You're definitely doing your homework, which is great to see. I went through a similar process last year—ended up choosing Progressive without Snapshot because the constant monitoring felt intrusive. Geico was competitive price-wise, but Progressive's customer service in NY edged them out slightly for me. You're smart to factor in local reviews; they really do make a difference. Keep at it, you're almost there...
"ended up choosing Progressive without Snapshot because the constant monitoring felt intrusive."
Yeah, Snapshot felt way too Big Brother-ish for me too. I went with Geico last summer—price was solid, and honestly, customer service hasn't let me down yet. Progressive's good, but Geico's simplicity won me over.
"Yeah, Snapshot felt way too Big Brother-ish for me too."
Totally hear you on the intrusive vibe of Snapshot. I've been labeled a "high-risk" driver (a couple speeding tickets and one fender-bender—not my proudest moments), so I looked into Snapshot thinking it might save me some cash. But honestly, the constant monitoring just felt like setting myself up for higher rates... no thanks. Geico's been surprisingly decent for me, even with my driving record. Their quotes were straightforward, and I didn't get the feeling they'd jack up my premiums the second I hit the brakes too hard. Progressive was tempting—good reputation and all—but Geico just felt less risky overall. Plus, when I called customer service to ask about coverage details, it was quick and painless. Can't say the same about every insurer I've dealt with...
I get what you mean about Snapshot feeling a bit too invasive. I almost signed up for it myself, thinking it'd be an easy way to shave a few bucks off my monthly bill. But then I started reading reviews and realized I'd probably end up paying more just because I occasionally brake a little harder than the app would like (thanks, NYC traffic...).
I've bounced between Geico and Progressive a couple of times over the years. Honestly, both have been pretty decent overall, but Geico has usually come out cheaper for me. I'm pretty cautious about hidden fees and sudden rate hikes, and Geico's always been straightforward—no nasty surprises when renewal time rolls around. Progressive wasn't bad either, but their quotes always seemed to creep up after the first year or two, even without any claims or tickets.
One thing I did appreciate about Progressive was their customer service. Had a minor accident a few years back (someone backed into me in a parking lot—ugh), and they handled it quickly and painlessly. But Geico's been solid too, and their app is surprisingly user-friendly. Makes it easy to check coverage details or update info without having to call anyone.
If you're budget-conscious like me, I'd say Geico edges out Progressive slightly, especially if you're wary of the Snapshot thing. But honestly, either one is probably fine as long as you keep an eye on your renewal rates. Just avoid those monitoring apps if you're not 100% confident in your driving habits... Big Brother is definitely watching, lol.
"Just avoid those monitoring apps if you're not 100% confident in your driving habits... Big Brother is definitely watching, lol."
Yeah, Snapshot was a no-go for me too. As someone who's had a few tickets (okay, maybe more than a few...), Progressive's rates jumped pretty quickly after the first year. Geico's been more forgiving overall, and their transparency is refreshing—no surprise hikes at renewal. If you're higher-risk like me, Geico might be the safer bet in the long run.
