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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, GEICO offers significantly more affordable premiums than Personal Service
• GEICO offers more discounts than Personal Service Insurance Company
• Personal Service offers more affordable prices for residents in New Jersey

GEICO vs. Personal Service: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? 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 Personal Service as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, GEICO has average rates that are about 45% per month less expensive than those from Personal Service.

However, GEICO may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

GEICO or Personal Service: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Personal Service only compete against each other in New Jersey, where GEICO offers the cheaper average prices. For New Jersey residents, GEICO offers auto insurance for $166 monthly on average. Personal Service's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $325 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use GEICO save more than $250 a month compared to those who use Personal Service. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Personal Service's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. Personal Service offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, GEICO still has the lowest premiums at $163 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at GEICO and Personal Service specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $148 a month compared to Personal Service's $231.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper insurance rates than those who are single. That's normally because married policyholders 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 single drivers, with premiums about $162 per month more affordable than Personal Service, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - GEICO has the edge when it comes to average rates.

GEICO vs. Personal Service: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With GEICO, men generally pay nearly $10 a month more than women, and over $45 with Personal Service.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, GEICO comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums $159 less for men and $121 cheaper for women.

GEICO or Personal Service: 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, GEICO normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $101 compared to Personal Service's $228. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month cheaper than Personal Service, on average.

Is GEICO or Personal Service Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates 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 collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- GEICO or Personal Service -- has the cheapest prices 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 a month if they get a ticket, while Personal Service typically raises premiums about $35 per month, on average.

Even so, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $143 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $143 per month with GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Personal Service will see around a 25% increase.

Overall, drivers who use GEICO end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $200 compared to Personal Service Insurance Company's $348.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, GEICO increases average premiums by over $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

GEICO has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $275 monthly, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Personal Service, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Personal Service Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at GEICO and Personal Service, which carrier has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with GEICO. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 50% compared to Personal Service, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $148 or 47% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower prices than Personal Service when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $148 per month less with GEICO compared to Personal Service, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $127 per month.

Is GEICO or Personal Service 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

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

GEICO vs. Personal Service: 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 substantial impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

GEICO tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GEICO offers rates about $211 a month compared to Personal Service's $402. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $185 a month for GEICO and $355 for Personal Service. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $159 and $217 for GEICO and Personal Service respectively.

GEICO vs. Personal Service Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts GEICO and Personal Service 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 Personal Service out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Personal Service.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but GEICO also offers ABS discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Personal Service does not.

On the flip side, Personal Service has a couple unique discounts of its own -- cellphone safety discounts, good payer discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Personal Service 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. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best fit for you?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Personal Service Insurance Company is only available in New Jersey.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Personal Service might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: New Jersey.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between GEICO and Personal Service and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 a handful of carriers, not just GEICO and Personal Service. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Personal Service FAQs

Is GEICO or Personal Service cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, GEICO is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 per month compared to $325 for Personal Service. However, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, GEICO or Personal Service?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do GEICO and Personal Service offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as where you call home, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Personal Service calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO or Personal Service 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.