I've had both in NY, and honestly, Progressive's roadside assistance was fine for me. Had a dead battery last winter near Syracuse, and they showed up pretty quick. Geico might be slightly cheaper overall, but the difference wasn't enough to sway me either way...
I've been wondering about this myself lately. Good to hear Progressive's roadside assistance actually came through for you, especially in winter near Syracuse—that's no joke. I've had Geico for a couple years now, and while their rates are decent, I haven't had to use their roadside yet (knock on wood...). Curious if anyone else has experience with Geico's response times around here? Honestly, if the price difference isn't huge, I'd probably lean toward whichever has better service when you're stuck in a pinch. Saving a few bucks is nice, but not if you're freezing your butt off waiting for help. Glad Progressive worked out well for you though—makes me feel a bit better about possibly switching down the line.
"Saving a few bucks is nice, but not if you're freezing your butt off waiting for help."
Exactly—this hits the nail on the head. Geico's roadside service around here is usually decent, but I've had clients mention longer waits during heavy snow. Progressive seems a bit quicker in tough conditions, from what I've heard.
I had a similar experience last winter with Geico's roadside assistance. Got stuck in a snowbank after sliding off the road—nothing serious, thankfully—but the wait was pretty uncomfortable. It took them nearly two hours to get someone out to me, and temperatures were dropping fast. To be fair, conditions were pretty rough that night, but still...it made me reconsider how much weight I put on cost savings versus reliability.
I've heard mixed things about Progressive too, though mostly positive when it comes to response times in bad weather. Personally, I'd rather pay a bit extra for peace of mind than risk being stranded again. If you're regularly commuting or driving in areas prone to heavy snow or ice, it might be worth prioritizing quicker roadside response over minor savings. Just my two cents based on experience.
Had a similar situation myself, but with Progressive. Was commuting home from work last January when I hit some black ice and ended up halfway in a ditch—nothing major, just embarrassing as hell. Called Progressive's roadside assistance, and honestly, they were pretty quick. Took them about 40 minutes to get someone out there, which felt like forever at the time (especially with cars slowing down to stare at my sorry self), but looking back, it wasn't bad considering the weather.
I get wanting to save money—trust me, I'm all about pinching pennies—but when you're stuck on the side of the road freezing your butt off, those few extra bucks suddenly seem worth it. Not saying Progressive is perfect or anything; I've heard mixed reviews too. But from my own experience commuting daily through NY winters, I'd lean toward reliability over saving a couple bucks each month. Just my experience though...your mileage may vary (pun totally intended).
