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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Updated
Nationwide and GEICO both rank among the largest auto insurers in the U.S. GEICO focuses on deep discounts and broad availability, while Nationwide offers long-term benefits and better customer service ratings.[1]
Because both perform well compared to other insurers, the best car insurance company for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. Let’s explore how Nationwide and GEICO compare to find out which is the right company for you.
GEICO is available in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Nationwide doesn’t offer coverage in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts.
Both GEICO and Nationwide reward safe driving habits, but Nationwide’s SmartRide advertises more savings.
Nationwide offers gap coverage and a vanishing deductible, but GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance.
While cost is important when choosing an auto insurance company, you should look beyond the lowest price you find. Customer satisfaction, coverage options, policy tools, availability, and reputation are also important factors to consider when choosing an insurer.
Here’s how Nationwide and GEICO stack up across the most important categories, according to Compare.com research.
Category | Nationwide | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 4/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 4.7/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Policy management | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Availability | 4.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Industry reputation | 4.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Overall Score | 4.87/5 | 4.93/5 |
GEICO edges out Nationwide with wider availability and a stronger industry reputation, but Nationwide scores better for customer satisfaction. Both companies score well in policy management. The difference between the two comes down to cost, coverage options, and where you live.
Our editorial team analyzes and grades each insurer based on factors like its average rates, customer reviews, policy management features, availability, industry standing, and more. This includes countless hours of research and in-depth analysis of millions of auto insurance quotes from real Compare.com customers.
We grade each factor on a weighted five-point scale to determine an insurer’s proprietary Compare.com Rating, which highlights its overall standing among the industry’s best companies.
| User Reviews | 3.1 |
|---|
Nationwide's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.4 | 2.9 |
Nationwide tends to reward loyal customers better than GEICO. Nationwide has fewer up-front discounts but offers more value the longer you stay claims-free. For example, Nationwide gives you the option to add gap insurance — something GEICO doesn’t offer.
You can choose a vanishing deductible to save $100 for each year of safe driving, up to a total of $500. Plus, accident forgiveness can protect against rate increases after an at-fault accident.
More coverage options available
Excellent claims service
Easy policy management
Not available everywhere
Rates may be higher for some drivers
Weaker industry reputation
| User Reviews | 3.9 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4.6 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $81/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $147/mo |
GEICO's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 4.3 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.3 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.4 | 2.9 |
Drivers appreciate the easy communication and good customer service, but many are unhappy with the regular and significant price increases.
GEICO focuses on simplicity and accessibility. It offers car insurance in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. You can also access proof of insurance and get roadside assistance through the GEICO mobile app.
Like Nationwide, GEICO offers accident forgiveness. But GEICO offers more discounts to new customers, such as for paperless billing or owning a home.
More discounts available
Federal employee and military benefits
Available everywhere
Gap insurance not available
Lower claims satisfaction rating
Few optional coverages available
Get rates from GEICO, Nationwide, and other top insurers.
Your auto insurance rate depends on many factors, including your age, driving record, credit history, and location.[2] Insurers weigh each factor a little differently, so the cheapest company for one driver might be more expensive for another. That’s why comparing auto insurance rates is one of the easiest ways to get the best deal on a policy.
The table below shows how GEICO’s and Nationwide’s average car insurance rates compare for different drivers, according to Compare.com data.
Driver Type | Nationwide | GEICO | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| All drivers | $187 | $147 | $183 |
| Teens | $387 | $263 | $342 |
| Seniors | $125 | $107 | $159 |
| Recent ticket | $250 | $201 | $237 |
| Recent accident | $258 | $194 | $244 |
| DUI conviction | $270 | $210 | $264 |
| Poor credit | $229 | $180 | $224 |
Each state has its own minimum coverage requirements for car insurance, which affect your rates. Repair costs and local risk factors also influence your premiums.
The table below lists Nationwide’s and GEICO’s average full-coverage car insurance rates by state, according to our data.
State | Nationwide | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $167 | $147 |
| Alaska | N/A | $127 |
| Arizona | $306 | $175 |
| Arkansas | $202 | $136 |
| California | $425 | $193 |
| Colorado | $213 | $197 |
| Connecticut | $362 | $210 |
| Delaware | $366 | $218 |
| Florida | N/A | $209 |
| Georgia | $353 | $285 |
| Hawaii | N/A | $117 |
| Idaho | $169 | $91 |
| Illinois | $196 | $145 |
| Indiana | $229 | $97 |
| Iowa | $157 | $90 |
| Kansas | $238 | $159 |
| Kentucky | $357 | $188 |
| Louisiana | N/A | $198 |
| Maine | N/A | $97 |
| Maryland | $591 | $279 |
| Massachusetts | N/A | $132 |
| Michigan | $240 | $250 |
| Minnesota | $178 | $170 |
| Mississippi | $142 | $144 |
| Missouri | $319 | $198 |
| Montana | N/A | $138 |
| Nebraska | $195 | $135 |
| Nevada | $343 | $246 |
| New Hampshire | $279 | $104 |
| New Jersey | N/A | $296 |
| New Mexico | $291 | $148 |
| New York | $216 | $222 |
| North Carolina | $104 | $118 |
| North Dakota | N/A | $96 |
| Ohio | $115 | $98 |
| Oklahoma | N/A | $170 |
| Oregon | $202 | $139 |
| Pennsylvania | $204 | $159 |
| Rhode Island | $361 | $301 |
| South Carolina | $188 | $165 |
| South Dakota | $180 | $137 |
| Tennessee | $250 | $134 |
| Texas | $247 | $190 |
| Utah | $184 | $132 |
| Vermont | $140 | $103 |
| Virginia | $188 | $184 |
| Washington | $181 | $154 |
| Washington, D.C. | $599 | $295 |
| West Virginia | $176 | $142 |
| Wisconsin | $132 | $90 |
| Wyoming | N/A | $89 |
Most car insurance policies include the same basic protections, like bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. But the additional coverage options companies offer can make a difference when calculating your costs.
The table below lists the coverages Nationwide and GEICO offer, according to information available on each insurer’s website.
You’ll find more optional coverages with Nationwide, like new vehicle replacement, vanishing deductible, and gap insurance. But GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), which Nationwide doesn’t have. MBI acts like an extended warranty, covering repairs if your car breaks down or needs replacement parts.
Besides maintaining a clean driving record, discounts are a quick way to reduce your car insurance premiums. Discounts vary by insurer and include everything from being a safe driver to bundling your home and auto insurance.
Let’s explore the car insurance discounts Nationwide and GEICO offer in the table below, according to publicly available information.
Discount Type | Nationwide | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity | ✔ | |
| Anti-theft | ✔ | ✔ |
| Automatic payments | ✔ | ✔ |
| Customer loyalty | ✔ | |
| Defensive driver | ✔ | ✔ |
| Good student | ✔ | ✔ |
| Early shopper | ✔ | |
| Federal employee | ✔ | |
| Homeowner | ✔ | |
| Low mileage | ✔ | |
| Military | ✔ | |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-vehicle | ✔ | ✔ |
| New car | ✔ | |
| Paperless billing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Paid-in-full | ✔ | |
| Safe driver | ✔ | ✔ |
| Safety equipment | ✔ | |
| Student away at school | ✔ | |
| Usage-based/telematics | ✔ | ✔ |
GEICO offers 19 discounts — nearly twice as many as Nationwide. With GEICO, you’ll find discounts for military and federal employees, getting an advanced quote, and paying your auto policy in full. But Nationwide has more options for loyal customers and has a higher-rated usage-based insurance program.
Any car insurance company can say it’s the best. But reviews give you an idea of how an insurer actually treats its customers. Pay attention to how each company handles the claims process and communicates with customers.
If you’re curious how real Nationwide and GEICO customers feel about their coverage, check out recent reviews from Compare.com users below.
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Usage-based insurance (UBI) programs track your driving and reward safe habits with discounts. UBI programs usually use a smartphone app or a small plug-in device to collect information about how you drive, like your speed, braking patterns, and phone use.
Both Nationwide SmartRide and GEICO DriveEasy use a mobile app to track your driving. Nationwide gives you an automatic 15% discount for signing up and calculates your savings after collecting about 80 days’ worth of data. The company advertises potential savings of up to 40%.
You don’t get an enrollment discount when you sign up for GEICO’s DriveEasy program. Like SmartRide, DriveEasy analyzes your driving behavior, and safe habits can save you money when your policy renews. GEICO advertises savings of up to 15% with DriveEasy.
Get quotes from 100+ top insurers and save money in seconds.
Below, you’ll find answers to some of the questions drivers ask most when choosing between Nationwide and GEICO.
It depends. GEICO is available in more states and offers more discounts. But Nationwide has higher customer satisfaction ratings and offers perks for long-term policyholders, like a vanishing deductible. The right company for you depends on where you live, your budget, and your coverage needs.
The right company for you depends on your priorities, budget, and coverage preferences. Some insurers have low rates but don’t offer many optional coverages. Other companies might be more expensive but have more discounts to help you save money. Comparing rates is the easiest way to find the best car insurance company for you.
Nationwide tends to have lower average rates than GEICO, according to Compare.com data. But car insurance rates depend on several factors. Your driving habits, age, location, and the coverage you choose can all affect how much you pay.
The No. 1 insurance company in the U.S. depends on how you measure it. If you care about a company’s track record, State Farm has been around since 1922 and is the largest insurer in the U.S. But COUNTRY Financial tends to have some of the cheapest average rates. And Erie Insurance ranks No. 1 for claims handling, according to J.D. Power.[3]
GEICO car insurance costs an average of $114 per month, according to Compare.com data. But how much you pay for car insurance depends on factors like where you live, your driving record, and the coverage you choose.
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.
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Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
