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Bottom line: Geico is a great choice for drivers looking to keep their insurance cost as low as possible, while Progressive is especially good for those without a perfect driving record.
2024 Award Winner
Best for price conscious consumersGeico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for coverage options and discountsProgressive
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Geico vs. Progressive car insurance: Which is cheaper?
Both of these auto insurers are reasonably priced, with premiums that are generally lower than the national average for most types of drivers. However, in a side-by-side comparison, Geico is usually the cheaper of the two, on average.
Type of Driver
Which Is Cheaper?
Geico's Annual Rate
Progressive's Annual Rate
Average drivers
Geico
$1,506
$2,104
Teens
Geico
$4,537
$6,314
Drivers with a speeding ticket
Geico
$2,061
$2,576
Drivers with a DUI
Progressive
$3,688
$2,535
Drivers with poor credit
Geico
$2,328
$3,108
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.
In general, Geico is the cheaper of the two insurers. However, keep in mind that there are many different factors that insurers use to determine yourinsurance premium, so while these are the averages, the quotes you obtain might not align with what you see in the chart. For example, if you're a good driver with poor credit, there's no guarantee that Geico will be the cheaper option for you, so it's still worth comparison shopping.
Geico vs. Progressive: Coverage comparison
Both Geico and Progressive offer a variety of coverage for motorists. They offer the standard types of auto insurance coverage drivers need, including:
Liability coverage
Medical payments coverage
Personal injury coverage
Collision and comprehensive coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Emergency roadside assistance
Rental car reimbursement
Mechanical breakdown insurance
Both Geico and Progressive offer standard auto policies, as well as motorcycle and ATV insurance, RV insurance, boat insurance, as well as insurance for rideshare drivers and collector cars. Plus, both offer other types of insurance besides auto, or partner with other insurers that do -- for example, Progressive has a large homeowners insurance business -- and they offer discounts to drivers who bundle different types of insurance.
Geico vs. Progressive: Discounts
Both Geico and Progressive offer a wide range of available car insurance discounts. Some of them are rather common, such as a discount for completing a defensive driving course, while others are a bit more unique. It's also important to mention that even if some of these discounts are listed as a "no," it only means that they aren't specifically mentioned on that company's website, but they still might be factored into the premium you are quoted.
Discount
Geico
Progressive
Air bags
Yes
No
Anti-lock brakes
Yes
No
Anti-theft system
Yes
No
Daytime running lights
Yes
No
New vehicle
Yes
No
Safe driver
Yes
Yes
Defensive driving / Driver education course
Yes
Yes
Good student discount
Yes
Yes
Federal employees
Yes
No
Military
Yes
Some
Multi-vehicle
Yes
Yes
Bundling coverage
Yes
Yes
Continuous insurance
No
Yes
Discount for adding a teen driver
No
Yes
Accident forgiveness
No
Yes
Homeownership
No
Yes
Online signing
No
Yes
Data source: Geico and Progressive.
Since Geico is owned by conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, it also offers insurance discounts to employees of certain other Berkshire subsidiaries. Berkshire Hathaway shareholders can also get a discount of as much as 8% on their premiums.
It's also worth noting that Geico is the only one of the two to offer discounts for federal employees and members of the military nationwide. Geico's roots are in insuring government workers (the name stands for Government Employees Insurance Company), and this is still apparent in its discount policies.
On the other hand, Progressive's discounts are typically better when it comes to factors like accident forgiveness and customer loyalty. It also offers generous discounts for customers who decide to obtain quotes online and who agree to electronic delivery of documents.
Geico vs. Progressive: Collision repair
Geico's claims process is fairly straightforward, and drivers can report claims by phone or through their mobile app or website. For collisions in particular, Geico's Auto Repair Xpress® program provides one-stop shops for estimates, repairs, and rental cars, with repair work guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle.
Progressive has a similar program with its network of pre-approved repair shops. Once you bring your car (or have it towed) to one of the shops in its network, Progressive's claims representatives handle the rest, even arranging for a rental car. But it's worth pointing out that in either case, you aren't required to use the insurer's repair shops -- you can use a repair shop of your choice, but you'll have to navigate the claims process on your own.
Geico vs. Progressive: Customer experience
Both of these insurers are known for their readily available quotes and strong customer service. Geico allows customers to obtain coverage entirely online from start to finish, and its policies can be easily managed through its highly rated mobile app. Its advertisements often say that "15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance," and as you can see in the chart above, Geico puts its money where its mouth is by offering affordable coverage.
Geico has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and it has generally strong customer service ratings from most major sources, including J.D. Power. Progressive also holds an A+ rating from the BBB, but isn't as highly rated when it comes to customer service. Its J.D. Power ratings are generally lower, and Progressive has a "poor" customer service score of 1.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on hundreds of reviews. However, with a 1.3, Geico doesn't score much better on that platform.
Geico vs. Progressive auto insurance: Which is right for you?
Geico and Progressive are both solid choices when it comes to auto insurance, especially if you prefer to manage your policy online or via mobile app. For most types of drivers, Geico is the cheaper of the two, at least when it comes to their average policy, while Progressive does a particularly good job with outside-the-box discounts and forgiving past accidents.
However, whenever you are shopping for auto insurance, it's important to compare quotes from several different insurers. Even though Geico has lower premiums on average doesn't mean that you will get your lowest quote from it. Many insurers (including these two) allow you to obtain a quote quickly and easily, so it could be well worth the time you spend to explore your options.
The Picks
Offer
Best For
Next Steps
Geico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Great For: Best for coverage options and discounts
Geico is one of the cheaper insurance choices for the average driver, with lower premiums than most other major auto insurers. It offers a variety of discounts, especially when it comes to federal employees, military members, and employees of the same parent company (Berkshire Hathaway).
Progressive is an excellent all-around choice for auto insurance, but it could be an especially smart choice for drivers who have been in accidents or who have tickets on their record. However, it's always important to shop around for coverage to make sure you're getting the best possible rates.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Matt Frankel has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends Progressive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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