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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers significantly less expensive rates than GEICO
• GEICO offers more discounts than General Casualty
• General Casualty offers more affordable average prices for residents of rural areas

GEICO vs. General Casualty: 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 hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to GEICO or General Casualty for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, General Casualty is about $46 per month cheaper than GEICO.

However, General Casualty may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

GEICO or General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and General Casualty compete against each other in seven states, with GEICO offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Arizona, Indiana, or Ohio, GEICO is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. General Casualty is the cheaper option in Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, and Oregon.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to find out 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. It's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save more than $100 a month compared to those who use GEICO.

But both companies will drop premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for GEICO policyholders decrease over $200 and General Casualty's rates lower around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest auto insurance prices 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 insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between GEICO and General Casualty? General Casualty gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $24 less expensive than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance prices than single drivers. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $47 per month cheaper than GEICO, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - General Casualty has the edge when it comes to average rates.

GEICO vs. General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

Women typically pay around 4% a month less than men with GEICO, and about 10% less with General Casualty.

Looking at overall affordability, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $43 less for men and $49 cheaper for women.

GEICO or General Casualty: 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty generally offers more affordable premiums of $82 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $75 per month cheaper than GEICO, on average.

Is GEICO or General Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is GEICO or General Casualty less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $35 a month if they get a ticket, while General Casualty usually raises prices about $43 per month, on average.

Even so, General Casualty tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $25 and $17 more affordable, respectively, compared to GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see around a 40% increase.

Overall, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $146 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 car insurance bill. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will typically climb rates by about 52%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, General Casualty tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $186 a month compared to $275 from GEICO.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and General Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at GEICO and General Casualty specifically, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 20% compared to GEICO, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $46 or 28% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower rates than GEICO when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $58 a month less with General Casualty compared to GEICO, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $58 monthly.

Is GEICO or General Casualty 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 companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

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

GEICO vs. General Casualty: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

General Casualty tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but General Casualty comes out on top with average rates around $131 per month. General Casualty also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 28% and 28% per month respective difference when compared to GEICO policyholders in similar areas.

GEICO vs. General Casualty 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 difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by GEICO and General Casualty so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

GEICO blows General Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to General Casualty's 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and new vehicle discounts. GEICO also offers ABS discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that General Casualty does not.

On the flip side, General Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and occupation discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or General Casualty Best for You?

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

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices rise.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You have a short commute.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- General Casualty only offers policies in eight states.
• You're looking for discounts -- GEICO has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between GEICO and General Casualty 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 companies, not just GEICO and General Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

GEICO vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is GEICO or General Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, General Casualty is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $139 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. That being said, General Casualty won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or General Casualty?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do GEICO and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and General Casualty use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO or General Casualty 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.