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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, GEICO offers significantly less expensive premiums than Southern
• GEICO has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Southern has more affordable premiums in AL, GA, and TN

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering GEICO or Southern as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Southern has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from GEICO.

But that doesn't mean GEICO will necessarily be more affordable than Southern for every single driver. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

GEICO vs. Southern: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Southern only compete against each other in three states, with GEICO offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Tennessee has the most noticable difference, where GEICO prices are $144 more affordable than auto insurance rates at Southern.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's generally because teen 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use GEICO save almost 50% per month compared to those who use Southern. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Southern's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. Southern offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, GEICO still has the cheapest prices at $163 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between GEICO and Southern? GEICO gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 40% less expensive than the national average for Southern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are typically more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several vehicles, which quite a few companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with GEICO prices coming in at about half of Southern's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - GEICO has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

GEICO or Southern: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is usually cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

With GEICO, men typically pay around 4% more a month than women., and more than 10% with Southern.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, GEICO offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $151 per month and women save about $123 with GEICO compared to the average Southern policyholder.

GEICO vs. Southern: 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.

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 for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, GEICO has the significant 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 around $269 a month to Southern's $452.

Is GEICO or Southern Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- GEICO or Southern -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use GEICO for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Southern policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 7%.

Even so, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $101 and $83 cheaper, respectively, compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with GEICO raising by about 43%. Southern has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from GEICO, with average premiums coming in at $200 compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia's $293.

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 a collision. Southern drivers usually see a 61% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while GEICO will normally raise rates by around 58%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Southern Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, GEICO will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, GEICO comes in over 40.18 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 37% with GEICO compared to average prices from Southern.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower premiums than Southern when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 40% per month less with GEICO compared to Southern, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 47% monthly.

Is GEICO or Southern 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

GEICO tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Southern's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 41% more expensive than GEICO. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 44% more with Southern over GEICO.

GEICO or Southern: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, GEICO generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 47% with GEICO compared to Southern. People who live in suburban areas pay about 34% less with GEICO compared to Southern. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, GEICO's average prices are around 46% less than Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

GEICO vs. Southern Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by GEICO and Southern so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

GEICO knocks Southern out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Southern's 20.

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

On the other hand, Southern has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, experienced operator discounts, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Southern Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You're looking for discounts -- GEICO has the most.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Southern might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between GEICO and Southern and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just GEICO and Southern. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Southern FAQs

Is GEICO or Southern cheaper?

GEICO is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $185 a month with GEICO and $322 for Southern. However, that doesn't mean GEICO will be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Southern?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do GEICO and Southern offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables 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 Southern calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't GEICO or Southern 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.