GEICO and Progressive: Which is better in 2021?

GEICO and Progressive are the two largest auto insurance companies in the country, but how do you know which insurance is best for your vehicle? In this GEICO and progressive comparison, we will look at car insurance coverage and more. Suppliers have their own advantages and disadvantages, so what is best for your neighbor may not be the best for you.

Anytime you shop for car insurance, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers before making a decision. Along with the company you go with, things like your age, gender, vehicle make, and vehicle model can also affect your car insurance quote. Fill out our easy form below to start comparing personalized quotes from some of the best car insurance companies.

GEICO vs. Progressive: Overview

GEICO vs. Progressive: Coverage

GEICO vs. Progressive: Discounts & Cost

GEICO vs. Progressive: Customer Service

GEICO vs. Progressive: Apps & Technology

GEICO Technology

Progressive Technology

Our Verdict on GEICO and Progressive

More Recommendations for Car Insurance

USAA: Best for Military

State Farm: Best for Students

FAQ: GEICO and Progressive

GEICO vs. Progressive: Overview

GEICO

Progressive

Overall Rating

96%

95%

Best For

Students, military

High-risk drivers

Availability

100%

100%

Coverage

95%

95%

Affordability

95%

90%

Customer Service

95%

90%

Military Discount

Yes

No

Usage-Based Discount

Yes

Yes

Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating

A+

A+

AM Best Financial Strength Rating

A++

A+

Market Share

13.78%

12.25%

GEICO and Progressive have very similar reputations, but the right coverage for you will depend on what you’re looking for. For example, GEICO auto insurance might be a better choice for students and military, while Progressive auto insurance reviews highly for high-risk drivers.

When it comes to expert ratings, GEICO has slightly higher ratings than Progressive from some sources. The provider was the highest-rated auto insurance brand in the North Central and Northwest regions of the country according to the 2020 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study

SM. In the same study, Progressive ranked 15th out of 21 providers in the North Central region and fifth out of 13 providers in the Northwest region.

GEICO vs. Progressive: Coverage

GEICO and Progressive offer standard car insurance coverage in all 50 states, including:

Collision

Comprehensive

Medical payments (MedPay)

Personal injury protection (PIP)

Bodily injury (BI) and property damage liability (PD)

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)

Beyond standard coverage, your options will vary. Here are the other types of auto coverage you can get from each provider:

GEICO

Progressive

Usage-Based Insurance

Yes, in some states

Yes, in 48 states

Roadside Assistance

Yes

Yes

Accident Forgiveness

Yes, in 47 states

Yes

Rideshare Insurance

Yes, in 39 states

Yes, in 35 states and Washington, D.C.

Gap Insurance

No

Yes

Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

Yes

No

GEICO vs. Progressive: Discounts & Cost

When it comes to affordability, both GEICO and Progressive have competitive rates. We rated GEICO slightly better because of its many discount opportunities. Here are some of the discounts you can get with each provider:

Discount

GEICO

Progressive

Good student? (up to 15%)?

Multiple vehicles? (up to 25%)? (up to 12%)

Multiple policies?? (up to 5%)

Anti-theft device? (up to 25%)?

Defensive driver??

Pay in full??

Telematics??

Military? (up to 15%)

Anti-lock brake system? (up to 5%)

Airbags?

Good drivers? (up to 26%)

Affinity Membership?

Federal employment? (up to 8%)

Homeowner? (Up to 10%)

Continuous coverage?

Paperless?

The cost of car insurance varies greatly from person to person. The insurance quote you receive from GEICO or Progressive will depend on the following factors:

Age

Gender

Location

Credit score

Marital status

Driving record

Policy coverage

Vehicle make, model, age, and mileage

GEICO vs. Progressive: Customer Service

GEICO and Progressive both have strong reputations when it comes to customer service. GEICO has an A+ from the BBB, and it has resolved over 3,000 complaints in the last three years. Like all major car insurance companies, GEICO’s customer reviews are a mix of positive and negative experiences. Happy customers comment on the ease of the claims process, while negative reviewers mention poor communication.

“For the first time in my life, I care who my insurance carrier is. It never mattered in the past, and I always told people that they all do the same thing. Just go with the lowest premium. That isn’t true now.” – Gregg R., BBB

“I have spoken to people in the claims department and salvage department over 20 times. No payment. No phone call. They have the worst customer service ever.” – M.M. Moris, BBB

Progressive similarly has an A+ rating from the BBB and has closed over 2,000 complaints in the last three years. Positive reviews highlight exceptional customer service, while negative reviews touch on rate increases.

“[My insurance agent is] always available to answer any question no matter how many times I annoyingly need to ask. Thank you for your service! I will always

“I am not happy. They raised my monthly payments without telling me, even though the lady on the phone said an email was sent out to my account on June 9th to let me know. I checked and it wasn’t.” – Brittany, BBB

GEICO vs. Progressive: Apps & Technology

If you’re looking for easy access, GEICO and Progressive both have mobile apps that can manage your account and claims. Additionally, both providers have some extras like safe driving apps and tools to improve the quotes process.

GEICO Technology

GEICO’s mobile app has a 4.8-star rating on Google Play with over 300,000 reviews. Here are a few of the app’s key features:

Digital insurance ID cards: Customers can access ID cards 24/7.

Roadside assistance: Towing and emergency roadside assistance is available 24/7.

Photo estimates: Snap a photo of damage to your vehicle and get an estimate in about 20 minutes.

Virtual assistant: GEICO’s virtual assistant can answer any questions you may have.

Vehicle care: With GEICO Mobile’s Vehicle Care powered by CARFAX

®, you can access your car’s service history, check for open recalls, create a maintenance schedule, and more.

GEICO also has the DriveEasy app, designed to reward safe driving and penalize drivers for things such as active phone use and handheld phone calls. The DriveEasy app gets a 2.8-star rating on Google Play with over 200 reviews. Recent GEICO reviews are mostly negative and are about the glitches of the app and inaccuracies while using the app.

Progressive Technology

When comparing GEICO vs. Progressive, Progressive has great mobile apps too. The car insurance company’s main mobile app is designed for policyholders to manage policies on the go. The app has over 39,000 reviews on Google Play, averaging a 4.5-star rating. Here are some of the app’s features:

Policy information: View coverages and details for all vehicles.

ID cards and documents: View, save, share, and print ID cards.

Billing and payments: Make payments from your phone.

Roadside assistance: Get roadside assistance from your phone.

Claims assistance: Report a claim and send photos for assistance.

Progressive also has a usage-based app called Snapshot

®, which allows customers to potentially save money based on their driving habits. The app has over 5,000 Progressive reviews on Google Play averaging 4.1 stars. The reviews are mostly positive, but some recent reviews mention technical issues as well as complaints about the app tracking your location in the background.

On its website, Progressive has a couple of interesting tools that can help you shop for car insurance. A price comparison tool lets you compare Progressive plans side by side with competitors, while the Name Your Price

®

tool lets you enter the rate you want to pay for coverage to be matched with plans that fit your budget.

Our Verdict on GEICO and Progressive

With comprehensive coverage and competitive pricing, GEICO and Progressive are both great options for car insurance. If you’re comparing GEICO vs. Progressive, you might choose GEICO for its low rates for most drivers or Progressive for its easy quotes process.

As two of the largest and most reputable auto insurers in the nation, GEICO and Progressive are both strong choices for coverage. We recommend getting free quotes from both, as well as at least one other provider, before you make a final decision.

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More Recommendations for Car Insurance

GEICO and Progressive are two of our highest-rated providers, but it’s never a bad thing to have a few more choices. USAA and State Farm are both great options to look into as well if you qualify for auto insurance coverage.

USAA: Best for Military

USAA is an excellent option for car insurance if you or one of your family members are in the military. Our team gave the provider a 96-percent rating because of its strong industry standing, availability, and top-of-the-line customer service.

USAA has many perks, such as usage-based insurance, accident forgiveness, and various discounts. For more information about coverage, read our comprehensive USAA car insurance review.

State Farm: Best for Students

State Farm is another great option with a 95-percent rating from our team overall. State Farm likewise offers usage-based insurance, as well as a number of discounts and programs for students in particular. For more about coverage and how to get a quote, read our full State Farm auto insurance review.

FAQ: GEICO and Progressive

Is Progressive insurance cheaper than GEICO?

Progressive and GEICO both offer cheap car insurance for many drivers. The most affordable provider for you will depend on a number of factors, including the discounts you qualify for. Overall, GEICO offers more discounts than Progressive and could be cheaper.

Is Progressive good insurance?

Progressive is one of the largest and most popular insurance providers in the United States. The company has extensive options for car insurance coverage, a variety of discounts, and high ratings from experts. With a 95-percent rating from our team, we think Progressive is a good choice for insurance.

Why is GEICO so much cheaper than competitors?

GEICO tends to be cheaper than other top auto insurance providers because of the various discounts. You can take advantage of usage-based savings, military discounts, excellent student discounts, etc., to get cheap insurance from GEICO.