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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, GEICO offers significantly less expensive premiums than Motorists
• GEICO tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Motorists offers more affordable rates for residents in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

GEICO vs. Motorists: 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've maybe even narrowed it down to GEICO or Motorists for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Motorists has average rates that are about 25% per month more expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the cheaper option for each driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your credit score, your driving record, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

GEICO or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Motorists compete against each other in five states, with GEICO offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where GEICO premiums are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance prices at Motorists.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $45 less a month by choosing GEICO over Motorists.

Even so, both carriers will decrease prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for GEICO policyholders lower over 55% and Motorists's premiums drop nearly 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at GEICO and Motorists specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $71 cheaper than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers? That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $66 per month cheaper than Motorists, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save about 30% a month.

GEICO vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

With GEICO, men usually pay almost $10 per month more than women, and more than $10 with Motorists.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, GEICO offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 26% less for men and 26% cheaper for women.

GEICO or Motorists: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple 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.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, GEICO usually offers more affordable rates of $101 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month cheaper than Motorists, on average.

Is GEICO or Motorists Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies 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 collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is GEICO or Motorists more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Motorists normally raises prices about $18 a month, on average.

However, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $54 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $37 a month with GEICO.

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 Motorists will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from GEICO, with monthly rates averaging $200 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Motorists increases average premiums by over $250 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, GEICO tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $275 per month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Motorists Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices 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 GEICO. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 20% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $21 or 11% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower rates than Motorists when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $34 a month less with GEICO compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $176 monthly.

Is GEICO or Motorists 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 your monthly prices. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing 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 less expensive rates than Motorists. GEICO's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 26% more affordable than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about 26% less with GEICO over Motorists.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. 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 road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

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

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $93 with GEICO compared to Motorists. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $30 less with GEICO compared to Motorists. In urban areas, GEICO's average prices are around $75 less than Motorists Insurance Group.

GEICO vs. Motorists Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and 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 find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

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

GEICO knocks Motorists out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Motorists's 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and paid in full discounts. GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, empty nester discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Motorists Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between GEICO and Motorists. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just GEICO and Motorists. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Motorists FAQs

Is GEICO or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, GEICO is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. That being said, GEICO won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, GEICO or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do GEICO and Motorists offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be GEICO or Motorists 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.