GEICO vs. The Hartford: Which Insurance Company Is Better in 2026?
GEICO tends to offer drivers better rates. But drivers are generally happier with The Hartford’s claims process.
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Written bySarah Sharkey
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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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Edited bySara Getman
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Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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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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Table of contents
As a top-three insurance company in terms of size, GEICO’s nearly 6% market share far exceeds The Hartford’s market share of 1.6%.[1]
GEICO offers drivers more affordable rates, but it also has more discounts than The Hartford. That said, The Hartford’s above-average claims satisfaction rate makes it a contender for many drivers, and it also offers special discounts to AARP members.
Here’s what you should know about GEICO versus The Hartford’s car insurance options, from rates to discounts to real customer reviews.
Quick Facts
On average, liability-only coverage costs $151 per month from The Hartford and $87 from GEICO, according to Insurify data.
The Hartford has a higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
GEICO doesn’t offer gap insurance.
GEICO vs. The Hartford: Our verdict
Drivers will find ample insurance coverages and add-ons through either GEICO or The Hartford. But GEICO offers cheaper average rates and more discounts, which could make it the better choice for drivers seeking savings.
That said, The Hartford outshines GEICO in terms of customer service, with above-average J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction ratings.[2] Plus, The Hartford offers a telematics program with the potential to save up to 40% on premiums as a safe driver.
While both car insurance companies are worthwhile, the right choice will vary based on your situation. Take the time to compare quotes to decide which insurer is best for you.
GEICO vs. The Hartford
 |  |
|---|---|
Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $114/mo* | Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $197/mo* |
Overall rating 4.0 | Overall rating 4.2 |
Value for money 3.7/5 | Value for money 3.2/5 |
Customer service 4.0/5 | Customer service 3.3/5 |
Claims handling 4.1/5 | Claims handling 3.7/5 |
Special highlight Teen driversAI-generated from 7175 user reviews | Special highlight Senior driversAI-generated from 863 user reviews |
Data in this table has been sourced from Insurify’s users who have indicated they are insured with the listed providers
GEICO: Best for affordable rates
| User Reviews | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.2 /10 |
| 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. | $87/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. | $141/mo |
4.0
Best choiceBased on 14,385 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about GEICO
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
How drivers feel about GEICO
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
Reviews (7,175)
Francisco
Verified Review
Geico
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
Frustrating. No accidents or tickets in more than 10 years, and they keep raising my policy.
Ricky
Verified Review
Trustworthy Insurance for Veterans
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
They have good customer service and they’re a great insurance company with acceptable prices.
Randolph
Verified Review
Geico
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
If you get stuck on the road, call them.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
637NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.59A.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++Why we picked this company
GEICO is well-known for offering affordable premiums to drivers. In addition to relatively cheap rates, GEICO drivers can make use of a wide array of discounts to potentially lower their costs. But GEICO earned a below-average rating for claims satisfaction in the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which might not bode well for a great customer experience.
Pros
Affordable rates
Many available discounts
Rideshare and mechanical breakdown coverage available
Cons
Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating
Low Trustpilot rating
Gap insurance not available
The Hartford: Best for customer satisfaction
| User Reviews | 4.2 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.3 /10 |
| 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. | $151/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. | $243/mo |
4.2
Best choiceBased on 1,677 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about The Hartford
Drivers appreciate the prompt customer service and reliable coverage but are frustrated by the significant annual price increases and limited policy options.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Senior drivers
Bundling discounts
Customer service
How drivers feel about The Hartford
Drivers appreciate the prompt customer service and reliable coverage but are frustrated by the significant annual price increases and limited policy options.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Senior drivers
Bundling discounts
Customer service
Reviews (863)
John
Verified Review
High Insurance Rate
Reviewed in Pennsylvania on January 2026
High price for cars that are driven few miles per year.
Debra
Verified Review
The Hartford
Reviewed in Virginia on January 2026
Good insurance but very expensive.
Philip
Verified Review
Too Expensive
Reviewed in Nevada on January 2026
Too expensive.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
642NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.52A.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-Why we picked this company
Although The Hartford has more expensive rates than GEICO, it scores better in terms of customer satisfaction. Some drivers report a negative experience, but The Hartford is generally known for responsive customer service.
Plus, good drivers can potentially save 40% by signing up for the company’s telematics program, and AARP members can get exclusive discounts.
Pros
Robust telematics discount
Above-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating
Gap insurance available
Cons
Poor reviews on Better Business Bureau (BBB) website
Poor Trustpilot rating
Higher rates than some competitors
The Hartford vs. GEICO: Which is cheaper?
In general, GEICO offers lower auto insurance rates than The Hartford. But keep in mind that your exact costs will vary based on your profile. For example, people with a clean driving record may pay lower car insurance premiums at both companies than drivers with a history of traffic violations. Teens also pay more than adult drivers.
Get car insurance quotes across multiple insurers to find competitive rates. Also consider your needs. A liability-only policy will likely cost less than a full-coverage policy that includes collision and comprehensive coverage.
You’ll find average car insurance rates for different types of drivers for both insurance companies in the table below.
Driver Type  | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Adult drivers | $85 | $133 |
| Liability-only coverage | $87 | $151 |
| Full coverage | $141 | $243 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $118 | $228 |
| Drivers with a DUI | $125 | $240 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | $110 | $215 |
| Poor credit drivers | $105 | $200 |
| Good credit drivers | $66 | $138 |
| Teen drivers | $155 | $407 |
| Senior drivers | $63 | $87 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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GEICO vs. The Hartford car insurance discounts
GEICO and The Hartford each offer a big selection of discounts. For example, you’ll find savings for bundling multiple insurance products, like renters insurance, homeowners insurance, or life insurance, through each company.
GEICO offers more discounts, including military, good student, and defensive driving course discounts. While The Hartford offers fewer discounts, you might appreciate the alternative fuel discount and the AARP discount available through this insurer.
You’ll find the discounts each insurer offers highlighted below.
Discount | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Safe driver | ✔ | ✔ |
| Defensive driving course | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-car | ✔ | ✔ |
| Low mileage | ✖ | ✖ |
| Telematics | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-theft device | ✔ | ✔ |
| New car | ✔ | ✖ |
| Military/affiliation | ✔ | ✖ |
| Good student | ✔ | ✖ |
| Loyalty | ✖ | ✖ |
| Auto pay | ✔ | ✔ |
| Student away at school | ✔ | ✖ |
| Homeowner | ✔ | ✖ |
| Alternative fuel | ✖ | ✔ |
| Pay in full | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare customer satisfaction and financial strength
Both The Hartford and GEICO boast strong financial stability ratings. The Hartford scored significantly higher than GEICO in the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which indicates more customers are happy with The Hartford’s claims-handling process. But both companies have a large number of poor BBB reviews.
The table below shows how these companies stack up against each other.
Score | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 9.2 | 8.3 |
| Customer reviews | 4/5 (14,300 reviews) | 4.2/5 (1,671 reviews) |
| J.D. Power | 697 | 716 |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A+ |
| NAIC complaint index | 0.75 | 1.52 |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.11 out of 5 stars (~1,400 reviews) | 1.13 out of 5 stars (~260 reviews) |
Recent customer reviews of GEICO car insurance
If you’re looking for honest feedback from GEICO drivers, you’ll find real, verified GEICO insurance reviews below.
Francisco
Verified Review
Geico
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
Frustrating. No accidents or tickets in more than 10 years, and they keep raising my policy.
Ricky
Verified Review
Trustworthy Insurance for Veterans
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
They have good customer service and they’re a great insurance company with acceptable prices.
Randolph
Verified Review
Geico
Reviewed in Florida on January 2026
If you get stuck on the road, call them.
Robert
Verified Review
Car Insurance!!!
Reviewed in New York on January 2026
My questions are always answered in a timely manner and the rate is way better than when I was insured with Allstate and State Farm. I'm extremely happy, but overall insurance rates are outrageously high. I personally think large insurance companies are just greedy and they can get away with charging whatever they want.
…
Recent customer reviews of The Hartford car insurance
Insurify collects reviews from real, verified customers of The Hartford to get an inside look at how drivers enjoy working with the insurer. You’ll find honest feedback below.
John
Verified Review
High Insurance Rate
Reviewed in Pennsylvania on January 2026
High price for cars that are driven few miles per year.
Debra
Verified Review
The Hartford
Reviewed in Virginia on January 2026
Good insurance but very expensive.
Philip
Verified Review
Too Expensive
Reviewed in Nevada on January 2026
Too expensive.
Robbye
Verified Review
Fair
Reviewed in Washington on January 2026
Huge increase with no tickets, no wrecks, and no reason for the increase.
…
GEICO DriveEasy vs. The Hartford TrueLane
Both GEICO and The Hartford offer telematics programs that can lead to savings for safe drivers who allow the insurer to track their driving habits.
Unlike a pay-per-mile program, a telematics program considers how you drive. Both programs look at details like your speed, braking, and phone usage to determine whether to offer a discount for safe driving.
Safe drivers can find especially worthwhile savings with The Hartford’s TrueLane, with up to 40% off premiums for safe driving. But TrueLane’s limited availability will make GEICO’s DriveEasy a more accessible option.
Explore the differences between GEICO’s DriveEasy and The Hartford’s TrueLane programs in the table below.
Feature | GEICO DriveEasy | The Hartford TrueLane |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drivers seeking savings who enjoy gamified rewards | Safe drivers seeking significant savings in a handful of states |
| Savings potential | Save between 5% and 15% | Up to 15% off at signup; up to 40% off at renewal, depending on driving habits |
| How it works | Uses your phone to track speed, braking, and acceleration | Uses your smartphone’s sensors to track speed, braking, and phone distractions |
| Availability | Most states (not available in California, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont) | Limited availability (available only in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, Montana, and Oregon) |
| Data tracked | Speed, acceleration, braking, mileage, phone use | Speed, hard braking, acceleration, and phone usage |
| Mobile app rating (App Store/Google Play) | 4.8/4.5 | 4.4/3.2 |
| Average discount for good drivers | Not disclosed by GEICO | Not disclosed by The Hartford |
| Driver feedback tools | Real-time trip scoring, feedback, and the ability to earn streaks | Receive a driving score for each trip and tips to help you improve |
| Gamified rewards | ✔ (earn streaks) | ✖ (drivers are scored on driving, but no rewards beyond savings) |
| Compatibility | Smartphone app only | Smartphone app only |
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Compare coverages: GEICO vs. The Hartford
GEICO and The Hartford each offer a big selection of car insurance coverages. Notably, GEICO offers rideshare insurance. But rideshare drivers seeking coverage through The Hartford will need to get a policy through Via Transportation Inc., which partners with The Hartford. Also, The Hartford offers gap insurance, while GEICO doesn’t.
The table below offers a breakdown of what types of coverage these auto insurance companies offer.
Coverage | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Property damage liability (PD) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Personal injury protection (PIP insurance) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage (UIM/UM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Collision | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comprehensive | ✔ | ✔ |
| Roadside assistance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rental reimbursement | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gap insurance | ✖ | ✔ |
| Classic car insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rideshare insurance | ✔ | ✔ (through Via Transportation, Inc.) |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance | ✔ | ✖ |
| Full glass coverage | ✔ (Under comprehensive) | ✔ |
GEICO vs. The Hartford FAQs
As you consider whether GEICO or The Hartford is the right insurer for you, the following answers may help.
Which is cheaper: GEICO or The Hartford?
Generally, GEICO offers more affordable coverage than The Hartford.
Does AARP really save you money on car insurance?
Yes. AARP members can receive a discount of up to 10% on their car insurance policies through The Hartford.
Where does GEICO rank in insurance?
GEICO is the third-largest insurer in the U.S. But the company earned a below-average rating in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
Is The Hartford good at paying claims?
Yes. The Hartford is good at paying claims, as indicated by its financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best, which indicates strong financial stability.[3] Additionally, the company earned above-average marks in the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, indicating customers are happy with their claims handling.
How do you talk to a real person at GEICO?
If you want to get in touch with a real person at GEICO, you can call 1 (800) 207-7847. You may need to request to speak with a representative or agent.
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Sources
- NAIC. "PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY 2024 TOP 25 GROUPS AND COMPANIES BY COUNTRYWIDE PREMIUM."
- Jdpower.com. "2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study."
- Ambest.com. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company."
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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.
Sarah has been a contributor at Insurify since September 2022.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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.