GEICO Auto Insurance Review

Overview

GEICO, which stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, began 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, according to the company, and loads of brand recognition thanks to its ubiquitous commercials.

When it comes to car insurance, GEICO offers the standard coverage options that most drivers need, plus some additional types of coverage that could be appealing, like mechanical breakdown insurance and insurance for rideshare drivers. GEICO also has an easy-to-use website and mobile app, and it offers a wide range of discounts, including discounts for federal employees, its original clientele. And unlike many of its competitors, GEICO writes auto policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

GEICO says it has a 97% customer satisfaction according to an independent study, although, on the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, GEICO earned a score of 857 on the reviewer’s 1000-point-scale, putting it slightly below the industry average of 861. Still, with accessible agents and affordable prices, GEICO could be a good choice for drivers who need standard coverage on a budget.

GEICO by the numbers

Founded: 1936

Market Share: 13.44%

A.M. Best rating: A++

Better Business Bureau rating: B+

J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction rating: 857

Which states is GEICO car insurance available in?

GEICO auto insurance is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Policy Details

As we mentioned above, GEICO offers all the standard coverage options that most drivers will need. It also offers a few non-standard options, but not many.

Standard coverage options

• Liability coverage - Liability coverage protects you from the financial burden 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 extreme weather, floods, fire, falling objects, animals, vandalism and theft.

Additional coverage and features

• 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.

• Rental reimbursement - If your vehicle is in the shop for repairs, rental reimbursement will cover up to a certain amount per day for a replacement rental car.

• Mechanical breakdown insurance - Covers repairs for mechanical issues on cars less than 15 months old with fewer than 15,000 miles.

How much does GEICO cost?

The cost of your car insurance payments is determined by a number of factors specific to you, like your address, age, gender, credit score, driving history and vehicle. Since each driver has a unique background and history, it’s difficult to predict what any given driver will pay for car insurance. That said, we can still look at a sample GEICO auto insurance policy to get a sense of what someone might pay for a policy.

Our sample driver is a single, 30-year-old woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota who drives a 2014 Toyota Camry. GEICO quoted her $1,028 for a 1-year policy, which was more than the average cost of car insurance in her state in 2015, which was $875.49. Let’s take a look at the details of her policy.

Monthly premium = $90.61

Discounts

GEICO offers a comprehensive range of discounts, more than some of its competitors. Those include discounts for vehicle features like anti-lock brakes, an anti-theft system, and air bags. There are also discounts based on driving history, like discounts if you’re accident-free for five years or if you’ve taken a defensive driving course.

Then there are affiliation discounts, like discounts based on where you work or any organizations you belong to, as well as discounts for bundling your auto policy with another type of coverage from GEICO.

Company details

Application process

GEICO makes it possible to apply for auto insurance online or over the phone. The GEICO website is straightforward and easy-to-use, you just plug in your basic information and get a quote. It automatically applied discounts when we tried it out, but the default coverage limits on the quote it gave us were low, and it didn’t include collision or comprehensive coverage. When we added those coverages, the quote was significantly higher than the first number we’d gotten.

Claims process

GEICO scored below the industry average on the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, but it still came in above competitors like MetLife, Esurance, Progressive, and Safeco.

GEICO makes it possible for its 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.

Other types of insurance offered

• Motorcycle insurance - Coverage for your motorcycle, whether its a vintage Honda or a brand-new Harley

• ATV insurance - Coverage for your all-terrain vehicle

• Snowmobile insurance - Coverage for your winter ride

• Renters insurance - Coverage for your rented house or apartment (and all your stuff)

• RV insurance - Coverage for your vacation home on wheels

• Collector car insurance - Coverage for a collector or classic car

• Boat insurance - Coverage for your seafaring vessel

• Personal watercraft insurance - Coverage for your Jet Ski or other water toys

• Home insurance - Coverage for a home you own

• Mexico car insurance - Coverage if you’re planning on driving south of the border

• Condo insurance - Coverage for anything your association’s policy doesn’t cover

• Co-op insurance - Coverage for your co-op unit

Digital tools

• Intuitive and simple online quote generator

• GEICO mobile app for online bill-paying, claims-filing and general help

Contact info

Website: www.geico.com

Phone: (800) 841-3000

Headquarters: One GEICO Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20076

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. Work with one of our independent brokers at Policygenius to compare quotes from top carriers and get the best rates.

Compare GEICO to other top carriers

• GEICO vs Safeco
• GEICO vs Progressive