stuck between Geico and Progressive in NY, thoughts?

Stuck Between Geico And Progressive In NY, Thoughts?

- Been driving in NYC for what feels like forever, and honestly, those “safe driver” trackers are a joke here. I tried one for a month - felt like I was being graded every time I hit a pothole or had to slam the brakes because someone decided red lights are optional. Not worth the stress.

- On the Geico vs. Progressive thing:
- Geico’s customer service is usually quick and no-nonsense. I’ve never had to wait on hold for ages, which is rare these days.
- Progressive’s bundling perks can look good on paper, but sometimes the “discount” just brings you back to what Geico would’ve charged anyway. Gotta read the fine print.

- After a claim? Here’s where it gets interesting:
- Had a minor fender bender a couple years ago with Geico. My rate went up, but not by much - maybe $15/month. No drama, no weird fees.
- My cousin had a similar claim with Progressive and got hit with a bigger hike (like $40/month), plus they tried to push her into their “snapshot” program after. She wasn’t thrilled.

- Both companies have their quirks. Geico feels more transparent to me, but Progressive’s app is slicker if you’re into that sort of thing.

- One thing I’ll say: if you park on the street in the city, double-check how each company handles vandalism or hit-and-runs. Learned that lesson the hard way when someone keyed my car and Geico handled it fast, but my neighbor with Progressive had to jump through hoops.

At the end of the day, neither is perfect, but I’d lean Geico if you want less hassle after something goes wrong. Just my two cents - NYC insurance is always a bit of a circus anyway...

Honestly, I hear you on those trackers - my minivan’s “hard braking” score would make a NASCAR driver blush in NYC traffic. Here’s how I look at it: 1) Compare actual quotes side by side, 2) Check how each handles street parking claims (like you said, that’s huge), and 3) Call both and ask about rate hikes after minor stuff. I’ve found Geico a bit more forgiving, but Progressive’s app is way easier for juggling family cars. It’s a toss-up, but I lean Geico for sanity’s sake.

Honestly, I get where you're coming from, but I’ve had the opposite experience with Geico.

I’ve found Geico a bit more forgiving, but Progressive’s app is way easier for juggling family cars.

Progressive was actually more chill about minor dings and random street parking mishaps - which, in NYC, happen way too often.

I hear you on the NYC parking chaos - parallel parking here is like a contact sport. For me, Geico actually handled my “fender bender roulette” pretty well, but their rate hikes after claims were brutal. Progressive’s app is slick, but I noticed they sneak in random fees if you’re not careful. At this point, I’m just picking whoever gives the least headache when I have to add or swap a car for the kids’ activities... which feels like every other month.

Man, I feel this. Every time I park on my block, I just assume I’ll come back to a new “mystery scratch.” Geico was decent for me until my daughter started driving - then the rates shot up like they were punishing me for having teenagers. Progressive’s app is nice, but I swear, every time I change something, there’s a new random charge. At this point, I just want someone who won’t make me call customer service every other week... is that too much to ask?

Man, I totally get the pain with those mystery scratches - my car’s basically a canvas at this point. I’m still on my parents’ Geico policy since I just started driving, and even then, the rates are wild in NY. My mom freaked when she saw how much it jumped after I got my permit. She keeps saying it’s like we’re being punished for just existing on the road.

I tried to convince her to check out Progressive because their app looks slick, but she’s not into the whole “random fees popping up” thing either. She hates calling customer service, and honestly, who has time for that? The only thing that’s helped us is raising our deductible a bit, but then you’re just rolling the dice if something actually happens.

At this point, I’m just hoping my parallel parking doesn’t add another scratch and that insurance doesn’t eat up all my summer job money. Not sure there’s a perfect answer, but yeah, I feel your frustration.

Honestly, I feel like Geico and Progressive both have their quirks. I switched to State Farm after my BMW got keyed twice in a month - NYC street parking is savage. Their rates weren’t magic, but at least the claims process didn’t make me want to throw my phone. Sometimes the “big names” just aren’t worth the headache, even if their apps look shiny.

Totally get what you mean about the “big names” not always being the smoothest ride. I’ve seen folks get lured in by those slick apps and catchy commercials, but when it’s time to actually use the insurance… well, let’s just say the hold music gets a lot of play. Claims service is where the rubber really meets the road, especially in NYC where, yeah, your car is basically a moving target. Sometimes paying a bit more for sanity is worth it.

I hear you on the “big names” thing. I’ve bounced between Geico and Progressive over the years (NYC driver, lots of points, not proud). Honestly, they both have their headaches. Geico’s app is slick, but when I had a fender bender in Queens, it took forever to get a real person on the phone. Progressive was a little better with customer service, but my rates jumped after one not-even-my-fault accident.

At this point, I just expect to pay more because of my record, but I’d rather deal with someone who actually picks up the phone than save $10 a month and get ghosted when I need help. Maybe it’s just NYC, but it feels like you’re paying for the privilege of being ignored half the time. Still, I guess it beats driving uninsured... barely.

Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen folks get stuck in endless phone loops with both companies, especially after a minor accident. Sometimes it feels like the “big names” just mean bigger call queues. Honestly, in NYC, even the smaller insurers can be hit or miss - one guy I worked with swore by a local broker, but then his rates shot up after a parking lot scrape. It’s rough out there. At least you’re not rolling the dice without coverage... that’s a headache nobody needs.

Honestly, picking between Geico and Progressive feels like choosing between waiting on hold or... waiting on hold. I just got my first quote and nearly choked on my coffee. Both seem to have “surprise fees” hiding somewhere. Anyone else feel like you need a PhD to read these policies?

Honestly, I hear you on the “surprise fees” - I’ve had both Geico and Progressive over the years for my car, and it always feels like there’s some fine print you missed until the bill shows up. For me, coverage details matter way more than just the monthly rate, especially with a pricier car. Have you looked into how each handles claims for high-value vehicles? Some companies are way better about OEM parts and repairs than others...

“it always feels like there’s some fine print you missed until the bill shows up.”

Yeah, that’s exactly what happened to me with Progressive last year. I thought I was getting a deal, but then the renewal came with a random “policy fee” I didn’t see coming. I’m driving an older Honda, so I’m not as worried about OEM parts, but now I’m wondering if Geico would pull the same thing? Anyone actually had them cover repairs - like, do they go cheap on parts or is it just the billing that’s sneaky?

Had Geico for a few years in NY - here’s what I’ve noticed:

- Didn’t get any weird surprise fees at renewal, but their rates crept up each year anyway.
- When my minivan got sideswiped, the shop used aftermarket parts, not OEM. Didn’t really care since it’s not a fancy car, but if you’re picky, might bug you.
- Claims process was smooth, no headaches or endless calls.
- Billing’s pretty straightforward, but yeah, always double-check the “extras” section... insurance companies love their fine print.

Honestly, both seem to play the same game. Just depends which flavor of annoying you can live with.

Had a similar run-in with Progressive after a fender bender in Queens. Claims went through quick, but they also defaulted to aftermarket parts - guess that’s just standard now unless you push back. One thing I noticed: their “accident forgiveness” sounded great, but the fine print made it less useful than I’d hoped. Rates crept up for me too, even with no tickets or claims. Honestly, feels like whichever you pick, you’ve gotta keep an eye on the details every renewal.

Had a guy last week who was shocked when his “OEM parts only” request got denied unless he paid the difference - seems like that’s the new normal with most carriers, not just Progressive. I’ve seen Geico do the same, though sometimes they’ll bend if you make enough noise. The accident forgiveness thing is tricky; it’s marketed like a safety net, but there’s always some catch in the fine print. Honestly, I’ve noticed rates creeping up across the board lately, even for folks with spotless records. Feels like you have to read every renewal like it’s a new contract...

Yeah, I’ve seen this play out more times than I can count. Folks hear “OEM parts” and assume it’s a given, but unless you’re driving something brand new or it’s spelled out in your policy, it’s almost always aftermarket or used unless you pony up the difference. Had a lady last month with a three-year-old Honda - she was floored when her claim only covered aftermarket. She argued, called in, escalated... didn’t budge. Geico and Progressive both, honestly, are getting stricter about it.

The accident forgiveness thing cracks me up sometimes. People think it’s a free pass, but there’s always some weird stipulation - like, it doesn’t apply to certain types of claims or only kicks in after you’ve been with them for X years. And yeah, rates are sneaking up everywhere. Even my own renewal went up and I haven’t had a claim in over a decade.

I swear, reading those renewal docs feels like deciphering a puzzle these days. It’s not just you.

Yeah, the OEM vs aftermarket thing is a real eye-opener for a lot of people. I learned the hard way after my last claim - thought I was covered for OEM, but nope, ended up with used parts on a five-year-old Nissan. Honestly, unless you’re willing to pay extra or your car’s brand new, it’s almost always aftermarket now. Both Geico and Progressive pretty much have the same stance from what I’ve seen.

Accident forgiveness is another one that gets overhyped. I got dinged with a surcharge after a minor fender bender because my “forgiveness” didn’t apply to property damage claims. Fine print gets you every time.

Rates in NY are just brutal, especially if you’ve got any points or tickets like I do. From what I’ve compared, Geico was slightly cheaper for me but their customer service felt more robotic. Progressive gave me more flexible payment options, which helped when cash was tight. Either way, expect the renewal to creep up year after year... seems unavoidable these days.

- The fine print is wild, right? I thought accident forgiveness was this magic shield, but turns out it’s more like a coupon with a ton of exclusions.
- Geico’s customer service does feel like you’re talking to a bot sometimes. I had to call twice just to get a straight answer about roadside assistance.
- Progressive’s payment flexibility is clutch when you’ve got a family budget that changes every month... but their site can be glitchy.
- Rates in NY are just a joke. My renewal went up $150 for no reason - no tickets, no claims, nothing. Feels like they spin a wheel every year.
- Anyone actually get OEM parts without fighting for them? I’m starting to think it’s an urban legend.

OEM parts are a unicorn, honestly. Had a minor fender bender with my ‘87 Monte Carlo and the adjuster acted like I was asking for gold-plated bumpers. Ended up settling for aftermarket, which still bugs me. NY rates are brutal too - mine jumped $200 last year, no changes on my end. Geico’s roadside took forever to show up, but Progressive’s site kept timing out when I tried to pay. Feels like you can’t win either way.