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

GEICO is the best choice for most drivers, as USAA is available only to military members and their families.

Anna Baluch
Written byAnna Baluch
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Anna BaluchInsurance Writer
  • 4+ years writing insurance and personal finance content

  • MBA from Roosevelt University

Anna leverages her personal finance and insurance knowledge to create educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions.

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Danny Smith
Edited byDanny Smith
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Danny Smith
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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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 14, 2024

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If you’re in the market for car insurance, you may come across GEICO and USAA. GEICO has been around since 1936 and has a reputation as a leading car insurance company in the United States.

USAA first started in 1922. Today, it serves active-duty military members, former service members, and their families by providing car insurance and other policies and financial services.

Before deciding whether to purchase auto insurance coverage from GEICO or USAA, it’s a good idea to research companies and shop around. Compare car insurance rates, coverage levels, customer service, and discounts. Use this guide to decide whether GEICO, USAA, or another insurer is your best choice.

Quick Facts
  • USAA offers cheaper car insurance to the military community than GEICO.

  • Both USAA and GEICO have various discounts to help you save money on coverage.

  • You can score lower rates through the GEICO DriveEasy and USAA SafePilot telematics programs if you’re a safe driver.

GEICO vs. USAA: The verdict

USAA has lower car insurance rates and a higher Insurify Quality (IQ) Score than GEICO, but its auto policies are only available to drivers connected to the military. GEICO is a strong choice for people unaffiliated with the military.

FactorGEICOUSAA
IQ Score4.24.5
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score818 out of 1,000876 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$54$46
Number of discounts1610
Number of states where it operates5050
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

GEICO is a large car insurance company that serves a variety of drivers with affordable rates and a wide array of discounts. It has excellent financial strength and is rated above average for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power.[1] Liability-only car insurance with GEICO costs $54 per month, while full-coverage car insurance costs $119.

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

Everything good except the price.

RAY - December 4, 2023
Verified

I have not had problems; prices just remain high with little to no customer service and little benefit from 26+ years of customer loyalty.

Elizabeth - December 3, 2023
Verified

I had been with them a few years until they started raising my rates every time I was up for renewal. I got a new quote from another company that was $50 less than GEICO for the same coverage. That's not how to show customer loyalty, and it's the reason GEICO lost me as a customer.

Denise - December 3, 2023
Verified
Read our GEICO review

USAA

USAA focuses on competitive premiums for military personnel and their families. It also has good financial strength ratings and ranks highly in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study.[1] Liability-only car insurance with USAA costs $46 per month, while full-coverage car insurance costs $100.

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.
880
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.
$46/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.
$100/mo

In business for more than 100 years, USAA exclusively serves members of the military and their immediate families. The company offers multiple types of insurance products, as well as banking, investing, and retirement services. Auto insurance customers have access to a number of discounts, including for bundling, insuring multiple vehicles, living on a military base, and more. A.M. Best gives USAA an A++ rating for financial strength, and the company had the highest or second-highest rating of all insurers in every region in J.D. Power’s Overall Customer Satisfaction Index. Customer reviews are mixed for service and claims processing.

Pros
  • Low premiums

  • SafePilot program rewards good driving with up to 30% discount

Cons
  • Only available to active-duty military, veterans, military spouses, or children of service members or veterans

  • No 24/7 customer phone support

They have stopped thinking about how today's financial strain is impacting their customers.

Darcy - November 26, 2023
Verified

Not satisfied with price hike even after lowering coverage.

Linda - November 3, 2023
Verified

Wonderful service, pricing, and care.

Robert - October 24, 2023
Verified
Read our USAA review

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GEICO DriveEasy vs. USAA SafePilot

DriveEasy is GEICO’s optional usage-based insurance program. You can access it through the GEICO app and lock in a 15% sign-up discount as well as up to 25% off on your premium for demonstrating good driving habits.

The app automatically tracks your driving and considers factors like speeding and hard braking to determine your savings. Unfortunately, poor driving habits with DriveEasy can result in a higher premium.[2]

USAA’s SafePilot telematics program is similar to DriveEasy. It monitors your driving behaviors and can reward you with an initial discount of 10%. If you prove you’re an exceptionally good driver, you can score up to 30% off your car insurance rates. Note that SafePilot may penalize you for handheld phone usage and even hands-free phone calls.[3]

GEICO vs. USAA: Which is the cheapest?

USAA offers the cheapest average rates across all categories, but your unique rate depends on several factors, like your location, age, gender, marital status, driving record, and discounts. Also, if you’re not active military, a veteran, or a family member of one, you won’t be able to apply for a USAA policy.

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance quotes for people with a clean driving record.

Driver TypeGEICOUSAA
Clean driving record$54$46
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Drivers with a speeding ticket on their record can find the lowest rates on an auto policy with USAA.

Driver TypeGEICOUSAA
Drivers with a speeding ticket$62$53
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

USAA: Cheapest for teen drivers

USAA has cheaper car insurance rates for teens and young drivers.

Driver TypeGEICOUSAA
18-year-old$74$70
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Customers with poor credit may lock in more competitive rates with USAA car insurance.

Driver TypeGEICOUSAA
Drivers with bad credit$63$58
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

USAA: Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers can expect lower rates from USAA.

Driver TypeGEICOUSAA
Senior drivers$41$36
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: GEICO vs. USAA

GEICO and USAA have lineups of several main car insurance coverage options, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Collision and comprehensive policies are also available from both car insurance companies.

Additional add-ons are available, like roadside or emergency road service and rental car reimbursement. However, GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance, a unique add-on you won’t find with USAA. Mechanical breakdown insurance covers repair costs that stem from mechanical issues. It’s similar to a warranty but provides more robust coverage at a cheaper rate.[4] [5]

CoverageGEICOUSAA
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Emergency road serviceYesYes
Mechanical breakdown insuranceYesNo

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Compare discounts: GEICO vs. USAA

GEICO and USAA offer a similar number of discounts that can help you save money on car insurance costs. You should reach out to each auto insurance company directly or speak to a car insurance agent to figure out which discounts apply to you.[6] [7]

DiscountGEICOUSAA
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoYes
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carYesYes
Military/affiliationYesYes
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyYesYes
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolNoNo
HomeownerYesYes
Alternative fuelNoNo

GEICO vs. USAA FAQs

As you’re shopping for car insurance, here’s some additional information about car insurance policies from GEICO and USAA.

  • Is USAA the same as GEICO?

    No, USAA is not the same as GEICO. USAA is an insurance company that serves the military community. GEICO, on the other hand, caters to all types of drivers and is one of the largest car insurers in the U.S.

  • What are the disadvantages of USAA?

    USAA’s car insurance policies and other insurance products aren’t available to everyone. To secure an auto policy from USAA, you must be affiliated with the military and become a member.

  • Is USAA cheaper than most insurance?

    Compared to other car insurance companies such as GEICO, USAA’s car insurance rates are cheaper. But you can only take advantage of these lower premiums if you have a connection to the military and join USAA.

  • Who is GEICO’s biggest competitor?

    State Farm is GEICO’s biggest competitor. Both insurance companies target drivers with a variety of auto insurance policies.

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. Jdpower.com. "2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study." Accessed December 4, 2023
  2. Geico.com. "DriveEasy." Accessed December 4, 2023
  3. USAA. "SafePilot." Accessed December 4, 2023
  4. GEICO. "Car Insurance Coverage: Auto Coverage Types & More." Accessed December 4, 2023
  5. USAA. "Car Insurance Coverage Types." Accessed December 4, 2023
  6. GEICO. "Car Insurance Discounts - Savings on Auto Insurance." Accessed December 4, 2023
  7. USAA. "Auto Insurance Discounts." Accessed December 4, 2023
Anna Baluch
Anna BaluchInsurance Writer

Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.

Danny Smith
Edited byDanny Smith
Photo of an Insurify author
Danny Smith
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

Featured in

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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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