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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western National offers cheaper prices than GEICO
• GEICO may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas

GEICO or Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to GEICO or Western National as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable prices?

As you can see, GEICO has average rates that are around 17% a month more expensive than those from Western National when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Western National will necessarily be less expensive than GEICO for every single driver. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of GEICO or Western National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

GEICO vs. Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

GEICO and Western National compete against each other in four states, with GEICO offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Iowa or Wisconsin, GEICO is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Western National is the less expensive option in Minnesota and South Dakota.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save almost 15% per month compared to those who use GEICO.

But both carriers will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Western National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. GEICO's average prices reduce over 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between GEICO and Western National? Western National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $39 cheaper than the national average for GEICO.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Western National premiums coming in at about 15% less than GEICO's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Western National offers the most affordable average prices.

GEICO or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

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

With GEICO, men usually pay around 4% more a month than women., but with Western National, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $28 a month and women save about $34 with Western National compared to the average GEICO policyholder.

GEICO vs. Western 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms 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 passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western National has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $60. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies averaging around $248 per month to GEICO's $269.

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

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

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is GEICO or Western National more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but GEICO policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about a quarter.

However, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are $39 and $4 less expensive, respectively, compared to Western National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through GEICO can expect to see around an $85 -- or about 43% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Western National for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $0 (or 0%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, Western National offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $154 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 ticket or even an accident. On average, GEICO will raise your prices about 58% after a DUI, while Western National's average premiums increase by 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Western National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $154 to GEICO's $275.

How does Credit Score Impact GEICO and Western National Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

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

Looking at GEICO and Western National specifically, which carrier has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Western National will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in more than 46.56 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 30% with Western National compared to average prices 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 premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 22% less with Western National than GEICO, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 9% a month with GEICO.

Is GEICO or Western National 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 substantial impact on your monthly car insurance payment? Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Western National tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. GEICO's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 15% more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than 15% more with GEICO over Western National.

GEICO or Western National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Western National tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $158 monthly with Western National and $159 with GEICO. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $127 with Western National compared to GEICO's $185 a month. In urban areas, Western National's average premiums are around $177 per month compared to GEICO's $211.

GEICO vs. Western National Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both GEICO and Western National so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

GEICO blows Western National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Western National's 12.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but GEICO also offers discounts for ABS, commercial drivers license, deployed driver, and more.

On the other hand, Western National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like corporate discounts, family discounts, and renewal discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just GEICO and Western National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Western National FAQs

Is GEICO or Western National cheaper?

Western National is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $154 a month with Western National and $185 for GEICO. That being said, that doesn't mean Western National will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, GEICO or Western National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, GEICO is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Western National offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do GEICO and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Western National calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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, 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 car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't GEICO or Western National 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.