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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, GEICO offers significantly less expensive rates than Utica National
• GEICO has more affordable prices for couples purchasing insurance together
• Utica National offers more affordable premiums for residents in New York

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering GEICO or Utica National, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Utica National has average rates that are about 55% per month more expensive than those from GEICO.

But that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the cheaper option for each driver. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

GEICO or Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average rates. For New York residents, Utica National offers insurance for $394 monthly on average. GEICO's average premiums come out to be more expensive, at $401 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 more than $300 a month compared to those who use Utica National. It's worth noting that GEICO offers insurance in 50 different states compared to Utica National's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for GEICO policyholders lower over $200 and Utica National's premiums drop around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at GEICO and Utica National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 55% less expensive than the national average for Utica National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married couples. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $227 per month more affordable than Utica National, on average. The advantage for married drivers with GEICO is also obvious, where drivers save almost $200 a month.

GEICO vs. Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

With GEICO, men generally pay around 4% more per month than women., and about 7% with Utica National.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, GEICO comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $198 a month and men save around $220 with GEICO compared to the average Utica National policyholder.

GEICO or Utica National: 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 insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard 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 their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, GEICO usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $101 compared to Utica National's $197. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies about $300 per month cheaper than Utica National, on average.

Is GEICO or Utica National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is GEICO or Utica National more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $35 a month if they get a ticket, while Utica National normally raises rates around $58 per month, on average.

However, GEICO has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 62% and 59% cheaper, respectively, compared to Utica National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through GEICO can expect to see about an $85 -- or around 43% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Utica National for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $58 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from GEICO, with monthly prices averaging $200 compared to Utica National's $362.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Utica National increases average rates by just under $250 a month -- that's just under a 45% increase.

GEICO has the overall lowest prices 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 one for Utica National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Utica National Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for drivers 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. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 65% compared to Utica National, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $230 or 58% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

GEICO typically offers lower prices than Utica National when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $197 per month less with GEICO compared to Utica National, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $141 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, 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 Utica National charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for GEICO, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $8 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, GEICO is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

GEICO vs. Utica National: 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 sizable impact as well. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

GEICO boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $159 monthly with GEICO compared to Utica National's $333. People in suburban areas pay a monthly price of about $185 with GEICO compared to $316 with Utica National. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GEICO's average rates are around $211 a month compared to Utica National's $533.

GEICO vs. Utica National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

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.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both GEICO and Utica National 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 Utica National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Utica National.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Utica National does not.

On the flip side, Utica National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ESC discounts, greenhouse gas discounts, low mileage discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Utica National Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Utica National might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare GEICO and Utica National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just GEICO and Utica National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Utica National FAQs

Is GEICO or Utica National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, GEICO is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 per month compared to $394 for Utica National. Even so, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are several different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Utica National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do GEICO and Utica National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where you live, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both GEICO and Utica National calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO or Utica National 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.