Esurance vs. GEICO: Which Is the Best? (2024)

GEICO’s relatively low rates and top-tier IQ Score make it stand out.

Sarah Sharkey
Written bySarah Sharkey
Sarah Sharkey
Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer
  • 7+ years writing insurance and personal finance content

  • Contributor to top media, including USA Today

A passionate personal finance advocate, Sarah’s writing has graced the pages of many of the personal finance and insurance industries’ top web publications.

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Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated March 26, 2024

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As you begin your search for a new insurer, you’ll come across several companies worth considering, including GEICO and Esurance.

GEICO is one of the largest companies in the industry.[1] Esurance, which Allstate bought in 2011, no longer writes insurance policies. Instead, Allstate writes any policies you can purchase under the Esurance brand.

Both companies offer advantages and disadvantages. For example, GEICO tends to offer lower average rates than Esurance. But GEICO earned a customer satisfaction rating below the industry average — and below Allstate’s — in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.[2]

If you’ve narrowed down your choices to these two companies, it’s critical to look at the details carefully. Comparing rates, customer service, coverage options, and discounts can help you find the best option for your situation.

Quick Facts
  • On average, GEICO offers lower liability-only quotes.

  • GEICO offers policies in all 50 states. Esurance offers policies in 43 states.

  • GEICO offers more insurance options than Esurance, including boat insurance and pet insurance.

Esurance vs. GEICO: The verdict

GEICO earned an IQ Score of 4.2 and Esurance earned an IQ Score of 3.0. GEICO’s higher IQ Score gives it the win over Esurance.

GEICO also offers lower average rates than Allstate, which writes the policies for Esurance. This is true for both liability-only and full-coverage policies. However, both Esurance and GEICO tend to offer rates below the national average.

If you’re looking for helpful add-ons, like gap insurance and rideshare insurance, you might prefer working with Esurance.

The table below illustrates how Esurance and GEICO stack up against each other.

FactorEsuranceGEICO
IQ Score3.04.2
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score814 out of 1,000 (Allstate)833 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$62$53
Number of discounts516
Number of states where it operates4350
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

Esurance

Esurance, which is owned by Allstate, has a reputation for a seamless online car insurance experience. While Allstate tends to offer higher rates than GEICO, Allstate boasts an above-average claims satisfaction rating.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
Not rated
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+

A subsidiary of Allstate, Esurance is a tech-based car insurance company. The insurer claims its digital-oriented business model allows the company to reduce costs and pass savings to policyholders. 

Esurance may also attract its customers with its easy-to-use website and mobile app. You can get a quote in under six minutes and file a claim with an approval turnaround of as little as one day. 

Pros
  • High rated mobile app and online user experience

  • Has a unique and comprehensive telematics program

Cons
  • Only offered in a few states

  • Relatively expensive coverage compared to competitors

Marshall - March 21, 2024
Verified

Competitive Pricing, but Increased Premiums This Renewal

I haven't had a claim, so I can't comment on that aspect. However, they made the insurance purchase process easy.

Patricia - March 17, 2024
Verified

Fair

Not very good. They doubled the policy amount.

Cassaundra - March 8, 2024
Verified

Unhelpful in a Total Loss Situation

When my car was totaled, I had gap insurance, but they didn't want to help me at all. Once my policy is up, I will never sign back up with them again.
Read our Esurance review

GEICO

GEICO, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. While you can often find cheaper rates with GEICO, the company does have a below-average claims satisfaction rating.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
835
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$54/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$119/mo

A highly recognizable name in car insurance, GEICO is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. The company started out as the Government Employees Insurance Company, serving U.S. government workers and military personnel. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO also sells homeowner, flood insurance, life insurance, business insurance, and identity protection, among other products. A.M. Best gives GEICO its highest rating for financial stability and credit. However, GEICO has nearly twice as many complaints as expected in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers

  • Accident forgiveness available

Cons
  • High rates for drivers with certain violations, like DUIs

  • No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available

Radera - March 26, 2024
Verified

Don't Recommend

I wouldn't recommend them. They seem to look for any reason to cancel your policy.

Jan - March 25, 2024
Verified

Average

Rigid on pricing.

Linda - March 23, 2024
Verified

Best for the Money

They were helpful in trying to lower my bill.
Read our GEICO review

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Esurance DriveSense vs. GEICO DriveEasy

Esurance’s DriveSense and GEICO’s DriveEasy programs both offer safe drivers an opportunity to earn a discount on their car insurance premiums.

GEICO’s DriveEasy program is a free option for GEICO drivers with a supported smartphone who live in a participating state. To get started, download the mobile app. The app tracks your driving behavior to create a driving score. Drive safely enough, and you could save up to 25% on your premium.

Esurance’s DriveSense program also offers a customized discount based on your driving habits. After you download the app and enroll in the program, you’ll need to log at least 50 trips per term to tap into a customized discount. The amount you could save isn’t disclosed.

Esurance vs. GEICO: Which is the cheapest?

On average, GEICO offers cheaper rates than Esurance. But the reality is that your unique situation can affect your car insurance rates dramatically. Car insurance companies look at a wide range of factors to determine your premiums, including your age, gender, marital status, driving record, and more. This is why it’s important to compare quotes from several insurers to find the best policy for you.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Drivers without any incidents, like speeding tickets or at-fault accidents, typically pay lower rates with GEICO. Below, you can see how liability-only rates compare for drivers with a clean record.

Driver TypeEsuranceGEICO
Clean driving record$62$54
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

After a speeding ticket, drivers tend to pay higher insurance premiums. On average, GEICO offers lower rates to drivers with a speeding ticket.

Driver TypeEsuranceGEICO
Drivers with a speeding ticket$71$62
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for teen drivers

Young drivers pay more for car insurance than drivers with more experience behind the wheel. GEICO offers lower average car insurance premiums than Esurance for teen drivers.

Driver TypeEsuranceGEICO
18-year-old$107$74
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Drivers with bad credit can find cheaper car insurance premiums with GEICO than Esurance. But in general, drivers with poor credit face higher rates than drivers with good credit.[3]

Driver TypeEsuranceGEICO
Drivers with bad credit$67$63
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for senior drivers

GEICO offers senior drivers lower average premiums than Esurance. But shopping around can help senior drivers find the better choice for their situation.

Driver TypeEsuranceGEICO
Senior drivers$49$41
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Esurance vs. GEICO

Both GEICO and Esurance offer standard coverage options, like bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

However, there are some big differences in each company’s extra coverage options. For example, Esurance offers gap insurance and rideshare insurance. GEICO doesn’t offer either of these options.

The table below breaks down some of the optional coverages available from either insurer.

CoverageEsuranceGEICO
Gap insuranceYesNo
Rideshare insuranceYes (in some states)No
Emergency road service coverageYesYes
Rental car reimbursementYesYes
Travel expenses coverageNoNo

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Compare discounts: Esurance vs. GEICO

Both Esurance and GEICO offer a range of discounts to drivers.

However, GEICO drivers have access to more discounts than Esurance drivers. While both insurance companies offer a bundling discount, GEICO offers many more policy types than Esurance. For example, GEICO goes beyond renters insurance, homeowners insurance, and motorcycle insurance to offer boat insurance, business insurance, ATV insurance, pet insurance, flood insurance, life insurance, and more.

The table below illustrates which discounts are available to drivers through each insurance company.

DiscountEsuranceGEICO
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carNoYes
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoNo
Auto payNoNo
Student away at schoolNoNo
HomeownerYesNo
Alternative fuelNoNo

Esurance vs. GEICO FAQs

If you have questions about carrying car insurance through GEICO and Esurance, you can find answers here.

  • Is Esurance good at paying claims?

    Allstate, which owns Esurance, has an AM Best rating of A+, which means its financial strength is high and the company is able to pay out claims reliably.[4] Also, 69% of Esurance customers who file a photo claim see their claim approved for payment in just one day, according to the company.

  • What is the difference between Esurance and GEICO auto insurance?

    GEICO offers more insurance products and is typically more affordable for drivers than Esurance. Esurance, which is owned by Allstate, offers a seamless online customer experience.

  • How can you save money on car insurance?

    You can save money on car insurance by shopping around. When you compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies, you can lock in the lowest rates for your unique situation. Also, don’t forget to ask for more information if you think you qualify for a discount.

  • What discounts do Esurance and GEICO offer?

    Esurance and GEICO each offer a variety of discounts for bundling your auto insurance with other insurance types. Other discounts are available for good students, homeowners, signing up for a telematics program, and anti-theft devices.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings." Accessed February 5, 2024
  2. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed February 5, 2024
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed February 5, 2024
  4. AM Best. "AM Best Takes Various Credit Rating Actions on The Allstate Corporation and Its Key Subsidiaries." Accessed February 5, 2024
Sarah Sharkey
Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer

Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer who enjoys helping people make savvy financial decisions. She covered insurance and personal finance topics. You can find her work on Business Insider, Money Under 30, Rocket Mortgage, Bankrate, and more. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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