Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto insurance providers
Key Takeaways
- Our team gives USAA an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 and Geico a 4.5.
- Over 90% of survey respondents would recommend both Geico and USAA car insurance to a friend.
- Both USAA and Geico offer full-coverage car insurance at rates below the national average of $2,433 per year.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
USAA vs. Geico Auto Insurance
We gave USAA and Geico high overall ratings. The main difference is that USAA auto insurance is only available to active military, veterans and their immediate families.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Compare USAA vs. Geico
The table below gives you a thumbnail sketch of our USAA vs. Geico comparison.
| USAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| Industry Standing | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Availability | 3.5 | 5 |
| Coverage | 4.9 | 4.3 |
| Cost and Discounts | 5 | 4.4 |
| Customer Experience | 5 | 4.6 |
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, USAA is the fifth-largest car insurance provider in the U.S. with about 6.3% of the market share. Geico nearly doubles this at 12.3%, making it the third-largest car insurance company in the nation.
USAA and Geico both hold A++ (Superior) financial strength ratings from AM Best, the highest possible rating. This means you can likely trust both companies to pay out claims.
| USAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 1922 | 1936 |
| Availability | 50 states | 50 states |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A++ | A++ |
| Better Business Bureau Rating | A+ | A+ |
| J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study* | 711 out of 1,000 | 656 out of 1,000 |
| Our Award | Best for Military Members | Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers |
USAA Overview
USAA began when 25 Army officers decided to insure each other’s vehicles in 1922. Today, the company still exclusively serves military personnel and their families. You’re eligible for USAA car insurance if:
- You are active-duty military personnel or a retired veteran
- You are a cadet or officer candidate
- Your spouse or parent has had a USAA auto or home insurance policy
Find out more about USAA’s services in our USAA Car Insurance Review.
Geico Overview
Geico began as the Government Employees Insurance Company in 1936 and initially insured government employees. Today, it provides coverage to drivers nationwide and still has discounts for federal employees.
Find out more about Geico’s services in our Geico Car Insurance Review.
USAA vs. Geico Coverage
USAA and Geico both provide the six standard car insurance coverages. These insurers also offer several add-on coverage options, including roadside assistance, rental car coverage and usage-based insurance in some states.
Geico offers mechanical breakdown insurance, which is similar to an extended car warranty. If defective materials or workmanship cause damages, MBI coverage pays for the repair. USAA, on the other hand, has coverage for glass as well as leased vehicles.
USAA and Geico Coverage Comparison
The table below shows how the companies’ offerings stack up against each other:
| USAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property Damage Liability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Collision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comprehensive | ✓ | ✓ |
| Medical Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal Injury Protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental Car Reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rideshare Insurance | ✓ | |
| Usage-Based Insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accident Forgiveness | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass Coverage | ✓ | |
| Guaranteed Asset Protection | ✓ | |
| Car Replacement Assistance | ✓ | |
| Mechanical Breakdown Insurance | ✓ |
Usage-Based Insurance Comparison
USAA and Geico both offer usage-based insurance programs that provide discounts based on your driving habits. However, neither program’s eligibility extends to every state.
| USAA SafePilot | Geico DriveEasy | |
|---|---|---|
| Device | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Can It Raise Your Rate? | No | Yes |
| Availability | 47 states (plus Washington, D.C.) | 37 states (plus Washington, D.C.) |
| Discount | Up to 30% | Varies |
| What It Monitors | Speed, acceleration, braking, swerving, cornering, distance, location, phone use and more | Distracted driving, hard braking, cornering, smoothness, road type, distance driven, time of day and weather |
USAA’s SafePilot won’t raise your rate. The program can only give you a discount, which can extend up to 30%, or maintain your current rate. On the other hand, Geico can use data from DriveEasy to recalculate your rate and increase your insurance premium if you’re deemed a risky driver.
SafePilot Availability
SafePilot is available in all states except California, Delaware and New Jersey. The program is available with some restrictions in Massachusetts.
DriveEasy Availability
You can get DriveEasy if you’re based in Washington, D.C. or one of the following 37 states:
Is USAA Cheaper Than Geico?
USAA offers cheaper car insurance than Geico. For the average driver, the annual rate for full-coverage car insurance is $1,722 with USAA compared to $1,939 with Geico. Both figures are comfortably below the national average rate of $2,433 per year. Of course, USAA’s eligibility restrictions loom large in this equation.
| Driver Profile | Geico Annual Cost Estimate | USAA Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 35-year-old with good credit and driving history | $1,939 | $1,722 |
| 25-year-old with good credit and driving history | $2,148 | $1,965 |
| 35-year-old with a recent car accident | $3,215 | $2,371 |
| 35-year-old with poor credit | $2,872 | $3,079 |
| 35-year-old with a recent DUI | $3,898 | $3,258 |
Keep in mind that your car insurance quotes may not reflect the above rates. Rates depend on a number of factors about you and your vehicle — such as your driving history, age, coverage options and the deductible you choose.
USAA vs. Geico Discounts
Geico offers more discounts, but that doesn’t mean policyholders get the lowest car insurance rates. USAA is often the cheapest option, even though it offers fewer car insurance discounts in total. A majority of the 1,000 respondents we surveyed who hold policies with either Geico or USAA took advantage of the Good Driver discount over all other discounts.
| USAA Discounts | Geico Discounts | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Vehicle | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Vehicle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Student | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Driver | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver’s Education | ✓ | ✓ |
| Defensive Driving | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy | ✓ | |
| Length of Membership | ✓ | |
| Low Annual Mileage | ✓ | |
| Military Installation | ✓ | |
| Vehicle Storage | ✓ | |
| Air Bags | ✓ | |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | |
| Anti-Lock Brakes | ✓ | |
| Anti-Theft System | ✓ | |
| Passive Restraint | ||
| Seat Belt Use | ✓ | |
| Membership and Employee | ✓ | |
| Federal Employee | ✓ | |
| Military | ✓ | |
| Military/Emergency Deployment | ✓ |
USAA vs. Geico Military Discounts
There are key differences to note between USAA and Geico’s military-related offerings.
USAA doesn’t offer a military discount that applies to veterans, but it does offer other military-specific savings opportunities, such as a 15% discount for garaging your car on a military base. Geico provides a 15% discount to active members of the military and veterans as well as a 25% discount for deployment into an imminent danger pay zone.
Since USAA is built around supporting military life, it offers an extensive knowledge base and checklists for joining the military, deployment, changing stations and leaving the military. USAA also has a job-finding program and discounts on various partner services.
USAA vs. Geico Auto Insurance: Customer Reviews
Customer satisfaction is another category where USAA holds the edge over Geico. The J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Study rates auto insurance companies on how easy it is to get a quote and compare prices. USAA received 711 out of a possible 1,000 points, which is the second-highest score in the study, while Geico received 656 points, which is just below the industry average of 676.
You’ll find a similar story with the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which surveys customers about fairness of settlements, time to settle claims, communication and other key areas. Geico checked in with 692 out of 1,000 points, which was just below the study average of 697. USAA’s score of 726 ranked 5th overall.
Keep in mind that USAA wasn’t technically ranked in J.D. Power studies due to its eligibility restrictions but still received a score.
We reached out to Geico about its lower-than-average scores and haven’t yet gotten a response.
Below are some other customer ratings for the two companies:
| USAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Customer Review Rating | 1.2 out of 5 | 1.1 out of 5 |
| App Store Rating | 4.8 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 |
| Google Play Rating | 4.7 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 |
While USAA and Geico’s customer review ratings on the BBB site look low, these scores are normal for major national car insurance companies. Consumers are more likely to write reviews after negative experiences than positive ones, and these reviews make up a small percentage of USAA and Geico’s overall number of customers.
We reached out to both USAA and Geico about their low customer review ratings on the BBB, but we didn’t receive a response from either company.
In our February 2025 survey of 1,000 auto insurance policy holders we found that 87% of USAA policy holders were either satisfied or very satisfied with their provider. Similarly, 85% of Geico policy holders were satisfied or very satisfied with their provider.
Geico and USAA Competitors: Top Picks
Even though USAA and Geico are excellent car insurance providers, it’s a good idea to get auto insurance quotes from multiple companies to compare your options. In addition to comparing Travelers and Progressive, you may also want to review our State Farm vs. Geico comparison to see how these major insurers stack up. This is especially true if you don’t qualify for USAA coverage. Travelers and Progressive are excellent places to start your search.
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
Travelers is a great option for most drivers. The company offers lots of coverage options and policy add-ons, making it easy for drivers to customize their insurance policies. Travelers also has IntelliDrive, which is a usage-based program that helps drivers stay safe on the road and get discounts.
Progressive: Best for Safe Drivers
Progressive is a good option for people who are careful behind the wheel. To better understand how Geico compares to Progressive, check out our detailed comparison of these two major carriers. It offers driver-specific discounts and a telematics insurance option called Snapshot that gets you over $200 on average in discounts for practicing safe driving habits. It also offers unique add-ons like pet injury coverage and rideshare insurance.
USAA vs. Geico Car Insurance: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions related to comparing USAA and Geico car insurance:
USAA is a top-rated insurance company and performs at or near the top of most insurance studies. The company has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and an A+ rating from the BBB, both the best ratings possible from their respective organizations.
Auto insurance rates at USAA are often among the cheapest for many types of drivers in different locations. However, to get USAA auto insurance, you need to be a member of the U.S. military, a veteran or an immediate family member.
USAA insurance is generally a good deal for those who qualify. When shopping for auto insurance, it’s important to compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you’re getting the best rate for your specific situation. The company tends to offer some of the lowest average rates for drivers in many different categories.
Geico is not the most expensive car insurance. In fact, according to our cost data, Geico is one of the most affordable car insurance providers. The average annual cost of full-coverage auto insurance from Geico is $1,939, compared to the national average of $2,433.
Our Methodology:
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:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800+ hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
Studies and Ratings We Cite
-
Our provider reviews cite several key industry studies and ratings, including:
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping Study measures customer satisfaction and purchase experience with auto insurance providers based on five categories: brand, price, distribution channel, quote process and policy offerings. The study average score is 676/1,000.
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study rates the claims experience customers have with different providers based on eight categories: trust, fairness of settlement, time to settle a claim, people, communication, ease of resolving a claim, ease of starting a claim and digital channels. Car insurance providers are assessed at the national level. The study average score is 697/1,000.
- NAIC Complaint Index The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index is a representation of the number of complaints auto insurance providers receive relative to the average number of complaints for the industry based on their size. A score of 1 represents the average number of complaints for the industry.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
