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Geico vs. Progressive

Written by

R.E. Hawley

Edited by

Mariah Posey

Edited by

Mariah Posey

Updated Nov 13, 2024

Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of Geico vs. Progressive can help drivers decide between these major insurers.

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Geico and Progressive are two of the best-known cheap car insurance companies in the U.S., both with a major presence in both advertising and market share. Owned by the multinational holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Geico was founded in 1936 to sell auto insurance to federal government workers. Today, Geico sells a wide range of insurance products to consumers across the country. With an estimated 12.4 percent of the private passenger auto market according to S&P Global Intelligence, Geico is known for its competitive pricing, abundant discounts and charming gecko mascot.

Progressive exceeds Geico’s auto insurance underwriting with 15.3 percent of the market share. Founded in 1937, the company has pioneered a number of digital innovations in auto insurance as one of the first companies to sell policies online and offer a mobile app for policy management. Today, Progressive’s reputation is centered on its Name Your Price Tool, which allows customers to shop for coverage based on a preset budget.

Our verdict

Both Geico and Progressive offer competitive average premiums for drivers, but if you’re wondering if Progressive is cheaper than Geico, Geico has the edge. Its average rates tend to be lower than the average rates offered by Progressive, and the company’s extensive discount list may help you save even more. If you have a DUI conviction, however, Progressive’s average rates are lower in comparison. Customer service records for both companies are somewhat mixed, but Geico received a lower index of customer complaints from the NAIC in 2024, and both received fewer than the average number of complaints for a business of their size.

Geico vs. Progressive comparison

When looking at Geico vs. Progressive, it may help to consider the pros and cons for each company. Both companies offer advantages — but both also have areas where they fall short.

Featured Geico Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5 4.4 Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings Cost & ratings Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5 4.7 Coverage Rating: 4 stars out of 5 4.0 Support Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5 4.4 Read Review	Progressive Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5 4.4 Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings Cost & ratings Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5 4.2 Coverage Rating: 5 stars out of 5 5.0 Support Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5 4.3 Read Review
OVERVIEW Bankrate identified key carrier features, coverage offerings, discounts and more
Policyholders who value cheaper car insurance and digital capabilities over bundling multiple insurance policies with the same company might consider Geico as their company of choice. Read More	Policyholders who value digital capabilities, want a company that can follow them throughout the country or need high-risk insurance might consider Progressive as their company of choice. Read More
STANDOUT FEATURES These features are some of the carrier’s most impressive
DriveEasy telematics program Robust digital tools Long list of potential discounts	Name Your Price shopping tool Snapshot telematics program Online quote and sign online discounts
AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE Average national annual cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy
$2,107	$2,418
AVG MIN COV. AUTO RATE Average national annual cost of a minimum coverage auto insurance policy
$558	$706
J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
874/1000	870/1000
AM BEST RATING AM Best ratings assess companies’ financial strength based on historical ability to pay out claims, among other financial obligations
A++(Superior)	A+(Superior)

Geico pros and cons

Pros

Average rates tend to be lower
Offers an extensive list of auto insurance discounts
Scores above average for shopping in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study
Robust digital tools for policy management

Cons

Limited opportunity to customize policies
Home and life policies underwritten by a third party
Scores below average for service in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study
Limited in-person local agencies

Progressive pros and cons

Pros

Can be an option for high-risk drivers
Mobile app offers virtual policy assistance and quotes
Above-average score for shopping in J .D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study and first place for service.
Highly customizable policy options

Cons

Progressive Snapshot (telematics program) can potentially raise rates
Average rates higher than Geico in most cases
Below-average scores for customer satisfaction per J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
Rates may differ between agency and online quotes

Is Geico cheaper than Progressive?

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team analyzed the latest rate data available from Quadrant Information Services and found that, on average, Geico is cheaper than Progressive for most driver profiles. Keep in mind, however, that your actual rate could look different from the average. Insurance companies consider a wide range of rating factors when quoting premiums, from your age and driving record to your credit history, vehicle and ZIP code. As a result, some drivers could find cheaper rates from Progressive while others find the cheapest insurance with Geico.

Car insurance company	Geico avg. full coverage premium	Progressive avg. full coverage premium
Young driver (age 25)	$2,449	$3,049
Senior driver (age 70)	$2,226	$2,198
Good driver, good credit	$2,107	$2,418
Good driver, poor credit	$3,158	$4,338
Speeding ticket with good credit	$2,648	$3,120
At-fault accident with good credit	$3,014	$3,674
DUI conviction with good credit	$4,751	$3,312

Bankrate's take

Not all carriers are willing to insure drivers with high-risk incidents on their record, like a DUI. If you have high-risk rating factors, the best way to gauge coverage eligibility is to request personalized quotes from each carrier you're considering. While it may be tempting to omit these blemishes from your quote, the carrier will uncover these when it analyzes your driving record before finalizing your policy, so it's best to be honest and upfront about your driving history.

Geico vs Progressive: discounts

Both Geico and Progressive offer car insurance discounts to help drivers lower their premiums. While many discounts are fairly standard, each company offers a few that are relatively uncommon. Keep in mind that not all discounts are available in all states and eligibility may vary based on your driving profile.

Discounts available from both carriers

Geico and Progressive share a few basic ways to save on car insurance, including:

Multi-policy discounts: Both Geico and Progressive offer discounts to customers who purchase another insurance product, such as home or renters insurance, along with their auto policy.

Multi-car discounts: Geico advertises a discount of up to 25 percent on most coverage for customers who insure multiple vehicles, while Progressive claims their average multi-car discount is 12 percent.

Good student discounts: Both companies offer discounts to full-time high school or college students with a B average or better, with Geico advertising up to 15 percent off and Progressive advertising an average savings of 10 percent.

Safe driver discounts: Geico customers with a five-year accident-free record are eligible for up to 22 percent off their premium. Progressive states that customers who stay accident- and ticket-free for three years save an average of 34 percent.

Geico discounts

DriveEasy: Geico’s DriveEasy telematics program could help drivers save if they display safe driving habits. However, the company does warn that risky drivers might see an increase in their premiums.
Group affiliation: Geico offers varying savings for members of partner organizations, including the federal government, alumni associations and certain employers. Ask an agent or your group representative for details.
Military discounts: If you are on active duty, retired from the military or a member of the National Guard or Reserves, you may earn a discount of up to 15 percent on your auto insurance. Geico also offers emergency deployment discounts of up to 25 percent.
New vehicle discount: If your vehicle is three model years old or newer, you could earn a discount of up to 15 percent on some coverage.
Seat belt use discount: Geico policyholders who can demonstrate that they and their passengers always wear seat belts are eligible for discounted rates on medical payments or personal injury protection coverage.
Defensive driving discount: Some Geico customers who completed an approved defensive driving course can earn a discount.
Driver education discount: Geico offers a discount on most coverage if a teen driver in your household completed a driver education course.

Progressive discounts

Snapshot: Progressive’s telematics discount is called Snapshot. Users could earn a discount based on their driving behavior, with an average savings of $231. Just like Geico, risky drivers could see an increase.
Quote and sign online: Progressive offers two levels of discounts for doing business online. If you get your quote online, you could save an average of 7 percent, and if you complete your policy purchase online, you might save an additional 9 percent, on average.
Paperless and autopay: Signing up for paperless billing and automatic payments could qualify you for a discount, although the amount for both discounts varies.
Homeowner: If you own your home, even if it’s not insured with Progressive, you can potentially save on your auto insurance, but amounts vary. If you insure your home with Progressive, you might qualify for the multi-policy discount, too.
Continuous insurance: New Progressive customers who switched from another provider can earn a discount based on how long they were with their previous insurer.
Teen driver discount: In addition to its good student discounts, Progressive offers a discount to families with teen drivers 18 years or younger who have been with Progressive for at least a year.
Distant student discount: If your policy includes a college student 22 years or younger who attends school without a vehicle at least 100 miles from home, you can earn a discount.

Geico and Progressive telematics programs

Both Geico and Progressive offer telematics apps — digital tools that track your driving in real time and base your future rates on your actual driving habits. While these programs have the potential to lower your rates if you avoid unsafe habits like harsh braking and speeding, both Geico and Progressive’s telematics can raise your rates for unsafe driving. Before you decide whether to participate in either app, it’s worth understanding the pros and cons of each.

	Geico DriveEasy	Snapshot by Progressive
Device	iOS or Android app	iOS or Android app, or plug-in device
Can it raise your rate?	May increase your rate	May increase your rate
Availability	Available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.	Not available in California or from all agents
Discount	Varies	Average annual savings of $231, including sign up discount
What it monitors	Braking, distance and time traveled, distracted driving, road conditions type, weather, cornering, acceleration, speeding, smoothness, time of day and route regularity	Braking, accelerating, time of day, mileage, use of mobile phone and speeding

Geico vs Progressive: customer experience comparison

Both Geico and Progressive have robust online and mobile app features. If you prefer to handle your insurance online, you can do so with either carrier. With both online portals, you can make payments, process policy changes and access your documents. Progressive and Geico also each have a mobile app. Both apps allow you to see your ID cards, view policy information and pay bills, among other features.

When comparing Progressive vs. Geico mobile apps, both have close ratings between the App Store and Google Play, with Apple users giving both apps 4.8 stars and Android users 4.6 stars. When it comes to the provider rankings from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, both carriers scored below the industry average — but Geico takes the lead with a score of 871 compared to Progressive’s score of 870.

	Geico	Progressive
Apple store	4.8 of 5	4.8 of 5
Google play	4.6 of 5	4.6 of 5
J.D. Power claims satisfaction	871 / 1,000	870 / 1,000

Customer complaints

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks customer complaints for U.S. insurance companies and compares the rate of complaints to the size of the company. The resulting score, known as a carrier’s NAIC Complaint Index, indicates whether a company receives more or fewer complaints than expected based on its size. The baseline complaint index is 1.00; higher scores correspond to a higher number of complaints.

Geico auto insurance customer complaints

Geico’s 2023 NAIC Complaint Index score for private passenger auto insurance is 0.55, indicating that the company has significantly fewer complaints than the industry average for its size.

Progressive auto insurance customer complaints

Progressive received a private passenger auto complaint index score of 0.89 from the NAIC in 2023. This represents a gradual decrease in customer complaints over the past few years.

Frequently asked questions

The best car insurance company for you will depend on your needs, wants and specific rating factors. Geico may be a better option for those looking for a long list of discounts, or for teens and young drivers. For drivers with DUI convictions, Progressive typically charges 33 percent less than Geico. However, price isn’t the only consideration when buying car insurance. Consider Progressive and Geico insurance reviews, customer comments, coverage types and company features like discounts and savings tools before getting quotes from each company. Comparing quotes could help you decide if Geico is better than Progressive for your needs — or vice versa.
Yes, both Geico and Progressive offer homeowners insurance policies to customers, but neither company does its own underwriting. When you purchase a homeowners insurance policy from either company, your policy is underwritten by one of the partner companies. When you file a claim against your homeowner policy, a different company will be managing the claim. However, you will generally still be eligible for a bundling discount for purchasing both homeowners insurance and car insurance from either company.
The national average cost of full coverage insurance is $2,458 per year as of November 2024. For minimum coverage, the average cost is $678 per year. Note that your own rates will vary significantly as factors like location, driving history and vehicle type influence your premium. The best way to evaluate whether you’re overpaying for auto insurance is to compare quotes from multiple providers for the same coverage, and make sure you’re taking advantage of the discounts that best fit your profile.
Geico scored slightly higher on the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, but only by one point. With rankings so close, it’s hard to determine if Geico or Progressive is better with claims. Geico’s slightly higher score could indicate that it has a leg up on Progressive in this arena. Still, every driver is different and how you rate your satisfaction with these companies may differ from that of others. Ultimately, the available data indicates that both companies’ claims handling process is close in terms of overall satisfaction.
Rates vary by age in most states, with younger drivers typically paying more than older drivers due to a higher likelihood of driving violations and claims. You may also see increased rates if you are over 70. Geico’s average annual premium for 60-year-old drivers is 1 percent less than Progressive’s, with an average rate of $1,998 per year for full coverage compared to Progressive’s average cost of $2,026 per year. Rates will vary from the national average based on personal factors, so it’s worthwhile to obtain quotes from both companies to see which one gives you a better premium.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze November 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

$100,000 bodily injury liability per person
$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$50,000 property damage liability per accident
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
$500 collision deductible
$500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 25-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Overall Score

Cost & ratings 50%
Coverage & savings 30%
Support 20%

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlight where they fall short.