GEICO vs. Allstate: Which Company is Best for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers slightly cheaper premiums than Allstate
• GEICO tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Allstate offers cheaper average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

Are you in the market for a new auto insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to GEICO or Allstate as your top options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable rates?

As you can see, GEICO is about $14 per month less expensive than Allstate when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean GEICO will necessarily be cheaper than Allstate for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

GEICO or Allstate: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Allstate compete against each other in 46 states, with GEICO offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all but seven of them. If you live in Georgia, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, or Vermont, Allstate is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to auto insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your rates. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their auto insurance pay nearly $80 less than those who use Allstate.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for GEICO policyholders reduce more than $200 and Allstate's premiums lower almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? GEICO gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $148 per month compared to Allstate's $152. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your driving record.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance rates than single drivers. If you're in the market for car insurance, GEICO tends to have the lowest average premiums regardless of relationship status, with prices nearly 10% less expensive for those who are single and about 1% cheaper for married drivers.

GEICO vs. Allstate: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men usually pay more for insurance than women.

Normally, women see prices almost $10 a month less expensive with GEICO, and around $9 less with Allstate.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, GEICO comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $14 per month and women save about $13 with GEICO compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

GEICO or Allstate: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a variety of different coverages that account for lots of 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 (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, GEICO typically offers slightly more affordable prices of $101 compared to Allstate's $108. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $20 a month cheaper than Allstate, on average.

Is GEICO or Allstate Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $35 per month if they get a ticket, while Allstate generally raises premiums about $27 a month, on average.

But GEICO is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $41 and $33 more affordable, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Allstate will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from GEICO, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to Allstate's $229.

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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Allstate will generally raise rates by about 31%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Allstate tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $227 monthly compared to $275 from GEICO.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Allstate Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at GEICO and Allstate, which carrier has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with GEICO. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Allstate, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $8 or 5% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower rates than Allstate when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $6 per month less with GEICO compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $22 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

GEICO tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. GEICO average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $15 less expensive than Allstate. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than $10 less with GEICO over Allstate.

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

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, GEICO normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but GEICO comes out on top with average premiums about $159 per month. GEICO also has cheaper average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $11 and $14 a month respective difference when compared to Allstate drivers in similar areas.

GEICO vs. Allstate Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing 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 company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts GEICO and Allstate offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Allstate knocks GEICO out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than GEICO.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Allstate also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, and more that GEICO does not.

On the flip side, GEICO has a couple unique discounts of its own -- commercial drivers license discounts, deployed driver discounts, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Allstate Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

GEICO is best for you if....

• You already have a great credit score.
• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Allstate is best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Allstate has the most.
• You live in Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, or New York.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just GEICO and Allstate. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Allstate FAQs

Is GEICO or Allstate cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, GEICO is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 per month compared to $199 for Allstate.

Who is better, GEICO or Allstate?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends." One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Allstate offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while GEICO is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do GEICO and Allstate offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both GEICO and Allstate calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if GEICO or Allstate 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 do all the hard work for you. 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 rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be GEICO or Allstate at all!

Methodology

All data in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of data to determine all of the average rates referenced above. All data is reported by each carrier to statewide insurance bureaus and is up-to-date as of July 1, 2021.