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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Partners Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than GEICO
• GEICO offers more discounts than Partners Mutual Insurance
• Partners Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to GEICO or Partners Mutual, but which carrier has more affordable rates for insurance?

As you can see, Partners Mutual has average rates that are about 35% per month less expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, Partners Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

GEICO or Partners Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Partners Mutual only compete against each other in Iowa, where GEICO offers the cheaper average premiums. For Iowa residents, GEICO offers car insurance for $107 per month on average. Partners Mutual's average prices come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $123 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment 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 insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. Usually, that's 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 that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Partners Mutual save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use GEICO. It's worth noting that GEICO offers insurance in 50 different states compared to Partners Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for GEICO policyholders reduce more than $200 and Partners Mutual's rates lower almost $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at GEICO and Partners Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Partners Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 35% cheaper than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are typically more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders? That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $70 per month cheaper than GEICO, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Partners Mutual offers the most affordable average rates.

GEICO vs. Partners Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, men see premiums about $10 a month higher with GEICO, and around $8 more with Partners Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Partners Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $62 per month and men save about $62 with Partners Mutual compared to the average GEICO policyholder.

GEICO or Partners Mutual: 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages 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 bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Partners Mutual generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $52 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Partners Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $75 a month less expensive than GEICO, on average.

Is GEICO or Partners Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $35 per month if they get a ticket, while Partners Mutual typically raises prices about $16 a month, on average.

Even so, Partners Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 31% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 37% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with GEICO climbing by $85. Partners Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay over $35 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Partners Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $115 compared to GEICO's $200.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, GEICO will climb your prices around 58% after a DUI, while Partners Mutual's average premiums rise by over 60%.

Partners Mutual has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $203 monthly, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Partners Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Partners Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for many drivers.

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

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Partners Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 30% compared to GEICO, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $56 or 34% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Partners Mutual typically offers lower rates than GEICO when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $71 per month less with Partners Mutual compared to GEICO, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $87 a month.

Is GEICO or Partners Mutual 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 big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

GEICO vs. Partners Mutual: 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 sizable impact as well. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Partners Mutual usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 26% with Partners Mutual compared to GEICO. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 42% less with Partners Mutual compared to GEICO. In urban areas, Partners Mutual Insurance's average rates are about 32% less than GEICO.

GEICO vs. Partners Mutual 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both GEICO and Partners Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, defensive driver discounts, and more that Partners Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Partners Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and ESC discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Partners Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Partners Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• 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 Partners Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

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

GEICO vs. Partners Mutual FAQs

Is GEICO or Partners Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Partners Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $123 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. However, Partners Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are several different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Partners Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do GEICO and Partners Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as your driving record, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Partners Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO or Partners Mutual 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.