GEICO vs. Progressive: Which car insurance is right for you?

GEICO vs. Progressive Overview

GEICO and Progressive are both popular car insurance carriers with affordable rates — so how do you choose between the two of them? For most average drivers, both GEICO and Progressive offer all the standard coverage options you’ll need for your vehicle, so it may be wise just to compare quotes and go with whichever one offers you better rates. (As always with a quote comparison, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples: Check the coverage limits, deductibles and policy length on your quotes to make sure you’re actually getting the best deal.)

That’s not to suggest, however, that GEICO and Progressive are the same. GEICO scored higher than Progressive on the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, giving it a slight edge in terms of the claims payout process and customer satisfaction. GEICO also offers some discounts that Progressive does not, including a discount for all federal employees, the company’s original clientele.

Both car insurance providers write policies in all 50 states, and both offer car insurance for rideshare drivers. They both have easy-to-use online quote generators, but the Progressive website outshines GEICO’s, making adjusting your details and coverage options a cinch and giving you extra options to customize your coverage.

GEICO fast facts

• Coverage available in all 50 states
• Discounts for federal employees
• Ubiquitous commercials
• Competitive rates
• Slightly below average claims satisfaction rating

Progressive fast facts

• Coverage available in all 50 states
• Top-of-the-line online quote generator and website
• Wide range of available discounts
• Competitive rates
• Claims satisfaction is well below the industry average

GEICO vs. Progressive customer satisfaction ratings

Note: The J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating rates insurance providers out of a possible score of 1,000. The highest scoring provider in 2018 earned a score of 891.

GEICO vs. Progressive price comparison

The cost of your car insurance is determined by a range of individual factors, including your age, gender, address, previous insurance history, driving record, credit score, and the make and model of car you drive.

All of those variables make it difficult to predict what any given person might pay for car insurance, but we can still take a look at an average driver’s profile and see what they might pay for identical coverage from GEICO and Progressive.

Sample Quotes

Our sample driver is a single, 30-year-old woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota who owns her home and drives a 2014 Toyota Camry. Progressive quoted her $578 for a six-month policy, which would be $1,156 for a year at the same rate. GEICO quoted the same driver a lower cost for nearly identical coverage, $427 for a six-month policy, which would be $854 for a year at the same rate.

GEICO sample insurance policy

Total annual premium = $854

Progressive sample insurance policy

Total annual premium = $1,156

GEICO vs. Progressive: Roadside assistance

GEICO and Progressive both offer roadside assistance as an optional add-on to your standard insurance coverage. Roadside assistance, sometimes called emergency road service coverage or towing and labor coverage, covers you in the event of a breakdown. It usually doesn’t cost much to add roadside assistance to your policy, budget for around $5 to $15 per vehicle.

Here’s what GEICO and Progressive’s roadside assistance coverage includes:

GEICO vs. Progressive consumer discounts

GEICO and Progressive both stand out when it comes to discounts – both are great options for drivers looking to save on coverage. They offer many of the same chances to save, including all of the most common car insurance discounts, like discounts for insuring multiple cars under the same policy, discounts for bundling home and auto insurance and discounts for being a safe driver.

Progressive offers an additional chance to save with its Progressive Snapshot program, which monitors your driving through a smartphone app or a device in your car and assigns discounts based on how much, and how safely you drive. It’s a great opportunity to save if you’re confident in your driving abilities and you don’t mind being watched.

Check with your current car insurance provider to make sure you’re getting every possible discount for which you qualify.

GEICO vs. Progressive state availability

Both GEICO and Progressive write auto insurance policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, which isn’t true of some of their competitors.

If you’re ready to shop for car insurance, a Policygenius expert can help you compare quotes and get the insurance coverage that’s best for you and your wallet.