Had a guy last week who was shocked when his “OEM parts only” request got denied unless he paid the difference—seems like that’s the new normal with most carriers, not just Progressive. I’ve seen Geico do the same, though sometimes they’ll bend if you make enough noise. The accident forgiveness thing is tricky; it’s marketed like a safety net, but there’s always some catch in the fine print. Honestly, I’ve noticed rates creeping up across the board lately, even for folks with spotless records. Feels like you have to read every renewal like it’s a new contract...
Yeah, I’ve seen this play out more times than I can count. Folks hear “OEM parts” and assume it’s a given, but unless you’re driving something brand new or it’s spelled out in your policy, it’s almost always aftermarket or used unless you pony up the difference. Had a lady last month with a three-year-old Honda—she was floored when her claim only covered aftermarket. She argued, called in, escalated... didn’t budge. Geico and Progressive both, honestly, are getting stricter about it.
The accident forgiveness thing cracks me up sometimes. People think it’s a free pass, but there’s always some weird stipulation—like, it doesn’t apply to certain types of claims or only kicks in after you’ve been with them for X years. And yeah, rates are sneaking up everywhere. Even my own renewal went up and I haven’t had a claim in over a decade.
I swear, reading those renewal docs feels like deciphering a puzzle these days. It’s not just you.
Yeah, the OEM vs aftermarket thing is a real eye-opener for a lot of people. I learned the hard way after my last claim—thought I was covered for OEM, but nope, ended up with used parts on a five-year-old Nissan. Honestly, unless you’re willing to pay extra or your car’s brand new, it’s almost always aftermarket now. Both Geico and Progressive pretty much have the same stance from what I’ve seen.
Accident forgiveness is another one that gets overhyped. I got dinged with a surcharge after a minor fender bender because my “forgiveness” didn’t apply to property damage claims. Fine print gets you every time.
Rates in NY are just brutal, especially if you’ve got any points or tickets like I do. From what I’ve compared, Geico was slightly cheaper for me but their customer service felt more robotic. Progressive gave me more flexible payment options, which helped when cash was tight. Either way, expect the renewal to creep up year after year... seems unavoidable these days.
- The fine print is wild, right? I thought accident forgiveness was this magic shield, but turns out it’s more like a coupon with a ton of exclusions.
- Geico’s customer service does feel like you’re talking to a bot sometimes. I had to call twice just to get a straight answer about roadside assistance.
- Progressive’s payment flexibility is clutch when you’ve got a family budget that changes every month... but their site can be glitchy.
- Rates in NY are just a joke. My renewal went up $150 for no reason—no tickets, no claims, nothing. Feels like they spin a wheel every year.
- Anyone actually get OEM parts without fighting for them? I’m starting to think it’s an urban legend.
OEM parts are a unicorn, honestly. Had a minor fender bender with my ‘87 Monte Carlo and the adjuster acted like I was asking for gold-plated bumpers. Ended up settling for aftermarket, which still bugs me. NY rates are brutal too—mine jumped $200 last year, no changes on my end. Geico’s roadside took forever to show up, but Progressive’s site kept timing out when I tried to pay. Feels like you can’t win either way.
