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Considering an auto insuraConsidering an auto insurance policy with GEICO? In this article, we’ll take a close look at GEICO insurance reviews, costs, coverage options, and more. Find out how the auto insurer covers drivers and handles claims, as well as what real-life customers have to say about their plans. Then see why we named GEICO the overall best auto insurance company in the industry.
GEICO auto insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., so it’s always an option no matter where you live in the U.S. We recommend getting car insurance quotes from GEICO and other providers so you can find the best rates for you and your household.
GEICO Overview
Founded in 1936 and headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, GEICO is one of the biggest car insurance companies in the nation. Accounting for almost 14 percent of the U.S. market share, the insurer says it wrote just under 34 billion insurance premiums in 2020 alone. In addition to car insurance, GEICO offers policies for homeowners insurance, renters insurance, life insurance, and more.
GEICO Auto Insurance Coverage Options
GEICO offers several types of car insurance, from basic coverage to comprehensive protection. See below for a detailed explanation of GEICO coverage options and benefits.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is required in most states and covers other drivers in accidents where you are at fault.
- Bodily injury liability insurance pays damages and costs associated with personal injuries and death.
- Property damage liability insurance pays for damage to another person’s car or property.
GEICO also offers umbrella insurance for especially serious accidents. Umbrella coverage pays out up to $1 million for damages.
Vehicle Coverage
GEICO vehicle coverage includes two types of insurance:
- Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle or object.
- Comprehensive coverage covers damages not caused by a collision. These include theft, vandalism, and weather-related incidents.
Medical Coverage
GEICO medical coverage may pay for medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses related to an accident. These costs are usually covered regardless of who is at fault.
- Medical payments coverage (MedPay) helps pay for medical bills, including funeral expenses, as a result of an accident.
- Personal injury protection (PIP) helps pay for medical bills as well as other accident-related expenses, such as lost wages.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This form of insurance may cover your injuries or property damage when the driver at fault for an accident cannot be identified (such as in a hit-and-run), is uninsured, or does not have adequate insurance to pay the complete cost of damages.
Additional GEICO Auto Insurance Coverages
- Rental car reimbursement: This covers up to $25 per day for a maximum of $750 per claim.
- Roadside assistance: This overage gives you access to emergency road services, including battery jump-start services, towing, flat-tire changes, and lockout services (up to $100). With the GEICO mobile app, you can request help 24/7 and use a GPS locator to help emergency services find you.
- Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI): MBI coverage pays for car repairs after an unexpected breakdown that is not the result of an accident, similar to an extended car warranty. This coverage lasts up to seven years or 100,000 miles. New or leased vehicles must be less than 15 months old and have fewer than 15,000 miles to be eligible for this type of policy.
- Rideshare insurance: This add-on covers the gap between what rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft cover and what your personal insurance policy covers.
GEICO Auto Insurance Cost
According to a 2021 report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) the average cost of auto insurance in 2018 (the last year for which data is available) across the U.S. was $1,056.55.
By our rate estimates, the cost of GEICO auto insurance is about 22 percent cheaper than the national average. It’s also among the cheapest five providers overall.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $1,113 |
| Erie Insurance | $1,113 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,229 |
| State Farm | $1,339 |
| Geico | $1,352 |
| Progressive | $1,397 |
| Nationwide | $1,533 |
| Travelers | $1,617 |
| National Average Cost | $1,732 |
| Farmers | $2,032 |
| The Hartford | $2,166 |
| Allstate | $2,430 |
What you pay for car insurance also depends on the state where you live. Average car insurance prices can vary by thousands of dollars from state to state. Reasons for this include the differences between state regulations, population density, propensity for disasters, and more.
Below, you can see how GEICO car insurance rate estimates compare to the average car insurance rate for each state. GEICO is cheaper than the state average in most cases but not all. Also, you can expect to find higher rates if you are a young driver, have accidents on your record, or have poor credit.
| State | State Average Cost Estimate | Geico Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,448 | $977 |
| Alaska | $1,287 | $1,039 |
| Arizona | $1,625 | $1,039 |
| Arkanksas | $1,449 | $1,558 |
| California | $2,339 | $1,668 |
| Colorado | $1,672 | $1,179 |
| Connecticut | $1,885 | $924 |
| Delaware | $1,921 | $1,398 |
| Washington, D.C. | $1,787 | $1,015 |
| Florida | $2,894 | $1,499 |
| Georgia | $1,548 | $1,251 |
| Hawaii | $1,238 | $851 |
| Idaho | $1,089 | $735 |
| Illinois | $1,474 | $1,170 |
| Indiana | $1,087 | $797 |
| Iowa | $1,095 | $965 |
| Kansas | $1,364 | $1,078 |
| Kentucky | $1,817 | $872 |
| Louisiana | $3,828 | $6,614 |
| Maine | $995 | $559 |
| Maryland | $1,941 | $1,715 |
| Massachusetts | $2,568 | $1,565 |
| Michigan | $4,390 | Data Not Available |
| Minnesota | $1,487 | $1,181 |
| Mississippi | $1,357 | $1,262 |
| Missouri | $1,741 | $2,049 |
| Montana | $2,214 | $1,349 |
| Nebraska | $1,372 | $1,272 |
| Nevada | $2,332 | $1,414 |
| New Hampshire | $1,181 | $861 |
| New Jersey | $2,108 | $1,340 |
| New Mexico | $1,356 | $1,007 |
| New York | $3,964 | $2,286 |
| North Carolina | $1,277 | $1,118 |
| North Dakota | $1,310 | $1,316 |
| Ohio | $923 | $748 |
| Oklahoma | $1,630 | $1,262 |
| Oregon | $1,284 | $1,218 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,405 | $1,111 |
| Rhode Island | $1,923 | $1,703 |
| South Carolina | $1,592 | $1,075 |
| South Dakota | $1,331 | $1,096 |
| Tennessee | $1,217 | $1,059 |
| Texas | $2,067 | $1,532 |
| Utah | $1,446 | $958 |
| Vermont | $1,013 | $851 |
| Virginia | $1,079 | $999 |
| Washington | $1,271 | $1,232 |
| West Virginia | $1,390 | $1,393 |
| Wisconsin | $946 | $760 |
| Wyoming | $1,499 | $1,565 |
GEICO Insurance Discounts
Beyond finding a cheaper base rate, there are ways to lower the price of your premiums, especially if you can qualify for discounts. GEICO’s available discounts include:
- Multi-Policy Discount: Varies
- Military Discount: 15 percent
- New Vehicle Discount: 15 percent
- Multi-Vehicle Discount: 25 percent
- Good Student Discount: 15 percent
- Anti-Lock Brakes Discount: 5 percent
- Federal Employee Discount: 8 percent
- Anti-Theft System Discount: 25 percent
- Membership/Employee Discount: Varies
Beyond finding a cheaper base rate, there are ways to lower the price of your premiums, especially if you can qualify for discounts. GEICO’s available discounts include:
- Multi-Policy Discount: Bundling your home insurance, life insurance, or other insurance products with your car insurance coverage will get you a discount.
- Military Discount: GEICO offers a 15 percent discount to active duty and retired military personnel, as well as officers in the National Reserves and National Guard.
- New Vehicle Discount: You can save 15 percent on your car insurance when you insure a new car that’s less than three years old.
- Multi-Vehicle Discount: GEICO offers up to a 25 percent for insuring more than vehicle under the same policy.
- Good Student Discount: Students who maintain good grades can get a 15 percent discount.
- Anti-Lock Brakes Discount: You can get a 5 percent policy discount for having anti-lock brakes installed on your vehicle.
- Federal Employee Discount: GEICO started out as a service only for U.S. government employees and still offers an 8 percent to people who work for the federal government.
- Anti-Theft System Discount: If you have a car alarm or other anti-theft equipment installed on your vehicle you can get up to 25 percent off of your car insurance premium.
- Membership/Employee Discount: GEICO employees can also get a discount on insurance.
- Daytime Running Lights Discount: You can get 1 percent off of your car insurance for having daytime running lights on your vehicle.
- Emergency Deployment Discount: GEICO offers a 25 percent discount to military members who are deployed unexpectedly.
- Good Driver Discount: If you stay accident-free for five years, you can get a 26 percent on your GEICO insurance.
- Seat Belt Use Discount: Using your seat belt can get you 15 percent off medical coverage or PIP.
- Drivers Education and Defensive Driving Course Discounts: GEICO rewards policyholders for taking approved driver’s education courses and defensive driving courses.
- Air Bag System Discount: You can get a 25 percent discount for having airbags installed on your driver’s side and 40 percent for full-front seat airbags.
Seniors are eligible for a GEICO “Prime Time” plan specifically designed for drivers older than 50. To be eligible, drivers must have a clean driving record with no violations or accidents in the past three years. Furthermore, no drivers under age 25 can operate the covered vehicle.
GEICO customers can protect themselves from rate increases after an accident through the provider’s accident forgiveness program. Accident forgiveness can be purchased as an add-on and is also awarded to customers who stay accident-free for a certain period of time. This perk is not available to drivers in California, Connecticut, or Massachusetts.
Finally, drivers who want to save on GEICO auto insurance policies can opt for a larger deductible to lower their insurance premiums.
How to Find Affordable GEICO Auto Insurance Plans
GEICO offers a free auto insurance quote engine as well as a coverage calculator and a rate pricing comparison tool.
The coverage calculator helps car insurance shoppers find the right type of coverage based on a series of questions about driving habits, assets, and other factors.
The rate comparison tool allows shoppers to see how GEICO’s rates stack up against other major insurance companies.
GEICO Auto Insurance Mobile App
GEICO’s online experience is enhanced with the GEICO Mobile app. The app won awards in 2016 and 2019 and has received several high rankings from the Dynatrace Scorecard, beating out other insurance mobile apps for its customization options and easy use. Many GEICO insurance reviews praise the app for its features and usability.
The GEICO Mobile app allows users to:
- Pay bills
- Access digital ID cards
- Request roadside assistance
- Use Kate, a virtual assistant, to answer questions
- View service history, maintenance schedules, and more with Vehicle Care from myCARFAX
Customers can even play an augmented reality game on the mobile app.
What Is GEICO Voice?
GEICO Voice allows customers to check their claim status or request roadside assistance (among other services) just by using their voice. This tool is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. We believe this feature is a nice plus since anyone who’s been in an accident knows how stressful filing a claim can be. Now you can just ask Alexa or Google for an update.
What is GEICO DriveEasy?
GEICO DriveEasy is a program that tracks your driving habits and adjusts the price of your insurance based on how you drive. Drivers using the mobile app can earn discounts by avoiding hard stops, speeding, or picking up the phone while using the car. This program could be one way for high-risk drivers to lower their premiums with GEICO.
Online Payments with GEICO Auto Insurance
Customers can set up automatic payments or pay without logging in through GEICO Express Services. This tool lets you pay your bill or view your ID without having to enter a user name and password. Instead, you use your ZIP code, phone number, policy number, or social security number.
GEICO also offers payment plans. You can make payments with a credit card, debit card, check, or your saved checking account info.
GEICO Insurance Reviews & Ratings
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) Score: A+
- BBB Customer Review Score: 1.2 / 5.0
- Trustpilot Score: 1.6 / 5.0
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A++ (Superior)
When it comes to industry ratings, GEICO performs well. According to the 2020 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM, customers reported their experiences with their local agents and call center representatives as above average compared to insurance companies such as Esurance, State Farm, and USAA. In 2020, GEICO also ranked highest among large insurers in the J.D. Power Insurance Shopping StudySM, but it ranked below average in the 2021 study.
There are other reasons to choose GEICO car insurance. One independent survey on Insure.com found 44 percent of customers selected GEICO auto insurance based on price, while 19 percent chose the provider for its reputation in the industry. GEICO is, after all, a highly recognized name. An overwhelming majority said they would renew.
GEICO Car Insurance Customer Reviews
On GEICO’s BBB page, common complaints included slow claims processing and poor roadside assistance experiences. While the company may have low Trustpilot and BBB customer review scores, this does not necessarily indicate poor customer service. Both scores are based on fewer than 500 GEICO insurance reviews – less than one percent of GEICO’s total customers.
We combed through GEICO insurance reviews across a range of sites and found that many mention the quality of GEICO’s website and service agents. However, GEICO customer service is not always consistent. Below is a representative sample of GEICO auto insurance reviews:
“I have been a policyholder for 18 years. The service on the website is great. It is simple to use and easy to understand. I have had problems with claims. I have had several claims in the past with the company and service has been iffy. … I think they have lost the luster, and service has become less important as time went on. At least the website is easy and hassle-free.” – Mickey W. via Trustpilot
“I was involved in an accident while on vacation in Florida last month. The Florida GEICO adjuster was extremely helpful, professional, and caring. Thanks to her, I was able to continue my trip without worrying about being treated fairly. She was honest about what I could expect and was very familiar with both Florida law and my New York policy. All of my questions were answered in a timely fashion and eased my mind. … As far as I’m concerned, GEICO has won a customer for life due to her professionalism and the service the company provides.” – MauiJim (GEICO customer of 6–9 years)
Conclusion: Best Overall Car Insurance
GEICO is a company that embraces mobile technology and makes coverage affordable through a number of discounts and programs. GEICO insurance reviews show that many customers appreciate the company for its reputation and ease of use. But as with most insurance companies, some end up disappointed with aspects of the claims process and customer service.
Based on our GEICO insurance review, we rate it as the Best Overall car insurance provider, since the company performs well in the majority of our research categories.
Does GEICO charge a cancellation fee?
GEICO does not charge a cancellation fee to cancel your car insurance policy. You can cancel at any time or set a cancellation date for the future if you prefer.
How long has GEICO been in business?
GEICO has been in business since 1936 when it was founded as an insurance company for federal government employees. Today, the company is the second-largest auto insurance provider in the country and is available to nearly everyone.
How long does it take GEICO to refund a payment?
It takes GEICO around 15 days to process a refund. Once your refund is processed, it should take around a week to receive a check.
How does GEICO pay claims?
GEICO pays claims by check once the accident investigation has finished. The company usually sends a check out within 48 hours after the completion of the investigation.
What time does GEICO process payments?
Once you make a payment, GEICO will process this payment within five business days. You can pay with an online check, credit card, debit card, or bank transfer (EFT), either manually or by setting up automatic payments (credit/debit cards and EFT only).
Does GEICO offer GAP insurance?
GEICO does not currently offer Guaranteed Asset Protection, or GAP insurance, to its policyholders. You may be able to get this coverage, which covers the difference between the actual value of your vehicle and the amount you owe on it, from your financing company.
What is the GEICO claims department number?
GEICO’s claims department number is (800) 841-3000. You can also file a claim or check the status of a current claim at any time using the GEICO mobile app.
Original article: GEICO Insurance Reviews 2021 [Cost, Service, & Coverage]
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