AFR vs. GEICO: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, AFR offers significantly less expensive rates than GEICO
• AFR offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders who live in urban areas
• GEICO may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than AFR Insurance

AFR or GEICO: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to AFR or GEICO for your next policy, but between the two, which company has more affordable rates for insurance?

As you can see, AFR has average rates that are around 25% a month cheaper than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean AFR will necessarily be more affordable than GEICO for each driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both AFR and GEICO by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

AFR vs. GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AFR and GEICO only compete against each other in Oklahoma, where AFR offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have AFR for their auto insurance pay over 45% less than those who use GEICO.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for AFR policyholders reduce about $60 and GEICO's rates lower around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? AFR gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $24 less expensive than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with AFR premiums coming in at a quarter less than GEICO's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - AFR has the edge when it comes to average rates.

AFR or GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

On average, women see prices about $4 a month more affordable with AFR, but with GEICO, the difference is closer to $8 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, AFR offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average prices 26% less for men and 25% cheaper for women.

AFR vs. GEICO: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, AFR has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, AFR again has the edge, with policies averaging around $209 a month to GEICO's $269.

Is AFR or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use AFR for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. GEICO policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 23%.

Even so, AFR is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records. With AFR Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $17 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $17 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through AFR can expect to see about an $0 -- or around 0% -- rise in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use GEICO for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $85 (or 43%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from AFR, with average premiums coming in at $98 compared to GEICO's $200.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. On average, GEICO will climb your prices around 58% after a DUI, while AFR's average premiums increase by more than 55%.

How does Credit Score Impact AFR and GEICO Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

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

Looking at AFR and GEICO specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is AFR or GEICO 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 insurance payment. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much AFR charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for GEICO, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying about $8 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, AFR is the less expensive carrier.

AFR or GEICO: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

AFR tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $109 a month with AFR and $159 with GEICO. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $139 with AFR compared to GEICO's $185 monthly. In urban areas, AFR's average premiums are around $163 per month compared to GEICO's $211.

AFR vs. GEICO Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both AFR and GEICO so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

GEICO knocks AFR out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to AFR's 28.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but GEICO also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, commercial drivers license, and more.

On the other hand, AFR has a few proprietary discounts of their own like good payer discounts and new business discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AFR or GEICO Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is AFR or GEICO the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

AFR might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- GEICO has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between AFR and GEICO and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just AFR and GEICO. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AFR vs. GEICO FAQs

Is AFR or GEICO cheaper?

AFR is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $137 a month with AFR and $185 for GEICO. That being said, that doesn't mean AFR will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, AFR or GEICO?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do AFR and GEICO offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Things such as gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both AFR and GEICO calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't AFR or GEICO at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.