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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Family offers significantly less expensive rates than GEICO
• American Family offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a short commute
• GEICO offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Family or GEICO as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, GEICO is about $45 more per month than American Family.

But that doesn't necessarily mean American Family will be the more affordable option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if American Family or GEICO is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

American Family or GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and GEICO compete against each other in 15 states, with American Family offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $60 less a month by choosing American Family over GEICO.

However, both carriers will drop prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Family policyholders decrease more than 60% and GEICO's prices reduce over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest insurance premiums you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? American Family gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $107 per month compared to GEICO's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married couples usually cover several cars, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, American Family is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $42 per month less expensive than GEICO, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American Family is also obvious, where drivers save almost $50 a month.

American Family vs. GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

Typically, women see prices around $5 per month more affordable with American Family, while with GEICO, the difference is closer to $8 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, American Family offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $46 per month and women save about $43 with American Family compared to the average GEICO policyholder.

American Family or 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, American Family generally offers slightly cheaper rates of $96 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Family again has the edge, with policies around $85 a month more affordable than GEICO, on average.

Is American Family or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is American Family or GEICO less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while GEICO normally raises prices about $35 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, GEICO tends to offer the best premiums at around 3% cheaper, while American Family has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through American Family can expect to see about an $20 -- or around 14% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use GEICO for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $85 (or 43%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

Overall, drivers who use American Family end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $138 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. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will typically climb rates by around 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and GEICO Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, 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 drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American Family 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

American Family tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. American Family's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under 25% less expensive than GEICO. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay nearly 25% less with American Family over GEICO.

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

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

American Family boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but American Family comes out on top with average prices about $121 a month. American Family also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $45 and $51 per month respective difference when compared to GEICO policyholders in similar areas.

American Family vs. GEICO Discounts

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

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

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American Family and GEICO so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

GEICO blows American Family away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than American Family.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers ABS discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, deployed driver discounts, and more that American Family does not.

On the flip side, American Family has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, connect partner discounts, ESC discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or GEICO Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

American Family might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined is only available in.
• You care about discounts (GEICO offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Family and GEICO and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just American Family and GEICO. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Family vs. GEICO FAQs

Is American Family or GEICO cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American Family is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $140 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. Even so, American Family won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, American Family or GEICO?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Family and GEICO offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like age, where you park your vehicle, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Family and GEICO calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American Family or GEICO at all!

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.