GEICO vs. Progressive: Which Is Better in 2020?

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GEICO and Progressive are two of the biggest car insurance companies in the country, but how do you know what coverage would be best for your vehicle? In this GEICO vs. Progressive comparison, we’ll take a look at auto insurance coverage and more. The providers each have advantages and disadvantages, so what’s best for your neighbor might not be 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 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 StudySM. 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 stay with Progressive.” – Pierre P., BBB

“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 car insurance providers because of the wide variety of discounts available. You can get cheap insurance from GEICO by taking advantage of usage-based savings, a military discount, good student discount, and more.

Original article: GEICO vs. Progressive: Which Is Better in 2020?



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