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

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Auto
• GEICO tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• GEICO offers less expensive average prices for residents of rural areas

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to GEICO or State Auto for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, State Auto has average rates that are about 30% per month more expensive than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But GEICO may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of GEICO or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

GEICO or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and State Auto compete against each other in nine states, with GEICO offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where GEICO prices are over 70% cheaper than car insurance rates at State Auto.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers determine your prices. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their auto insurance pay more than $350 less than those who use State Auto.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, GEICO still has the cheapest prices at $163 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates out there. 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 carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $19 less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $119 a month cheaper than State Auto, on average. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - GEICO offers the most affordable average premiums.

GEICO vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Usually, men see prices about 4% per month higher with GEICO, while with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, GEICO offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $82 less for men and $66 cheaper for women.

GEICO or State 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, GEICO generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $101 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month less expensive than State Auto, on average.

Is GEICO or State Auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty 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 State Auto normally raises prices about $48 per month, on average.

That being said, GEICO is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are $55 and $68 less expensive, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through GEICO can expect to see around an $85 -- or about 43% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use State Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from GEICO, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 ticket or even an accident. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while GEICO will usually climb prices by about 58%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, GEICO tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $275 a month compared to $380 from State Auto.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and State Auto Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking specifically at GEICO and State Auto, which company has the cheapest prices for drivers 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. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 30% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $64 or 28% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower rates than State Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $65 a month less with GEICO compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $100 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance payment. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for GEICO, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car every year paying about $8 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, GEICO is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

GEICO vs. State Auto: 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 big impact as well. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, GEICO typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but GEICO comes out on top with average rates around $159 a month. GEICO also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 33% and 22% per month respective difference when compared to State Auto policyholders in similar areas.

GEICO vs. State Auto Discounts

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

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts GEICO and State Auto offer their customers 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 blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, deployed driver discounts, DRL discounts, and more that State Auto does not.

On the flip side, State Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, is GEICO or State Auto the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between GEICO and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 multiple carriers, not just GEICO and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. State Auto FAQs

Is GEICO or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, GEICO is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 a month compared to $259 for State Auto. However, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do GEICO and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as where your home is, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and State Auto calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 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 State 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.