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

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers significantly cheaper rates than Esurance
• GEICO has more affordable prices for policyholders who live in urban areas
• GEICO tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of suburban areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Esurance or GEICO as your top options, but which company has cheaper premiums for insurance?

As you can see, GEICO has average rates that are around 40% a month less expensive than those from Esurance when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Esurance or GEICO is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Esurance vs. GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and GEICO compete against each other in 11 states, with GEICO offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average prices, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 almost 50% less per month by choosing GEICO over Esurance.

That being said, both carriers will decrease prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Esurance policyholders reduce about $500 and GEICO's prices drop around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Esurance and GEICO specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $84 more affordable than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married couples having several vehicles on their policy -- something many car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with GEICO prices coming in at about half of Esurance's. The advantage for married policyholders with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save over $60 a month.

Esurance or GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men normally pay around $20 per month more than women with Esurance, and about $8 more with GEICO.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, GEICO comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates $120 less for men and $107 cheaper for women.

Esurance 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are many different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, GEICO has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $101. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies averaging around $269 a month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Esurance or GEICO -- has the lowest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Esurance for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. GEICO policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 23%.

Even so, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $127 and $137 cheaper, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Esurance drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through GEICO will see about a 45% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from GEICO, with average rates coming in at $200 compared to Esurance's $364.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, GEICO increases average premiums by more than $150 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and GEICO Rates?

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

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at Esurance and GEICO specifically, which carrier has the best premiums 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 Esurance or GEICO Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

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

GEICO tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. GEICO average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $100 more affordable than Esurance. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than $100 less with GEICO over Esurance.

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

Where you live can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

GEICO boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $52 with GEICO compared to Esurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $103 less with GEICO compared to Esurance. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GEICO's average rates are around $185 less than Esurance.

Esurance 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Esurance and GEICO offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, GEICO has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Esurance offers a grand total of 24 discounts, while GEICO has 28.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and mature driver discounts -- but GEICO also offers discounts for commercial drivers license, COVID-19 relief, deployed driver, and more.

On the other hand, Esurance has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, education discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or GEICO Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Esurance or GEICO the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your rates.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and GEICO and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Esurance and GEICO. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. GEICO FAQs

Is Esurance or GEICO cheaper?

GEICO is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $185 a month with GEICO and $299 for Esurance. That being said, that doesn't mean GEICO will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Esurance 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 auto insurance profile.

Why do Esurance and GEICO offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Esurance 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 a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Esurance 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.