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

You've probably seen ads offering big savings on car insurance, but are American National or GEICO right for you? Which carrier offers the most affordable prices, or the most discounts? Read on to see how American National and GEICO compare, and to find out which company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your budget.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • In general, American National offers significantly less expensive premiums than GEICO
  • American National offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs
  • GEICO may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than American National Insurance Company


American National or GEICO: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to American National or GEICO as potential options, but which one has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

American National GEICO
$87$185

Looking at nationwide averages, GEICO has average rates that are around 55% a month more expensive than those from American National.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean American National will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American National vs. GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State American National GEICO
CO$87$149
ID$57$110
NE$67$166
PA$133$203
SC$70$127
TN$120$112
WY$78$124

American National and GEICO compete against each other in seven states, with American National offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Nebraska has the most noticable difference, where American National premiums are $99 cheaper than auto insurance prices at GEICO.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

American National GEICO
18-year-old drivers$197$369
25-year-old drivers$74$163

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use American National save over 45% per month compared to those who use GEICO.

That being said, both companies will decrease rates by the time you turn 25. GEICO offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American National still has the cheapest premiums at $74 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

American National GEICO
65+-year-old drivers$66$148

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you can find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between American National and GEICO? American National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 55% more affordable than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

American National GEICO
Single$105$208
Married$64$154

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with American National premiums coming in at about half of GEICO's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - American National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

American National or GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

American National GEICO
Male$88$189
Female$87$181

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With American National, men generally pay around 1% more a month than women., and about 4% with GEICO.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $94 per month and men save around $101 with American National compared to the average GEICO policyholder.


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American National vs. GEICO: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

American National GEICO
State Minimum*$52$101
Full Coverage**$123$269

*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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $52. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $123 a month to GEICO's $269.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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 speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- American National or GEICO -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National GEICO
Clean Record$67$115
1 Speeding Ticket$84$150

Policyholders who use American National for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 20% after getting a speeding ticket. GEICO policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

But American National tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 42% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 44% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American National GEICO
Clean Record$67$115
1 At-Fault Accident$95$200

American National drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under $30, while those who have insurance through GEICO will see around a $85 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper rates come from American National, with average premiums coming in at $95 compared to GEICO's $200.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

American National GEICO
Clean Record$67$115
1 DUI$104$275

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, GEICO will climb your rates about 58% after a DUI, while American National's average prices rise by more than 35%.


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How does Credit Score Impact American National and GEICO Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

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

So, which company offers the most affordable premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

American National GEICO
Excellent Credit Score$51$131
Good Credit Score$66$164

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National GEICO
Fair Credit Score$86$197
Poor Credit Score$147$253

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

American National GEICO
6,000 Annual Miles$83$181
12,000 Annual Miles$92$189

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, American National tends to be the more affordable option. GEICO's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 54% more expensive than American National. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about 51% more with GEICO over American National.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

American National GEICO
Urban Areas$104$211
Suburban Areas$85$185
Rural Areas$73$159

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, American National generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 54% with American National compared to GEICO. People who live in suburban areas pay about 54% less with American National compared to GEICO. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American National Insurance Company's average prices are around 51% less than GEICO.

American National vs. GEICO Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts American National and GEICO offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

American National GEICO
ABS Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Claim Free Discount 
Commercial Drivers License Discount 
Covid-19 Relief Discount
Defensive Driver Discount
Deployed Driver Discount 
Distant Student Discount
Driver Training Discount
DRL Discount 
EFT Discount 
Employee Discount 
Excess Vehicle Discount 
Full Coverage Discount 
Good Driving Discount 
Good Student Discount
Group Discount
Mature Driver Discount
Military Discount 
Multi-Car Discount

GEICO knocks American National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than American National.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and mature driver discounts -- but GEICO also offers discounts for ABS, commercial drivers license, deployed driver, and more.

On the other hand, American National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, excess vehicle discounts, and new business discounts.


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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

  • You have received a ticket within the last few years.
  • Your home is in a busy urban area.
  • You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.


GEICO might be best for you if...

  • You are considering moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
  • You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American National and GEICO. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 National and GEICO. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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American National vs. GEICO FAQs

Is American National or GEICO cheaper?

American National is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $87 per month with American National and $185 for GEICO. However, that doesn't mean American National will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or GEICO?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do American National and GEICO offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things like where your home is, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and GEICO calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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 carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't American National 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.

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