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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, GEICO offers significantly less expensive rates than Mendakota
• GEICO offers more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Mendakota has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas

GEICO or Mendakota: 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 big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to GEICO or Mendakota as your top options, but which one has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Mendakota has average rates that are around 24% a month more expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean GEICO will necessarily be cheaper than Mendakota for each driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both GEICO and Mendakota by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

GEICO vs. Mendakota: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Mendakota only compete against each other in Nevada, where GEICO offers the cheaper average prices. GEICO drivers tend to pay about $67 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Mendakota for their insurance.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's because teen 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 insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less a month by choosing GEICO over Mendakota. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Mendakota's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for GEICO policyholders lower about $200 and Mendakota's rates reduce over $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between GEICO and Mendakota? GEICO gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $148 monthly compared to Mendakota's $187.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with GEICO prices coming in at a quarter less than Mendakota's. The advantage for married couples with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save about $55 per month.

GEICO or Mendakota: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men generally pay more for insurance than women do. That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, men see rates around 4% a month higher with GEICO, but with Mendakota, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, GEICO offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $64 less for men and $54 cheaper for women.

GEICO vs. Mendakota: 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 so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, GEICO has the significant edge, with average monthly rates 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 about $269 a month to Mendakota's $316.

Is GEICO or Mendakota Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- GEICO or Mendakota -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use GEICO for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Mendakota policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 8%.

That being said, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are $106 and $90 more affordable, respectively, compared to Mendakota Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with GEICO increasing by around 43%. Mendakota has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, GEICO offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $200 compared to Mendakota Insurance Company's $273.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Mendakota will generally climb premiums by about 8%.

Mendakota has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $241 per month, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Mendakota, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Mendakota Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

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 specifically at Mendakota and GEICO, which carrier has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, GEICO will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, GEICO comes in more than 46.31 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 33% with GEICO compared to average premiums from Mendakota.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 19% less with GEICO than Mendakota, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 4% per month with Mendakota.

Is GEICO or Mendakota 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 sizable impact on your monthly rates? Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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

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

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Mendakota normally comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while GEICO wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $138 a month with Mendakota compared to GEICO's $159. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $176 with Mendakota compared to $185 with GEICO. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GEICO's average premiums are around $211 a month compared to Mendakota's $418.

GEICO vs. Mendakota 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both GEICO and Mendakota so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

GEICO knocks Mendakota out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 23 more discounts than Mendakota.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, paid in full discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but GEICO also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, commercial drivers license, and more.

On the other hand, Mendakota has a proprietary discount of their own -- a homeowner discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Mendakota Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is GEICO or Mendakota the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Mendakota Insurance Company only offers policies in NV.
• You're looking for discounts -- GEICO has the most.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Mendakota might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between GEICO and Mendakota. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just GEICO and Mendakota. 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Mendakota FAQs

Is GEICO or Mendakota cheaper?

GEICO is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $185 per month with GEICO and $244 for Mendakota. However, that doesn't mean GEICO will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Mendakota?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Mendakota is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while GEICO offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do GEICO and Mendakota offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things like gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both GEICO and Mendakota use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

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