GEICO vs. Wawanesa: Which Company is Best for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Wawanesa offers significantly more affordable rates than GEICO
• GEICO tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Wawanesa offers more affordable prices for residents of rural areas

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GEICO vs. Wawanesa: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to GEICO or Wawanesa as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Wawanesa has average rates that are about 45% per month cheaper than those from GEICO.

However, Wawanesa may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both GEICO and Wawanesa by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

GEICO or Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Wawanesa only compete against each other in California, where Wawanesa offers the cheaper average premiums. For California residents, Wawanesa offers car insurance for $104 a month on average. GEICO's average prices come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $142 monthly.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $200 less a month by choosing Wawanesa over GEICO. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Wawanesa's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Wawanesa offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. GEICO's average rates drop more than 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at GEICO and Wawanesa specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Wawanesa gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 40% less expensive than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one car, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Wawanesa is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $89 per month cheaper than GEICO, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Wawanesa is also obvious, where drivers save almost 45% a month.

GEICO vs. Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

With GEICO, women usually pay nearly $10 per month less than men; and with Wawanesa, everyone ends up paying the same monthly rates regardless of gender.

Looking at overall affordability, Wawanesa comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $85 a month and women save about $77 with Wawanesa compared to the average GEICO policyholder.

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GEICO or Wawanesa: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Wawanesa generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $64 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Wawanesa again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month more affordable than GEICO, on average.

Is GEICO or Wawanesa Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- GEICO or Wawanesa -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $35 a month if they get a ticket, while Wawanesa typically raises rates about $31 per month, on average.

Even so, Wawanesa tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 36% and 30% cheaper, respectively, compared to GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Wawanesa will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Wawanesa end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $113 compared to GEICO's $200.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, GEICO will raise your prices about 58% after a DUI, while Wawanesa's average premiums increase by over 40%.

Wawanesa has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $125 per month, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Wawanesa, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Wawanesa Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Normally, if you have stellar credit, you can expect to be rewarded. With GEICO, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will typically save you around 20%. Wawanesa, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with GEICO. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at GEICO, you may pay about 20% a month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, Wawanesa doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit could find better rates with Wawanesa over GEICO.

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Is GEICO or Wawanesa Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Wawanesa offers less expensive rates than GEICO. GEICO's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 45% more expensive than Wawanesa. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay over 40% more with GEICO over Wawanesa.

GEICO vs. Wawanesa: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Wawanesa tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Wawanesa comes out on top with average rates around $95 a month. Wawanesa also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 46% and 43% per month respective difference when compared to GEICO policyholders in similar areas.

GEICO vs. Wawanesa Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by GEICO and Wawanesa so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

GEICO knocks Wawanesa out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 more discounts than Wawanesa.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver and mature driver discounts. GEICO also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, and more that Wawanesa does not.

Wawanesa's discounts come through just two categories -- Good Driving and Mature Driver.

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Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Wawanesa Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You have below-average credit.
• You have above-average credit.
• You care about discounts (GEICO offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between GEICO and Wawanesa. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just GEICO and Wawanesa. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

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GEICO vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is GEICO or Wawanesa cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Wawanesa is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $104 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. That being said, Wawanesa won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, GEICO or Wawanesa?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Wawanesa offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while GEICO is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do GEICO and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Wawanesa calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if GEICO or Wawanesa is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be GEICO or Wawanesa at all!

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Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.