GEICO is widely viewed as one of the top insurance companies in the U.S. due to its customizable coverage options and competitive rates. Its insurance rates tend to be slightly lower than Allstate's, which makes it an attractive choice if cost is your primary concern.
On the other hand, Allstate has a larger network of local insurance agents and offers new car replacement coverage, which GEICO does not. Allstate's not the cheapest car insurance provider, but it's not all that much more expensive than GEICO for most driver types, though the differences do add up.
Both GEICO and Allstate offer a range of features, coverage levels, and discounts so you can get a policy that fits your needs. For the budget-minded, GEICO is a clear winner. But if you prefer to work with a local agent or just bought a new car you want to protect, then Allstate may be a better option.
How we evaluate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
GEICO pros and cons
- Low rates and competitive pricing
- Few customer complaints
- Limited local agents
- No rideshare or gap insurance
Learn more in our GEICO review.
Allstate pros and cons
- Wide network of local agents
- Rideshare and new car replacement insurance
- Higher premiums on many policies
- More significant record of customer dissatisfaction
Learn more in our Allstate review.
Which company is better?
GEICO | Allstate | |
AM Best | A++ | A+ |
J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 692/1,000 | 691/1,000 |
BBB | A+ | A+ |
NAIC complaints (private passenger) | 0.75 | 1.02 |
Overall, GEICO and Allstate rank very similarly in all four metrics we look at when assessing insurance providers.
Both companies scored slightly below the study average of 697 on the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, but not so much so as to be concerning. GEICO does receive slightly fewer complaints from consumers than Allstate, per the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index.
The NAIC calculates these scores by dividing a company's share of complaints by the total countrywide, with the national index set at 1.00. A company with an index of 2.00 would have twice the expected number of complaints.
All this indicates that both car insurance companies are reliable and provide a customer experience that is rated highly by independent rating agencies (if not so much by customer reviews on claims satisfaction).
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Which company is cheaper?
GEICO is cheaper across all driver types and coverage levels, but not by an extraordinary amount. As you've seen, both companies offer a range of discounts that, if you qualify, could go a ways toward lowering your premium.
GEICO's average premiums are as follows:
Driver type | GEICO liability-only monthly premium | GEICO full-coverage monthly premium |
Clean driving record | $52 | $114 |
Speeding ticket on driving record | $63 | $138 |
At-fault accident on driving record | $67 | $145 |
DUI on driving record | $85 | $185 |
Teen driver | $84 | $183 |
Senior driver (60s) | $40 | $87 |
Senior driver (70s) | $39 | $84 |
Data sourced from Insurify |
Check out Allstate's average rates across driver types below to get an idea of how GEICO's prices compare:
Driver type | Allstate liability-only monthly premium | Allstate full coverage monthly premium |
Clean driving record | $59 | $128 |
Speeding ticket on driving record | $71 | $154 |
At-fault accident on driving record | $75 | $162 |
DUI on driving record | $96 | $207 |
Teen driver | $118 | $254 |
Senior driver | $44 | $95 |
Data sourced from Insurify |
Keep in mind
All insurance companies consider factors like your driving history and (in many states) your credit score to determine the price of your auto insurance policy. Your individual situation could make your costs higher or lower than average rates.Clean driving record
GEICO and Allstate are nearly evenly matched on drivers with a clean record, with the former quoting an average rate of $53 per month for liability-only coverage, while the latter averages $59 per month. Granted, that adds up to a difference of $72 over the course of a year, which is no small amount of money.
Average rate:
Speeding ticket on driving record
The gap in price is similar for drivers with a speeding ticket on their record. GEICO is, on average, $6 cheaper per month than Allstate for liability-only and $16 cheaper for full-coverage.
At-fault accident on driving record
GEICO offers rates that are a fair bit lower than Allstate's for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, charging $68 per month on average for liability-only and $145 for full-coverage. Allstate's prices are a little steeper at $75 per month for liability-only and $162 for full-coverage.
DUI on driving record
GEICO would be the cheaper choice for anyone with a DUI on their record, charging $9 less per month for liability-only coverage and a full $21 less per month for full-coverage insurance.
Teen driver
Allstate is significantly more expensive than GEICO when it comes to insuring teen drivers, charging $34 more per month on average for liability-only, and $74 more per month for full-coverage.
Senior driver
Once more, GEICO proves to be cheaper than Allstate, this time for senior drivers. Neither company offers a discount to senior drivers, as you'll see below, so price could be a more significant factor in your decision if you're above a certain age.
Discounts
GEICO provides some of the lowest auto insurance rates available for drivers with good driving records. It is also friendly to those with spotty driving records, as its extensive list of insurance discounts can combat higher rates from a spotty record.
Despite sharing some things like anti-theft and good student discounts, Allstate is significantly more expensive than GEICO, though it offers many options for bundling with other insurance types, such as life insurance or home insurance and may give a discount for doing so.
Each company's roster of discounts is covered in the table below:
Discount | Does GEICO have it? | Does Allstate have it? |
Loyalty | No | No |
Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes |
Multiple vehicle | Yes | No |
Airbag | Yes | No |
Anti-lock brakes | Yes | Yes |
Anti-theft | Yes | Yes |
Safe driver | Yes | Yes |
Good student | Yes | Yes |
Away-from-home student | Yes | Yes |
New car | Yes | Yes |
Pay in full | Yes | Yes |
Automatic payments | Yes | Yes |
GAP insurance | No | No |
Senior | No | No |
Military | Yes | No |
Defensive driving course | Yes | No |
GEICO DriveEasy vs. Allstate DriveWise
Both GEICO and Allstate offer telematics discount programs that measure your driving behavior and offer a discount based on a demonstrated record of good driving habits.
Both Allstate's DriveWise program and GEICO's DriveEasy program use the insurers mobile app to track driving habits and assess safety. Allstate doesn't provide an estimate of what one might save on car insurance using DriveWise, but does note that you get a policy discount just for signing up.
GEICO boasts savings of as much as 25% for those who use DriveEasy, so either program could be the right call if you're confident in your driving abilities.
Coverage
GEICO and Allstate both offer a range of car insurance coverage options. Both companies are available in all 50 states, but Allstate has some types of coverage that GEICO doesn't, namely new-car replacement, rideshare, and gap insurance.
If you prefer to work with a local insurance agent rather than get a free quote online, Allstate has many more physical locations than GEICO. But for customer service, it's easy to contact either company — both have 24/7 support.
Coverage types offered by both companies include:
- Liability
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Personal injury protection
- Medical payments
- Rental reimbursement
- Roadside assistance
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist
- Motorcycle insurance
- Rental reimbursement
Both companies offer accident forgiveness as an add-on, which means they won't raise your rates if you're in an at-fault accident. Each also offers a range of specialized vehicle coverage, including:
- ATV insurance
- Recreational vehicle (RV) insurance
- Boat insurance
- Collector/classic car insurance
- Mexico car insurance
FAQs
How do I contact GEICO?
To talk to a real person at GEICO, call 1 (800) 207-7847. This is the company's general customer service line. You can also live chat with an agent through the site or app.
How do I contact Allstate?
Allstate offers 24/7 online chat support and FAQ pages through their website. You can also reach out via the following channels:
- For general questions: 1-800-726-6033
- X (formerly known as Twitter): @Allstate
- Online contact form
Or, you can find and contact an agent for assistance here.
Is Allstate cheaper than GEICO?
It depends on a variety of factors, including your location, driving record, speeding tickets, and other personal information, but generally speaking, no, Allstate is not cheaper than GEICO.
GEICO tends to be among the most competitively priced insurers in many states. However, rates can vary significantly by state and circumstance. In some areas, Allstate may offer better prices than GEICO. Ultimately it is important to shop around and get quotes from multiple providers.
Bottom line
GEICO offers some of the most competitive rates in the insurance industry, with discounts available for a variety of factors such as a good driving record, airbag technology, and more. It also offers good customer service.
On the other hand, Allstate has a more extensive network of agents located throughout the country that can provide customers with personalized advice. Additionally, Allstate offers features such as new-car replacement, which gives you the full cost of a new car of the same make and model if your car is totaled in the first two years.
If you're looking for the most competitive prices, GEICO may be the way to go. If you're looking for more personalized service and additional features, Allstate might be the better choice.
Ultimately, both offer competitive prices and coverage options. Before making a decision, compare quotes from each company and check out a few other options on our list of the best car insurance companies to make sure you're getting the best rate possible.
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