I had Geico for over 23 years before I switched!
budget conscious, a homeowner, married
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FEB
13
2008
Geico —
I started with Geico when I was 25 years old and got a very good rate considering my age and being a male. In fact I actually had them longer because I had their affiliate company since I was 16. But then Geico only insured Government Employees, when they opened it for everyone I was switched to Geico. So in reality I had Geico for almost 30 years! They gave me a discount for being married and being a professional driver (I drove cross country with a tractor trailer rig) I switched 3 years ago and I will explain that in a minute. I was getting a great rate too especially for living on the east coast, then I paid about $300 a year for full coverage. My Dad was paying $375 a year for full coverage with State Farm.My Experience with Geico
I loved that I could call 24/7/365 when ever I needed to change something on my policy or just had a question on my mind. I once called at 3am to add a car to my policy so I could drive it home and be covered and legal. I never had to wait more than 5 minutes to talk to a live person and always got a friendly and experienced agent to talk too.
The most amazing experience with them started out one January day about 20 years ago when I lived in Baltimore, Md. I was on my way to dinner and was rear ended by not one but 2 cars while trying to avoid hitting the car in front of me. Maryland law states that if you hit someone in the rear end you are ticketed and must contest it in court. I went to court and Geico offered me a lawyer if I needed one. The girl I got knocked into knew I was pushed into her so I figured I would be safe in court. We had to testify separately and her story matched mine so I had my ticket erased and did not have to pay a fine.
My car however (1979 Toyota Corona) was a total wreck, Geico came to my house and inspected the damage, they totaled it and wrote me a check on the spot for it. I got to talking to the guy and inquired if I could keep the car and how much it would cost me. He told me I could have it! I then asked if I fixed it could I get insurance back on it, he said they would have to inspect it and make that determination then.
Well I bought a new headlight and with some help did the body work and also got a new radiator for it. I found a grill in a junk yard and then bought some gray paint and made it look as good as it did before the wreck. I called Geico and they sent a representative to my house 3 days later. He inspected the car and said I was good to go, I then ask how much the new policy would cost as I figured I would only get liability on it. He looked at me and said it would be the same as before and it would be FULL Coverage as well. I was shocked by that but I didn't argue either...lol
Well Lady Luck was not with me that year as 3 months later I was hit from behind at 60 M.P.H. by an Idiot in a delivery truck on I-95 on my way to work. It spun me 4 times and almost shoved me under an 18-wheeler, then rammed me hard into a guard rail in the median of I-95. The impact busted every window in my car and buckled the car in half with the top being 18" higher than it was before. My rear bumper was on the ground and the gas tank was a paper cut away from being ruptured.
I spent a day in the emergency room and lucky for me did not break anything. I called Geico and told them what happened and they again sent an agent to inspect the car. It was the same guy and he looked at me and said "Ain't no fixing it this time" and he chuckled a little bit and ask me if I was okay. Again he wrote me a check for my car and told me I needed a little bigger car this time. They paid for my car twice in a 3 month period, I paid $2995 when I bought it and now had made just over $4,800 in 3 months on it!
After totaling the same car twice in a 3 month period I figured Geico and I were history. Nope they never raised my rates and used their lawyer to sue the other drivers to recoup what it cost them for both accidents. They also paid me for being off work the second time for 5 months, gave me a rental car and paid all my Dr. bills from the accident.
Why I left Geico
It was a hard choice but I needed the discount for car and home insurance and after finding out Geico was a lot higher for homeowners I had no choice but to change companies. I really miss them and periodically I get a letter from them asking me to come back. I can't do that with their homeowners being an average of 75% higher than everyone else. Even with their low rates I was able to get a discount with my present insurer on both my vehicles and my home for almost $1,200 cheaper than Geico. So you see I had to leave them because of the difference in pricing for both auto and home owners insurance.
Bottom Line
Geico was the best company I had ever been insured with and I do miss them being my insurance company. I had cars and motorcycles insured with them and had very good rates, even with a few accidents. I miss the great customer service they provided and the knowledgeable representatives they have working for them. I never had one bit of aggravation in the 23 years I was with them. I just wish they had cheaper homeowners as I would go back to them in a New York Heartbeat!
Geico is recommended by kid-kansas
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