"He had to go back and forth a bit before they finally agreed to OEM."
Haha, sounds like typical insurance drama. Honestly, I've had similar experiences with a few different companies over the years. My buddy had Geico when his Mustang got rear-ended, and surprisingly, they didn't give him much grief about OEM parts—maybe it depends on the adjuster, who knows?
As someone who tinkers with classic cars, OEM is basically life (seriously, aftermarket parts can be a nightmare). But here's something else to think about: has anyone dealt with either company when it comes to older vehicles or classics? Curious if either Progressive or Geico is better about insuring or handling claims for cars that aren't exactly fresh off the lot...
I've handled claims involving both companies, and honestly, it can vary a lot depending on the adjuster and the specifics of your policy. Generally speaking though, Progressive seems a bit more flexible with older vehicles, especially if you've documented upgrades or restorations. Just my two cents...
I'm actually in the middle of this myself right now—first time buying insurance, and my car is definitely not winning any beauty contests, haha. I've been leaning towards Progressive mostly because their quotes came out cheaper for me, especially with my older Civic. Geico was decent too, but they seemed a bit stricter when I mentioned some minor mods I did (nothing crazy, just replacing worn-out parts with slightly better aftermarket ones). Progressive didn't seem phased by that at all.
Funny story: when I first called Geico, I casually mentioned my car had some rust spots—nothing structural, just cosmetic stuff from NY winters—and the rep paused for a second and then said something like "Well...we'll have to note that." Felt like I'd confessed to some crime or something, lol. Progressive's rep just laughed and said "Yeah, welcome to New York." Pretty relatable.
Anyway, I'm still shopping around a bit more, but Progressive's flexibility and slightly cheaper rates are definitely pulling me in their direction right now. Hope this helps!
I've been with Geico for a few years now, mostly because their rates worked out better for my car (Audi A6, no rust spots yet thankfully...). But yeah, they're definitely stricter about mods—even minor stuff can raise eyebrows over there. Progressive seems more chill from what I've heard from friends. If your Civic's already got some character marks, I'd probably lean Progressive too, honestly.
I've bounced between Geico and Progressive a couple times myself, mostly because my driving record isn't exactly spotless (couple speeding tickets and a fender bender a while back). Geico was decent at first, but man, once I started tweaking my WRX even a little bit, they got super picky. Had a minor suspension upgrade—nothing crazy, just coilovers—and suddenly my premium jumped noticeably. Felt like they were watching every little thing I did.
Switched to Progressive about two years ago, and honestly, it's been way more relaxed. They're definitely more mod-friendly, didn't even blink when I mentioned the coilovers and aftermarket exhaust. Plus, after my last ticket (yeah, I know...), Progressive's rate hike wasn't nearly as brutal as Geico's was the previous time. Not saying they're perfect, but if you're into mods or have a less-than-perfect driving history, Progressive seems to cut you a bit more slack.
Also, since you're in NY, keep in mind that location can make a huge difference. I'm upstate, and Progressive ended up cheaper for me, but my buddy in Brooklyn swears Geico is still cheaper for him, even with mods. Might be worth getting quotes from both just to see how your specific area shakes out.
And hey, if your Civic already has some "character," Progressive might be the better fit anyway. They seem less uptight about minor cosmetic stuff—Geico once gave me grief over a tiny dent that wasn't even claim-related. Just my two cents from someone who's been there...
