State Farm vs. Geico: Cost and Coverage Comparison (2024) (2024)

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State Farm is currently the largest auto insurer in the U.S. according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), closely followed by Geico. Both companies hold strong financial reputations and customer service ratings. They are also well established: State Farm was founded in 1922 and Geico in 1936. You can get classic car insurance and alternative vehicle coverage with either provider, as well as products like homeowners insurance and renters insurance.

Compare State Farm vs. Geico

Based on the same methodology we use to systematically rate every insurance provider, you can compare State Farm and Geico in the table below:

The “Overall Rating” score is aggregated based on the providers’ scores in the reputation, availability, coverage, cost and customer experience categories.

The lists below contain specific areas where each provider stands out.

Here are a few highlights for State Farm:

• Good discounts for students and young drivers
• Usage-based discounts offered through the Drive Safe & Save^TM program
• Young driver education with discounts offered through the Steer Clear^® program

Find out more about State Farm’s services in our State Farm insurance review.

Geico’s highlights include:

• Military, federal employee and corporate group discounts
• Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
• Better customer service reputation

Find out more about Geico’s services in our Geico Insurance Review.

Considering each company’s strengths, we named Geico Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers and State Farm Best Customer Experience in our industry-wide review.

Considering State Farm and Geico are the two biggest auto insurance companies in the U.S., most drivers can find what they need from either company, whether that’s minimum or full coverage. However, there are a few key differences between State Farm vs. Geico when it comes to auto insurance options.

State Farm offers usage-based insurance in more states than Geico, and it also offers travel expense reimbursem*nt, which Geico does not.

On the other hand, Geico offers MBI, an add-on coverage option similar to an extended car warranty. MBI contracts cover various repairs for unexpected breakdowns, which standard auto insurance typically doesn’t cover.

State Farm and Geico Coverage Comparison

The table below provides information about the specific auto insurance coverage options offered by State Farm and Geico:

*Accurate at time of publication.

Usage-based Insurance Comparison

Usage-based insurance coverage provides discounts based on your current driving habits instead of your driving history. State Farm’s program is called Drive Safe & Save^TM, and Geico’s program is called DriveEasy. Between the two, State Farm has a more comprehensive program.

State Farm’s program won’t raise your rate, which is one of its advantages. Drive Safe & Save also guarantees insurance discounts with each policy renewal, but they may fluctuate depending on your driving habits. On the other hand, Geico’s DriveEasy program could raise your auto insurance premiums if you drive poorly.

Be aware that your rate with State Farm could change if you lose a low-mileage discount after participating in Drive Safe & Save.

In our industry-wide car insurance review, we gave Geico a score of 9.1 out of 10.0 for cost and State Farm a score of 9.3. Overall, we found that the average price for Geico insurance is a bit lower than State Farm. Geico also offers a wider range of discounts that are applicable to more drivers.

Is Geico Cheaper Than State Farm?

We analyzed rate estimates for multiple driver profiles with each company. According to our estimates, annual full coverage policies from State Farm cost about $1,657, while policies from Geico cost about $1,596. That said, each provider can be cheaper in different situations. Let’s take a closer look.

As you can see above, Geico is cheaper for people with bad credit or young drivers in their early twenties. State Farm, on the other hand, is more affordable for drivers with accidents, speeding tickets or DUIs on their records. These cost estimates don’t include discounts the providers offer.

State Farm vs. Geico Discounts

Geico provides a few policy discounts not offered by State Farm, including a 15% military discount and a 12% discount for federal employees at the Eagle level. Geico also offers varying discounts based on partner organizations, like alumni associations and professional groups. Between the two auto insurers, Geico has the better multi-vehicle discount — 25% compared to State Farm’s 20%.

State Farm has the better student discount. Depending on a student’s grades, policyholders can save up to 25% until they turn 25 — Geico’s discount caps out at 15%. State Farm’s Steer Clear program teaches drivers under 25 good driving habits and can also award a policy discount. For these reasons, State Farm is our top pick for students.

Both State Farm and Geico provide a positive customer experience for most drivers. However, we rated Geico higher overall because it has fewer complaints relative to its size, according to NAIC data.

State Farm did score higher than Geico in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. The study measured claims satisfaction in several categories, including estimation process, repair process, rental experience and settlement. State Farm is also well-regarded for its local agents and the satisfactory customer service they provide. The company has more local agents than any other auto insurance provider.

Compare State Farm and Geico: Customer Reviews

State Farm insurance reviews on the BBB average out to a 1.2out of 5-star rating, while Geico reviews average out to a 1.1-star rating. Keep in mind, BBB reviews only account for a small fraction of State Farm’s and Geico’s customers.

Both companies also have highly rated mobile apps, which policyholders can use to view their insurance ID cards, file claims, pay bills and change policy information.

State Farm vs. Geico: Auto Insurance Top Picks

Since auto insurance quotes are so personalized, it’s a good idea to compare several quotes.

USAA: Best for Military Members

If you’re affiliated with the military or are part of a military family, USAA is a great option. The company has high auto insurance industry ratings and often provides the cheapest car insurance rates for many drivers.

Read more in our USAA Insurance Review.

Nationwide: Best for Usage-Based Insurance

Another reputable option is Nationwide, which provides a good usage-based program and plenty of discounts. Nationwide also has a great selection of add-on coverage options for drivers in need of extra protection. So, if you are looking for a variety of comprehensive coverage options and discount opportunities, include a quote from Nationwide in your search.

Read more in our Nationwide Insurance Review.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
• Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
• Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
• Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.

Our credentials:

• 800 hours researched
• 45 companies reviewed
• 8,500+ consumers surveyed

*Data accurate at time of publication.