Insurance recommendations

None of that has been my experience with Geico. In fact, this last deer hit in Kitty's car a couple years ago, (04 Ford Escape 160K) and we KNEW it was going to total. But he wrote it up so that it didn't and didn't short cut anything. It came $5 away from a total, but they fixed it. I had a check the same day the adjuster came out ON THE SPOT.

Back in February, 2015, we totaled my 04 Ranger (140K) in Macon. Other driver at fault. TWO DAYS after the accident, the adjuster was at my front door with a check that was about 300 bucks less than high retail and it was nowhere NEAR high retail. It was a nice little truck, but it had chips, scratches and a few small dents. Everything worked though and it was loaded. They didn't try to lowball me or anything, AND I had a loan on the truck and paid it off and was still able to buy my 75 F250, Gladys.

In 2002, shortly after we moved out here, Kitty backed into my 63 Dodge M37 military Power Wagon. HARD. Did over 4K$ damage to her Corolla. I mean son, it pushed the driver's rear corner even with the bottom of the rear glass. You hear what I'm sayin? lol It put a SMALL scratch on the M37's bumper. The adjuster couldn't believe it until he looked at the corner of the bumper and saw the red paint from the Corolla. They DID want us to use their approved shop, but also told us we could use who we wanted. Just so happened I grew up with two brothers that own probably the best body shop in Macon and they happened to be Geico approved, so it worked out. They approved all new Toyotee parts, no questions asked.

Maybe it's a location thing? I don't know. But we've always had stellar service with Geico.


I honestly doubt it is based on location other than each state has different title branding laws and total loss thresholds. Geico is in the top 5 in the country as far as market share and they send all of their adjusters to the same training center in Texas I believe. I would say mostly had to do with year of vehicles being repaired. A lot of the parts usage comes down to the shop also. If they get a set price for some junk part laying in a yard 4 states away they can still approach OEM dealers for price matching opportunities that are really becoming the norm. GM pays it's dealers back THOUSANDS of dollars on conquest parts they sell. This is to keep them competitive in the collision world. Also good for you that Toyota has one of the best price matching programs around. When you look at a 2021 SUV worth 40k and they use aftermarket and used parts on their estimate is where it becomes challenging for collision shops. Also the biggest point of the issue is look who is "assessing" your damage... and insurance company... not a repair center. This is true with Progressive and Geico. They absolutely do not accept estimates from body shops in anyway unless they are part of their DRP program. Also even being part of that program the shop written estimates are vetted in a 2 hour window from the time the vehicle enters the shop. Glad you have good service from them though. Around here when we see a Geico adjuster car pull in we cringe and say the sleeze bag is here HAHA