stuck between Geico and Progressive in NY, thoughts?

Geico vs. Progressive is one of those debates that never really ends, but here’s the deal from my side - family car, two teens learning to drive, and a few fender benders under my belt.

First off, Geico’s roadside is decent. Used it twice - once for a flat, once when my son locked the keys in the car (don’t ask). They showed up in about 40 minutes both times, which isn’t lightning fast but not terrible either. Now, about claims: if you’re at fault, yeah, your rates will probably go up. That’s just how insurance works. Geico did hike ours after my wife backed into a mailbox, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought - maybe $20 more a month? Not the end of the world, but definitely noticeable.

Progressive’s app is slick, I’ll give them that. My neighbor swears by it - he filed a claim after a minor accident and said it was all handled through the app, photos and everything. He got a call back within an hour. But, roadside with Progressive took him almost 90 minutes when his battery died in the winter. Not great when you’re freezing your butt off.

Accident forgiveness is a bit of a marketing thing, honestly. Geico offers it, but only if you’ve been with them a while and have a clean record. Progressive has something similar, but again, you usually have to pay extra or qualify. Don’t count on it saving you if you mess up early on.

If you’re worried about surprises, read the fine print on both. They both have their quirks. Geico’s customer service is more old-school, but you can actually get a human on the phone. Progressive leans on the app and online stuff, which is cool until you hit a weird situation and need to talk to someone who gets it.

Bottom line, both will ding you if you’re at fault, but neither is a nightmare. If you value quick roadside, Geico’s a bit more reliable. If you want everything digital and don’t mind waiting a bit longer for a tow, Progressive’s app is hard to beat. Just don’t expect accident forgiveness to be a magic shield, especially as a new driver. And yeah, everyone messes up at some point - just try not to do it in front of your kids, trust me...

Honestly, I’ve found Geico a bit easier to deal with when it comes to specialty coverage - my car’s not exactly cheap to fix, and their adjusters actually seemed to know what a ceramic brake is. Progressive’s app is cool, but when my windshield cracked, the online process felt a little… generic? Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes you want to talk to someone who doesn’t think your car is a Camry. Rates weren’t wildly different, but Geico’s classic phone support actually helped me out of a jam once.

I hear you on wanting someone who knows your car isn’t just another sedan. I once had a Geico rep actually ask about my roof rack mods, which was a first. Out of curiosity, have you ever had to file a claim while on a road trip? I always wonder which company handles those “middle of nowhere” situations better...

I once had a Geico rep actually ask about my roof rack mods, which was a first.

That’s actually impressive - most reps just gloss over the details. I’ve had to file a claim with Progressive after a minor fender bender upstate, and they were surprisingly efficient, even though I was pretty far from any major city. I do think both companies have solid roadside networks, but Progressive seemed to be a bit quicker on the response. Still, it probably comes down to luck and the area you’re in... insurance is never as straightforward as we’d like.

Had a similar experience with Geico, actually - they asked about my aftermarket wheels, which caught me off guard. I do think Progressive’s claim process is a bit smoother, though. My only gripe is their rates crept up after the first year... classic insurance move.

Honestly, the rate creep is what’s making me hesitate with Progressive. I’m shopping for my first policy and every dollar counts, so the idea of a “teaser” rate that jumps after a year kinda bugs me. Geico’s questions about mods are weird, though - I don’t even have fancy wheels, but now I’m paranoid they’ll grill me about my floor mats or something.

I’ve heard Progressive’s app is better for claims, but if the price keeps going up, does it really matter? I’d rather have a slightly clunkier process if it means my premium stays predictable. Maybe I’m just cheap, but I feel like insurance should be boring and affordable, not full of surprises. Anyone else feel like these companies are just playing a game of “gotcha” with all the fine print?

I totally get where you’re coming from - rate creep is the worst. I had Progressive for a couple years and yeah, the price did jump after the first renewal. Their app is smooth, but honestly, I’d rather deal with a clunky website if it means my premium isn’t a moving target. Geico’s questions can be weird, but in my experience, they didn’t care about minor stuff like floor mats. Insurance really should just be boring and predictable... but it never seems to work out that way.

Insurance really should just be boring and predictable... but it never seems to work out that way.

Totally agree with this. I’ve bounced between both, and honestly, neither has been “set it and forget it” for me. I get the frustration with Progressive’s rate creep - had the same thing happen after my first year, even though my driving record was spotless. Geico’s questions are odd, but at least they don’t nickel and dime you for every little thing.

With a higher-end car, I’ve noticed both companies get a bit weird about coverage details, especially for OEM parts. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just a NY thing or if it’s like this everywhere. At the end of the day, I’d rather deal with a clunky site than surprise bills. You’re definitely not alone in wanting insurance to just be... boring. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Yeah, the OEM parts thing is a headache, especially in NY. Some carriers get really picky about what they'll cover, and it can change year to year. I’ve seen folks surprised by out-of-pocket costs when they assumed “full coverage” meant OEM replacements. It’s not just a NY quirk, but regulations here definitely add layers. Honestly, reading the fine print (even if it’s a slog) is worth it - sometimes you can add an endorsement for OEM parts for a few bucks more. Not fun, but beats getting stuck with aftermarket stuff on a new car.

Honestly, reading the fine print (even if it’s a slog) is worth it - sometimes you can add an endorsement for OEM parts for a few bucks more.

Couldn’t agree more. I learned the hard way after a minor fender bender - Geico tried to stick me with aftermarket parts on a car I’d barely had six months. Progressive at least offered an OEM endorsement, but you have to specifically ask for it. It’s wild how “full coverage” doesn’t mean the same thing across carriers. If you care about resale or just want your car fixed right, that extra cost is worth every penny. NY’s rules are just...confusing sometimes.

It’s wild how “full coverage” doesn’t mean the same thing across carriers.

You’re not kidding. I’ve seen folks get tripped up by that more times than I can count. “Full coverage” sounds like it should cover, well, everything... but then you find out it’s more like “full-ish.” NY’s regs are a maze, too - sometimes I feel like I need a decoder ring just to explain them to people.

“Full coverage” sounds like it should cover, well, everything... but then you find out it’s more like “full-ish.”

That’s exactly it. I thought I was all set until a deer hit my car last year - turns out “full coverage” didn’t mean what I thought for that situation. Had to fight with the adjuster over what was actually included. NY insurance is just confusing, honestly. Between Geico and Progressive, I’ve noticed they each have their own weird little gaps, too. It’s almost like you need a spreadsheet just to compare what’s actually covered.

It’s almost like you need a spreadsheet just to compare what’s actually covered.

Ha, I’ve literally done this - nothing like a Saturday night spent toggling between Geico and Progressive’s fine print. Did either company actually explain the deer thing up front, or did you only find out the hard way?

Did either company actually explain the deer thing up front, or did you only find out the hard way?

Honestly, you’d think “deer thing” would be a standard talking point in upstate NY, but it’s usually buried in the comprehensive section. Most folks don’t realize hitting a deer isn’t covered under collision - learned that from a client who found out the hard way after a midnight run-in. Both Geico and Progressive mention it, but you really have to dig for the details unless you ask directly.

I’ve compared their policies side by side (yep, actual spreadsheet involved). The coverage is similar, but the devil’s in the details - deductibles, rental reimbursement, glass coverage, all that stuff. Sometimes Progressive throws in a few extras, but Geico’s rates can be a bit lower, depending on your driving history.

If you’re budget-minded, just make sure you’re not sacrificing coverage you’ll actually need. Those “extras” can add up, but so can out-of-pocket costs if you’re not careful. It’s not glamorous, but reading the fine print (or at least asking a ton of questions) really pays off.

Most folks don’t realize hitting a deer isn’t covered under collision - learned that from a client who found out the hard way after a midnight run-in.

Been there - my wife hit a deer last fall and we only figured out the comprehensive vs. collision thing after the fact. Here’s what I learned:

- Geico was upfront about deductibles but didn’t mention deer unless I asked.
- Progressive had more “extras” but their quote was higher for us.
- Rental coverage matters if you’ve got kids and can’t be without a car.

Honestly, spreadsheets are great, but nothing beats calling and grilling them on the weird stuff that actually happens upstate.

Rental coverage is definitely important, but I’d argue it’s not always a must-have for everyone. I’m single, work from home, and honestly, if my car was out of commission for a week or two, I could get by with public transit or even just walking. That said, I totally get how it’s a dealbreaker for families or folks with long commutes.

On the Geico vs. Progressive thing - one thing that tripped me up was how each company defines “comprehensive.” I actually found Progressive’s policy docs a bit clearer, but their online quote tool buried some of the details under extra tabs. Geico’s site was more straightforward, but when I called, the rep seemed less knowledgeable about NY-specific stuff. Maybe it’s just who you get on the phone that day...

I’m still leaning toward Progressive even though it’s pricier, just because their coverage options seem more transparent to me. But yeah, spreadsheets only go so far - sometimes you just have to dig through the fine print and hope you’re not missing something weird.

Leaning toward Progressive just for transparency? I get the appeal - nobody likes feeling like they’re missing something in the fine print. But I’d push back a bit on the idea that “clearer” docs always mean better coverage or service, especially in NY. Sometimes it’s just slicker marketing or better web design.

You mentioned this:

Geico’s site was more straightforward, but when I called, the rep seemed less knowledgeable about NY-specific stuff. Maybe it’s just who you get on the phone that day...

On rental coverage - totally hear you about working from home and not needing it daily. But here’s a curveball: what about if your car gets totaled and it takes weeks to settle? Or if you’re dealing with a hit-and-run and waiting on police reports? Even if you don’t need a rental every day, the cost of adding it is usually peanuts compared to the headache of scrambling for rides when you least expect it. I’ve seen folks regret skipping it after a random fender-bender left them carless for longer than they thought.

At the end of the day, both companies are solid, but I wouldn’t write off Geico just because of one underwhelming phone call. Sometimes it’s worth calling back or even stopping by a local agent if you want someone who actually knows NY inside out. And don’t forget - sometimes the “hidden” stuff in those tabs is where the real differences are hiding (like OEM parts coverage or roadside assistance quirks).

Just my two cents from seeing these play out in real life.

Honestly, I get what you’re saying about Geico’s local presence, but I’ve had the opposite luck.

“Geico tends to have a bigger footprint in NY, and their local claims process can be smoother - especially when it comes to glass repairs or no-fault claims.”

Rental coverage is one of those things I never bother with either - just not worth the extra cost for me. As for claims, I’ve had both Geico and Progressive, and honestly, it’s a toss-up. Sometimes you get a good adjuster, sometimes not. Just comes down to price for me.

Rental coverage is one of those things I never bother with either - just not worth the extra cost for me.

Funny, I used to skip rental coverage too, but then I had my car in the shop for almost three weeks after a fender bender. That $40 or whatever would’ve saved me a ton on Uber rides. I get wanting to keep costs low, but sometimes that tiny add-on ends up being worth it, especially if you rely on your car daily. As for Geico vs. Progressive, I’ve noticed Progressive’s app is way more user-friendly, which actually made filing my last claim a lot less stressful. Just my two cents...