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...