stuck between Geico and Progressive in NY, thoughts?

Had a similar experience with Progressive's bundled roadside last winter - got stuck near Yonkers with a dead battery and waited almost 90 mins. Not as bad as your cousin's JFK ordeal, but still frustrating enough to reconsider bundling. Makes me wonder if these insurance companies outsource roadside assistance to the same overloaded providers anyway... maybe separate services really do respond quicker? Curious if anyone's had better luck going independent.

Yeah, I hear you about the bundled roadside thing. Had a similar wait myself last year - flat tire on the Taconic and it took forever. Honestly, I think you're onto something with the outsourcing theory... feels like they're all pulling from the same stretched-thin pool of tow trucks. I've since switched to an independent roadside service (AAA), and so far it's been smoother. Costs a bit more, but peace of mind is worth it for me, especially since I drive a lot and can't afford to be stranded again.

Had a similar experience with Progressive's roadside last winter - battery died in a parking lot, and it took them nearly two hours to show up. I get the appeal of AAA, but honestly, I'm still hesitant about paying extra when I might only need it once every few years. Curious if anyone's had luck just using local tow companies directly when things go south? Might be cheaper overall, but then again, convenience counts too...

I've actually recommended clients try local tow services directly, especially if they're not frequent roadside users. If you're only calling for help once every few years, paying out-of-pocket occasionally might still be cheaper than annual AAA fees. Plus, local companies often respond faster since they're nearby and rely heavily on reputation. But convenience does matter - if the thought of finding a reliable tow at midnight stresses you out, AAA might be worth the peace of mind...

Good points about local tow services. I've seen plenty of claims where people waited forever for roadside assistance through insurance companies - especially late at night or in bad weather. But honestly, if you're stuck between Geico and Progressive, I'd focus more on their claims handling and customer service rep. Have you checked out reviews specific to NY? Sometimes one company is great in one state and meh in another...insurance is weird like that.

Yeah, insurance really is weirdly inconsistent state-to-state. I remember a few years back, my sister had Progressive in Jersey and absolutely loved them - fast claims, easy to deal with, the whole nine yards. But when she moved to NY, she switched to Geico because Progressive's rates jumped way up for her. Funny thing is, she ended up having a minor fender-bender in Brooklyn (someone rear-ended her at a stoplight), and Geico handled it super smoothly. Rental car was sorted out quick, repairs done without hassle...she was pleasantly surprised.

So yeah, definitely seconding the advice to check out local reviews. Both companies can be solid, but it really depends on your specific area and situation. Good luck - insurance shopping can be such a headache sometimes.

"insurance shopping can be such a headache sometimes."

Couldn't agree more - especially for classic car owners like myself. I've found rates can vary wildly even within the same state. Your approach checking local reviews is spot-on, saves a lot of headaches down the road...

"Your approach checking local reviews is spot-on, saves a lot of headaches down the road..."

Yeah, reviews help, but honestly I wouldn't rely on them completely - people usually only post when they're either super happy or really ticked off. I'd still double-check policy details directly with the companies...just to be safe.

Reviews definitely help narrow things down, but I agree they're not the whole story. When I was looking into Geico vs Progressive recently, I noticed some surprising differences in how they handle roadside assistance and claims processing - stuff you don't always catch from reviews alone. Has anyone here had direct experience with either company's roadside service in NY? Curious how reliable they actually are when you're stuck somewhere...

I've never personally used Geico's roadside, but Progressive bailed me out once on the Thruway near Albany. Response time was decent - maybe 35-40 mins - but I'm wondering if that's typical or just luck? Also, do either of these companies actually own their roadside services, or are they just contracting local tow trucks? Could make a difference in consistency...

I recently went through the whole insurance shopping ordeal myself (first-timer here), and I had similar questions about roadside assistance. From what I gathered, neither Geico nor Progressive actually own their roadside fleets - they both contract local tow companies. That means your experience can vary quite a bit depending on where you break down and who's available nearby.

My friend had Progressive and got stranded near Syracuse last winter. Took them almost an hour to show up, but honestly, given the snowstorm, that wasn't too bad. On the other hand, my cousin swears by Geico after getting help in under 30 mins near Rochester. Seems like luck plays a big role here.

Personally, I'd lean toward looking at overall coverage and price first, since roadside response times seem pretty hit-or-miss anyway. Maybe check out some local reviews for your area specifically...might give you a better sense of consistency.

"Personally, I'd lean toward looking at overall coverage and price first, since roadside response times seem pretty hit-or-miss anyway."

Yeah, I totally agree with this. When I was shopping around for my first insurance policy last year, I got pretty caught up in the roadside assistance thing too. But after talking to a few friends and family members, it seemed like roadside help was always a bit of a gamble no matter who you went with.

Funny enough, my older brother had Progressive when his car battery died in Albany. It wasn't even winter or anything - just a random Tuesday afternoon - and he still waited almost 45 minutes. He wasn't thrilled, but he said the tow guy was super nice and helpful once he finally showed up. On the flip side, my coworker has Geico and got locked out of her car near Buffalo last month. She said they were there in under 20 minutes, which sounds amazing...but honestly, she might've just gotten lucky with timing and location.

For me personally, being budget-conscious meant focusing more on the monthly premium and deductible rather than roadside assistance alone. I ended up going with Progressive because their quote was noticeably cheaper for my situation (young driver, older car). Plus, their app seemed pretty user-friendly for managing payments and claims - little things like that matter to me.

One thing I'd suggest is checking out any discounts you might qualify for. Both Geico and Progressive offer some decent savings if you're willing to bundle or take defensive driving courses online. I did one of those quick online courses (it was kinda boring but easy enough), and it knocked a good chunk off my premium.

Anyway, good luck deciding! It's definitely overwhelming at first...but once you pick one and get set up, it's honestly not as stressful as it seems right now.

I ended up going with Progressive because their quote was noticeably cheaper for my situation (young driver, older car).

I agree with focusing on coverage and price first. Roadside assistance can be unpredictable no matter the company. Had Geico myself a couple years back - waited almost an hour near Syracuse for a flat tire, but their claims process was smooth and premiums reasonable, so no regrets overall.

"I ended up going with Progressive because their quote was noticeably cheaper for my situation (young driver, older car)."

Good call on prioritizing price and coverage first. Roadside assistance is always a bit hit-or-miss, honestly. I've seen clients have great experiences with both Geico and Progressive, but also heard some horror stories... it's just luck sometimes. Main thing is you're comfortable with the premium and claims process. Sounds like you made a solid choice, especially as a younger driver. Hope it works out well for you.

Price is definitely important, but I'd also suggest double-checking the claims satisfaction ratings - especially in NY. Cheaper premiums can sometimes mean more hassle if you ever actually need to use it... learned that the hard way with my first accident.

I hear you on that one. A few years back, I went with Progressive because their quote was lower, but when someone rear-ended me on the Cross Bronx (nightmare scenario, btw), the claims process was a bit of a headache. Not terrible, just... slow and frustrating. Switched to Geico after that, and while they're not perfect either, I've found their claims handling smoother overall. Definitely worth checking out reviews specific to NY though - our state's insurance quirks can make a big difference.

I get what you're saying, but honestly, I've had the opposite experience. Been with Progressive for about five years now, and when someone sideswiped me near Queens Blvd last year, their response was surprisingly quick and hassle-free. Geico quoted me lower initially, but friends warned me their customer service could be hit or miss in NYC. Might just depend on who you talk to or the specifics of your claim... city driving is always a gamble anyway, lol.

"Geico quoted me lower initially, but friends warned me their customer service could be hit or miss in NYC."

Can confirm this... had Geico briefly when I first bought my Audi and their rates were tempting, but the one time I needed them (minor fender-bender downtown), it was a bit of a headache. Progressive's been smoother overall for me too.

Same experience here. Had Geico for about a year when we got our Subaru, mainly because the initial quote was pretty attractive. But when I had to file a claim after someone clipped my side mirror in Queens, communication was slow and kinda unclear... ended up having to chase them down for updates. Switched to Progressive shortly after, and so far they've been more responsive - especially with minor incidents or quick questions.

"Progressive's been smoother overall for me too."

Agreed, although I wonder if Geico's inconsistency is specific to NYC or if it's similar in other big cities? Seems like customer service can vary widely depending on location, even within the same company. Curious if anyone outside NY has had similar experiences.

I've noticed similar trends handling claims - Geico can be hit-or-miss depending on the city. Progressive usually has clearer processes, especially for smaller stuff like mirrors or fender benders... seems less stressful for customers overall. But yeah, location definitely plays a role.