GEICO vs. Progressive: Which is Best for You?

GEICO typically offers cheaper car insurance policies than Progressive, making it an excellent choice for customers on a budget. GEICO also edges Progressive slightly in overall customer satisfaction, though Progressive receives fewer customer complaints.

Progressive may also be cheaper in your state or for your driving history. To determine which is best for you, it’s worth getting a quote from both companies.

GEICO is good for drivers who value customer service and affordability.

Progressive is good for drivers who want more coverage options.

On average, GEICO is slightly cheaper than Progressive. Car insurance from GEICO has an average cost of $1,047 per year, while a similar policy from Progressive costs $1,381.

Keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and the cheapest car insurance for you may vary depending on many factors, including where you live, your age, your driving record and your credit score. The average rates listed above are for a 40-year-old male sample driver.

Prices in individual states can vary widely from national average rates, so it’s essential to determine whether or not a particular insurance provider is cheaper where you live.

The average cost of car insurance tends to be lower in more states for GEICO, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the most affordable option in your state. GEICO is cheaper than Progressive in 42 states, while Progressive is cheaper than GEICO in just five. Both companies provide coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In the following table, you'll notice a few spots that include the text "Not Available." This does not necessarily mean that coverage is unavailable from that company in that state. Rather, this merely indicates that our study lacked sufficient information in these states. If you'd like to see which company may offer you a lower quote in your state, use our car insurance cost calculator to get a personalized quote.

Besides location, many other factors can influence your car insurance rates, including your age, driving record and credit score. These factors make up what is known as your driver profile, which is a collection of information about you that car insurance companies use to determine your rates. Insurance is often more expensive for younger drivers, drivers with poor credit and drivers with accidents or driving violations in their driving history.

GEICO is cheaper than Progressive for all our sample drivers except those who have a DUI, including the following:

• GEICO is slightly more affordable for student drivers at $3,164 per year, while an average policy from Progressive costs $3,171.
• GEICO is cheaper for drivers with a ticket at $1,265 per year, while an average policy from Progressive costs $1,739.
• GEICO is cheaper for drivers with an at-fault accident at $1,494 per year, while an average policy from Progressive costs $2,163.
• Progressive is cheaper for drivers with a DUI at $2,132 per year, while an average policy from GEICO costs $2,680.
• GEICO is cheaper for drivers with poor credit at $1,681 per year, while an average policy from Progressive costs $2,475.

Many insurance companies offer a similar selection of discounts based on your driving history and vehicle, but the number of deals applied matters less than your final quote.

Two of the most significant discounts on your premium are home and auto bundle discounts and usage-based discounts. GEICO doesn’t estimate how much drivers can save by bundling, while Progressive says drivers can save up to 4%. The national average for bundling discounts of 17%, indicating Progressive is not as competitive as other major insurance companies. Because Progressive gets more specific about potential savings, they win in this category. More home and auto insurance bundle comparisons are located in our full company analysis.

Both companies offer safe drivers lower rates through usage-based programs. Each company has an app that rates your driving behavior: Progressive’s Snapshot and GEICO’s DriveEasy. Both programs financially reward customers for safe driving behaviors and penalize them for risky behavior. Savings from Progressive’s program average at $145 per year, while GEICO doesn’t provide these rates. Because Progressive is more transparent about potential usage-based discounts, they take the win over GEICO here, too.

MoneyGeek measures customer experience based on how satisfied customers are, according to J.D. Power, and how often they lodge complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). While GEICO outperforms in customer satisfaction, Progressive receives fewer customer complaints.

J.D. Power rates car insurance company’s customer satisfaction out of 1,000 points. GEICO and Progressive received 843 and 832, respectively. GEICO’s slight edge makes it the winner in this category.

The NAIC measures customer complaint volume by comparing each company against an average score of 1. GEICO scores 2.04, meaning that GEICO receives more than double the average number of customer complaints. Progressive received a 1.33, slightly higher than the national average but still significantly lower than GEICO, making it the winner in this category.

Every car insurance company offers standard coverages like liability insurance, comprehensive and collision insurance, uninsured motorist insurance and personal injury protection. When it comes to coverage outside the norm, Progressive beats out GEICO.

Although both insurers offer rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance and accident forgiveness, Progressive offers coverages that fit a wider range of drivers. The company has rideshare insurance if you work for Uber or Lyft part-time or gap insurance if you borrowed to finance the purchase of your car.

While Progressive offers more unique coverages, keep in mind your specific needs as a driver. For example, GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance or car repair insurance. If you’re a driver with an older car, this insurance will cover the cost of your repairs after your new car warranty runs out.

Financial stability is another factor to consider when choosing an insurance company. Financially stable companies will be more likely to pay out on insurance claims than insurance companies on shaky financial footing.

While GEICO has a slight edge in financial stability, both GEICO and Progressive are large, well-established insurance companies with robust finances. GEICO has a financial stability score of A++ from A.M. Best, while Progressive scored an A+.

Both GEICO and Progressive offer online calculator tools, but Progressive wins in this category for the uniqueness of its Name Your Price tool.

One of GEICO’s standout tools is its coverage calculator, which allows customers to determine the appropriate level of insurance coverage for their needs. After you answer a few short questions about yourself and your car, GEICO suggests an insurance coverage amount for your needs, which can help take some of the guesswork out of purchasing auto insurance.

Progressive’s Name Your Price tool takes the opposite approach. Instead of recommending coverage amounts, Progressive invites customers to specify how much insurance they can afford and their deal monthly premium. From there, Progressive recommends coverage amounts that work with your budget.

GEICO and Progressive were analyzed by MoneyGeek based on affordability, coverages, service, financial stability and online tools.

Customer satisfaction and complaints data were drawn from J.D. Power surveys and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Financial strength was based on ratings from A.M. Best, an insurance credit rating agency.

The MoneyGeek team compiled data on available coverages and discounts for each insurer. Quotes were compiled from hundreds of ZIP codes across the country for a sample car insurance policy for a 40-year-old male. The policy covers:

• $100,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $300,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• $100,000 on property damage liability insurance per person
• Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible