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Geico Vs. Progressive

When comparing Geico and Progressive car insurance, we found Geico to be superior because it offers cheaper rates on average and good discounts.

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Purchasing a car insurance policy can be a significant undertaking, from doing the research to choosing the right company and plan for your needs. Geico and Progressive both have relatively good ratings in our review of the best car insurance companies.

This review will provide you with a side-by-side comparison of Geico vs. Progressive insurance, looking at industry standing, costs, coverage, and more. When you’re shopping for car insurance, our team of experts recommend comparing your options and getting quotes from multiple providers.

Key Points:

  • We rate Geico higher than Progressive considering reliability, coverage, cost, and service.
  • Geico is about 19 percent cheaper than Progressive on average according to our cost data.
  • Insurance quotes are highly personal so you may find cheaper rates from Progressive.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Ratings and Reviews

Geico and Progressive are both reputable and well-established car insurance providers. Both companies offer below-average rates, a wide variety of coverage options, and plenty of car insurance discounts. Below, you can see the general side-by-side ratings for the two providers from business evaluators and our own reviews team.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Which Is Better?

After our review of Geico vs. Progressive, Geico comes out on top. The company offers more insurance discounts for drivers, slightly higher customer satisfaction ratings and cheaper car insurance on average.

Below you can compare Geico and Progressive’s overall rating scores. Both companies are great choices if you’re considering purchasing an auto insurance policy, but the best provider for you depends on your needs and budget.

Rating CategoryGeicoProgressive
Overall rating4.64.3
Cost4.74.4
Coverage4.24.4
Reliability4.94
Service4.44.3

*Ratings are out of 5.0 points each.

While Geico outranks Progressive in most categories, Progressive remains a more popular company to use. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Progressive was the second-largest insurer in the U.S. in 2022, with a total market share of 14.05 percent. However, Geico was right behind Progressive with 13.76 percent.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Pros And Cons

To do a fast comparison, you can take a look at our quick highlights on the strengths and weaknesses of Geico and Progressive. 

Geico: Pros And Cons

Take a look at Geico’s pros and cons:

ProsCons
Provides some of the cheapest car insurance on average across the U.S.Isn’t the cheapest provider for drivers with DUIs or other traffic violations
Offers 16 different discountsCan raise rates for drivers that don’t do well under its usage-based DriveEasy program
Sports strong industry ratings from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB)Typically has subpar customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power consumer studies
Has unique add-on coverages like mechanical breakdown insurance

Progressive: Pros And Cons

Take a look at Progressive’s pros and cons:

ProsCons
Offers more affordable rates for drivers with DUIsHas incredibly high rates for younger drivers
Sports high industry ratings from AM Best and the BBBHas relatively subpar customer service ratings
Has useful add-ons like gap insurance and custom parts and equipment value coverageCan raise rates for drivers that don’t do well under its usage-based Snapshot® program

Geico Vs. Progressive: Industry Ratings 

Below is a comparison of industry insurance reviews and rating scores for both Geico and Progressive. Geico and Progressive’s strong AM Best ratings showcase their ability to consistently pay out claims to customers.

Ratings and Awards

Geico

Progressive

AM Best financial strength rating A++ A+
BBB rating A- A
J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠ score 874 out of 1,000 861 out of 1,000
Our award Best for Discounts Best Usage-Based Insurance

Geico Vs. Progressive: Which Is Cheaper?

Our rate data shows that Geico is about 19 percent cheaper than Progressive for 35-year-old drivers with good credit and clean driving records. In fact, Geico appears to offer cheaper costs for car insurance across most ages and driving profiles when compared to Progressive.

The following tables will delve into the average rates for different ages and driving backgrounds between Geico and Progressive. All tables feature cost data from Quadrant Information Services.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Average Car Insurance Premiums

According to our research, annual full-coverage policies for good drivers cost about $1,308 per year with Geico, while policies from Progressive cost around $1,611 per year. These are both cheaper than the industry average of $1,730 per year. Also, you may find cheaper rates from Progressive depending on your driving history and age.

Average RatesGeicoProgressive
Annual full-coverage cost$1,308 $1,611
Monthly full-coverage cost$109 $134
Annual minimum-coverage cost$468 $687
Monthly minimum-coverage cost$39 $57

*Rates based on the profile of a 35-year-old married driver with good credit and a clean driving history.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Car Insurance Cost By Age

Geico has proven itself to be significantly cheaper on average across all age groups when compared to Progressive. Progressive’s higher rates may be worth it to some customers for other reasons, but if you’re the parent of a teen driver, you’ll likely save much more money by going with Geico.

It’s normal for young drivers under 25 to pay significantly higher rates compared to drivers of older ages, since young drivers have less experience behind the wheel and are more statistically prone to cause accidents and disobey traffic regulations.

Geico Is Cheaper For Teen Drivers

Geico shows more promising full-coverage rates for 16-year-old drivers, with a yearly average that’s more than $6,000 cheaper than Progressive. In fact, Geico’s average rates for the age groups between 16 and 19 are all cheaper than their national averages. For Progressive, they’re all much higher.

Age of DriverGeicoProgressive
16$4,466 $11,174
17$3,646 $9,457
18$3,161 $7,812
19$2,485 $4,258

Geico Is Cheaper For Young Adults

Drivers in their early and mid-20s don’t pay as much for car insurance as teens do. However, 21-year-old drivers pay about $154 per month on average for full coverage from Geico. With Progressive, they pay about $239 per month.

Age of DriverGeicoProgressive
21$1,844 $2,872
25$1,420 $1,934

Geico Is Cheaper For Adults

Drivers ages 30 to 55 often pay the lowest rates, and this appears to be the case for Geico more than Progressive. Forty-five-year old drivers may get an average monthly premium of $108 for full coverage from Geico. With Progressive, the same group pays $140 per month on average.

Age of DriverGeicoProgressive
30$1,308 $1,787
45$1,292 $1,684
55$1,213 $1,501

Geico Is Cheaper For Seniors

Geico and Progressive are both below the national average for 65-year-old drivers paying for annual full-coverage auto insurance ($1,648). However, Geico is still cheaper than Progressive for senior drivers on average.

Age of DriverGeicoProgressive
65$1,227 $1,566
75$1,457 $1,872

Geico Vs. Progressive: Average Premiums For High-Risk Drivers

It’s pretty standard for auto insurance rates to spike for drivers that cause auto accidents or get citations for disobeying traffic laws. 

Geico’s car insurance rates are often cheaper than the national average for drivers with minor traffic infractions on their records. However, Progressive’s cost averages show that the insurer can be more affordable than Geico for high-risk drivers with recent DUIs

Below are Geico and Progressive’s average full-coverage rates for different driving infractions, from getting a speeding ticket to causing a car accident.

ViolationGeicoProgressiveNational Average Rates
Speeding ticket$1,856 $2,311 $2,313
At-fault accident$2,364 $2,822 $2,689
DUI conviction$3,376 $2,328 $3,277

*Based on the profile of a 35-year-old male driver. Speeding tickets account for drivers that went 21 to 25 mph over the limit.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Car Insurance Discounts

Geico offers more discounts than Progressive, but what you qualify for depends on your situation. Both companies offer common discounts like bundling and good student discounts. 

When shopping for car insurance, you should always pre-check with providers to see how many discounts you can get. Comparing quotes will help you know which insurance plan is cheaper for you.

DiscountGeicoProgressive
Good student
Multi-car
Multi-policy
Anti-theft device
Defensive driver
Military
Anti-lock brake system
Airbags
New vehicle
Good driver
Membership and employee
Driver’s education course
Seat belt use
Emergency deployment
Daytime running lights
Federal employee
Pay in full
Continuous coverage
Teen driver
Distant student
Homeowner
Online quote
Sign online
Paperless
Automatic payment

Geico Vs. Progressive Coverage

Geico and Progressive offer standard insurance coverage in all 50 states, along with a few great add-on options. The table below shows what Geico and Progressive have in common in terms of coverage–but also what each company offers that the other doesn’t.

Coverage Type

Description

Geico

Progressive

Liability Covers the injuries and property damages for other drivers and their passengers in accidents you cause

Collision Covers damage to your vehicle no matter who’s at fault in an accident

Comprehensive Protects your car from environmental factors like theft, vandalism, floods, fires, and fallen tree branches

Medical payments Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident

Personal injury protection Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who’s at fault

Underinsured / uninsured motorist Covers you after an accident with a driver who has no or too little insurance

Emergency roadside assistance Provides emergency services for tows, lockouts, tire changes, fluid deliveries, and winchings

Rental car reimbursement Pays for a rental car while your car is in the shop for covered repairs

Mechanical breakdown insurance Covers the cost of repairs if your car suffers natural mechanical breakdown (similar to a car warranty)

Gap insurance Covers the difference between your car’s actual cash value and what you owe on your loan after a total loss

Rideshare coverage Covers the gaps in car coverage for rideshare drivers that transport people or deliver goods for companies like Uber and Lyft

Custom parts and equipment value Covers car parts that drivers typically add on themselves, like custom wheels, enhanced stereos, and paint jobs

Geico Vs. Progressive: Usage-Based Insurance

Geico and Progressive both offer usage-based insurance programs that monitor your driving habits through mobile apps and personalize your car insurance rates depending on how safely you drive. However, Progressive’s Snapshot® program beats Geico’s DriveEasy for its higher mobile ratings and increased accessibility. 

You can achieve a significant discount at renewal from either DriveEasy or Snapshot, as long as you drive safely and score high enough. The downside is that both programs can spike premium costs if you speed too often, brake too hard, drive around during late hours, or practice other less-safe driving habits.

You can compare different factors between Geico’s DriveEasy and Progressive’s Snapshot in the table below:

Program Factor Geico DriveEasy Progressive Snapshot
Discount Mobile app Mobile app, plug-in device
Can premiums go up? Yes Yes
What it tracks
  • Speeding
  • Accelerating
  • Hard braking
  • Time of day
  • Distance driven
  • Phone use
  • Road type
  • Weather conditions
  • Speeding
  • Hard braking
  • Time of day
  • Day of the week
  • Fast starts
  • Phone use
Availability

DriveEasy is currently available in 37 states and Washington, D.C. 

Here are the states DriveEasy is not available in:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Hawaii
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Wyoming
Snapshot is available in Washington D.C. and all states except California.
Telematics app rating 3.3 stars out of 5.0 on Google Play and 3.4 stars out of 5.0 on the App Store 3.6 stars out of 5.0 on Google Play and 4.4 stars out of 5.0 on the App Store

You could get a bigger discount with DriveEasy, but Snapshot offers you the choice between using a mobile app or plug-in device to monitor your driving. Progressive’s program is also available in nearly all states, while Geico’s is only available in 37. 

The Snapshot app has higher customer satisfaction ratings on both Google Play and the App Store out of thousands of reviews, which is why we give Progressive the Best Usage-Based Insurance award.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Customer Service Reviews

Our research team monitored customer satisfaction for Geico and Progressive through many different avenues. We looked at consumer studies conducted by J.D. Power and what policyholders were saying about costs, claims, and customer service on the BBB and Trustpilot. 

We also conducted our own survey for customers, asking them questions about their experiences with the two providers. You can also find the typical reviews on Geico and Progressive’s mobile apps below.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Claims Reviews

Geico beats Progressive just slightly when it comes to claims service. In our August 2022 consumer survey, of the 1,111 people that reported a policy with Geico, about 40 percent reported they had filed a claim.

Geico policyholders gave their provider a rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars for how its claims adjusters and other service providers treated customers during the claims process. Altogether, customers gave their settlement scores 4.1 stars.

Progressive was just under Geico in scoring, with 31 percent of policyholders claiming they had filed a claim. Customers gave Progressive 4.1 out of 5.0 stars overall for its claim service, and a 4.0-rating for their satisfaction at their claim outcomes.

Geico Vs. Progressive: J.D. Power Consumer Studies

Geico narrowly edges Progressive out when it comes to customer satisfaction and the claims process. Geico scored 857 out of 1,000 points in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠, while Progressive scored 853 points. The study captures insights into each stage of the insurance shopping funnel.

In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠, Geico beats Progressive in customer satisfaction across most areas of the country, except for the Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Texas. However, neither provider has high rankings across most regions. 

Geico Vs. Progressive: BBB And Trustpilot Reviews

While both companies have high ratings across consumer websites, Geico and Progressive have low BBB customer ratings. Geico currently doesn’t have a customer rating, but its most recent rating was 1.1 stars out of 5.0, with over 700 complaints in the past year. Progressive has a 1.1-star rating out of 5.0 with over 1,900 complaints in the past year.

On Trustpilot, Progressive has 1.2 stars out of 5.0 and Geico has 2.3 stars. While this may seem concerning, Progressive’s rating comes from only 540+ reviews, and Geico’s just comes from 40+ reviews. 

These make for a small percentage of the total policyholder population for each of these providers. The numbers of complaints and negative reviews are also average for companies of these sizes.

Positive Reviews

On Trustpilot, customers happy with Progressive have noted its excellent customer service, citing that representatives stayed with them until their issues were resolved and always returned their calls. Some customers have talked about Progressive’s excellent rates for drivers with more infractions on their records compared to other companies.

For Geico, some customers have talked about how helpful, communicative, and polite the representatives are. Other customers have noted speedy and smooth claims processes.

Negative Reviews

There are many different things customers complained about for Geico on the BBB site. Some policyholders noted significant rate increases at renewal, poor communication from representatives, issues with canceling policies, and coverages they never signed up for added to policy renewals. 

For Progressive, one review noted that the auto insurance company wasn’t transparent during a policy sign-up, which resulted in an additional charge of money because of Snapshot. Other customers have reported issues with getting consistent communication from the company during the claims process.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Customer Satisfaction Survey

As mentioned, Geico beats Progressive slightly when it comes to how customers feel about claims service. However, the two providers are about neck and neck across most other categories in our consumer survey. You can compare the two below:

Survey CategoryGeico RatingProgressive Rating
Overall satisfaction4.14.1
Affordability3.73.7
Coverage selection3.83.9
Customer service from agents44
Claims service4.24.1

*Each rating is out of 5.0 points.

Surprisingly, while Geico is much cheaper than Progressive on average, the two companies received the same overall rating for Affordability. Keep in mind that rates are factored by many parts of a driver’s profile, and you could still end up getting cheaper rates from Progressive than the average premiums shown above.

Geico Vs. Progressive: Mobile App Ratings

Geico and Progressive are the same when it comes to the customer experience for their mobile apps. Customers are generally pleased with both apps, giving each high ratings out of 5.0 stars. These are not to be confused with the DriveEasy and Snapshot apps, which are different apps.

With Geico’s app, you can get a quote, call for a tow, and update your policy. Progressive’s mobile app allows you to pay your bills, report and add photos to claims, and view coverages, discounts, and policy details.

Source

Geico

Progressive

App Store 4.8 4.8
Google Play 4.6 4.6

Customers happy with the apps have mentioned how simple and straightforward they are, yet other customers have noted technical glitches with or difficulty navigating them.

Conclusion: Geico Or Progressive?

When it comes to a decision between Geico or Progressive, Geico is the better choice overall. Geico is extremely comparable to Progressive in terms of coverage options and discount opportunities, but its service ratings and cheaper average insurance costs put it ahead.

Even with this in mind, the best provider for you really depends on what your insurance needs. To find the best deal, you should compare quotes from both of these providers in addition to others.

Top Recommended Car Insurance Companies

Geico and Progressive are not your only options for car insurance. We recommend comparing all your options before selecting an insurance provider. You should consider reaching out to State Farm and USAA for insurance quotes. Both companies rank the highest in our review of the best car insurance companies.

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USAA: Best for Military Members

USAA is a top-rated insurer that’s provided coverage to drivers since 1922. USAA membership is only available to members of the U.S. armed forces, veterans, and their families. The company offers some of the best rates in the car insurance industry for good drivers with clean driving records.

The company offers six standard types of insurance, along with add-on coverage options including roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, car replacement assistance, accident forgiveness, and rideshare insurance.

State Farm: Best Overall Provider

State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Its policies are sold through a nationwide network of local State Farm insurance agents. The insurer’s rates are typically some of the lowest in the industry.

State Farm offers standard insurance, as well as emergency roadside assistance and rideshare driver coverage in most locations. The company also offers a wide variety of discounts to help policyholders lower their insurance premiums.

Geico Vs. Progressive Insurance: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions when comparing Geico and Progressive.

Is Geico less expensive than Progressive?

Yes, Geico’s rates are typically less expensive than Progressive’s by about 19 percent on average. However, rates can fluctuate depending on your driver profile, your vehicle, and the amount of coverage you want to purchase.

Who is bigger: Geico or Progressive?

Progressive is larger than Geico in terms of market share. Both providers offer coverage across all 50 states, but for car insurance, Progressive is the second-largest company in the U.S., holding 14.05 percent of the total market share. Geico operates as the third-largest company with 13.76 percent of the market.

Does Geico really save you money?

Yes, Geico offers many ways for policyholders to save money. The company features 16 different discounts, which is why our team of experts has given the provider our Best for Discounts award. On top of that, Geico already offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the country on average.

Is Geico good about paying claims?

Yes, Geico was awarded an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best. This shows that the company handles and pays out claims promptly. It also scored 874 out of 1,000 in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, right above the industry average.

What are the best car insurance companies?

We named State Farm, USAA, Geico, Travelers, and Erie Insurance the best car insurance companies in the nation based on cost, coverage, reliability, and service.

How We Rate Insurers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

  • Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.