"Curious if anyone's had luck with smaller, local insurance companies instead of the big names—maybe they're more forgiving?"
Tried a local insurer after Geico bumped my rates for a windshield chip (seriously...). Rates stayed steady, and customer service felt more personal. Might be worth checking out smaller companies in your area.
I switched from Progressive to a smaller local insurer about two years ago after a similar headache. Progressive raised my rates for what they called a "minor incident"—basically, my kid opened the car door into a mailbox. Yeah, it left a tiny ding, but come on...a mailbox? Really?
Anyway, I shopped around and found this local place I'd never even heard of before. Honestly, I was skeptical at first because their website looked straight out of 1998 (complete with spinning gifs, no joke). But I gave them a call anyway, and the lady who answered sounded like someone's grandma—super sweet, asked about my kids by name after just one conversation.
Long story short, they gave me a better rate and didn't seem bothered by the mailbox fiasco. The best part is, whenever I call now, I don't have to navigate through a maze of automated menus or listen to elevator music for 20 minutes. It's always the same grandma-type lady answering right away. She even remembered to ask how my son's driving lessons were going last time we spoke, haha.
So yeah, smaller insurers can be a hidden gem sometimes. They might not have fancy apps or commercials with talking animals, but if you want to feel like an actual human being instead of just a policy number, they're worth checking out. Just be prepared for some seriously outdated websites...
I get the appeal of smaller insurers, especially the personal touch. But just a heads-up from someone who's seen the claims side of things—make sure they're financially stable and have decent reviews for handling claims. I've dealt with a few smaller companies that were great on customer service but struggled when it came to actually paying out claims quickly or smoothly.
That said, your mailbox story cracked me up...I've seen insurers raise rates for even less. One guy had his premiums bumped because he reported a stolen hubcap (seriously). Anyway, if you're leaning toward Geico or Progressive, I'd say Geico tends to be a bit more forgiving with minor incidents, at least from what I've noticed in NY. But honestly, if you've found a local gem that's reliable and treats you like family, that's pretty hard to beat—even if their website looks like it belongs in a museum.
I've had decent luck with Geico in NY, but curious—anyone know how either handles classic cars? Progressive quoted me something ridiculous for my '68 Mustang...made me wonder if they thought it was gold-plated or something.
Geico's been pretty fair to me too, but classic cars are a whole different beast. Progressive once quoted me something insane for my '72 Camaro—like, did they think I was planning to drag race it through Times Square at rush hour? Here's what I learned the hard way:
Step 1: Regular insurers often don't get classic cars. They see "old" and think "expensive repairs," not realizing most of us baby these rides more than our own kids.
Step 2: Check out specialty classic car insurers like Hagerty or Grundy. They usually understand the value better and offer agreed-value policies, meaning you won't get lowballed if something happens.
Step 3: If you're set on sticking with Geico or Progressive, call them directly instead of relying on online quotes. Sometimes talking to an actual human can clear things up—maybe they'll realize your Mustang isn't gold-plated after all...
Honestly, as someone who's had more speeding tickets than I'd like to admit, specialty insurers have been surprisingly chill about my record. Might be worth a shot.
