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

Quick Facts

• In general, Vermont Mutual offers slightly cheaper rates than GEICO
• GEICO may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Vermont Mutual
• Vermont Mutual has more affordable prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

GEICO or Vermont Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to GEICO or Vermont Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, GEICO is around $12 more a month than Vermont Mutual.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Vermont Mutual will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your age, your driving record, or even where you call home (among other things), so rates could change drastically from person to person.

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

GEICO vs. Vermont Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Vermont Mutual compete against each other in four states, with GEICO offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Maine has the most noticable difference, where GEICO prices are $94 less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Vermont Mutual.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, 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 Vermont Mutual for their insurance pay over 7% less than those who use GEICO.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for GEICO policyholders lower more than 55% and Vermont Mutual's rates reduce over 50% 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 most affordable premiums you can find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between GEICO and Vermont Mutual? Vermont Mutual gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $131 per month compared to GEICO's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Vermont Mutual tends to have the cheapest average prices regardless of if you're married or single, with prices around 5% more affordable for those who are single and almost 10% cheaper for married policyholders.

GEICO or Vermont Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

With GEICO, men usually pay about $10 per month more than women, but with Vermont Mutual, the difference is closer to $14 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Vermont Mutual comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates 5% less for men and 8% cheaper for women.

GEICO vs. Vermont Mutual: 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. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Vermont Mutual has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $85. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Vermont Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $261 per month to GEICO's $269.

Is GEICO or Vermont Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use GEICO for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Vermont Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 6%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Vermont Mutual tends to offer the best premiums at about 17% less expensive, while GEICO has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

GEICO drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by $85, while those who have insurance through Vermont Mutual will see around a $25 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Vermont Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $144 compared to GEICO's $200.

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. On average, Vermont Mutual will increase your rates about 62% after a DUI, while GEICO's average premiums climb by nearly 60%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, GEICO tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $275 to Vermont Mutual's $307.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Vermont Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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

Looking at GEICO and Vermont Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Vermont Mutual will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Vermont Mutual comes in more than 20.61 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 26% with Vermont Mutual compared to average premiums from GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 18% less with Vermont Mutual than GEICO, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 13% a month with GEICO.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Vermont Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for GEICO, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $8 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Vermont Mutual is the more affordable carrier.

GEICO or Vermont Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Vermont Mutual typically comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 4% with Vermont Mutual compared to GEICO. People who live in suburban areas pay around 9% less with Vermont Mutual compared to GEICO. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Vermont Mutual's average prices are about 6% less than GEICO.

GEICO vs. Vermont Mutual 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 hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

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

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

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but GEICO also offers discounts for commercial drivers license, COVID-19 relief, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Vermont Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, annual mileage discounts, experienced operator discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is GEICO or Vermont Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is GEICO or Vermont Mutual the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Vermont Mutual might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between GEICO and Vermont Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just GEICO and Vermont Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

GEICO vs. Vermont Mutual FAQs

Is GEICO or Vermont Mutual cheaper?

Vermont Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $173 per month with Vermont Mutual and $185 for GEICO. But that doesn't mean Vermont Mutual will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, GEICO or Vermont Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Vermont Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while GEICO offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do GEICO and Vermont Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors such as gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both GEICO and Vermont Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't GEICO or Vermont Mutual 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.