Disclosure: The author is not a licensed insurance agent and Prime Capital Report is not affiliated with GEICO or Progressive. This comparison is general information, not insurance advice. Prices are median or sample rates from the sources named; your quote will differ.
- $168/moGEICO median full coverage, clean recordSource: NerdWallet, Oct. 2026
- $190/moProgressive median full coverage, clean recordSource: NerdWallet, Oct. 2026
- $41/moGEICO minimum coverageSource: NerdWallet, Oct. 2026
- $54/moProgressive minimum coverageSource: NerdWallet, Oct. 2026
- A++GEICO AM Best rating (Progressive: A+)Source: AM Best
GEICO is usually cheaper for drivers with clean records and good credit, and it scores higher in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study. Progressive tends to win after an at-fault accident or a DUI, for older drivers and for teens added to a parent’s policy, and it offers more add-ons such as rideshare coverage. On official complaint data, both are better than the market baseline.
In NerdWallet’s October 2026 analysis, the median full coverage premium for a 35-year-old with a clean record was $168 a month at GEICO versus $190 at Progressive (NerdWallet). Below we compare price by driver profile, discounts, NAIC complaint indexes pulled directly from the regulator’s database, J.D. Power scores, coverage options and financial strength.
Key takeaways
- Price, clean record: GEICO $168 vs. Progressive $190 a month for full coverage; minimum coverage $41 vs. $54 (NerdWallet, Oct. 2026).
- Price, after an accident: Progressive $285 vs. GEICO $293. With poor credit, GEICO is far cheaper: $243 vs. $319.
- Complaints: every GEICO and Progressive company we checked had a 2025 NAIC private passenger auto complaint index below 1.00, the national baseline (NAIC Consumer Insurance Search).
- Satisfaction: GEICO outscored Progressive in all 10 J.D. Power 2026 regions compiled by Insurance 8020, by 2 to 42 points; neither ranked first in any region (J.D. Power).
- Financial strength: both rated Superior by AM Best: GEICO A++, Progressive A+.
GEICO vs. Progressive at a glance
| Category | GEICO | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Median full coverage, clean record (NerdWallet) | $168/mo | $190/mo |
| Median minimum coverage (NerdWallet) | $41/mo | $54/mo |
| 2025 U.S. private passenger auto market share (NAIC, via Insurance 8020) | 11.56% (Berkshire Hathaway group) | 18.60% |
| AM Best financial strength | A++ (Superior) | A+ (Superior) |
| How it sells | Mainly direct (online, app, phone) | Direct plus 40,000+ independent agents and brokers |
| Telematics | DriveEasy, typically 5%-15% savings | Snapshot, average $328 savings for drivers who save |
| Rideshare coverage | In some states | Available as an add-on in most states |
Sources: NerdWallet, NerdWallet best car insurance, Insurance 8020 (AM Best and NAIC market share), GEICO, Progressive, GEICO rideshare, Progressive rideshare.
Which is cheaper, GEICO or Progressive?
It depends on your profile. NerdWallet’s October 2026 rate analysis reports median monthly rates for full coverage across several driver types:
| Driver profile (full coverage) | GEICO | Progressive | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-year-old, clean record, good credit | $168 | $190 | GEICO |
| 20-year-old, own policy | $315 | $319 | GEICO |
| 40-year-old | $167 | $178 | GEICO |
| 50-year-old | $157 | $160 | GEICO |
| 70-year-old | $172 | $157 | Progressive |
| One speeding ticket | $229 | $251 | GEICO |
| One at-fault accident | $293 | $285 | Progressive |
| Poor credit | $243 | $319 | GEICO |
| 20-year-old added to parents’ policy (total policy) | $399 | $329 | Progressive |
Source: NerdWallet, updated Oct. 2, 2026 (median monthly rates; the parents’ policy figures come from a separate NerdWallet analysis in May 2026).
After a DUI, NerdWallet lists Progressive among the cheapest large insurers at $260 a month, second only to Travelers ($232); GEICO doesn’t appear among the five cheapest. NerdWallet also cautions that if you have poor credit or a recent ticket, accident or DUI, other insurers may be more likely to beat GEICO’s price. Our SR-22 insurance cost guide covers insurers that file state forms after a DUI.
State matters
In NerdWallet’s state-by-state list, GEICO is the cheapest full-coverage insurer in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Utah, while Progressive is the cheapest in North Carolina and South Dakota. Elsewhere, a regional or other national carrier wins. For state-specific picks, see our guides to car insurance in Florida and the cheapest car insurance in Texas, and our cost by state report.
Discounts compared
NerdWallet scored GEICO highest among insurers for discount offerings. The two companies publish their discounts differently: GEICO lists maximum potential savings, Progressive mostly lists averages, so the percentages below aren’t directly comparable. A dash means the discount isn’t among those we found on that company’s discount page.
| Discount | GEICO (stated maximum) | Progressive (stated average or minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple vehicles | Up to 25% | Average 12% |
| Clean driving record | Up to 22% (accident-free 1+ year, varies by state) | Automatic three-year safe driving discount; separate 5-year accident-free and claim-free discounts |
| Good student | Up to 15% | Starts at 5% (B average or better) |
| Telematics | DriveEasy: typically 5%-15% | Snapshot: average savings of $328 |
| Deployed military | Up to 25% | — |
| Anti-lock brakes | 5% on certain coverages | — |
| Online quote | Varies | Average 7% |
| Sign documents online | Paperless discount varies | Average 10% |
| Bundling, homeowner, pay in full, autopay | Varies | Varies |
Sources: GEICO car insurance discounts and Progressive auto discounts, accessed October 2026. Both say discounts vary by state. Progressive says 99% of its auto customers earn at least one discount; GEICO says new policyholders report average annual savings of over $900, and Progressive says switchers save over $950 on average. Those are company-reported switching claims, not independent data.
Complaints: what NAIC data actually shows
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners publishes a complaint index for each insurance company. Per NAIC, “the National Complaint Index is always 1.00,” and the index is “determined by dividing the Company’s share of complaints in the U.S. market by the Company’s share of premiums.” Below 1.00 means fewer complaints than expected for the company’s size.
GEICO and Progressive each sell through many legal entities, so there’s no single brand-wide index. We pulled the private passenger auto index for three large companies in each group directly from NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search (data as of October 2026):
| Company (NAIC code) | 2025 index | 2025 complaints | 2025 auto premium | 2024 index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Employees Ins. Co. (GEICO, 22063) | 0.54 | 145 | $5.63 billion | 0.53 |
| GEICO General Ins. Co. (35882) | 0.88 | 536 | $12.84 billion | 0.75 |
| GEICO Indemnity Co. (22055) | 0.70 | 143 | $4.31 billion | 0.57 |
| Progressive Direct Ins. Co. (16322) | 0.75 | 374 | $10.41 billion | 0.61 |
| Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. (24260) | 0.93 | 145 | $3.28 billion | 0.96 |
| Progressive Northern Ins. Co. (38628) | 0.47 | 86 | $3.86 billion | 0.36 |
Source: NAIC Consumer Insurance Search, National Complaint Index reports for each NAIC code (e.g., GEICO General, Progressive Direct), accessed October 22, 2026.
Combining the three companies in each group (our calculation: total share of complaints divided by total share of premiums), GEICO’s 2025 index works out to about 0.76 and Progressive’s to about 0.72. The index rose from 2024 to 2025 for five of the six companies listed. The takeaway: complaint data doesn’t separate these two insurers much. Check the specific company named on your quote in your state, because state regulators can show different results; Insurance 8020, for example, reports GEICO companies’ Indiana indexes ranging from 0.81 to 2.48 in 2025, where small complaint counts swing the numbers.
Customer satisfaction and claims
J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, based on 52,216 customers surveyed from April 2025 to April 2026, put overall industry satisfaction at 644 on a 1,000-point scale. Regional winners included Erie, Amica, State Farm, Travelers and others; neither GEICO nor Progressive ranked highest in any region (J.D. Power). The regional scores, as compiled from J.D. Power’s charts by Insurance 8020:
| J.D. Power region (2026) | GEICO | Progressive | Region average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 644 | 614 | 640 |
| Florida | 642 | 634 | 639 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 634 | 630 | 651 |
| New England | 631 | 629 | 631 |
| New York | 654 | 624 | 636 |
| North Central | 657 | 631 | 645 |
| Northwest | 646 | 604 | 636 |
| Southeast | 668 | 644 | 659 |
| Southwest | 637 | 615 | 638 |
| Texas | 646 | 635 | 648 |
Source: Insurance 8020, citing the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study (California chart not included).
On claims specifically, NerdWallet reports that both GEICO and Progressive received below-average claims satisfaction ratings in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. NerdWallet adds that Progressive also scored below average in J.D. Power’s shopping study, even though regulators receive fewer complaints than expected about it (NerdWallet).
Coverage options
- Progressive stands out for add-ons. NerdWallet highlights three accident forgiveness programs (two with automatic enrollment in certain states), pet injury coverage of up to $1,000 if a pet is hurt in a covered crash and you have collision, and rideshare coverage. Progressive says its rideshare coverage applies to delivery work in most states. Our rideshare insurance guide compares it with other insurers.
- GEICO covers the basics plus extras such as DriveEasy, but NerdWallet notes it doesn’t offer gap insurance and has a limited network of local agents. GEICO says rideshare coverage can be added “in some states.”
- Telematics: GEICO’s DriveEasy isn’t offered in California, Hawaii or Vermont, according to Insurance 8020. Progressive notes Snapshot rates could increase with high-risk driving.
Financial strength and size
Both companies can pay claims. AM Best affirmed GEICO’s A++ (Superior) rating on April 16, 2026, and Progressive’s A+ (Superior) on May 1, 2026, both with stable outlooks. Progressive is the larger auto writer: NAIC 2025 market share data shows Progressive with 18.60% of U.S. private passenger auto premium (about $69.0 billion), second only to State Farm, and the Berkshire Hathaway group that includes GEICO with 11.56% (about $42.9 billion) (all via Insurance 8020).
How to compare GEICO and Progressive quotes fairly
- Use identical coverage. Match liability limits, uninsured motorist limits and deductibles on both quotes; a cheaper quote with lower limits isn’t cheaper.
- Quote the discounts you actually qualify for. GEICO’s affiliation discounts (military, federal employees, member groups) and Progressive’s sign-online and online-quote discounts can change the ranking.
- Decide on telematics up front. DriveEasy and Snapshot can lower or, with risky driving, raise your price; compare both with and without them.
- Check the issuing company. Your quote names a specific GEICO or Progressive company. Look up its complaint index on NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search and your state insurance department’s site.
- Re-shop after life changes. In NerdWallet’s data the cheaper company flips with age, a ticket, an accident or a credit change.
Which should you choose?
GEICO is likely the better first quote if you have a clean record, good credit or a ticket, want the lowest minimum-coverage price, qualify for military or federal-employee pricing, or care most about satisfaction scores.
Progressive is likely the better first quote if you have an at-fault accident or a DUI, are adding a teen to a family policy, are 70 or older, drive for Uber, Lyft or DoorDash, or want an independent agent and extras like pet injury coverage.
| If you are… | Start with | Why (source) |
|---|---|---|
| A clean-record driver in your 30s-50s | GEICO | Lower median full coverage at ages 35, 40 and 50 (NerdWallet) |
| Buying state-minimum coverage | GEICO | $41 vs. $54 a month (NerdWallet) |
| A driver with poor credit | GEICO | $243 vs. $319 a month (NerdWallet) |
| A driver with a recent at-fault accident | Progressive | $285 vs. $293 a month (NerdWallet) |
| Adding a 20-year-old to a family policy | Progressive | $329 vs. $399 a month for the family policy (NerdWallet) |
| A rideshare or delivery driver | Progressive | Rideshare add-on in most states (Progressive) |
Either way, get both quotes plus one from a regional insurer; in NerdWallet’s data, Travelers or State Farm undercut both in many profiles. Our guide to comparing car insurance quotes explains how to make the quotes match.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is GEICO cheaper than Progressive?
Usually for clean drivers. NerdWallet’s October 2026 median for full coverage is $168 a month at GEICO versus $190 at Progressive for a 35-year-old with a clean record. Progressive is cheaper after an at-fault accident ($285 vs. $293) and for drivers 70 and older ($157 vs. $172).
Does GEICO or Progressive get more complaints?
Neither stands out. In NAIC data for 2025, all six GEICO and Progressive companies we checked had private passenger auto complaint indexes below the 1.00 baseline, from 0.47 (Progressive Northern) to 0.93 (Progressive Casualty).
Which has better customer service, GEICO or Progressive?
GEICO scored higher than Progressive in all 10 J.D. Power 2026 regional rankings compiled by Insurance 8020, by 2 to 42 points. NerdWallet reports both were below average in J.D. Power’s 2025 claims satisfaction study.
Is Progressive better for high-risk drivers?
Often. In NerdWallet’s data Progressive was cheaper than GEICO after an at-fault accident and appeared among the cheapest large insurers after a DUI ($260 a month), while GEICO was cheaper for drivers with poor credit or a speeding ticket.
Are GEICO and Progressive financially strong?
Yes. AM Best rates GEICO A++ (Superior) and Progressive A+ (Superior), both affirmed in 2026 with stable outlooks.
Sources
- NerdWallet, “Cheapest Car Insurance,” updated Oct. 2, 2026: nerdwallet.com
- NerdWallet, “The Best Car Insurance Companies,” October 2026: nerdwallet.com
- NAIC Consumer Insurance Search, National Complaint Index reports (codes 22063, 35882, 22055, 16322, 24260, 38628), accessed Oct. 22, 2026: content.naic.org
- J.D. Power, 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study press release, June 9, 2026: jdpower.com
- Insurance 8020, “GEICO vs Progressive (2026),” verified Oct. 3, 2026: insurance8020.com
- GEICO, “Car Insurance Discounts”: geico.com
- Progressive, “Auto Insurance Discounts”: progressive.com
- Progressive, “What is Rideshare Insurance?”: progressive.com
- GEICO, “How Your Vehicles Are Used”: geico.com
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Written by
Roberto Gomes, Founder and Editor
Roberto researches insurance and personal finance in the United States and Canada from insurers' policy documents, regulator data and public rate filings. He is not a licensed agent or adviser. How we research.
Written by Roberto Gomes, Editor
Roberto researches car and life insurance rates from state insurance department data, insurers' rate filings and published rate studies. He is not a licensed insurance agent, and Prime Capital Report does not sell insurance.
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