GEICO vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers cheaper premiums than Main Street America
• GEICO has more affordable rates for couples purchasing car insurance together
• Main Street America offers more affordable premiums for residents in New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont

GEICO vs. Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to GEICO or Main Street America for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Main Street America has average rates that are about 19% per month more expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't mean GEICO will necessarily be less expensive than Main Street America for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and all sorts 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 Main Street America is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

GEICO or Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Main Street America compete against each other in five states, with Main Street America offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in New York or Rhode Island, Main Street America is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. GEICO is the less expensive option in South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their auto insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Main Street America.

But both companies will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, GEICO still has the most affordable prices at $163 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between GEICO and Main Street America? GEICO gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $148 monthly compared to Main Street America's $181.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something several insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $57 a month cheaper than Main Street America, on average. The advantage for married drivers with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 15% per month.

GEICO vs. Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

With GEICO, women generally pay almost $10 a month less than men, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, women usually pay around $6 per month more than men.

Looking at overall affordability, GEICO comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $35 a month and women save about $49 with GEICO compared to the average Main Street America policyholder.

GEICO or Main Street America: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for a bunch 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage 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 what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, GEICO typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $101 compared to Main Street America's $159. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $25 per month more affordable than Main Street America, on average.

Is GEICO or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which company -- GEICO or Main Street America -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $35 a month if they get a ticket, while Main Street America normally raises rates about $61 per month, on average.

That being said, GEICO has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $60 and $86 more affordable, respectively, compared to Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by $85, while those who have insurance through Main Street America will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, GEICO offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to Main Street America Insurance's $215.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, GEICO will raise your prices about 58% after a DUI, while Main Street America's average premiums rise by just under 40%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, GEICO tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $275 a month compared to $283 from Main Street America.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Main Street America Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies 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 rates.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Main Street America. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to GEICO, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $27 or 16% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $18 less with Main Street America than GEICO, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $231 a month with GEICO.

Is GEICO or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your car, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, GEICO offers cheaper rates than Main Street America. GEICO average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $45 more affordable than Main Street America. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay $40 less with GEICO over Main Street America.

GEICO vs. Main Street America: 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. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, GEICO offers premiums about $211 monthly compared to Main Street America's $264. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $185 per month for GEICO and $230 for Main Street America. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $159 and $188 for GEICO and Main Street America respectively.

GEICO vs. Main Street America Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts GEICO and Main Street America offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

GEICO knocks Main Street America out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Main Street America.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for being a good driver. GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Main Street America does not.

On the flip side, Main Street America has a couple unique discounts of its own -- good payer discounts, new business discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Main Street America Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You are considering moving to another state -- Main Street America Insurance only offers policies in five states.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in NY, RI, SC, VA, and VT.
• Your credit score is high.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare GEICO and Main Street America. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just GEICO and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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. Main Street America FAQs

Is GEICO or Main Street America cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, GEICO is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $185 a month compared to $227 for Main Street America. However, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Main Street America?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, GEICO offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Main Street America is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do GEICO and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as age, gender, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both GEICO and Main Street America calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if GEICO or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO or Main Street America 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.