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

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers significantly cheaper premiums than Pure
• GEICO may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than PURE Insurance
• Pure has less expensive rates in CA

GEICO or Pure: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to GEICO or Pure, but which company has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, Pure has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But GEICO may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, your credit score, where you call home, or even your driving record (among other things), so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

GEICO vs. Pure: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Pure only compete against each other in California, where GEICO offers the cheaper average prices. GEICO drivers tend to pay about $189 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Pure for their insurance.

But there's more to auto insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your rates. 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 out there on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use GEICO save over 50% a month compared to those who use Pure. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Pure's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for GEICO policyholders reduce more than 55% and Pure's premiums decrease over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 35% cheaper than the national average for Pure.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are generally more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with GEICO premiums coming in at about half of Pure's. The advantage for married couples with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save around $100 per month.

GEICO or Pure: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

With GEICO, women usually pay about 4% a month less than men; everyone gets the same monthly premiums regardless of gender with Pure.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, GEICO comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $150 per month and men save around $142 with GEICO compared to the average Pure policyholder.

GEICO vs. Pure: 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 several different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, GEICO has the edge, with average monthly premiums 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 Pure's $528.

Is GEICO or Pure Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- GEICO or Pure -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use GEICO for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Pure policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 28%.

That being said, GEICO is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $87 and $132 more affordable, respectively, compared to PURE Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by $85, while those who have insurance through Pure will see around a $150 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from GEICO, with average prices coming in at $200 compared to PURE Insurance's $352.

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. Pure drivers usually see a 59% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while GEICO will normally increase rates by about 58%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Pure Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have great credit. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save GEICO customers around $35. On the other hand, Pure doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with GEICO. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at GEICO, you may pay about 20% more per month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, because Pure doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better premiums for drivers with bad credit over GEICO.

Is GEICO or Pure Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

GEICO tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. GEICO's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $94 less expensive than Pure. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $198 less with GEICO over Pure.

GEICO or Pure: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

GEICO tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $159 per month with GEICO compared to Pure's $308. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $185 with GEICO compared to Pure's $313 monthly. In urban areas, GEICO's average rates are around $211 while Pure offers prices about $371.

GEICO vs. Pure Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts GEICO and Pure offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

GEICO blows Pure away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Pure's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers discounts for commercial drivers license, COVID-19 relief, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Pure has a proprietary discount of their own -- a occasional operator discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Pure Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Pure might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in CA.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare GEICO and Pure and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just GEICO and Pure. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Pure FAQs

Is GEICO or Pure cheaper?

GEICO is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $185 a month with GEICO and $331 for Pure. But that doesn't mean GEICO will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Pure?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do GEICO and Pure offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors such as age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Pure calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't GEICO or Pure 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.