I've seen a lot of folks mention Geico being quick and hassle-free, but honestly, my experience was pretty different. Had a minor accident last year (totally my fault, unfortunately), and Geico's process wasn't exactly smooth sailing. Here's what happened step-by-step: first, waited on hold forever just to speak with someone; second, had to resend paperwork twice because they "lost" it the first time; third, got bounced between reps who didn't seem to communicate with each other at all. Maybe I'm an outlier—but I'd say they're not always as straightforward as you think.
"Progressive wasn't bad either, but their claims process felt a bit more... bureaucratic?"
Funny enough, my buddy used Progressive after his accident and said it was actually simpler than mine. Guess it depends on who handles your claim...
I'm currently shopping around for my first insurance policy in NY, and honestly, your experience makes me a bit wary of Geico. I've heard mixed things about Progressive too—some say they're efficient, others mention red tape. Maybe it's less about the company itself and more about luck with the rep you get? Either way, I'm leaning toward Progressive right now, but I'll definitely keep your points in mind before making a final decision.
I've worked with both Geico and Progressive on claims here in NY, and honestly, you're onto something about the rep making a difference. I've seen Progressive handle things super smoothly one day, then hit a snag the next because of paperwork or a less experienced rep. Geico's similar—mostly efficient, but occasional hiccups. My advice? Don't stress too much about horror stories online; every insurer has them. Just make sure you're comfortable with the coverage details and pricing. Good luck with your decision!
I've had a bit of a different experience, actually. While I agree that every insurer has its ups and downs, the rep factor seems less significant to me compared to the company's overall claims process. Last summer, I had a small fender-bender upstate while road-tripping through the Adirondacks—nothing major, just enough damage to need repairs. I was with Progressive then, and even though my rep was clearly new and a bit unsure, the system itself felt pretty streamlined. The app kept me updated, and things moved along without much hassle.
A friend of mine, though, had Geico around the same time and ran into some frustrating delays—not because of his rep, who was experienced and helpful—but more due to procedural red tape within the company. So, from what I've noticed, sometimes it's less about the individual rep and more about how smoothly the insurer's overall structure operates behind the scenes.
Either way, totally agree on ignoring the online horror stories. People mostly post when they're upset anyway...just human nature.
Interesting points, but I'd say the rep factor matters more than you think, especially if you're dealing with something less straightforward than a minor fender-bender. For instance, I drive a classic Mustang and had a pretty complicated claim a couple of years ago—needed specific vintage parts, specialty shops involved, the whole nine yards. My Progressive rep was nice enough but clearly out of their depth when it came to understanding classics. The automated systems were great for routine stuff, sure...but when things got tricky, having someone who really knew their stuff would've saved me weeks of headaches.
On the flip side, my buddy with Geico had an agent who actually specialized in classic and collector cars. Even though Geico's process was slower overall (totally agree about that red tape), his rep knew exactly how to navigate it and kept things moving along smoothly.
Maybe it's just me being picky about my car—but I do think the individual rep can make or break your experience when you're dealing with anything beyond the usual modern-car scenarios.
