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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, GEICO offers more affordable rates than Safe Auto
• GEICO has less expensive prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Safe Auto offers cheaper average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to GEICO or Safe Auto for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, GEICO has average rates that are about 17% per month less expensive than those from Safe Auto.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both GEICO and Safe Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

GEICO or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Safe Auto compete against each other in 13 states, with GEICO offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all but two of them. If you live in Louisiana or Mississippi, Safe Auto is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their car insurance pay nearly $75 less than those who use Safe Auto.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for GEICO policyholders decrease more than 55% and Safe Auto's rates lower over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at GEICO and Safe Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $31 more affordable than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $51 a month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save more than 10% per month.

GEICO vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men generally pay almost $10 a month more than women with GEICO, and over $15 with Safe Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, GEICO comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates 18% less for men and 15% cheaper for women.

GEICO or Safe Auto: 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. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, GEICO usually offers more affordable prices of $101 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies about $50 per month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average.

Is GEICO or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 premiums, but which carrier -- GEICO or Safe Auto -- has the most affordable 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 Safe Auto generally raises prices around $40 per month, on average.

However, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $65 and $70 less expensive, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by $85, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see about a $65 increase.

Overall, drivers who use GEICO end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $200 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Safe Auto will typically raise rates by around 27%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Safe Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $245 a month compared to $275 from GEICO.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking at GEICO and Safe Auto specifically, which company 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 just under 30% compared to Safe Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $58 or 26% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $33 less with GEICO than Safe Auto, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $1 a month with Safe Auto.

Is GEICO or Safe Auto 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 large impact on your monthly car insurance bill? Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper 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 Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for GEICO, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $8 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, GEICO is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

GEICO boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but GEICO comes out on top with average rates about $159 per month. GEICO also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 22% and 8% per month respective difference when compared to Safe Auto drivers in similar areas.

GEICO vs. Safe Auto 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 hard 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 Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

GEICO blows Safe Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Safe Auto's 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, military discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. GEICO also offers ABS discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Safe Auto does not.

On the flip side, Safe Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is GEICO or Safe Auto the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare GEICO and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just GEICO and Safe Auto. 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is GEICO or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, GEICO is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. Even so, GEICO won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, 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 Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, GEICO offers cheaper premiums for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Safe Auto is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do GEICO and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both GEICO and Safe Auto calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

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