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Millions of drivers choose Geico or Progressive for auto insurance. They’re two of the largest car insurance companies in the U.S.
But Progressive and Geico take different approaches to providing car insurance, so which one you should choose depends on what’s most important to you.
Progressive works with thousands of agents while Geico primarily does business online or by phone.
Geico often beats Progressive’s rates, but not for all drivers or in all states.
Both have long — but different — lists of coverage options to customize policies.
To find which is best for you, take a look at how the two companies compare.
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Geico vs. Progressive: Average car insurance rates
If price is your top concern, Geico is likely to have the edge — but it depends on where you live.
» MORE: Best cheap car insurance
In an analysis of rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., NerdWallet found that Geico was about $25 a month cheaper than Progressive, on average, for good drivers with good credit buying full-coverage insurance.
Full coverage insurance isn’t a specific type of policy, but generally includes comprehensive and collision insurance and any additional state-mandated coverage types, like liability insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
» MORE: What is liability car insurance and how much do you need?
For drivers with poor credit and equal coverage, Geico’s rates were about $128 a month lower than Progressive’s, on average. Insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is likely comparable but not identical to a regular credit score, to determine how likely you are to file a claim. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan forbid insurers from using credit to set auto insurance rates.
Rates for drivers with an at-fault accident were also cheaper with Geico, $47 a month less, on average. However, Progressive’s rates for drivers with a recent DUI were $78 a month lower than Geico’s, on average.
These are averages, and your own rates will be different. For example, in New York and Montana, Progressive was cheaper than Geico, on average, for full coverage unless the driver had poor credit.
Geico was generally cheaper than Progressive for drivers with poor credit in all states except Maryland.
Since rates vary so much depending on your circ*mstances, it’s important to get car insurance quotes from both companies to know whether Progressive or Geico is cheapest for you.
Here are the annual average rates we found for full coverage for four driver profiles, plus minimum coverage rates for good drivers with good credit.
Driver profile | Geico | Progressive | Annual difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Good driver | $1,268 | $1,562 | $294 |
Driver with poor credit | $1,766 | $3,302 | $1,536 |
Driver with a recent at-fault accident | $1,991 | $2,556 | $565 |
Driver with a recent DUI | $2,892 | $1,959 | $933 |
Minimum coverage | $380 | $577 | $198 |
» MORE: Progressive auto insurance review
Geico vs. Progressive: NerdWallet ratings
Geico and Progressive each earned 4.5 stars in NerdWallet’s ratings of the best car insurance companies.
NerdWallet’s rating rewards customer-first practices and is based on many factors, including:
Website transparency.
Affordability and discounts.
Coverage options.
Consumer complaints against the insurer, based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
» MORE: Geico auto insurance review
Geico vs. Progressive: Customer satisfaction
Customers report a better experience with Geico than with Progressive, both when they’re shopping for insurance and after an insurance claim, according to J.D. Power.
The independent ratings firm ranked Geico first out of eight large insurers in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study while Progressive ranked seventh.
In J.D. Power’s 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, Geico ranked 12th among 24 insurers while Progressive landed at 21st.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
on NerdWallet
Geico vs. Progressive: Insurance options
Progressive offers coverage options in some states that aren’t available from Geico:
Gap insurance, which covers what you owe on a vehicle, less your deductible, if your car is totaled or stolen and your regular coverage isn’t enough to pay off the loan.
Custom parts and equipment insurance, which repairs or replaces items you add to your car, like a stereo.
Disappearing deductible, where accident-free drivers can earn a lower deductible, all the way down to $0.
Geico, on the other hand, offers mechanical breakdown coverage, which isn’t available from Progressive.
Feature | Geico | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
Usage-based insurance options | Yes, in 17 states | Yes, in all states except California and North Carolina |
Ridesharing insurance | Yes, in 40 states | Yes, in 39 states and D.C. |
Gap insurance | No | Yes |
Accident forgiveness | Yes, in 47 states | Yes |
Mechanical breakdown coverage | Yes | No |
Insurance for other vehicles (motorcycles, RVs, boats) | Yes | |
Homeowners insurance | Yes, read our Geico homeowners insurance review | Yes, read our Progressive homeowners insurance review |
Renters insurance | Yes, read our Geico renters insurance review | Yes, read our Progressive renters insurance review |
Umbrella liability | Yes | |
Flood insurance | Yes (through the National Flood Insurance Program) | |
Life insurance | Yes (only through partners) | |
Business insurance | Yes (through partners in some cases) | |
» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates
Both Geico and Progressive have websites and mobile apps where drivers can manage their auto insurance policy online. The mobile apps also let you pay premiums, get ID cards, call for roadside assistance and upload damage photos.
Other digital tools at Geico include:
DriveEasy app for Geico’s usage-based program, which uses technology to track your driving behavior and lower or raise your rate.
Vehicle Care, which alerts you when your car needs maintenance.
Locators for gas and parking.
Voice assistance through Google Home, Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa.
Find a Ride, which lets you use Geico’s mobile app to connect with a Lyft driver.
At Progressive, other online and mobile tools include:
Name Your Price, which helps you find a policy that fits your budget.
The Snapshot mobile app for Progressive’s usage-based insurance program. The app can give you details about your trips and driving behavior.
Virtual assistance through Google Home or via Progressive’s Flo Chatbot, a Facebook Messenger app.
» MORE: Get free car insurance quotes
