CA Bay Area Tesla Model 3 insurance: Tesla Insurance vs GEICO/AAA, and umbrella options?
So, Tesla Insurance is cheaper and can give me higher limits, roughly 500/500 BI, $100k property damage, matching 500/500 UM/UIM, $1k collision, $500-$1k comprehensive, rental/roadside, around ~$200/month.
GEICO quote is around ~$247/month for 300/500 BI, $100k property damage, 300/500 UM/UIM, $5k MedPay, $500 comprehensive, $1k collision, rental. AAA/CSAA online was much higher, but I’m waiting for an agent to apply discounts.
My main concern is not only price. I’m trying to protect assets and avoid claim-service nightmares. I’ve seen mixed comments about Tesla Insurance claims, but GEICO/other carriers also seem to fight Tesla-certified repair costs.
Questions:
For CA Bay Area Tesla owners, did you stay with Tesla Insurance or switch to GEICO/AAA/State Farm/Mercury/CONNECT, and why?
Has anyone successfully bought a personal umbrella policy while keeping Tesla Insurance as the underlying auto carrier? If yes, which company?
If umbrella required switching away from Tesla Insurance, which carrier gave the best auto + renters + umbrella bundle?
For a Tesla Model 3 in CA, how important is using a carrier with smoother Tesla-certified repair handling versus just getting cheaper/high-limit coverage?
Any claim experiences with Tesla Insurance vs GEICO/AAA in California?
I’m not looking for legal advice, just real-world CA/Tesla insurance experience and umbrella setup suggestions.