't have been able to move without it since I moved out by myself. meh, even if we average 5mpg, we are still going to have more than enough to cover it. Boy i hope they dont do anything like that to me! They said all of their trucks in the fleet at my location are 2010's and they are getting 15 2011's in in the fall...I dunno, we will see. Hopefully it works out the way we want it to. Where did you move to?

Ironically enough...If I cant find a set of tires (used or not, matching or not dont care) for under $100, they are gonna be sitting in the boxes for quite awhile. MrsArmyofOne had a small oops today, cost us $300 in tires, $70 in an alignment and some paint (blew a comfortread on the R/R and it put her in the ditch@70mph). I just dropped $450 on wheels, now $300 for 2 new comfortreads so we can at least have a decent set of all seasons for winter in WA. So...no tires for Joshy :cries:

Nah, I thought I would hang 'em in the garage...you know...for decoration... .... ..... .... Here's your sign

I am now the PROUD owner of Sport Edition CE's in Bright satin(gunmetal) w/Machined Lip! Specs are: 17x7.5 +48mm 6.14 Backspacing 5-114.3 Lug spacing 21.8lbs (I drive an R18 auto, so I am after looks, not performance). Sport Edition CE Comes with lugs and rings at no charge! Total Price OTD: $447.11:

thanks NC! We are still not sure if we are going to go that route, or if we are going to go to TX to visit my family. Going to Fort Worth with the rig will make the move cost $5,500 total (fuel included), over 30 days. But I will get to see my mom, dad, and brother, whom I have not seen since before I deployed. The other way (coming through/by chicago) will only cost us $3,000/10 days. Its going to depend on what happens over the next few months, but I will keep you posted. And yes, our Garmin never gets left behind! LOL. Alot of this is also going to depend on whether I can get my orders changed to a late summer/early fall report date. If we are going in the winter (as of now) we will almost certianly have to take the southern route...as driving a 22' rig with a car on a trailer through the Cascade/Rocky Mountains in the middle of winter is almost entirely out of the question.

Its official. We reserved the truck and trailer today! Total comes to $3,079.xx for the truck/trailer, 28 days/unlimited miles. Still a fantastic deal. Diesel FTW! 50 gallon tank, 10mpg w/load, =500 miles per tank. That means we go from Fort Drum NY, to Fort Worth TX, and then on to Fort Lewis WA, on 8 tanks of fuel (at $200 a piece on average...OUCH!) jcrome: Dave Ramsey is my idol!

yes. We were looking at one online, (i have to go find the link, dammit) it was a rent to own type deal. Price on the home was $220,000. 2300sq ft, corner lot, 2 car garage, built in 2002. It was a military special, you could rent for $900 a month (if you were military) and at the end of the 1 year lease, if you decided to buy, The payments would be applied to the price of the home. Not sure how that would work, maybe the landlord puts the rent payments into an escrow account or something? Who knows? But hopefully we can get a deal like that.

hmmm...I see your points. both very good ones. yes I know the VA loan can be used again and again, but I was not aware of the FHA issues. I see the problem. I think I will keep the cash tucked away safely earning interest/benefits, and Live in military housing as long as I can :)

Well, i see your point, and we are going to get military quarters (free) for the first year at least, to see if we like/get a feel for the area. I LOVE that part of the country though. I grew up in Alaska...and while not quite so stunningly beautiful, Sea/Tac area comes in at a close second. We may end up driving a 17' Uhaul with a car trailer on the back. If we do that, we will be coming through chicago...any chance of a home cooked meal NC? I dont want to invite myself, but ya never know if you dont ask! 128,000 took us YEARS to get. I have been saving since I was 16. Meghan has been saving since 18. When we got married at ages 20/21, we waited a year and decided to pool our funds and tuck them away, invested with USAA. After 28 months in combat (every penny going in there) and Meghan doing part time work here and there, we have saved and saved. That and being careful to not get into debt, and live within our means, helped alot. Now the kicker. The army is gonna pay me $22,500 to drive a u-haul from Fort Drum to Fort Lewis. The Uhual, car trailer, insurance, and gas is gonna set me back roughly $5,000. So we just made a MASSIVE profit.

You and me are DEFINATELY hooking up when we get there. Meghan and I are considering an OUTRIGHT home purchase, mostly thanks to NC211 (telling me to save all my money worked, looking at close to 128,000 in the bank by the time we move ;)). It will be nice to own a home, no car payment and no debt to speak of at age 25. :D Trapped? Its paradise out there. I LOVE the pacific coast. I have a suspiscion that once I get Meghan there, she will never want to leave. The only thing that is scaring me, is the drive through the rockies/cascades in the dead of winter in a Honda Civic with all season goodyears...help.

Words I have been waiting FIVE YEARS to read. I am leaving the dump they call Fort Drum FOREVER. Where are the Washington Residents? Show a guy around?

Wow...this has me n-n-n-n-ervous. 8thcivic.com R18A1 Engine Blocks Cracking. Honda TSB 08-044. CarComplaints.com, Honda Civic (non Si) Engine Blocks Cracking!! I have the TSB from Honda of America in .pdf Format. a08-044-Engine Overheats or Leaks Coolant.pdf I am posting this so any LOC members who have in their household or know someone who does have a 2006-2008 Honda Civic (EX, LX, DX, coupe or sedan, does not matter) can be made aware of the problem. As of right now it is only a TSB and as such, if it happens and you are out of warranty, you are SOL. Great...this is making My wife and I SERIOUSLY consider trading in. Because we are still under a warranty, monetarily it doesnt matter. But the thought of driving a car that could literally leave us stranded, at any moment without warning makes me sick to my stomach. Whats worse is Honda knows about it, and they arent even making an attempt to issue a recall. A few people I know have had the issue...one was 10,000 miles out of warranty. Honda offered to pay for $500 of the repair. The total cost of the repair came to $4,259. She now has a 3800lb paperweight that she owes $10,000 on, and cannot afford to fix. She checked with her Insurance, they wont cover it. The average Civic owner doesnt have that much money just sitting around. I know I certainly dont. Honda, I understand people make mistakes, and things happen. But at the very least, Own up and fix the problem. Reading all of those posts about it, it is clear to me there is no pattern, and this could happen at any time, any mileage. You dont have to issue a recall for it, Simply warranty this repair for a reasonable about of time, say 10/250,000. Thats more than reasonable and would make me, and MANY other Honda Civic owners, happy.

Unfortunately...the children thing is not an issue for us...if you follow me. It was a dissapointment to both of us to learn of her issues, but we are greatful for each other and the fact that we can adopt. That said, im sure 1 car seat in an IS works just fine...and unforuntately (other than the ES, which I dont really care for. The ES330 was the last one I would consider, but I have issues financing cars that old and there arent any in my price range yet) there are no other Lexus sedans within reach that will meet my criteria. The 2IS is just about perfect. LS400's are getting too old now to expect to own for any real length of time, a 2GS is in the same boat. LS430's are still too expensive for me to pay cash, and again, i dont like financing anything older than 2-3years old. The LS460...well that speaks for itself. Niether of us care for SUV's so that puts a 2RX out of the running. Yet another option we talked about was putting the (paid for) Civic in with the down payment, and keeping 3000 or so to get something else. this is an option, but not one we are likely to take. We are better off keeping the Civic I think. I really like the fact that a 2007 IS350 can be had for under $30,000 with low mileage. That beats $47,000 new for sure!

My wife and I had a long talk about it. As much as she wants a Mazda 3, its hard to argue the reliability of a toyota and, in particular, Lexus. As of right now the plan is, Hold off for a year, find either a Left-Over new 2010 ISx50, or a CPO and Put $10,000 down. Putting 10k down and financing for 60 months, our payment and our term will both be reasonable. Cant beat that warranty either. We want this next purchase to be good for 15-20 years, and in my mind, there is no better brand than Lexus.

I am on a budget. not more than $7000. I am paying cash. The following are the requirements: -Auto Trans -Smaller car (not nessecarily subcompact, but doesnt want anything bigger than say, a 8th gen civic.) -good fuel economy (at least 28 hwy) -Sun/moonroof preferred but not required -must have 4 doors -2002 and newer -100,000 miles or less is preferable, but not a deal killer. -power windows and locks are a MUST. -cruise control/A/C are also must haves. -Import is preferable. -no silver, white or gold cars please. Some of the cars we have been looking at include Kia's/Hyundai's and a few Mazda 3's. I did find this 2006 Kia Spectra SX in excellent shape. What are your thoughts? She said she would love to have another 8th gen (2006+) civic, but we cant find a 06+ sedan in decent shape for our price range. We did find one, but it had 145,000 on it and looked beat to hell. and they were still asking $8900. It was an LX. She would prefer an EX, but would make do with the LX as long as it was auto, power windows, power locks and cruise.