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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers slightly less expensive rates than GEICO
• American Select offers more affordable prices for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself
• GEICO has more affordable rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record

American Select vs. GEICO: 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 big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Select or GEICO, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, American Select is about $15 per month more affordable than GEICO when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, American Select may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select or GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and GEICO compete against each other in six states, with GEICO offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Michigan has the most noticable difference, where American Select premiums are over 70% less expensive than car insurance prices at GEICO.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any group on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American Select for their car insurance pay nearly $60 less than those who use GEICO.

Even so, both carriers will decrease premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders reduce more than 45% and GEICO's prices lower over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at American Select and GEICO specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? American Select gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $136 a month compared to GEICO's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are normally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples usually cover several cars, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

If you're in the market for insurance, American Select tends to have the most affordable average premiums regardless of relationship status, with prices more than $10 cheaper for married drivers and about $15 more affordable for single policyholders.

American Select vs. GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, women see rates around $1 a month less expensive with American Select, and about $8 less with GEICO.

Looking at overall affordability, American Select offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $11 per month and men save around $18 with American Select compared to the average GEICO policyholder.

American Select 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 can be pretty complicated. There are a variety of 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.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury 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 insurance, American Select typically offers more affordable rates of $90 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies about $20 a month less expensive than GEICO, on average.

Is American Select 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Select policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $32 per month if they get a ticket, while GEICO generally raises prices around $35 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, GEICO tends to offer the best premiums at about 2% cheaper, while American Select has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over 25%, while those who have insurance through GEICO will see around a 45% increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from American Select, with monthly premiums averaging $158 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 auto insurance bill. For example, GEICO increases average prices by over $150 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and GEICO Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders 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 Select or GEICO Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

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

American Select vs. 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 sizable impact as well. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, American Select typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American Select's average rates are around $205 while GEICO offers premiums about $211. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $150 with American Select compared to $185 with GEICO. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $156 per month with American Select and $159 with GEICO.

American Select 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 where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American Select and GEICO so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

GEICO blows American Select away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to American Select's 20.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that American Select does not.

On the flip side, American Select has a couple unique discounts of its own -- account relationship discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right fit for you?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

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're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just American Select and GEICO. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. 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.

American Select vs. GEICO FAQs

Is American Select or GEICO cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American Select is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. That being said, American Select won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or GEICO?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, American Select offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while GEICO is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do American Select and GEICO offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Select and GEICO use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Select 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.