Auto Insurance

FallinAgain

We are considering switching companies. Anyone have any good or bad experience with Progressive or Geico?

rajah92708

Fallin I just switched from Geico to Farm Bureau.  I had great insurance with Geico when I lived in NC, and it was very reasonable.  But when I moved to TN, the price went up over $100 a month.  It depends on the state you're in, but I liked Geico and never had a problem.  My brother-in-law backed into my car at Christmas a few years ago, and Geico kept following up with his (local and very small) insurance company to make sure they were on the ball about fixing my car, and I really appreciated that I didn't have to keep making phone calls or deal with that hassle.

BobLoblaw

Geico has TERRIBLE customer service and they tend to not investigate claims. When I was hit by Mercedes in her Mercedes and she lied and told them I cut in front of her, they never came out to even inspect the damage on my car or anything. It was apparently cheaper for them to pay out. I hate them and refuse to ever be covered by them again. HATE.Progressive rules! They have amazing customer service and they helped me out with DMV and GMAC stuff (looooong story involving leases and registrations). I seriously cannot be happier with them and we are saving a shitton over Geico. I couldn't believe it when we got the quote. Plus, Flo rules.

GroomzMcFinehiney

I've had great experience with Geico.  I just had an accident 2 months ago, and they were super quick in procsessing my claim, and when the adjuster realized that his brother worked for my company and that I was the one who fired him, he didn't shiv me, so they're aces in my book.

FallinAgain

Both Geico and Progressive are similarly priced for me and less than half for far higher limits than my current Allstate policy.  I'm kicking myself for not looking into this years ago.

lindsayll

We don't currently use Progressive because their prices aren't competitive in NJ, but I've used them previously and had a good experience (had to file a claim for an accident and they were great). We have Geico now.  It was a pretty easy online application, although we had to go back and forth with some of the paperwork, but I attribute some of that pain-in-the-ass factor to us having been without insurance for 2 years when we were doing the no car thing.  Extra hoops to jump through that you probably won't face.

Vinny08

I've had Geico for probably 10 years.  I have never had a problem with them.  Every time I have needed to change/update my policy, it is painless.  I had a cab drive into my car a couple of years ago.  Everything was fixed with minimal effort on my part.I feel my rates are pretty decent.Basically, auto insurance (and I do my homeowners through them as well) is of very little concern in my life.Yea Geico!

BobLoblaw

Maybe my experience was an isolated case, but I literally had a stack of "evidence" against this woman including 3 bench warrants for traffic violations, and I had a PERFECT driving record (seriously, no tickets or accidents ever). But they didn't want to waste their time on $500 damage. I'm still bitter (CAN YOU TELL?) and it was 2 years ago.

mrs.R.tobe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFZ1HkYT1Bk

modb1rd

I was very happy with Geico and had them for 12 years or so until Mr. Mod. The rates for insuring him are astronomical because he never drove in Britain. We stayed with them a while but when I got my first scooter they insisted on using his liability risk to insure me too. I started looking around and State Farm was by far the cheapest. When we combined our renters insurance with the vehicles and my ring you couldn't get a better deal. so wall o text = Geico good for most people. Check out State Farm if you haven't.

FallinAgain

Did it cause your rates to go up or make you pay out of pocket or anything Bethie or is it a principle of the matter thing?  I get being angry over the principle, I'm just not sure my principles care to the tune of $6 a month if it won't otherwise screw me.

FallinAgain

We are looking at State Farm, but the website had a problem and forced me to send the info to an agent for a quote, then forced me to provide a phone number so they are out unless they are crazy cheap.

BobLoblaw

Most of the damage was to my car and my deductible was $500. My rates didn't go up, so the damage was what I cared about. That and the principle of the thing. She was such a wench. I even called the cops but they wouldn't come because it was technically in a parking lot. I got rear-ended a few months ago and Progressive handled everything. My car was fixed in less than a week

CaliopeSpidrman

I also use State Farm and love the discounts I get from them.  My rates go down every year.  I started out with them maybe 8-9 years ago and paid about $80 per month for my car.  Now I'm paying just under $50.  I also have my homeowners insurance through them.  I haven't had to file a claim yet, but I imagine they would be fairly responsive.  The times I've sent questions to my agent, she's always responded quickly.

SarahBethBR

I love Geico. I got into a wreck in January and had a great experience. Our rates are much lower than any of the other companies we looked at (although they're still obscene, thanks Baton Rouge!). We actually have our homeowner's policy throught geico as well. I did have kind of a similar experience to bob, though. I was ticketed in the January accident, because I was alone in the car and the other driver (a 15 year old with a 2 day old learner's permit) had three passengers who claimed I ran a red light. I told my claim rep that I would ask them to pull the footage from the intersection camera, and she said not to bother, because since the other driver wasn't ticketed they wouldn't go after them. The damage was over $7000, so I'm not sure if it was a policy thing or not. They haven't raised my rates or anything, though, so I'm not that concerned.

Novemberrocks

We have State Farm and are very happy.  They were by far the cheapest option...totally blew Geico out of the water.

EABwork

We love Geico.  As we were both gov't employees Geico beat out all the others because of our level within the gov't.  NOw that I am no longer one, but have a salary that compares to my former GS level, and he is still with the gov't our rates haven't changed.  We used them for renters as well, and I am trying to see what it will cost me to get homeowners with them. 

CaptainSerious

I love Progressive.  I had them before I moved to NJ, and they were awesome.  Even when I got into an accident, they handled it quickly and efficiently, and didn't raise my rates mid-policy.  When I got my new bill it was a completely reasonable increase, too; they didn't jack my rates way up.I now have Geico, and they are fine, but we have clean driving records with no accidents (the one above is more than 5 years old and has cleared off the records).  I've heard that they will dump you pretty quick if you file too many claims (like for a broken windshield or other small stuff), and that you can expect them to hike your rates through the roof or drop you if you get into an accident.

pdxmouse

We have Allstate because they were by far the cheapest in our area. I've been mostly happy except for years ago when I got hit coming out of a stop sign by a lady speeding so fast there was no way for me to have seen her coming at.all. I was automatically at fault because I had the stop sign. Although I can see the legal point, I'm still kinda ticked because how can I be at fault for something there was no way to avoid? I would have felt better if they'd at least looked into it. I can't remember if it was Geico or Progressive that's owned by Warren Buffet, but I called whichever that one was for a quote once. The offer was double what I was paying, so I was all "Um, no thanks." Then the guy tried to convince me I should switch anyways since my rate would go down over time because it's not like Warren Buffet needs the extra money. Did you guys know that Warren Buffet made his fortune helping little old ladies across the street and runs his insurance company as a charity? I have no idea why that guy thought that was a good sales pitch, but it makes me chuckle whenever I think about it.

heatherkj

Adding the caboose on the Geico train...I love Geico. We have our homeowner's policy through them as well.I had to file a claim a couple of years ago when I was driving down the expressway and my windshield suddenly decided to crack up the middle. They were super easy to work with, and they sent someone to my work to fix the windshield the next day. They replaced it while I was sitting at my desk, and it didn't cost me a penny. It was awesome. Full glass coverage FTW.

BrideBuddies

Up until 6 months ago or so, I was an agent for Farmers.  Excellent company for customer service, but their rates of late aren't as competitive as some of the others.  But they do have a TON of discounts that most of the other's don't.In working with claims, I'd say, in general, Geico and Progressive have gotten a lot better than they were maybe 2 years ago.  But it's kind of hit-or-miss.   I've seen good results with them.. and really, really bad, drag your feet kind of results. To me, that's how I judge an insurance company.  Are they quick to react and take care of problems?   If there's an agent involved, does that person take a personal interest in your case?  And do they actually know what they're doing!  I'm all for saving money, but when you really need them, will they screw you over?More advice... be very wary of doing your comparisons only online.  It may be more convenient, but this isn't to your benefit at all.  Do your homework and call around and talk to some other agents with different companies.  They're desperate now for business and will do whatever they can to get you a great rate.   Having an agent also means you have someone to deal with the company for you.. rather than you wasting your time making the calls, etc.   And despite what you may think, agents make next to NOTHING in commissions.  That's why I finally gave it up... I had several hundred policies but could barely cover expenses so I quit.I hate Progressive's ads that "show" you how much cheaper they are than State Farm, Allstate, etc.  It's completely misleading because all Progressive can use for the comparision is the base rates that are listed with the federal Dept. of Insurance.  It doesn't take into account any of the discounts for good driving, having multiple policies, etc. and those make a huge difference.Companies to avoid:  Nationwide and the General come to mind instantly.  Any of the other small, fly-by-night type places generally suck, too.   Not sure about E-surance, but I suspect their customer service is sketchy because you just go through a call center.

BrideBuddies

Boy... that was a longwinded answer.  Sorry!

Giggity19

We have State Farm and love it*.  We get great discounts and never have any problems with changing our policies or payments.  We were also grandfathered in under some policies from long ago (taken over from our parents when we started driving), so ours may be cheaper than what they offer now.  MIL and a cousin work for Pekin (I think they go up to Chicago) & Country and both personally have Sate Farm as well.*Though I did not love the fact that one individual in my office told me I couldn't go by my maiden name (I didn't change) and be on the same policy as H.  I shot that statement to hell.

sparrowsocks

We have state farm.  Their price was unbeatable for me, but we also have homeowners insurance, life insurance, and a personal property policy with them, so we get a mulitple policy discount.

MamaKin

i have state farm and love them. prices are great, and i get a discount since i have renters insurance with them as well. also, they are very personable and high-touch. i like knowing my agents name, and the ladies at the office remember my name (i've been with them forever). on the flipside, BF has geico and loves them because he pretty much never has to interact with anyone (everything done online/automated). different strokes

mk1110

Giggity, I work in insurance. I can tell you with absolute certainity that State Farm will allow you to retain your maiden name. It does not affect your ability to be on a policy together or make a difference as far as your discounts.

FallinAgain

THanks.