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Geico vs. Farmers

Updated Apr 28, 2025

Geico has lower average rates and better customer satisfaction than Farmers, but Farmers offers more coverage options and unique family discounts.

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Founded in 1936 to provide auto insurance for government employees, Geico, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, now offers auto, home, renters, pet and commercial insurance to customers from all backgrounds. With over 18 million auto policies in force and just over 12 percent of market share for the private passenger auto industry, Geico is the third-largest auto insurance carrier in the U.S., known for its below-average pricing and convenient digital tools. 

With just 4.2 percent of the total market share, Farmers Insurance is the seventh-largest private passenger auto insurer in the U.S. Founded in Los Angeles in 1928, Farmers operates a network of tens of thousands of local agents across the country, offering auto, home and life insurance to customers. User-friendly digital tools and extensive coverage options could make Farmers an attractive choice for many drivers.

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Our verdict

When comparing Farmers Insurance vs. Geico, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team found that Geico offers lower average rates for most drivers, including young and high-risk drivers. Geico also generally receives high scores for customer satisfaction. However, Geico’s business model prioritizes digital sales and policy management, and Geico lacks some key coverage options like gap insurance. For drivers seeking more robust coverage or those who prefer to work with a brick-and-mortar agency, Farmers’ more traditional approach might be a better fit. 

Geico vs. Farmers comparison

Every insurance company offers potential benefits and downsides to customers, which can be helpful to consider if you are trying to choose between two companies. When comparing Geico vs. Farmers, it’s helpful to weigh the pros and cons of each insurer to determine which might be more suitable for your needs.

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Geico

Geico
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
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Farmers

Farmers
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
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OVERVIEW
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Policyholders who value customized car insurance and robust coverage options, like life or commercial insurance, might consider Farmers as their company of choice.
STANDOUT FEATURES
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Local agents available
Car Guide Icon
Robust coverage options
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Great customer reviews
AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
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$3,273
AVG MIN COV. AUTO RATE
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$1,084
J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE
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706/1000
AM BEST RATING
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A(Excellent)

Geico pros and cons

Pros
  • Highly rated mobile app that offers numerous policy management features

  • 2025 Bankrate Award for best auto insurance company for high-risk drivers

  • Average annual premiums below national average

  • One of the best usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, according to J.D. Power

Cons
  • Brick-and-mortar access is limited

  • Uses third-party underwriting partners for non-vehicle policies

  • No gap insurance option available

  • Ranked below average in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

Farmers pros and cons

Pros
  • Offers a range of policy types (9+), rideshare coverage and other related financial solutions

  • Access to a network of agents via thousands of brick-and-mortar locations

  • More unique auto insurance discounts than many major carriers

  • Ranked above average in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

Cons
  • More expensive premiums on average, especially for high-risk drivers

  • Lowest-rated usage-based insurance (UBI) program by J.D. Power

  • Customer service not available 24/7

  • Ranked below average in all but one region in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study on overall customer satisfaction

Is Geico cheaper than Farmers?

The table below compares the latest average rate data available from Quadrant Information Services for both Geico and Farmers across various driver profiles. Keep in mind, however, that multiple variables are always at work when a company sets the cost of a car insurance policy for any individual driver. While average rates can show general trends in carrier pricing, it’s important to compare personalized quotes from each company you’re interested in to see how they price insurance for your profile. 

Car insurance company Geico avg. full coverage premium Farmers avg. full coverage premium
Young driver (age 25) $2,517 $4,053
Senior driver (age 70) $2,253 $3,226
Good driver, good credit $2,165 $3,273
Good driver, poor credit $3,210 $6,291
Speeding ticket with good credit $2,665 $4,069
At-fault accident with good credit $3,053 $5,088
DUI conviction with good credit $4,627 $7,378
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Bankrate's take

If you’re shopping for auto insurance after a DUI/DWI conviction, you may need to compare rates from multiple providers. Not every insurance company is willing to insure drivers with DUIs, and you may receive considerably higher rates from some carriers. Comparison shopping, especially with companies that specialize in high-risk auto insurance, can help to reduce your costs. 

Overall, our research shows that Geico tends to offer lower auto insurance rates for most drivers, especially young drivers and those with poor driving records. In fact, Geico earned a 2025 Bankrate Award for its commitment to providing affordable coverage for higher-risk profiles. However, average trends can’t predict every individual quote: while most drivers are more likely to see low rates with Geico, some people might find lower quotes from Farmers.

Geico vs. Farmers: discounts

Both Geico and Farmers offer car insurance discounts that can help drivers save money on their car insurance premiums. Like many other car insurance companies, both Geico and Farmers offer discounts for multiple vehicles, multiple insurance policies (bundling), and various vehicle safety features, but each company sets its own discount percentage. Additionally, both Geico and Farmers offer discounts that are unique to the company, which may benefit drivers who qualify for a specific discount.

Discounts available from both carriers

Geico and Farmers share a large number of discounts in common, including: 

  • Bundling discounts: Both companies offer multi-line discounts for customers who also purchase home insurance from the same carrier, although Farmers also offers bundling discounts for life and small business insurance. 
  • Multi-vehicle discount: Both carriers advertise discounts for customers who insure multiple vehicles. 
  • Vehicle equipment discount: Both Farmers and Geico offer discounts for vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, daytime running lights and/or passive restraints like airbags and seat belts — but eligibility and availability vary from both carriers. 
  • Good driver discount: Geico’s good driver discount applies to drivers who stay accident-free for at least five years, while Farmers’ is assigned to rated drivers with no bodily injury (BI) points. 
  • Good student discount: Full-time students with strong grades (a B average, 3.0 GPA, Honor Roll or other criteria) may be eligible for discounts from both providers. 
  • Defensive driving discount: After completing a defensive driving course, drivers aged 55 or older may be eligible for discounted rates from both companies, though discount names vary.
  • Military discount: Geico and Farmers both offer discounts to active duty military members, along with active reserves, veterans and retired service members. 
  • Affinity discounts: Both companies offer discounts to members of certain professional and alumni associations, but only Geico lists eligible organizations on its website. 

Geico unique discounts

  • Eagle discount: Both active and retired federal employees may be able to save up to 12 percent on their auto insurance premium in most states.
  • New vehicle discount: Vehicles three model years old or newer could earn a discount of up to 15 percent on certain coverages. 
  • Driver’s education discount: Policyholders may be eligible for discounted rates if a young driver in the family has completed an approved driver’s ed course. 
  • Emergency deployment discount: On top of its 15 percent standard military discount (applicable only to certain coverages), Geico offers discounts of up to 25 percent off for service members being deployed to imminent danger zones. 

Farmers unique discounts

  • Distant student discount: Families with a young driver on their policy who is attending school at least 100 miles from their home, and is therefore not regularly driving, could receive a discount.
  • Alternative fuel discount: California policyholders with hybrid or electric vehicles may qualify for an alternative fuel discount, but this discount is not currently available in other states.
  • ePolicy discount: Policyholders who enroll in Farmers’ ePolicy and Go Paperless options may qualify for an additional discount.
  • Good payer discount: Paying your bill on time and avoiding late fees for 12 months could earn you a discounted rate at renewal in most states outside California. 
  • EFT discount: Turning on monthly electronic funds transfers can earn you a discounted rate. 
  • Pay in full discount: Paying your annual bill in full — via EFT or otherwise — could earn you a discount. 
  • Anti-theft discounts: In addition to generic anti-theft discounts for car alarms and other protective devices, Farmers offers discounts for homing devices and VIN etching. 
  • Homeowner discount: Policyholders who own their own home could get a discounted auto insurance rate, whether or not the home is insured by Farmers. 
  • Shared family car discount: For families with a single driver up to age 20 who have more active drivers than vehicles, Farmers offers a potential discount in most states. 
  • Family loyalty: There are two discounts available for young drivers whose parents have auto insurance through Farmers — a youthful driver discount for drivers under age 25 and the On Your Own discount for drivers under 29 who split to a new household with a standalone Farmers policy. 

Geico and Farmers telematics programs

Many drivers are opting to allow insurance companies to track and analyze their driving habits as part of a usage-based insurance (UBI) program. These types of insurance programs utilize telematics technology through vehicle devices or mobile applications to track your driving habits, and if you display good habits behind the wheel, you may be eligible to receive lower rates or discounts on your car insurance. It’s worth noting that Geico ranked second and Farmers was dead last in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study on UBI programs. The table below compares the features of Geico’s DriveEasy program and Farmer’s Signal program.

Geico DriveEasy Farmers Signal
Device Mobile app Mobile app
Can it raise your rate? Yes Yes
Availability 37 states and Washington, D.C. 46 states; not all policies are eligible. Monthly sweepstakes not available in all states.
Discount Varies based on driving habits Initial enrollment discount; variable renewal discount possible for safe driving. Monthly high driving scores make you eligible to earn rewards of up to $100.
What it monitors GPS location, phone use, date and time of day, braking, cornering, speed, smoothness, distance traveled Date and time of day, mileage, routes, acceleration, hard stops, speeding, cornering, phone use

Geico vs. Farmers: customer experience comparison

Both Geico and Farmers offer user-friendly websites and mobile apps that allow customers to get insurance quotes, manage their policies and check claim status as needed. However, it can also be helpful to review other customer experience factors, like rankings on the 2024 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study or AM Best ratings, to see how each company stacks up and determine which is best for your needs.

Geico Farmers
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 692 / 1,000 706 / 1,000

Customer complaints

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks customer complaints for U.S. insurance companies and compares each carrier’s number of complaints to their share of the market. The resulting number, known as an NAIC Complaint Index score, indicates whether a company receives more or fewer complaints than expected based on its size. Scores above the baseline of 1.00 indicate a high rate of complaints, while lower scores suggest that a company’s customers are more satisfied than the industry average. 

Geico auto customer complaints

Geico’s NAIC complaint index scores have been impressive over the past few years, hovering around half the amount of complaints compared to other similarly sized insurance providers.

NAIC Complaint Index for auto insurance

Line chart with 3 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Year. Data ranges from 2022-01-01 00:00:00 to 2024-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Score. Data ranges from 0.52 to 0.56.
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Farmers auto insurance customer complaints

Farmers’ NAIC complaint index score for private passenger auto insurance has improved since 2022, but still remains higher than Geico’s.

NAIC Complaint Index for auto insurance

Line chart with 3 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Year. Data ranges from 2022-01-01 00:00:00 to 2024-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Score. Data ranges from 0.76 to 1.29.
End of interactive chart.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Rates

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 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 for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and full coverage limits with bundling and paperless billing discounts applied: 

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40 year old
Single male and female driver
Logo for Brand name
2023 Toyota Camry
Primary vehicle
Credit Good Icon
Good credit score
Auto Insurance Guide Icon
Clean driving record
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Commutes 5 days

Bodily injury liability

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Property damage liability

$50,000 per accident

Personal injury protection

$100,000 per accident

Uninsured motorist bodily injury

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Collision deductible

$500

Comprehensive deductible

$500

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:

Other profiles

Bankrate Score

Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach. 

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 highlighting where they fall short.

50% Cost & ratings
 
30% Coverage & savings
 
20% Support
 
  • Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 
  • Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
  • Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Written by
R.E. Hawley
Senior writer, Insurance
R.E. Hawley is a senior writer for Bankrate. Prior to joining Bankrate’s insurance editorial team in 2024, they worked as senior writer for a popular car ownership and insurance comparison app, leading a team of over a dozen writers in creating customer-focused financial advice content on topics ranging from insurance to vehicle reliability and auto loan refinance. R.E. holds a personal lines insurance license.
Edited by Editor II, Insurance