Totally get the frustration with aftermarket parts—my old Civic’s replacement bumper never fit right either. I’ve heard State Farm sometimes covers OEM if your car’s newer, but it depends on the policy. Keeping records is smart, especially when things drag on. I wish more companies were upfront about what they actually cover... feels like you need a spreadsheet just to keep track.
Man, the spreadsheet comment hits home. I swear, every time I talk to my insurance rep, I feel like I need a degree just to decode what’s covered and what’s “optional.” Been through the aftermarket parts circus too—my old Camry’s side mirror was basically held on with hope and duct tape after a “certified” shop job.
- State Farm’s not bad, but I’ve found their OEM coverage is like a secret menu item—gotta ask the right way or they’ll just hand you the generic stuff.
- GEICO gave me the runaround about glass replacement once. Ended up paying out of pocket for a windshield that didn’t even match the tint. Good times.
- Keeping receipts and photos is clutch. I keep a folder in my glove box now... which is probably overkill, but hey, better than arguing with adjusters.
Wish there was a way to just tick a box for “no weird parts, please” and be done with it. Until then, guess it’s spreadsheets and crossed fingers.
Man, the “no weird parts” checkbox would save so much hassle. I swear, half the time I’m just hoping the shop doesn’t glue my bumper on with Elmer’s. I’ve got a spreadsheet too, but it’s mostly just me trying to remember which insurance person told me what. It’s like a game of telephone, but with more paperwork.
State Farm’s secret menu is real—my uncle had to basically recite the policy back to them before they’d even mention OEM parts. GEICO tried to tell me my cracked headlight wasn’t “essential” and could wait. Like, have you driven at night in Kentucky? Not optional.
I keep receipts in my glove box too, but now it’s a mess of old gas station napkins and random fast food coupons. Still, better than nothing when the adjuster starts asking for “proof.” At this point, I’d take a magic button over spreadsheets any day.
Yeah, the “proof” game is wild. I’ve pulled out receipts with ketchup stains and coffee rings more than once—adjusters just look at me like I’m nuts. Honestly, I’ve bounced around a bit (Progressive, Allstate, even tried Erie for a minute) and it’s all kinda the same circus. State Farm was decent when I actually got someone on the phone who cared, but you’re right, you have to basically know their policy better than they do.
GEICO gave me the runaround on a windshield last winter. They wanted to patch it instead of replace it—even though there was a spiderweb crack right across my line of sight. It took three calls and a photo with a quarter for “scale.” Like, who carries change anymore?
I keep thinking about switching to Kentucky Farm Bureau just because my neighbor swears by them, but I’m not convinced any of them are really hassle-free. At this point, I just keep my phone loaded with pics of everything—receipts, damage, you name it. Not perfect, but it beats digging through napkins and old fries in the glove box...
Honestly, I don’t think any of them are hassle-free. I’ve had State Farm and GEICO too, and it’s always a fight to get them to actually do what you’re paying for. The whole “prove it” thing is ridiculous—like, if I could predict when a rock would hit my windshield, I’d just avoid it in the first place.
I get what you mean about Kentucky Farm Bureau. My uncle swears by them too, but then again, he also thinks fax machines are still cutting-edge tech. Have you checked their actual claim process? Sometimes these local ones are great until you need something big, then suddenly they’re “investigating” for weeks.
Keeping pics on your phone is smart. I started doing that after losing a glove box full of receipts in a car wash disaster. Still, I wonder if any company actually makes it easy or if it’s just about finding the least annoying option. Have you tried getting quotes from Farm Bureau yet, or just thinking about it?
