Bottom line: Geico is generally the best choice for people who want to keep their premiums low, while Allstate provides a higher level of customer support and has some unique discounts and programs.
2024 Award Winner
Best for price conscious consumersGeico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
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Read our Geico review
2024 Award Winner
Best for low-mileage driversAllstate
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
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Read our Allstate review
Geico vs. Allstate car insurance: Which is cheaper?
Geico and Allstate are both reasonably priced insurers for most drivers, but there are some clear differences when it comes to the average cost of their policies. As you can see in this chart, Geico is the cheaper of the two for the average driver.
| Type of Driver | Which Is Cheaper? | Geico's Annual Rate | Allstate's Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average drivers | Geico | $1,506 | $2,767 |
| Teens | Geico | $4,537 | $7,979 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | Geico | $2,061 | $3,232 |
| Drivers with a DUI | Geico | $3,688 | $4,220 |
| Drivers with poor credit | Geico | $2,328 | $4,622 |
Data source: The Ascent's own research.
With all of the above in mind, remember that these numbers are just averages and aren't necessarily indicative of the quotes you would receive from either company. There are many factors that determine auto insurance premiums, and different insurers have different underwriting methods. So, it's still very important to shop around when you're looking for coverage.
Geico vs. Allstate: Coverage comparison
Both Geico and Allstate offer the standard types of auto insurance coverage. This includes, but isn't necessarily limited to:
- Liability coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Personal injury coverage
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursem*nt
- Mechanical breakdown insurance
In addition to these, Allstate offers personal umbrella policies, which provide liability protection in excess of your insurance policy's limits.
Geico and Allstate offer policies for other types of vehicles, such as motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, boats, and more. Allstate also covers these types of vehicles and provides ride-hailing insurance. Many auto insurers don't provide coverage for customers who drive for services like Uber and Lyft with their personal vehicles, but both of these companies do. In fact, Allstate has a specific type of insurance (Ride for Hire) that is a more comprehensive coverage option than many peers offer.
Geico vs. Allstate: Discounts
Both Geico and Allstate offer a list of discounts available to customers -- some of which are rather standard in the auto insurance industry, and others that are unique to each company.
| Discount | Geico | Allstate |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | Yes | No |
| Anti-lock brakes | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft system | Yes | Yes |
| Daytime running lights | Yes | No |
| New vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Safe driver | Yes | Yes, see below |
| Defensive driving / Driver education course | Yes | Yes |
| Good student discount | Yes | Yes |
| Federal employees | Yes | No |
| Military | Yes | No |
| Multi-vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Bundling coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Paperless statements/automated payments | No | Yes |
Data source: Geico and Allstate.
Both insurers have some unique discounts. Geico is a subsidiary of conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway and offers discounts to employees of other Berkshire companies, as well as to the company's shareholders. It also offers some of the best discounts in the industry to federal employees and members of the military. Geico stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, and while it has clearly expanded its coverage beyond government workers, it still provides discounts to that group.
On the other hand, Allstate offers discounts for infrequent drivers with its Milewise program. This allows customers to pay for insurance based on the number of miles they drive, instead of paying a standard premium. There's also the Drivewise program, which allows drivers to install a device in their vehicles and get rewarded for their safe driving habits.
Geico vs. Allstate: Collision repair
Geico's claims process is easy to navigate, and drivers can report claims by phone or through the company's user-friendly mobile app or website. Geico's Auto Repair Xpress® program is its collision repair program that provides one-stop shops for estimates, repairs, and rental cars, and with repair work guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle.
Allstate has a similar program known as the Good Hands® Repair Network, which has over 4,500 repair shops nationwide. Repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle, and you simply pay your deductible to the shop and Allstate directly pays the rest. And like Geico, Allstate's repair network has on-site rental cars as well.
Geico vs. Allstate: Customer experience
Both Geico and Allstate have A+ ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and have generally strong customer reviews in sources including J.D. Power.
One particularly unique feature of Allstate is its Claim Satisfaction guarantee, which provides a credit for up to six months' premium if you aren't satisfied with your claim experience. Allstate also has far more agents nationwide to provide in-person support than Geico does.
Geico vs. Allstate auto insurance: Which is right for you?
Geico is the less expensive of these two insurers for most drivers, but Allstate scores points for its large agent network and for its Claim Satisfaction guarantee. But one key point is that there's no guarantee that either of these will be the better value for you. That's why it's important to obtain more than one insurance quote to see what you would pay with these excellent auto insurance companies.
FAQs
Geico is one of the most affordable auto insurers in the United States, and is known for providing coverage significantly below the national average premiums for nearly every demographic. It has strong customer service and a user-friendly mobile app that makes the claims process easier.
Allstate is a good choice for drivers who want in-person help available when they need it, and for people who value features like the Claim Satisfaction guarantee or who are willing to take advantage of safe driver discounts that require Allstate to monitor their driving behavior. It isn't generally considered to be one of the cheapest auto insurers, but it makes up for this in other ways, such as with its large network of physical agency locations.
Our Insurance Experts
By:Matt Frankel, CFP®
Writer, Analyst
Matt is a Certified Financial Planner™ and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice for The Ascent and its parent company The Motley Fool, with more than 4,500 published articles and a 2017 SABEW Best in Business award. Matt writes a weekly investment column ("Ask a Fool") that is syndicated in USA Today, and his work has been regularly featured on CNBC, Fox Business, MSN Money, and many other major outlets. He’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Nova Southeastern University, and holds a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University.
Fact CheckedAshley Maready
Writer and Editor
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
