USAA vs. Geico Car Insurance: Which Is Better for You?
USAA offers cheaper car insurance than Geico, but most people can't get a USAA policy.
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- USAA is a better option if you can get it as an active-duty military member, veteran or the spouse or child of a USAA member. The average price of a USAA full coverage policy is $125 per month, on average. The company also has good coverage options and above-average customer service.
- Geico is also a good and affordable option if you can't get USAA. Geico's average rate for full coverage is $187 per month, and the company offers some useful extra coverages, along with improving customer service.
Best for | Geico | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
Yes
| |
| Coverage |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Discounts |
Yes
| |
| Customer service |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Availability |
Yes
| |
| ValuePenguin rating | 3.0/5
Star Fill
| 4.5/5
Star Fill
|
| Our full review | Geico review | USAA review |
Is USAA insurance cheaper than Geico?
USAA is a cheaper option for car insurance than Geico, with an average full coverage rate of $125 per month.
Cheapest for most drivers: USAA
USAA's average rates are cheaper than Geico's.
- For full coverage, USAA's average rate of $125 per month is notably lower than Geico's at $187.
- USAA's minimum coverage costs $41 per month, on average. The average rate for Geico is $65 per month, more than 50% higher.
- If USAA isn't an option because you haven't been in the military and don't have family connections that can get you membership, Geico is a good option because it's still cheaper than average.
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USAA vs. Geico average car insurance rates
Policy type | USAA | Geico |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $41 | $65 |
| Full coverage | $125 | $187 |
Rates are monthly.
Cheapest for drivers with bad records: USAA
USAA has affordable rates if you have an accident, ticket or DUI.
- USAA's average rates for drivers with a ticket or at-fault accident are $101 per month and $150 per month cheaper, respectively, than Geico's rates. USAA's rates for drivers with a DUI are also 44% cheaper than Geico's.
Cheapest rates with an accident, DUI or traffic violation: USAA
Drivers with a traffic violation, accident or DUI on their record will find USAA's rates to be much lower than Geico's.
USAA has cheaper rates than Geico if you have a speeding ticket, cause an accident or have a DUI.
- The average rate for full coverage after an accident with USAA is $150 per month cheaper and $193 per month cheaper after a DUI.
- USAA also raises rates considerably less than Geico for these violations. The increase for these violations is 38% to 87% higher with Geico.
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Geico vs. USAA for drivers with bad records
Incident | USAA | Geico |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding ticket | $153 | $254 |
| Accident | $174 | $324 |
| DUI | $248 | $441 |
Rates are monthly and for full coverage.
Cheapest for young drivers: USAA
USAA has cheaper rates than Geico for young drivers across the board.
- An 18-year-old driver pays $67 less per month for minimum coverage insurance with USAA, and $178 per month less for a full coverage policy.
- Young drivers with a ticket or accident on their record will also find better rates with USAA. Minimum coverage insurance at USAA for an 18-year-old with a single speeding ticket is, on average, $62 per month cheaper than at Geico and $83 per month cheaper after an at-fault accident.
USAA vs. Geico car insurance rates for young drivers
USAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $112 | $179 |
| Speeding ticket | $163 | $225 |
| Accident | $180 | $263 |
| Full coverage | $310 | $488 |
Rates are monthly for an 18-year-old driver. Speeding ticket and accident rates are for minimum coverage. Full coverage rates include higher liability coverage than required by state law.
Geico vs. USAA car insurance rates by state
USAA is cheaper than Geico in almost every state where rate data is available.
**The only states where Geico's full coverage is cheaper are California, Massachusetts and Hawaii. In the other 42 states (plus Washington, D.C.) where rates are available from both insurance companies, USAA is a cheaper option.
The biggest gap in price between the companies is in Louisiana. Geico is $190 per month more than USAA there. Average rates from both companies are within $20 per month of each other in five states: California, New Hampshire, Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio.
State | USAA | Geico |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $119 | $257 |
| Alaska | $116 | $129 |
| Arizona | $165 | $252 |
| Arkansas | $112 | $246 |
| California | $159 | $143 |
| Colorado | $172 | $196 |
| Connecticut | $150 | $191 |
| Delaware | $197 | $268 |
| Georgia | $148 | $195 |
| Hawaii | $112 | $77 |
| Illinois | $165 | $245 |
| Indiana | $82 | $167 |
| Iowa | $123 | $178 |
| Kansas | $101 | $161 |
| Kentucky | $144 | $193 |
| Louisiana | $210 | $400 |
| Maine | $75 | $117 |
| Maryland | $103 | $158 |
| Massachusetts | $144 | $123 |
| Minnesota | $118 | $274 |
| Mississippi | $109 | $217 |
| Missouri | $98 | $180 |
| Montana | $103 | $198 |
| Nebraska | $126 | $161 |
| Nevada | $149 | $291 |
| New Hampshire | $103 | $111 |
| New Mexico | $88 | $167 |
| New York | $162 | $220 |
| North Dakota | $109 | $161 |
| Ohio | $84 | $104 |
| Oklahoma | $119 | $199 |
| Oregon | $115 | $259 |
| Pennsylvania | $171 | $201 |
| Rhode Island | $124 | $276 |
| South Carolina | $113 | $139 |
| South Dakota | $154 | $232 |
| Tennessee | $99 | $182 |
| Texas | $124 | $176 |
| Utah | $119 | $171 |
| Vermont | $84 | $144 |
| Virginia | $106 | $130 |
| Washington | $133 | $172 |
| Washington, D.C. | $123 | $194 |
| West Virginia | $112 | $187 |
| Wisconsin | $104 | $148 |
| Wyoming | $94 | $109 |
Geico vs. USAA auto insurance discounts
Geico offers a few more car insurance discounts than USAA, but both offer many common discounts, plus a few harder-to-find ones.
Discount | Geico | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-theft devices |
Yes
| |
| Antilock brakes |
Yes
| |
| Autopay |
Yes
| |
| Defensive driving |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Driver tracking discount |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Driver training course |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Deployment discount |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Early shopper |
Yes
| |
| Family legacy discount |
Yes
| |
| Good student |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Homeowner |
Yes
| |
| Low mileage program |
Yes
| |
| Military on-base discount |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Multicar |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Multipolicy |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| New vehicle |
Yes
| |
| Online quote |
Yes
| |
| Paperless |
Yes
| |
| Pay in full |
Yes
| |
| Safe driver |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Storage discount |
Yes
| |
| Student away at school |
Yes
|
Discount names vary between companies.
Your discount options can be different depending on where you live. State laws often change which discounts you can get. No matter if you're working with Geico or USAA, when you talk to an agent to get quotes, make sure to ask them which discounts you can take advantage of.
Geico discounts
Geico advertises 17 discounts, including eight that USAA doesn't. Many of those are geared around how you buy and pay for coverage, plus one for families with students and another if you have antilock brakes on your car.
- You can pay less for things such as getting a quote early, getting your quote online, accepting paperless billing, setting up autopay and paying for your policy in full.
- If you have a student on your policy who lives away from home at school without a car, you can get a discount of up to 15%.
- If you own a home, you can't get a break on your car insurance rates.
- Geico gives you a discount if your car has antilock brakes, a common safety feature on many cars.
USAA auto insurance discounts
USAA advertises 14 discounts, with five that Geico doesn't offer.
- USAA offers the SafePilot Miles program, which lets you pay a lower monthly rate, plus a small amount for every mile you drive.
- If you're deployed and keep your car on a military base, you could get up to 15% off your comprehensive coverage. That's because your car is less likely to be damaged or stolen on base.
- If your car or truck is less than 3 years old, you could save on your USAA car insurance.
- You could see lower rates if you have or install some types of anti-theft devices on your vehicle.
- The company offers the MyUSAA Legacy Discount, which means you could save up to 10% if your parents had a policy.
USAA vs. Geico auto insurance coverage
USAA and Geico offer a similar number of extra coverages, as well as the standard car insurance coverages, such as bodily injury liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured motorist coverage.
Coverage | Geico | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Rideshare gap insurance |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Roadside assistance |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Car replacement assistance |
Yes
| |
| Accident forgiveness |
Yes
| |
| Custom parts and equipment |
Yes
| |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance |
Yes
| |
| Rental reimbursement |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Bodily injury liability |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Property damage liability |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Comprehensive and collision insurance |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Personal injury protection |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Medical payments |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Coverage names vary by company.
USAA auto insurance features
USAA offers a few extra coverages Geico doesn't, including accident forgiveness. This coverage means your rates shouldn't go up if you cause an accident.
The company also has "car replacement assistance," which gives you 20% more than the actual cash value of the car if it's totaled or stolen. It can be especially helpful if you have to pay off a car loan.
Geico auto insurance features
Geico has several extra coverages USAA doesn't have, including for custom parts and equipment. This pays to repair upgrades you made to your vehicle, such as custom wheels or upgraded stereos, after an accident.
Geico also has what it calls "mechanical breakdown insurance" for newer or leased cars. It covers mechanical failures that your warranty won't, including unexpected failures with systems just as air conditioning, transmission or even the engine itself.
USAA vs. Geico customer service
USAA has a better customer service reputation than Geico, though both have good ratings.
USAA earned top scores in multiple J.D. Power customer satisfaction studies, while Geico's scores were more mixed. But Geico gets fewer customer complaints according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Industry reviewer | USAA | Geico |
|---|---|---|
| ValuePenguin rating | 4.5/5
Star Fill
| 3.0/5
Star Fill
|
| J.D. Power overall satisfaction | Top in every region | Above average in 8 of 11 regions |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 2nd of 21 | 15th of 21 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.00 | 0.88 |
| AM Best financial strength rating | A++ | A++ |
Frequently asked questions
Is USAA car insurance cheaper than Geico?
USAA's auto insurance rates are cheaper than Geico's, on average. A minimum coverage policy from USAA is $24 per month less expensive, and its full coverage insurance is $62 per month less expensive.
Is Geico or USAA better?
USAA is usually a better option if you can get it because it has a similar set of coverage options but usually costs less. But you can only get USAA if you've been in the military or have certain family connections.
Does USAA offer mechanical breakdown insurance?
USAA no longer offers mechanical breakdown insurance, also known as a vehicle protection plan or extended warranty.
Methodology
To compile average rates for Geico and USAA, ValuePenguin gathered quotes from across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are for a 30-year-old or 18-year-old single man with good credit, with a 2018 Honda Civic EX and no accidents or tickets on his record, unless otherwise noted.
Minimum coverage rates are for the minimum required coverage limits in each state. Full coverage quotes include higher liability limits as well as collision and comprehensive coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision deductibles: $500
All rate data is from Quadrant Information Services, which uses publicly sourced insurance company filings. Quotes from this page are for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes will likely be different.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
