I totally get the phone anxiety—mine’s always at 20% when I need it most. I’ve had both Geico and Progressive too, and honestly, the customer service thing is huge for me. Fast help beats a fancy app, but those surprise rate bumps are brutal. Ever try calling Geico after an accident? I’ve heard mixed things, but never actually had to myself. Curious how they stack up under pressure...
Stuck Between Geico And Progressive In NY, Thoughts?
Man, I swear my phone only drops to 20% battery the second I even think about needing it for something important. It’s like it knows. Anyway, I hear you on the customer service thing. I’d rather talk to a real person who doesn’t sound like they’re reading off a script than mess around with a shiny app that crashes when you need it.
I actually had to call Geico after a fender bender last year. Nothing wild—just some guy in a parking lot who apparently thought my minivan was invisible. To be honest, Geico’s phone people were pretty chill. They didn’t rush me off or make me repeat my story five times, which is more than I can say for some companies (not naming names, but rhymes with “Flo-gressive”). The claims process wasn’t lightning fast, but it wasn’t snail-level either. Took about a week to get everything sorted and the adjuster out, but at least I didn’t have to fight them about coverage.
That said, I totally get the frustration with those random rate hikes. Both Geico and Progressive seem to love playing that game—one year you’re feeling smug about your “good driver” discount and then BAM, next renewal is up fifty bucks for no reason. It’s like they spin a wheel or something.
One thing I will say: Geico’s roadside assistance is... not the best if you’ve got kids melting down in the backseat and you’re stuck waiting for a tow. Learned that one the hard way last winter. Progressive wasn’t much faster, but at least their app actually updated me on where the tow truck was—small mercies, right?
Honestly, neither one is perfect but if you value talking to an actual human when things go sideways, Geico’s probably got a slight edge in my book. Just keep an eye on those renewal letters—they sneak up on you.
Geico’s roadside assistance is... not the best if you’ve got kids melting down in the backseat and you’re stuck waiting for a tow. Learned that one the hard way last winter.
That right there hits home. I had almost the exact same situation with Geico—middle of January, car decides it’s done starting, and my twins are in the backseat losing their minds because we’re late for a birthday party. Called Geico’s roadside, and it was over an hour before anyone showed up. By then, snacks were gone, patience was gone, and I was ready to just abandon the car and walk home. The driver was nice enough but honestly, I felt like I could’ve called a local tow myself and gotten faster service.
On the other hand, I did try Progressive for a year (switched because Geico randomly hiked my rate $60 for no reason—like you said, spin-the-wheel style). Their app was actually pretty decent for tracking claims and roadside stuff, but every time I needed to talk to someone about coverage or billing, it felt like pulling teeth. Just endless hold music and then someone reading off a script. Not my favorite.
One thing I noticed: both companies seem to play games with “discounts.” Like, you get a good driver bonus or whatever, but then they quietly bump up something else so your bill still goes up. Super annoying when you’re trying to budget for family stuff.
Honestly, I’m still with Geico just because their phone reps have always been decent when things go sideways. But every renewal cycle I brace myself for some random price jump. Wish there was an option that didn’t make me feel like I’m rolling dice every six months.
If you’ve got little ones or just want less hassle when things go wrong, Geico’s probably slightly better—but only just. Neither one is perfect, and both will test your patience at some point... guess that’s just insurance these days.
Honestly, this is exactly why I keep questioning if any of these big-name companies are actually worth it. The “discounts” thing drives me nuts too—like, they make a big deal out of saving you $20, but then your premium jumps $50 for some random reason. It’s like a shell game.
I’m still on my parents’ policy (for now), but I’m dreading having to pick one myself. I get that no insurance company is perfect, but it’s wild how much of a gamble it feels like. Has anyone tried one of those smaller or newer companies, like Lemonade or Root? I keep seeing ads saying they’re more transparent and tech-friendly, but I’m skeptical if they’re actually better when you’re in a jam.
Also, does anyone actually use AAA for roadside instead of relying on their insurance? Wondering if it’s worth paying extra just to avoid the endless waiting and phone tag.
Stuck between Geico and Progressive in NY, thoughts?
I get where you’re coming from—insurance feels like a moving target half the time. I’ve looked at Lemonade and Root, but honestly, I’m a bit wary when it comes to newer companies, especially since I drive a higher-end car. My worry is always: will they actually come through if something major happens? The tech stuff is cool, but when you’re dealing with a claim on a $60k+ vehicle, I’d rather have a company with a proven track record. Maybe that’s just me being extra cautious, but I’ve heard mixed things about how fast those startups handle bigger claims.
On the AAA front, I do keep a membership. It’s not cheap, but I’ve found their roadside service way more reliable than what my insurance offered. Had a flat in the middle of nowhere last year, and AAA got there in under an hour—my old insurance would’ve had me waiting all afternoon. For me, the peace of mind is worth the extra cost, but I guess it depends on how much you drive and where.
Curious if anyone’s actually had a big claim with Lemonade or Root and how that went... I’m always weighing risk vs. convenience, and it’s tough to know what’s hype and what’s real.
