GEICO vs. Progressive: Which Company is Best for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Progressive offers slightly less expensive rates than GEICO
• GEICO has cheaper premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Progressive offers more affordable average prices for couples purchasing car insurance together

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to GEICO or Progressive as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Progressive is about $5 per month cheaper than GEICO.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Progressive will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers 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, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if GEICO or Progressive is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

GEICO or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Progressive compete against each other in 43 states, with GEICO offering less expensive prices to the average driver in 25 of them. If you live in Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, or a few others, Progressive is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use GEICO save more than $80 a month compared to those who use Progressive.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. GEICO's average premiums drop over 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 10% less expensive than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than those who are single. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single policyholders, with rates only differing around $13 per month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

GEICO vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive prices.

On average, women see rates about 4% a month less with GEICO, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 3% less for men and 2% cheaper for women.

GEICO or Progressive: 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 coverages and terms 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 (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, GEICO offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Progressive has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with GEICO, while full coverage comes out to be around $20 more affordable with Progressive.

Is GEICO or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- GEICO or Progressive -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Progressive generally raises rates about $31 per month, on average.

That being said, GEICO has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 23% and 17% cheaper, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by $85, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see around a $65 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from GEICO, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to Progressive's $214.

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. On average, GEICO will climb your prices about 58% after a DUI, while Progressive's average rates climb by over 15%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Progressive tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $177 monthly compared to $275 from GEICO.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Progressive Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers 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 for an "excellent" credit score. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 4% compared to Progressive, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Progressive -- around $7 or 4% more affordable than GEICO each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Progressive typically offers lower premiums than GEICO when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $16 a month less with Progressive compared to GEICO, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $6 per month.

Is GEICO or Progressive 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. Generally, the more miles you drive, 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 Progressive charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for GEICO, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $8 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Progressive is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly insurance cost. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Progressive tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both carriers, but Progressive comes out on top with average premiums around $154 a month. Progressive also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $4 and $6 per month respective difference when compared to GEICO drivers in similar areas.

GEICO vs. Progressive 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging 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 section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both GEICO and Progressive so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. Progressive also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that GEICO does not.

On the flip side, GEICO has a couple unique discounts of its own -- commercial drivers license discounts, deployed driver discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just GEICO and Progressive. 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. Progressive FAQs

Is GEICO or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Progressive is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. But Progressive won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, GEICO or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, GEICO offers cheaper premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Progressive is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do GEICO and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables such as your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both GEICO and Progressive calculate rates using different formulas, 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 multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be GEICO or Progressive 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.