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

GEICO has more competitive auto insurance rates for most drivers and earns higher marks for customer satisfaction in many markets than Travelers.

Christy Rakoczy
Written byChristy Rakoczy
Christy Rakoczy
Christy Rakoczy

Christy Rakoczy has been a personal finance and insurance writer for over a decade. Her work has been published on USA Today, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Credit Karma, Forbes Advisor, and more. Christy has a JD from UCLA School of Law and previously worked as a data analyst for Blue Cross and as a paralegal studies instructor before transitioning to writing full time.

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 HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 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 November 19, 2024

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GEICO and Travelers are two of the largest auto insurance companies in the U.S., and if you’re in the market for new coverage, you’re probably comparing these companies.

GEICO is the third-largest auto insurance company in America and insures more than 28 million vehicles. The company has earned high marks for financial stability and an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 9.0 thanks to its affordable rates, 24/7 customer service, and numerous available discounts.

Travelers has solid financial strength ratings and a 165-year history of offering automobile insurance. Travelers earned an IQ Score of 9.0 and has received top marks for customer service in some markets.[1] However, customer reviews are mixed online.[2]

Quick Facts
  • GEICO and Travelers both offer an abundance of discounts.

  • Travelers has a slightly higher Insurify Quality (IQ) Score than GEICO.

  • Both have agents nationwide, but Travelers’ network is larger.

GEICO vs. Travelers: The verdict

GEICO car insurance offers more affordable rates than Travelers for both full-coverage and liability-only policies. Drivers with a clean record, with an accident, or with a DUI will all find GEICO’s average car insurance rates more affordable than Travelers’ rates.

GEICO auto insurance also outranked Travelers in most markets for customer satisfaction in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance study, and it has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), compared to an A for Travelers.[3] [4]

However, for drivers who want to work with a licensed insurance agent, GEICO has a much smaller network, with around 300 agents and brokers nationwide. This is compared to 13,500 for Travelers.

In the table below, you can see some other ways these insurers stack up against one another.

Factor
GEICO
Travelers
IQ Score9.09.0
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score818 out of 1,000806 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$54$89
Number of available discounts1612
Number of states where it operates5043
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.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

GEICO

GEICO is the third-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and has earned good marks both with the BBB and on J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.1
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.
9.0/10
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.
$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

GEICO, a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway Group, is the third-largest U.S. insurer by market share. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO sells homeowners, renters, flood, travel, life, and business insurance, among other products. The insurer offers numerous car insurance discounts to help drivers save. For example, drivers who are accident-free for five years could earn 22% off premiums, and good students could earn 15% off. GEICO’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index score is below average, meaning it receives fewer consumer complaints than average.

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

  • Accident forgiveness available

  • A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best

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

  • No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available

  • Lower customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power

Read more driver reviews of GEICO
James - November 19, 2024
Verified

Unsatisfactory Experience with Geico

Steer clear. They increase your rate at every renewal.

Edward - November 18, 2024
Verified

Experience with Geico

Reliable.

Chris - November 18, 2024
Verified

Poor

The customer service is below average and terrible.

Travelers

Travelers is a nationwide insurer with a large agent network that beat GEICO in the mid-Atlantic market on J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.4
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.
9.0/10
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.
$89/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.
$191/mo

Travelers is the sixth-largest insurer in the U.S. by market share and has been in business for more than 150 years. The company sells auto, homeowners, renters, flood, pet, and other types of insurance. In addition to standard auto coverages, like liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, Travelers offers gap insurance, accident forgiveness, new car replacement, and more optional coverages. Drivers can save with numerous discounts, including for bundling policies or insuring a new car. Travelers’ IntelliDrive program rewards policyholders with up to a 30% discount for safe driving.

Pros
  • Accident forgiveness available

  • Offers discount for hybrid and electric cars

  • A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best

Cons
  • Rideshare coverage not available in all states

  • High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau

  • Higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Read more driver reviews of Travelers
Nancy - November 18, 2024
Verified

Checking for Better Rate

Really good.

Jim - November 12, 2024
Verified

Typical

They were fair but within a month, they raised their premium by over $50.

Kenneth - November 5, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Excellent

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GEICO DriveEasy vs. Travelers IntelliDrive

DriveEasy is a GEICO program offered in 38 states. Drivers with an iPhone or Android device can download the GEICO mobile app to participate. The app measures factors like phone use while driving, hard braking, speeds around corners, how smoothly you drive, how often you drive, and when you drive. Based on data the app collects, GEICO will assign you a driving safety score. This score is considered when setting rates each time you renew your policy. The better your score, the lower your premium costs will be.

Travelers IntelliDrive is a similar program but is available in 43 states compared to GEICO’s 38. IntelliDrive measures speed, acceleration, braking, time of day you drive, and distraction (phone use) to evaluate your driving performance. After 90 days for new customers, the company will adjust your premiums based on your driving history. Prices can also be adjusted at renewal, allowing safe drivers to save up to 30%.

GEICO vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?

GEICO offers less expensive full-coverage and liability-only policies both for drivers with a clean record, as well as for customers who are considered high-risk drivers. This includes people with a DUI or a speeding ticket on their driving history.

In some cases, Travelers’ average rates are nearly double what GEICO charges typical motorists with the same background. So Travelers may not be the best option for people who are focused on getting the absolute best auto insurance rates. However, many factors affect the price each driver pays for car insurance — including age, marital status, and driving history — so comparing quotes is important.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

GEICO offers more affordable average rates than Travelers for drivers with a clean record.

Driver Type
GEICO
Travelers
Clean driving record$54$89
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

Drivers who have a speeding ticket will find GEICO offers lower average rates for both full-coverage and liability-only policies.

Driver Type
GEICO
Travelers
Drivers with a speeding ticket$65$89
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

GEICO’s average auto insurance rates for teen drivers are well below what Travelers charges for young drivers.

Driver Type
GEICO
Travelers
18-year-old$81$171
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

Travelers charges higher average premiums for drivers with a bad credit history, while GEICO’s lowest average rates for drivers with bad credit are more affordable.

Driver Type
GEICO
Travelers
Drivers with bad credit$61$107
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

Senior drivers in their 60s and 70s will find GEICO charges a lower rate on average for older motorists buying auto insurance coverage compared to Travelers.

Driver Type
GEICO
Travelers
Senior drivers$41$66
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: GEICO vs. Travelers

Both Travelers and GEICO offer standard types of insurance coverage, including liability, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance. Both also offer some customizable add-ons, including emergency roadside assistance coverage and mechanical breakdown coverage.

Travelers provides rideshare insurance in some states, though, while GEICO doesn’t offer this coverage. Travelers also offers gap insurance. It’s often a good idea for drivers with loans or leases to buy gap coverage, as this type of auto insurance pays the difference between the amount the insurer pays when a car is a total loss and the amount still due on any vehicle loans.

The chart below provides you with a detailed look at the coverages available from each insurer.

Coverage
GEICO
Travelers
Emergency road serviceYesYes
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Mechanical breakdown YesNo
Gap insuranceNoYes
Rideshare insuranceNoIn CO and IL

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Compare discounts: GEICO vs. Travelers

The discounts offered by GEICO and Travelers vary slightly. For example, while Travelers provides special savings for teens away from home, it doesn’t offer a military discount. The reverse is true for GEICO.

This chart provides you with a broad look at the discounts available from each insurer.

Discount
GEICO
Travelers
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesNo
New carYesYes
Military/affiliationYesNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyYesYes
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolNoYes
HomeownerNoYes
Alternative fuelNoYes

GEICO vs. Travelers FAQs

Still want to know more about GEICO vs. Travelers insurance? Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions below to learn more about each auto insurance company.

  • Is GEICO better than Travelers car insurance?

    GEICO has more affordable average rates than Travelers but a smaller agent network. People who prefer to work with an insurance agent may prefer Travelers despite the higher rates. But remember that the right insurer for you will depend on your situation, including your driving history and what you prioritize when selecting an insurance company.

  • Which company is GEICO’s biggest competitor?

    GEICO has many competitors, but State Farm is currently the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. GEICO is the third-largest company.

  • How reliable is Travelers insurance?

    It’s a little unclear. Travelers received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, but the company has received mixed customer reviews, earning only 1.02 out of a possible 5 stars on the BBB website.[4]

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. J.D. Power. "Usage-Based Auto Insurance Takes Center Stage as Satisfaction Flatlines, J.D. Power Finds."
  2. Trustpilot. "Travlers."
  3. Better Business Bureau. "GEICO."
  4. Better Business Bureau. "Travelers Insurance."
Christy Rakoczy
Christy Rakoczy

Christy Rakoczy has been a personal finance and insurance writer for over a decade. Her work has been published on USA Today, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Credit Karma, Forbes Advisor, and more. Christy has a JD from UCLA School of Law and previously worked as a data analyst for Blue Cross and as a paralegal studies instructor before transitioning to writing full time.

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 HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 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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