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

Quick Facts

• In general, Selective offers slightly less expensive premiums than GEICO
• GEICO offers more discounts than Selective Insurance
• Selective has cheaper prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to GEICO or Selective, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable rates for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Selective is about $1 per month cheaper than GEICO.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Selective will be the less expensive option for every driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

GEICO or Selective: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Selective only compete against each other in New Jersey, where GEICO offers the cheaper average prices. For New Jersey residents, GEICO offers car insurance for $166 per month on average. Selective's average premiums come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $184 monthly.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their insurance pay more than $75 less than those who use Selective. It's worth noting that GEICO offers auto insurance in 50 different states compared to Selective's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for GEICO policyholders decrease over 55% and Selective's premiums lower nearly 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Selective gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $120 a month compared to GEICO's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one car, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the winner for single drivers, with rates about $10 a month cheaper than Selective, on average.

GEICO vs. Selective: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have a higher chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men normally pay more for insurance than women.

On average, men see prices around 4% per month higher with GEICO, and about 5% with Selective.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, GEICO is the lowest carrier for men. Rates with GEICO are $0 less for men, while women can save around $2 with Selective.

GEICO or Selective: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits 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 (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 -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, GEICO offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Selective has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with GEICO, while full coverage comes out to be about $30 more affordable with Selective Insurance.

Is GEICO or Selective 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Selective usually raises premiums around $76 per month, on average.

But GEICO is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $26 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $67 per month with GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with GEICO climbing by $85. Selective has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay over $20 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Selective, with monthly premiums averaging $162 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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, GEICO increases average rates by more than $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

Selective has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $217 per month, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Selective, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Selective Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate 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 a lot of policyholders.

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, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

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 over 25% compared to Selective, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $16 or 9% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Selective typically offers lower premiums than GEICO when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $14 per month less with Selective compared to GEICO, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $58 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly prices. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Selective charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for GEICO, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $8 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually.

GEICO vs. Selective: 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 substantial impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Selective normally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while GEICO wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Selective Insurance's average rates are about 0% less than GEICO. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 9% less with GEICO compared to Selective. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 13% with Selective compared to GEICO.

GEICO vs. Selective 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.

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 section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by GEICO and Selective so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

GEICO knocks Selective out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Selective's 13.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but GEICO also offers ABS discounts, commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Selective does not.

On the flip side, Selective has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, occasional operator discounts, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Selective Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is GEICO or Selective the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Selective might be best for you if...

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just GEICO and Selective. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Selective FAQs

Is GEICO or Selective cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Selective is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $184 a month compared to $185 for GEICO. However, Selective won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, GEICO or Selective?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, GEICO offers cheaper prices for single drivers, while Selective is less expensive for drivers who have already retired.

Why do GEICO and Selective offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both GEICO and Selective use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

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