GEICO vs. AAA: Which company is best for you?
Both GEICO and AAA are two of the nation's most popular insurers and boast a large share of the auto insurance market. But which one is best for you? We've compared both companies to give you an idea of what you can expect as a customer. Read on to find out more.
GEICO car insurance
GEICO has the second-largest share of the auto insurance market and is one of the most recognizable carriers in the country. The company generally receives good customer satisfaction ratings. Furthermore, GEICO is known for having some of the most affordable rates among major carriers.
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AAA car insurance
Perhaps best known for its roadside assistance programs, AAA also offers car insurance to its members. In most cases, coverage is not provided by AAA themselves, but through partner companies. AAA simply acts as an intermediary, meaning that coverage options and experiences can be vastly different based on location.
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Which company comes out on top?
GEICO
GEICO comes out on top in most categories, including customer satisfaction, coverage options, and price. These factors make GEICO a strong choice for most drivers.
GEICO vs. AAA: car insurance rate comparison
Choosing a car insurance company can be tough: companies' rates differ by driving history, age and location. GEICO and AAA are two of the most popular insurers, providing competitively priced policies in most states.
In an effort to simplify the comparison process, we've collected average rates from AAA and GEICO. These rates cover a variety of pricing components, including credit rating, driving history and age. Take a look at these rates to help you in your search for an affordable policy. Keep in mind, however, that your rates are likely to be different than our samples.
GEICO has the cheapest rates overall on average. However, this can vary from person to person, so it's always a good idea to get quotes from many different insurers to see which policy is most affordable.
GEICO vs. AAA: pricing by credit score
If you have very poor credit, GEICO could be the way to go. On average, GEICO offers more affordable rates than AAA for drivers with credit scores that dip below 580. Drivers with outstanding credit — a score of 800 or better — should consider GEICO as well, for an average savings of $1,750 per year compared to AAA. View common insurance rates by credit level for GEICO and AAA below.
RATES BY CREDIT LEVEL: AAA VS. GEICO
| Credit level | GEICO avg. annual premium | AAA avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $2,051 | $6,569 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,358 | $4,023 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,485 | $3,723 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,120 | $3,004 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,064 | $2,814 |
Auto insurance data methodology
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of The Zebra's State of Insurance car insurance pricing analysis. This analysis of more than 83 million insurance rates spans every U.S. ZIP code, using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
- $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted the driving profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level, driving record and others.
In some instances, average rates from Liberty Mutual were derived from internally sourced sales data.
GEICO vs. AAA: rates for high-risk drivers
If you're dealing with an at-fault collision, speeding ticket, reckless driving citation or DWI on your driving record, GEICO could be a better choice than AAA. However, it's important to keep in mind that each insurer has different post-violation pricing structures, so it's worth comparing quotes to understand which insurer suits you better and provides the most savings.
RATES BY CITATION: AAA VS. GEICO
| Violation | GEICO avg. annual premium | AAA avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,857 | $4,078 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $1,580 | $4,002 |
| DUI/DWI | $2,550 | $5,530 |
| Reckless driving | $2,238 | $5,530 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,395 | $4,078 |
GEICO vs. AAA: rates by age
Insurance companies use a driver's age as an estimator of risk, pricing premiums accordingly. An auto insurance policy is usually priciest for teen drivers — due to their increased odds of being involved in an accident — and more affordable for older drivers. Because every car insurance company prices age brackets differently, it's worth doing some comparison shopping.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose GEICO instead of AAA: GEICO offers average yearly savings of $6,748, compared to AAA.
RATES BY AGE: AAA VS. GEICO
| Age | GEICO avg. annual premium | AAA avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $3,508 | $10,256 |
| 20s | $1,438 | $4,644 |
| 30s | $1,218 | $4,644 |
| 40s | $1,189 | $3,195 |
| 50s | $1,160 | $3,083 |
| 60s | $1,065 | $2,887 |
Aside from affordability, GEICO and AAA each come with pros and cons, including their customer satisfaction ratings, discount programs, policy add-ons and financial stability. Be sure to weigh these elements and see personalized quotes before deciding.
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Ratings comparison: GEICO vs. AAA
When looking for a new auto policy and deciding on an insurance provider, the cost shouldn't be the only thing to compare. Positive scores from customers and third-party rating agencies can help you find an insurance company that provides fair rates and great customer service. To help, we've found a variety of ratings of both GEICO and AAA to help you determine each company's customer satisfaction level, number of complaints and state of its fiscal health.
| Ratings comparison | GEICO | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength (A.M. Best) | Superior | Superior |
| JD Power (claims satisfaction) | Average | Below average |
| JD Power (customer satisfaction) | Average | Average |
| NAIC rating | Average | Poor |
| The Zebra's editorial review score | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey | 4.4/5 | 4.2/5 |
Which company scores best?
GEICO
GEICO scores higher than AAA in most areas, including The Zebra's own editorial review, claims satisfaction and our annual Customer Satisfaction Survey, which you can see in more detail below.
The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Zebra conducted a survey to get a sense of how top car insurance providers are viewed by their customers. Find a rundown of the results below.
GEICO came in fourth place overall with a score of 4.4. Below are some highlights from the survey.
- GEICO placed first for Online Satisfaction (website and apps)
- Scored well for Customer Service and Willingness to Recommend
- Viewed most favorably by drivers in the Boomer generation
AAA ranked near the bottom in most categories in our survey of fifteen carriers, ultimately coming in thirteenth place for car insurance. Even with an overall score of 4.2, AAA was not given favorable ratings in categories like Online Experience, Claims Satisfaction, Ease of Use, Customer Service and Willingness to Recommend. Below are some highlights.
- Scored in fifth place for Trustworthiness (4.3)
- Younger drivers rated the company higher than older drivers
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey methodology
Findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,794 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.
GEICO vs. AAA: discount comparison
Car insurance discounts can add up, helping you save money on your insurance premiums. Take a look at how discounts from GEICO and AAA compare below.
In addition to the discounts above, GEICO also offers a senior citizen discount to qualifying drivers. AAA offers a number of money-saving discounts based on your method of payment and policy types, especially if you're insuring more than one car and bundling. If unsure, ask a representative about which discounts for which you may qualify.
Telematics options: GEICO vs. AAA
GEICO and AAA both offer telematics car insurance programs that can be beneficial to certain types of drivers. Have a look at the comparison below to see if one stands out as a better option for your insurance needs.
GEICO Drive Easy Pro is an app that tracks your driving habits to better assess your level of risk. For safe drivers, this can sometimes result in cheaper rates. Currently, the app is rated on app stores at 3.5 out of 5 stars (both Google Play and the Apple Store).
AAA's telematics offering, OnBoard, follows your driving habits via a mobile app to help determine your rates. The company claims policyholders who opt-in can save as much as 30% off their rate at their next renewal. Additionally, you can save up to 15% off upon activating OnBoard. To join, you must visit an AAA branch or call to register and download the Auto Club app — which has a score of 4.7 on the Apple Store and a score of 4.3 on Google Play — to set it up.
Zebra tip: Explore AAA for telematics offerings
While GEICO boasts great online reviews overall, its telematics app suffers lower scores across multiple platforms. In contrast, AAA's app is better rated and offers a savings of 15% for joining. While both companies promise telematics discounts, it's important to note that it may not apply in all states or discounts may vary.
Roadside assistance: GEICO vs. AAA
No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road after a breakdown — but there's always a risk, no matter how new your car may be. Check out the different roadside assistance packages offered by both GEICO and AAA below.
GEICO
GEICO's roadside assistance offers the following:
- Towing
- Jump starts
- Tire changes (when you have a spare)
- Up to $100 for lockout services
- Fuel delivery
- Winching for stuck vehicles (depending on severity)
AAA
AAA is well-known for its roadside assistance product. This can be purchased by itself or as an add-on to your AAA policy. The company has several tiers for roadside assistance, which generally covers:
- Towing
- Jump starts
- Fuel delivery
- Lockout services
- Flat-tire changes
- Extrication/winching service
- Trip interruption
GEICO vs. AAA: home insurance
While both companies are major providers of auto insurance, GEICO and AAA also sell home insurance. They also have one thing in common — these insurers offer homeowners insurance through a number of partner companies instead of under their own banners. That said, both companies provide a variety of coverage types with plentiful add-ons that many homeowners may find appealing, depending on their needs and budget. Read more about each company's home insurance offerings in our comparison below.
GEICO homeowners insurance review
While not as significant a portion of its business as car insurance, GEICO's homeowners coverage remains an important part of the company's product offerings. GEICO partners with many insurance providers throughout the nation to provide home insurance. Despite this, customer service scores and third-party ratings remain high.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey – 4.4/5: GEICO's home insurance coverage earned a relatively high score in The Zebra's 2021 customer satisfaction survey.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) – Not rated
- Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power) – Not rated
- Financial strength (AM Best) – Superior: GEICO received an 'A' rating from AM Best, underlining its solid financial standing.
- NAIC Rating – Excellent: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) received fewer customer complaints than average regarding GEICO homeowners insurance in 2020.
AAA homeowners review
As with AAA's car insurance product, the company partners with a number of affiliated insurers to provide homeowners coverage. These companies include CSAA and Auto Club Indemnity Company. Ratings of AAA's home insurance offering are a composite of these companies in an effort to give a broad idea of what customers can expect.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey — 4.2/5: AAA ranked 14th in the overall homeowners carrier category of The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey.
- Customer Service (J.D. Power) — Below Average: The average J.D. Power ranking of CSAA and Auto Club of Southern California Insurance group comes in just shy of the average for customer satisfaction.
- Financial Strength (AM Best) — Excellent: With a financial rating of “excellent,” you can be rest assured AAA will be able to handle your claims.
- Claims Satisfaction (NAIC) — Fewer complaints than average: The average number of complaints across different branches of AAA homeowners insurance companies is fewer than average.
Which company comes out on top?
Tie
Both GEICO and AAA can pair customers with good homeowners policies. Because neither company doesn't actually underwrite their own policies, it's difficult to say which insurer comes out on top because your experience may differ depending on which company you are paired with. For that reason, we feel that both companies are worth exploring for homeowners insurance.
GEICO vs. AAA: home insurance rate comparison
AAA's average annual homeowners insurance rate is $1,296 per year, or $108 per month. Because GEICO does not underwrite its own homeowners policies, it's more difficult to provide accurate rate data.
Your individual rates are likely to vary from one company to another. This is because companies have different methods for underwriting. Your rates are highly dependent upon both where you live and your individual profile, and each company will place a different weight upon factors such as area crime, proximity to fire-fighting services and the age of your home. For this reason, it's highly recommended that you shop for homeowners quotes from a number of different sources, as this will likely lead you to the best rate.
Based on the data we have available, AAA has the cheapest home insurance rates at around $108 per month.
Homeowners insurance data methodology
The homeowners insurance rates published in this guide are based on The Zebra's analysis of the cost of home insurance in every U.S. ZIP code. These rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:
- $200,000 for the dwelling
- $20,000 for other structures
- $100,000 for personal property
- $100,000 for personal liability
- $1,000 deductible
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted the homeowner profile based on common pricing factors used by major home insurance companies. These factors include location, coverage limits, claims record and others.
GEICO vs. AAA: homeowners discount comparison
Home insurance discounts are a great way to save money on your premiums. While both companies offer discounts, AAA provides more options for saving. It's also important to note that there may be more options for discounts through GEICO's or AAA's partner companies.
| Discount comparison | GEICO | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Claims free | ✓ | |
| Recent home buyer | ||
| Multi-policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Early signing | ||
| Newer/more durable roof | ✓ | |
| Protective devices (smoke/burglar alarms, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid in full | ||
| Early signing | ||
| Auto pay | ||
| Newer home | ✓ | |
| Renovated home | ✓ | |
| Senior citizen | ✓ |
Zebra tip: Check out AAA if you are seeking home insurance discounts
Qualifying customers have a number of discounts to choose from, including discounts for being claims-free, having a newer or updated roof and bundling car and home insurance together. However, even with extra discounts, other companies may still offer more affordable rates.
Other insurance products and bundling options
GEICO and AAA both have options for bundling multiple policy types. Bundling policies can lead to savings in many cases. See our table below for a side-by-side comparison.
| Other products | GEICO | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Boat insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Condo insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Life insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homeowners insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel trailer insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Motorcycle insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile home insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Umbrella | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offroad vehicles and ATVs | ✓ | ✓ |
Find the best insurance policy for your needs.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.