GEICO Auto Insurance Review

The details

The good

Available in all 50 states. Some major auto insurance companies don’t write policies in every state, but that’s not the case with GEICO, which is available no matter where in the U.S. you live.

Easy-to-use digital tools GEICO’s website and mobile app are straightforward and easy to access. You can use them to manage your policy, file claims, and pay your bills. This makes it super convenient to stay on top of your policy, or file a claim right at the scene of an accident.

Plenty of discounts. GEICO offers its customers a whole bunch of potential discounts. For example, you could pay a lower premium if you have a clean driving history, are a federal employee, or if you’ve recently taken a defensive driving course.

The bad

Only sells through GEICO agents. If you plan to work with an independent broker, they won’t be able to show you quotes for GEICO. That’s because GEICO only sells policies through their own agents. However, if you want to compare your options, y Policygenius can show you quotes from top companies without having to input your information again and again.

GEICO doesn’t underwrite all of its other products. Hoping to bundle GEICO auto and home policies together? You can, but GEICO partners with third-party companies for some of its other insurance products. That means, while your auto insurance claims will be fulfilled by GEICO, your homeowners claim may be fulfilled by another company, like AIG.

GEICO’s rates are more affordable, on average, than most other carriers. According to our analysis of data from Quadrant Information Services, the average cost of a GEICO policy is $1, 179 a year — more than 20% less than the national average of $1,652.

Discounts

GEICO offers a wide range of discounts, more than some of its competitors. Those include typical discounts for vehicle features like anti-lock brakes and anti-theft systems, and unique discounts like for service members on emergency deployment and students who are away at school. Available discounts include:

• Anti-theft device discount. If you have a car alarm or something similar installed you’ll save up to 25 percent.

• Driver's education course. If you take and pass a certified driving class, you could lower your premium.

• Emergency deployment discount. In the case that you are deployed unexpectedly, you could get a discount on your rate.

• Federal employee discount. If you work for the government, you could be eligible for lower rates.

• Good student discount. Full-time students between the ages of 16 and 24 with a “B” average or better can shave a bit off their premium.

• Military discount. Active duty and retired military personnel and members of the National Guard or Reserves can get a discount of up to 15 percent on their premium.

• Multi-vehicle discount. Sign more than one car up with GEICO for a possible 25 percent discount.

• Multi-policy discount. Get condo, homeowners, renters, or RV insurance through GEICO and get a discount on your car insurance.

• New vehicle discount. If you drive a car that’s three model years old or newer you could earn a 15 percent discount.

GEICO, which stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, began in 1936 as an insurance provider for federal employees, but expanded to the general population in the ‘70s. Now, GEICO is a major auto insurance company, with more than 17 million auto policies in force. Alongside GEICO’s history, multiple financial organizations are confident that GEICO will be around for a while.

• A.M. Best: A++

• Moody’s: Aa1

• Standard & Poor’s: AA+

A.M. Best, a credit rating agency that focuses specifically on the insurance industry, gave GEICO an A++, which means the insurer has a “superior” ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations to customers.

Bond credit rating agency Moody’s says GEICO is an Aa1-rated company, meaning it’s financially strong and stocked full of cash reserves. 

Standard & Poor’s, or S&P, gave GEICO a similar rating, AA+, which means GEICO is a very low credit risk. Basically, there’s little chance GEICO will go broke soon.

For the most part, customers are satisfied with GEICO. 

Here are the ratings from several major consumer opinion trackers:

• Consumers Advocate: N/A

• Consumer Affairs: 3.7 / 5

• NAIC complaint index: 0

Consumer Affairs is a website that allows customers to rate companies directly. GEICO has a score of 3.7 out of 5, which is really good, especially considering the reviews cover the span of all GEICO insurance products. 

Consumers Advocate rates companies based on reputation, policy features, and stability. Consumers Advocate hasn’t rated GEICO auto insurance yet.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints submitted to state insurance departments. A score of 1 represents the baseline average, with a zero meaning there weren’t enough customer complaints to count. GEICO auto insurance has a score of 0, meaning NAIC hasn’t received too many complaints about the company.

GEICO offers the standard coverage options that most drivers need, plus some opportunities to add on to your policy, like mechanical breakdown insurance and rental reimbursement.

Coverage options

GEICO Customers will be able to get the standard coverage that every driver needs, including:

• Liability coverage. Liability coverage covers the cost if you damage someone’s property or injure someone with your car. Liability insurance is required in most states.

• Personal injury protection. Pays for your medical expenses or lost wages if you or your passengers are injured in an accident.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Covers the cost if you’re in an accident caused by a driver without insurance, or whose insurance doesn’t cover the full extent of the damage.

• Collision coverage. Covers the costs of damage to your car after an accident, regardless of who was at fault.

• Comprehensive coverage. Covers the costs of damage to your car that isn’t caused by a collision, including damage from animals, extreme weather, floods, fire, falling objects, theft, and vandalism.

Plus, customers have the option to add the following coverages to their policies:

• Emergency road service. With this service added on to your coverage, you’ll have access to assistance when you need emergency help, like with a jump start or a flat tire.

• Rental reimbursement. If you need a rental while your car is being fixed or replaced, this will pay you back for a certain amount of your rental car costs. If you rent from Enterprise, GEICO will be billed directly.

• Medical payments. This is an optional coverage in most states, and covers the costs of medical bills associated with a covered incident for you or your passengers.

Additional perks

As mentioned above,  GEICO offers emergency road service. Covers towing and labor if you’re stranded due to a flat tire or a dead battery, or if you’re locked out of your vehicle. Services include:

• Jump starts for dead battery

• Lockout services

• Flat tire changes

• Delivering fuel/fluids

• Towing

Other types of insurance offered

• ATV insurance

• Boat insurance

• Collector car insurance

• Condo insurance

• Co-op insurance

• Home insurance.

• Mexico car insurance

• Motorcycle insurance

• Personal watercraft insurance

• Snowmobile insurance

• Renters insurance

• RV insurance

GEICO has an intuitive website and a comprehensive mobile app. There’s a 24/7 phone line and a virtual chat bot on the website for basic questions. You can even contact GEICO via Twitter, or through the mobile app.

Like several other major car insurance carriers, GEICO doesn’t sell policies through independent agents, meaning the only way to buy GEICO car insurance is directly from GEICO. But comparing multiple quotes is still the best way to make sure you’re finding the cheapest coverage. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top insurance companies, so comparing options is easy.

State availability

Unlike many of its competitors, GEICO writes auto policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Digital tools

• Online quote tool

• Online and mobile bill pay

• Online and mobile claims filing

• Electronic policy delivery

• Online policy management

• FAQ and blog resources

Ease of claims 

GEICO makes it easy for drivers to file claims online, by phone, or through the GEICO mobile app, which also offers a “photo estimate” tool that will guide you through the process of taking photos of any damage. GEICO’s Auto Repair Xpress program makes it convenient to get repairs through a GEICO-approved auto body shop, but it may be harder if you choose to strike out on your own.

Payment methods

Customers can pay their bills multiple ways, including:

• Online

• App

• Phone

• Mail 

• Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

• Any major credit or debit cards

• Autopay

Policygenius offers insurance policies from many of the nation's top insurers, who pay us a commission for our services. However, all editorial choices are made independently.