GEICO Review: Is It the Right Choice for You?

GEICO was founded in 1936 as the Government Employees Insurance Company to provide car insurance to federal employees and military officers during the Great Depression. The company became a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway investment firm in 1995.

Today, GEICO offers a full suite of car insurance coverages and a variety of other insurance products, including home, renters, boat, motorcycle/ATV, commercial auto, and business insurance.

The company has earned a reputation for offering some of the best car insurance rates in the U.S. Pair that with its easy online quote process and responsive customer service, and it’s easy to see why GEICO has 18 million auto policies in effect, insuring more than 30 million vehicles.

While GEICO offers many different coverage options, affordable rates, and an easy quote process, customer experiences with the company vary. Some reviewers praise the customer support team, and others describe difficulties with coverage cancellations and claims processes.

Read on to uncover more details about GEICO and how it compares with competitors.

Is GEICO a Good Choice for Car Insurance?

To help you decide if GEICO is right for you, here’s an overview of the insurer’s performance across five key categories. Each is rated on a scale of one to five.

GEICO performs well in most areas — especially in terms of cost, availability, and industry reputation.

Where GEICO stands out

GEICO offers a comprehensive selection of insurance products, including car insurance coverage as well as homeowners, commercial auto, condo, and renters insurance. As a result, it’s suitable for all sorts of drivers.

While some car insurance companies won’t insure high-risk drivers, like drivers with a DUI on their record, GEICO offers coverage to them. The company will also provide an SR-22 certificate to drivers who need it.

GEICO has an excellent mobile app available for both iOS and Android. Using the app, you can access your insurance cards, pay your bill, and file and track your claim’s progress.

Where GEICO falls short

While GEICO offers plenty of discounts and its DriveEasy program, its discounts are still somewhat limited. For example, a pay-per-mile policy would be an excellent option for drivers who’re retired or who live in a city and spend minimal time behind the wheel, but GEICO doesn’t offer this type of discount at this time.

GEICO offers standard coverage options as well as some specialty coverage, like classic car insurance, but it doesn’t offer gap insurance, which is relatively common. As a result, GEICO isn’t a good fit for anyone who owes a significant amount of money on a vehicle that they are buying or leasing.

Although GEICO offers strong customer support by phone and chat, the lack of local offices throughout the country means that you can’t really engage with local agents. This can lead to a less personal feel when interacting with the company.

GEICO Reviews: What Real Customers Are Saying

GEICO advertises great customer service, but its customer reviews are a mixed bag. Many of the reviews reference pleasant customer service experiences and a smooth quote and purchase process.

But some GEICO reviews tell a different story. Many of the reviews describe frustrating and slow claims processes, as shown in the review below.

On the plus side, the policyholder shown below experienced a positive claims process that helped solidify their decision to stay with the company.

On the other hand, several customers complained about coverage cancellation without a valid explanation, and others described situations where their policies were modified after they’d inquired about different coverages but hadn’t actually decided to switch.

Many reviewers described situations where GEICO abruptly canceled their policies because of one missed payment or after a single accident claim. Reviewers like the one below often expressed their frustration about canceled policies without any advance notice.

The ConsumerAffairs reviewer below described a similar situation to several other reviews. Many reviewers described instances when GEICO made changes to their policy, including adding in a new driver, without their consent. Those reviewers also noted significant difficulty in getting the policy changes reversed.

What You Can Expect to Pay for GEICO Car Insurance

The national average for car insurance with GEICO is $186 per month. But keep in mind that factors like your location, driving history, the value of your vehicle, and the coverage you choose will affect your rates.

All but one U.S. state requires you to have liability coverage, which helps to pay for any damages you’re financially responsible for if you cause an accident. Beyond the minimum liability coverage that the law requires you to have, you may want to upgrade to full coverage.

Full coverage includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, which helps pay for damages to your vehicle after not only a car accident but also other events, like a fire or vandalism.

Here are GEICO’s average rates for liability insurance and full-coverage policies, according to Compare.com data.

GEICO’s rates are more expensive when compared to the national average — $92 per month for liability insurance and $176 for full coverage. But national averages aren’t the best indicator of what you’ll pay for insurance.

In the next sections, we’ll cover how different factors like your driving history and age.

GEICO vs. the Competition

It’s important to know how GEICO’s rates compare to similar car insurance companies. Here’s how GEICO stacks up to some of its closest competitors.

GEICO offers some of the lowest rates compared to its competitors. Of the five competitors, GEICO has the second-lowest liability rate ($101 per month), fall only behind State Farm’s monthly rate of $99. When it comes to full coverage, GEICO’s $270 rate ranks fifth, with State Farm again leading the pack, at $217 per month.

GEICO’s Average Rates by Age

Age has a major influence on your car insurance costs. Teens and young drivers pay the highest rates because they’re more likely to cause a car accident. On the other hand, senior drivers tend to get the cheapest rates because they tend to be much safer drivers.

We’ve broken down GEICO’s average rates by age group in the table below.

Teens and young drivers

Teens and young drivers pay some of the highest car insurance rates because of their lack of experience behind the wheel. Teens have a higher chance of getting into a car accident than older, more experienced drivers, so car insurance companies charge them higher premiums to make up for that increased risk.

But once you reach age 25, your insurance rates start to drop as long as you maintain a clean driving record. GEICO’s average rates follow this trend, with teens paying an average of $370 per month. The average rates for a 25-year-old driver are less than half what 18-year-olds pay.

Seniors and retirees

When you reach age 65, you car insurance rates start to increase again. Older drivers tend to have slower reflexes, which can increase their chances of getting into a car accident.

GEICO’s rates for seniors average around $149 per month.

GEICO’s Average Rates by State

Many factors influence GEICO’s car insurance rates in each state, including its population, cost of living, minimum car insurance requirements, and more.

The table below highlights the company’s average rates in each state it operates.

West Virginia drivers can find rates as low as $35 per month with GEICO — some of the best rates in the entire country. Even drivers in more expensive states like New York, Louisiana, and Michigan can find relatively affordable coverage with GEICO, even though it’s quite a bit more than many other states.

GEICO’s Average Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record plays a huge role in your auto insurance costs. It’s one of the most significant predictors of future claims, so insurers tend to give drivers with clean records the lowest rates.

This table shows how driving history affects rates with GEICO.

After a ticket

Getting a speeding ticket indicates risky behavior, so insurance companies will likely significantly increase your premiums after you get a ticket. GEICO’s increases are relatively small. The liability-only policy increases by just $20, while a full-coverage policy increases by $50.

After an accident

Car insurance rates can increase significantly after an at-fault accident. GEICO’s premiums increase by nearly 50% after a single accident, according to Compare.com data.

After a DUI

Car insurance companies consider a DUI an indicator that you’re engaging in risky behaviors, meaning you’re at an increased risk of getting into an accident. Insurance rates tend to increase more after a DUI than any other sort of moving violation.

GEICO’s rates nearly double for drivers who have a DUI on their record.

GEICO’s Average Rates by Credit History

Car insurance companies often use your credit history when evaluating whether you’re a high-risk driver. Many insurers consider poor credit histories to mean that you may be less likely to pay your bill each month, which leads to more financial risk.

The table below shows how GEICO’s average rates change based on different credit tiers.

GEICO offers low rates to drivers with excellent credit histories, but the rates for drivers with poor credit are nearly doubled.

GEICO Car Insurance Discounts

GEICO advertises 16 standard discounts, including vehicle equipment, driving history and habit, driver’s education, driver affiliation discounts, and customer loyalty discounts. Other discounts include:

• Airbag
• Anti-lock brakes
• Anti-theft system
• Daytime running lights
• New vehicle
• Good driver
• Seat belt use
• Defensive driving
• Driver’s education course
• Good student
• Emergency deployment
• Federal employee
• Membership and employee
• Military
• Multi-vehicle
• Multi-policy

Discounts range from 3% to 25% off of your total policy cost. Options like a good student discount make GEICO a practical choice for a wide variety of drivers, including families with kids.

Certain discounts are particularly appealing. For example, driving a vehicle that’s equipped with airbags can save drivers up to 23% on their medical payments or personal injury coverage. Insuring multiple vehicles with GEICO can lead to a discount of up to 25%. GEICO also offers multi-policy discounts, so drivers can save when they insure a vehicle and have homeowners, renters, condo, or mobile home insurance through GEICO.

In addition to these discounts, members of certain groups may be eligible for additional savings. GEICO partners with hundreds of groups, including professional organizations, alumni organizations, and fraternities and sororities, to offer extra discounts.

Drivers can also potentially save money if they choose to sign up for GEICO’s DriveEasy program, a telematics program that monitors and logs driving habits. GEICO states that drivers could see “significant savings” on their bill, but savings will vary based on program participation and the driver’s driving habits. More on that later.

GEICO’s Available Auto Insurance Coverages

GEICO offers all of the standard car insurance coverages that states might require, as well as several additional coverage options. The sample quote we generated included the following options:

• Bodily injury liability: Helps to pay for medical expenses for anyone injured in a crash you cause.
• Property damage liability: Helps to pay for the expenses to repair or replace property, like a house or car, from an accident you cause.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Helps to pay for healthcare-related costs, including loss of income and funeral expenses, resulting from a car accident, no matter who’s at fault.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist: Helps to cover expenses that you face after someone with no insurance or not enough coverage hits you.
• Comprehensive: Helps to pay for repair or replacement costs for your vehicle from any event other than a car accident. That event might be a falling object, vandalism, fire, extreme weather, or theft.
• Collision: Helps to pay for replacement or repair costs for your vehicle after it’s in an accident with another car, no matter who’s at fault.

While the quote process doesn’t give control over customizing coverage levels, GEICO offers this option if you call and talk to a customer support representative. GEICO allows you to customize your coverage limits as long as they’re above your state minimums, and you can also choose your deductible on certain types of coverage.

The company also offers the option to add on coverage like roadside assistance, rental car coverage, or mechanical breakdown insurance, which helps to cover repair costs if your vehicle breaks down.

Purchasing a GEICO Car Insurance Policy

Buying a GEICO car insurance policy is relatively simple. You can get a quote online in about 10 minutes, or you can call GEICO’s customer service phone number for a quote. When you get a quote online, you can also purchase your policy fully online, making for a seamless and streamlined experience. While GEICO has few local offices, the ability to use the online quote feature or to contact customer service via phone still gives you plenty of options.

GEICO’s car insurance quote generator is available right on its homepage. You can choose from several different types of insurance, including auto, motorcycle, and homeowners insurance. The quote generator even allows you to create a quote for multiple types of insurance at once, like auto and homeowners, or auto and renters, so you can see what your bundled price would be.

To begin the quote process, you’ll need to enter some basic information, including your first and last name, ZIP code, and date of birth. You will also need to provide your address.

Next, GEICO asks for information about the vehicle you want to insure, including its year, make, and model. Follow-up questions include details about any anti-theft devices present in the vehicle, as well as whether you are the original owner. GEICO also asks whether your vehicle is owned, financed, or leased.

The next step in the quote process focuses on your driving habits. You’ll be asked whether you use the vehicle to commute, for pleasure, or for business purposes. (GEICO offers specialized car insurance for commercial vehicles.) The quote process also asks you to specify your vehicle’s annual mileage.

Next, you will need to input how many years you have been driving.

GEICO also asks about your driving history, including any accidents, traffic tickets, thefts, or vandalism that occurred in the last six years. You will also need to report any DUIs, or license suspensions or revocations in the last 10 years.

Adding an incident is easy, thanks to the drop-down menu listing different incident categories. You’ll also be asked for an estimated or exact date of the incident.

The quote summary page also outlines any discounts included in the policy. The driver profile we used to generate this quote reported a speeding ticket for more than 20 miles over the speed limit between two and five years ago. Despite this ticket, we were still eligible for the

GEICO does a good job of providing detailed information about each type of coverage. Clicking on the “information” symbol to the side of each option generates a summary of the type of coverage and how it works. The page also highlights the state minimum requirements for the type of coverage, so you can verify you’re buying enough insurance.

Once you’ve completed your quote process, GEICO shows your payment options, including monthly payments and paying in full. From that quote summary page, you can pay for your policy and activate your coverage 100% online.

What to Expect When Filing a Claim With GEICO

GEICO advertises a claims process that is “as hassle-free as possible” and notes that some claims may be settled in just 48 hours. You can file a claim by phone, online, or through the mobile app. You can also track the claims process online or through the app.

GEICO offers a Photo Estimate feature that allows you to submit photos through the mobile app. This feature is suitable for smaller fender benders with minimal damage and can help speed up the claims process.

While GEICO promises a smooth claims process, many customer reviews and complaints say otherwise. One user posted on ConsumerAffairs that they were left without car repairs after the insurer failed to assign fault to either party after a motorcycle sideswiped them. Both drivers happen to be GEICO policyholders.

Another policyholder shared their bad experience after one of GEICO’s Auto Repair Xpress facilities performed what they viewed as shoddy repairs on their vehicle. They noted that their adjuster was rude and left them to manage and resolve the repair process on their own.

To be fair, complaints related to claims processing are some of the most common complaints car insurance companies receive from their customers, and few insurers score well here. After all, the claims process can be inherently stressful for most who go through it, so we understand there won’t be many glowing reviews here.

Reviewing GEICO Customer Service

Getting in touch with GEICO’s customer service is easy. Customer service is available 24/7, and wait times are minimal. We called GEICO at 3 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon and connected with a customer service agent within about 30 seconds. The live-chat function, which we used 10 minutes later, was equally fast, and it connected to an agent in less than one minute.

Several users posted reviews praising the company’s friendly customer service.

And the customer shown in the review below praised GEICO customer service agents for being friendly and professional.

More About GEICO Insurance

GEICO’s other insurance products

GEICO offers a comprehensive selection of car insurance options. These include:

• Auto
• Motorcycle
• ATV
• RV
• Boat
• Collector auto
• Commercial auto
• Mexico auto

Other GEICO products, services, and perks

The greatest perk when choosing GEICO is the ability to choose several different types of insurance coverage.

In addition to car insurance, the company offers several types of property insurance:

• Homeowners
• Renters
• Condo
• Mobile home
• Landlord
• Flood
• Earthquake

GEICO also offers an excellent assortment of business insurance:

• Business owners
• General liability
• Professional liability
• Cyber liability
• Workers’ compensation
• Medical malpractice
• Wellness and fitness

Several additional insurance types are also available:

• Umbrella
• Life
• Travel
• Overseas
• Identity protection
• Pet
• Jewelry
• Event
• Bicycle

GEICO mobile app

GEICO’s mobile app is full of valuable features and has received largely positive feedback from customers. The app allows you to access digital insurance ID cards, request roadside assistance, submit photos of vehicle damage using the Easy Photo Estimate feature, monitor your vehicle’s care history, and even ask the GEICO virtual assistant questions.

The app has a 4.6-star rating out of 5 stars on the Google Play store and has more than 10 million downloads. Several users have posted reviews praising the app’s convenience.

DriveEasy

The GEICO DriveEasy program is a telematics app-based program that tracks driving behavior and offers good drivers discounts on their car insurance policies. To use it, you need to download the app on your phone and enable location services so that the app can automatically track your driving.

The DriveEasy dashboard provides details on your driving history, including your score. The app monitors activities like hard braking, handheld calling, and phone handling to ensure that you are driving safely and distraction-free.

Reviews of the DriveEasy program note that the app doesn’t recognize real-world driving scenarios, and sometimes scores unfairly.

GEICO Auto Insurance FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most common questions drivers ask about GEICO car insurance.

Why is GEICO so cheap?

GEICO’s rates tend to be cheaper because it offers plenty of discounts that help lower car insurance costs. Its direct-to-consumer model also allows it to provide cheaper premiums than other companies.

Keep in mind that your rate can vary depending on factors such as your driving history, where you live, and your coverage.

Does GEICO offer auto & home insurance bundling?

Yes. GEICO allows you to bundle an auto insurance policy with a homeowners, mobile home, or renters insurance policy.

Does GEICO have a good reputation?

Yes. GEICO is a reputable and stable choice for car insurance. In operation since 1936, it offers a wide range of coverage options, and has a strong financial standing — it received an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior).

Is GEICO good at paying claims?

Customer feedback about the claims process is mixed. Many reviews describe slow claims processes with poor communication from GEICO, but other reviews describe a fast and easy claims process.

That said, GEICO scored 871 out of 1,000 in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, slightly below the industry average of 878. But the company earned a superior financial strength rating from AM Best, which indicates a strong ability to pay claims.

Is Progressive better than GEICO?

No company is the single “best” car insurance company. Many factors will affect the rates that you’ll pay, so you should choose an insurer based on your unique needs and budget. That said, Progressive offers more discounts, which provides more savings opportunities for customers. But GEICO offers the cheapest rates overall — across most categories and states.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Rating Methodology:

Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions about their personal finances. Our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary, objective rating formula — the Compare.com Rating — to make it easier for our readers to analyze and compare many of the industry’s most well-known insurers. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:

• Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
• Customer satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
• Ease of use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
• Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
• Industry reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best financial strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.

Sources: 

1. Trustpilot, “GEICO,” accessed June 24, 2024.
2. ConsumerAffairs, “GEICO Reviews,” accessed June 24, 2024.
3. J.D. Power, “Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,” accessed June 24, 2024.