What’s The Best Choice? (2024)

Key Points:

• Geico and Safeco each offer the standard types of car insurance coverage, with some unique add-ons available from each company.
• Geico tends to be more affordable for most drivers and offers a popular usage-based insurance program that incentivizes safe driving.
• Safeco is not currently offering covering in Hawaii, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, or Washington, D.C.

If you’re searching for a new insurance policy, comparing car insurance companies is a great place to start. Geico and Safeco are both established names in the car insurance industry, but which company offers the right coverage for your needs?

In this review, we compare Geico vs. Safeco side by side to provide better understanding of how coverage, pricing, and the claims process vary by provider. We’ll also list recommended providers based on our research into the best insurance companies in the industry.

Geico is currently the third largest auto insurer in the U.S., having written over $38 billion in auto insurance premiums in 2022 alone according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 

Though Safeco isn’t large enough to rank among the NAIC top 25, the company is still a great choice for families with teenage drivers. Safeco has been around since 1923 and works with independent agents.

Both companies offer multiple types of insurance products, including homeowners insurance, renter’s insurance, and life insurance. 

Below, you’ll find ratings awarded to each company during our team’s extensive insurance industry research. You’ll also find coverage availability information and each company’s current industry standing:

*Although Safeco advertises nationwide availability, the company is no longer taking on new customers in Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Washington, D.C.

Learn more about the providers in our complete Safeco insurance review and Geico auto insurance review.

Now that you have a bird’s eye view of our findings, let’s dive into coverage. Each company offers minimum and full coverage options. Minimum coverage includes state-required minimums of bodily injury liability and property damage coverage. Full coverage insurance includes these plus collision and comprehensive coverage.

Here are the types of auto insurance you can get with Safeco and Geico:

When comparing Geico vs. Safeco, both have a wide variety of coverage options to choose from. However, Geico has strengths that would make it the better choice for some drivers. For example, those interested in standard coverage or usage-based insurance can find reasonable rates with Geico. However, drivers looking for extras like new car replacement will find better coverage with Safeco. 

Standout Coverage From Safeco

Below are some coverages that set Safeco apart:

• Diminishing deductible: For every policy period that you go claim-free, your collision deductible will be lowered by $50 or $100 at renewal (up to $500).
• New car replacement: If you’re the original owner of the insured car and the car is less than a year old, your new car will be replaced with one of equal value in the event that your current vehicle is totaled in a covered event.

Standout Coverage From Geico

Below are some coverages that set Geico apart:

• Geico DriveEasy: DriveEasy is Geico’s usage-based insurance program. An app tracks your driving habits and can reward safe driving with special discounts or rate incentives.
• Mechanical breakdown insurance: MBI covers the cost of repairs to your car for damage that is not sustained during a collision.

Our research indicates that Geico auto insurance has more affordable average rates than Safeco. Geico auto insurance rates also fall below the national average, making the company a strong choice for most drivers interested in affordable car insurance. However, Safeco car insurance may be a better choice for young drivers or drivers interested in mileage-based discounts.

Every driver is unique, so you’ll want to choose a company with insurance discounts that best match your lifestyle and coverage needs. See how each company’s discount offerings compare below:

Safeco’s RightTrack^® Vs. Geico’s DriveEasy^®

Both Geico and Safeco have usage-based car insurance savings programs. We compared Safeco vs. Geico savings apps and found that drivers can save a significant amount on their premiums with either app.

Standout Discounts From Safeco

Below are standout discounts available from Safeco: 

• Accident prevention course: Drivers older than 55 who complete an accident safety course can get a discount over the next three years of car insurance coverage.
• Newly independent: When a driver opens a new Safeco policy for themselves after previously being on their parent’s Safeco policy, they receive a discount.
• Teen Safety Rewards™: This comprehensive list of discounts is beneficial for teens who start their own policy, as well as their parents.
• Parent Teen Contract: Set clear rules and expectations for your teen behind the wheel through Safeco’s parent-teen contract and save on car insurance.

Standout Discounts From Geico

Below are standout discounts available from Geico: 

• Vehicle safety: If your vehicle is equipped with air bags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft technology, and other safety features, you could qualify for various car insurance savings.
• Military discount: Members of the military can get up to 15 percent on their car insurance rates.
• Emergency deployment: If you are deployed, you could get up to 25 percent off the price of your auto insurance.

How To Save Money On Car Insurance

A good driver with a clean driving record and strong credit score will almost always qualify for the best rates. However, there are a number of steps any driver can take to save money on car insurance: 

Some things to consider when shopping for car insurance are ease of signing up and ease of filing claims. To get insight into the quotes process, we turned to J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study^℠, which measured car insurance customer satisfaction levels with policy offerings, policy price, and interaction.

• Safeco: 840/1,000
• Geico: 857/1,000

While both companies offer positive shopping experiences, Geico pulls slightly ahead of Safeco in the rankings. To test out the quotes process for yourself, get free quotes from top providers by entering your zip code below.

To assess each company’s claims process, we looked at another J.D. Power study–the 2023 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study^℠. This study measures customer satisfaction with the insurance claims process, which includes filing a claim and receiving associated coverages. Here’s how each company performed: 

• Safeco: 880/1,000
• Geico: 871/1,000

These numbers tell us that Safeco offers a slightly better claims experience than Geico.

Finally, we’ll compare Safeco vs. Geico in terms of industry reputation and customer reviews. To measure business practices and financial stability, we look to sources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and AM Best.

Safeco and Geico both scored highly, telling us that each company is a reliable choice. However, Geico earned the highest marks possible from both the BBB and AM Best. Both companies have a similar number of closed customer complaints in the last year.

If you search online for provider reviews, you’ll discover that there are many positive and negative reviews for both Safeco and Geico. This is common for auto insurance companies. We found that most positive Safeco reviews highlighted fast claims and satisfactory towing services, while negative reviews mentioned unprofessional insurance agents and unreliable claims adjusters.

Positive Geico reviews touch on reliable customer service and knowledgeable claims representatives. On the other hand, negative feedback focuses on poor communication and Geico not using original parts for covered repairs.

Safeco and Geico are both strong choices for auto insurance, but between Safeco vs. Geico, we found Geico to have the better cost, quotes processes, and customer service. If you’re looking for certain types of coverage though, you may want to get a quote from Safeco and compare plans side by side.

To save on insurance costs, we recommend comparing car insurance quotes from multiple providers. When you’re ready to get started, enter your zip code or call the phone number below.

Top Recommendations For Car Insurance

It’s smart to shop around anytime you change over your car insurance policy. Along with Safeco and Geico, we recommend looking into Progressive and USAA. These providers scored highly in our market review and offer great coverage for high-risk drivers and military families, respectively.

Progressive: 4.5 Stars

Our Progressive auto insurance review named the company the best choice for usage-based insurance, but the company also offers great rates for young drivers and those with a DUI on their record. The company’s usage-based program, Snapshot^®, is a great option for safe drivers looking to save extra on insurance coverage. 

When you get a quote, you can check out the Name Your Price^® tool that matches you with policies to fit your budget. 

USAA: 4.5 Stars

USAA is our top choice for military personnel. Auto insurance coverage is only available to active-duty or retired military and their family members. Along with standard coverage, there are options like accident forgiveness and roadside assistance. USAA also offers discounts including a military installation discount of up to 15 percent if you garage your vehicle on a military base.

Learn more about coverage in our full USAA auto insurance review.

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about Geico vs. Safeco insurance coverage:

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.