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Theres almost no way to avoid car insurance, but you do have a choice when it comes to which car insurance company you use. Two providers that most everyone has heard of are household names Progressive and Geico.

Both leaders in the auto insurance industry, Progressive and Geico are known across the country for a reason. But each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so today we are going to evaluate Geico vs Progressive by comparing the providers car insurance rates, coverage, and customer satisfaction scores. Depending on what your individual needs are, you will likely find that one company is more appealing than the other.

In this article:

Competitive rates

Numerous discounts, including for federal employees

Mechanical breakdown coverage

Some customers complain about poor communication

Easy quotes process

Comprehensive roadside assistance

Snapshot usage-based program

Average customer satisfaction scores

Both of these companies have a reputation for entertaining advertisements with the Geico Gecko and Progressives Flo as mascot and spokeswoman for the companies. But what do industry experts think? Heres a quick look at Progressive vs Geico ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), AM Best, and J.D. Power.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Geico definitely shines. Geicos strong BBB rating shows that the company is able to handle complaints in a timely and efficient manner, while Progressive seems to struggle with the BBB. J.D. Powers Auto Claims Satisfaction Study placed Geico near the top of the list (in fourth place), while Progressive was near the bottom of the 24 providers in the study. The Insurance Shopping Study, which ranked 20 providers, saw Geico near the middle of the pack and Progressive in second-to-last place.

However, both companies showed strong financial strength, proving that they are able to fulfill claims for customers.

When you compare online reviews for Geico vs Progressive, you can find positive and negative reviews for both providers. Lets take a look at a negative review for each to see what unhappy customers have reported:

I ended up sliding on ice and hitting a wall. I contacted Geico, and the adjuster checked out my car and determined the damage was fresh. Geico decides to put an investigator on my case, who then asked me for the tow companys information, the person that picked me up, the location of the accident, my coworkers numbers, neighbors numbers, my [bosss] numbers, and all of this I provided Then he tells me he will email me forms to sign. I [received] the email, and its a consent for my cell phone tower records and my car infotainment information, which I thought was ridiculous after almost two months dealing with this and no rental provided... I was furious and decided I wont deal with a company that treats a customer in a way as if hes a criminal.

-Justin J. via BBB

They are not there for you when you need them the most. I switched to Progressive from [another] company that was great for a lower premium. I paid my premiums in full, and then an accident happened. Their claims adjuster tries to find a reason not to cover me instead of giving me that warm feeling of being covered. Now things will need to go to arbitration just to try to get them to cover me.

-Nathan S. via BBB

Both Geico and Progressive provide standard coverage in all 50 states. These coverages include:

Most auto insurance companies offer standard coverage. What you really want to look at when comparing Progressive vs Geico is the additional car insurance coverage and other insurance options for your home, rental property, and more.

In our research, we found that Geico generally offers lower rates than Progressive. However, this may not always be the case depending on your details and driving history. The only way to know for sure how much a policy from one of these providers will cost is to obtain quotes from each. Thats because premiums are affected by the following factors.

The next step in shopping is to look at available car insurance discounts. You could have a higher base premium with one company but then get a lower cost in the end because of your discount eligibility. Lets compare Progressive vs Geico by looking at discounts for students, military, and more.

Roadside assistance is an important consideration for many drivers. After all, who wants to be stranded on the side of the road after an accident or breakdown? Both Geico and Progressive provide this coverage as an add-on. While the plans cost about the same amount of money, the exact services can vary. Heres a closer comparison of Progressive vs Geico.

Winching service

From this chart, we can see that Progressive offers more comprehensive roadside assistance plan than Geico.

Both Progressive and Geico have mobile-friendly websites and mobile apps. Through these avenues, you can manage your auto insurance policy online, pay your premiums, get access to ID cards, upload damage photos for claims, and call for roadside assistance. In addition, each company provides some extra digital tools to make insurance policy management easier.

After looking closely at the breakdowns between Progressive vs Geico, we have to declare the latter the winner, but not by much.

Overall, Geico scores higher in customer satisfaction and tends to have lower rates. With that said, you dont want to overlook Progressive. The company provides great gap coverage and some additional perks with its roadside assistance program.

To figure out which policy would be best for you, we highly recommend getting quotes from both companies. Like we mentioned, each persons premium will be different, so we wouldnt be surprised if you found better coverage with one provider than your neighbor did.

Best Company Overall

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Best for those ineligible for USAA: Offers competitive pricing and great coverage.

Great for Discount Bundles

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Offers a number of ways to get a discount, including the Snapshot tool or bundle options.

After comparing Geico vs Progressive, we highly recommend both auto insurance companies. However, there are a couple of other providers out there that you might consider while you shop. It doesnt take long to get a few quotes from competing insurance providers. Spending this time could save you money on your premiums. Just make sure the provider you choose also supplies great customer service and claims processing, or you could end up frustrated in your time of need.

We recently reviewed the best car insurance companies in the nation, and USAA was the only provider that we awarded five stars. That being said, USAA car insurance is only available to military service members and their families. But if you qualify, the company tends to have low rates, plenty of discounts, and the option to add on roadside assistance. Additionally, USAA excels in customer satisfaction studies, including both J.D. Power studies discussed above.

Like Progressive and Geico, we gave State Farm a 4.5-star rating. The provider has great ratings from industry leaders and offers an extensive list of discounts. If you have younger drivers on your policy, you might find more competitive rates with State Farm auto insurance.

Follow this link:
Geico Vs Progressive: Which Provider Is Best In 2020? - Motor1