GEICO Overview | Stats |
---|---|
Founded | 1936 (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.) |
Premiums Written (2017) | $29,596,404,000 ($29.6 billion) |
Current Assets | Over $32 billion |
Loss Ratio (2017) | 72.04% |
Headquarters Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
Local Offices | Find your local office here |
Phone Number | (800) 841-3000 |
Website | GEICO.com |
Best For | Online services and low rates |
Whether it’s GEICO’s promise of saving you 15 percent on car insurance or simply the cute gecko advertisements that has lead you to consider purchasing GEICO insurance, you need to make sure that GEICO is right for your needs.
While GEICO is a top contender in the car insurance industry, you need to make sure that GEICO’s rates and services in Texas match the company’s promises.
To see how GEICO compares to other providers, we are going to take a look at everything from GEICO’s ratings to the ease of making claims.
This way, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about GEICO, such as if it fits the boundaries of your budget or provides the right coverages you need.
If you want to start comparing rates today, enter your zip code in our FREE online tool above.
Table of Contents
Rating Agency
You never want to just look at one site for company ratings. While one site may give GEICO a great rating for its financial standings, another site may rate GEICO as poor for its customer service.
Looking at different rating agencies can give you a more complete picture of a company, which is why we’ve included a complete list of GEICO’s ratings below.
Agency | Rating |
---|---|
AM Best | A++ (Superior) |
Better Business Bureau (Northbrook, IL) | B+ |
Consumer Affairs | 4/5 |
JD Power | Overall Satisfaction: 3/5 |
Moody's | Aa3 (Excellent) |
S&P | AA+ (Very Good) |
Consumer Reports | 89 |
Let’s breakdown what each of these ratings means, starting with the financial ratings.
- AM Best — GEICO’s A++ rating means the company has a superior ability to meet financial obligations, such as paying employees and claims.
- Moody’s — GEICO’s Aa3 score means GEICO has a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations and is in good credit standing.
- S&P — GEICO’s AA+ rating means the company has a very strong ability to meet financial commitments.
These financial ratings all show that GEICO is strong financially, but what about customer satisfaction? Let’s take a look at how satisfied GEICO customers are with their insurer’s service.
- Better Business Bureau — The BBB rated GEICO as a B+, which could be better but isn’t terrible.
- Consumer Affairs — Out of over 3,000 reviews, GEICO ranked four out of five stars on Consumer Affairs for customer satisfaction.
- JD Power — Overall, GEICO earned three out of five points for customer satisfaction.
- Consumer Reports — Consumer Reports gave GEICO a score of 89 out of a 100, which is great.
GEICO’s overall claims satisfaction rating at JD Power is based on the following ratings.
Factor in Claim Process | Rating (out of 5) |
---|---|
Estimation Process | 3 |
Repair Process | 3 |
Rental Experience | 5 |
Claims Servicing | 3 |
Settlement | 3 |
JD Power also rated GEICO’s customer satisfaction by region.
Region | Power Circle Ranking | Numeric Score (out of 1,000) | Percent of Companies with Higher Numeric Score |
---|---|---|---|
Florida | Better than most | 832 | 14% |
Central | Better than most | 838 | 14% |
Mid-Atlantic | Better than most | 848 | 8% |
Northwest | About average | 805 | 55% |
California | About average | 807 | 65% |
New York | About average | 813 | 78% |
New England | About average | 827 | 20% |
North Central | About average | 830 | 33% |
Southeast | About average | 839 | 13% |
Southwest | The rest | 798 | 75% |
Texas | The rest | 816 | 50% |
While GEICO is better than most or about average in most areas of the US, in Texas it is similar to the rest of companies by landing in the slightly below average category. About 50 percent of companies scored higher than GEICO in Texas.
GEICO’s customer satisfaction ratings could be better too, but remember that it is more likely that a dissatisfied person will write a review than a satisfied person.
As for Consumer Reports, GEICO’s score of 89 was based on the following factors.
Claims Handling | Score |
---|---|
Total | 89 out of 100 |
Ease of reaching an agent | Excellent |
Simplicity of the process | Very good |
Promptness of response - very good | Excellent |
Damage amount | Very good |
Agent courtesy | Excellent |
Timely payment | Excellent |
Freedom to select repair shop | Very good |
Being kept informed of claim status | Very good |
Finally, we want to take a look a the NAIC’s data on GEICO’s complaint ratios.
Private Passenger Policies | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|
Total Complaints | 271 | 333 | 272 |
Complaint Index (better or worse than National Index) | 0.44 | 0.81 | 0.71 |
National Complaint Index | 0.78 | 1.21 | 1.15 |
GEICO’s complaints over the years were less than the national average, which is good news. This means only a small percentage of GEICO customers submitted complaints.
Company History
Founded in 1936 by a husband and wife, GEICO’s founders managed to grow a business in the midst of a depression. Today, in 2019, GEICO has added its 17th millionth policy to its list of accomplishments.
This rapid growth has made GEICO a top contender in the auto insurance industry. While this growth into a brand name may make people chose GEICO based solely on its popular promises, we want to dig deeper into GEICO.
Now that we’ve looked at GEICO’s ratings, let’s take a look at what led GEICO to receive these ratings.
We want to cover GEICO’s history, from its market shares to the awards it has won. Looking at these factors will give us a better idea of how GEICO is positioned for the future — the last thing you want is to sign up with a company that closes.
– Market Share
We know GEICO is a major contender in the auto insurance industry, but exactly how much of the market does it corner?
Year | Market Share of Liability | Market Share of Physical Damage | Total Market Share |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | 10.62% | 9.64% | 10.24% |
2014 | 11.07% | 2.3% | 10.77% |
2015 | 11.71% | 10.79% | 11.41% |
2016 | 12.12% | 11.57% | 11.89% |
2017 | 12.95% | 12.54% | 12.79% |
GEICO’s total market share has grown from 2013 to 2017 by about two percent. This may not seem like much, but this is an enormous amount to gain in the market.
Smaller insurance companies generally occupy less than one percent, which means GEICO occupies a large chunk of the insurance market.
– Service Type
There are multiple ways to get information about car insurance or contact someone at GEICO.
- Online — You can find information and answers online at GEICO’s website.
- Apps — You can also contact GEICO through their mobile app.
- Agents — If you want to talk to an agent directly, you can search and find one in your local area.
- Email/Mail — You can message GEICO through their website. You can also send a physical letter.
- Phone — GEICO’s main phone number is (800) 207-7847.
These various methods of contact make it easy for you to talk to someone at GEICO. You can contact someone 24/7, 7 days a week, through the mobile app or the phone hotline.
– Commercials
GEICO’s main message that it advertises to viewers is that GEICO can help customers save money on car insurance. Like most insurance companies, GEICO makes the subject of car insurance interesting by using humor in its commercials.
Over the years, GEICO has moved away from its cavemen commercials (“so easy a caveman could do it”) to the cute, little gecko representative that tells viewers about discounts and savings.
https://youtu.be/d4Gi7BxriuE
These commercials with the gecko make the company stick in the viewers’ minds, as GEICO is now easily remembered for its amphibian mascot.
https://youtu.be/eR1wR02V8sM
GEICO also uses popular culture to advertise its brand, such as using highly-anticipated movies that appeal to a wide demographic. These tactics make GEICO stick out in viewers’ minds, which is a must in the highly competitive world of car insurance commercials played on the TV or the radio.
– Community Service
GEICO is involved in several charities and causes.
- Supports organizations by volunteering/donating to the following: United Way, March of Dimes, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
- Sponsors participants in events like The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Walk.
- Hosts annual blood drives.
- Supports Children’s National Hospital (has raised $320,000).
These are just a few of the ways that GEICO is involved. GEICO also encourages employees to volunteer regularly through the GEICO Cares program.
This involvement in the community means that GEICO employees care about the people around them and want to make the community a better place.
Companies who volunteer and donate show that it is more likely to be people (and customer) oriented.
– How is GEICO Positioned for the Future?
Based on GEICO’s steady growth in the market and solid financial ratings, there is little chance of it floundering anytime soon.
While some of GEICO’s customer satisfaction ratings were just average, GEICO has still managed to attract new customers and grow the company’s number of policies.
As long as GEICO continues to attract customers (and keep them), there is no reason why GEICO would fail in the future.
This means that if you choose GEICO, there is only a minuscule chance of GEICO going bankrupt in the future and leaving you stranded without insurance.
– Work Environment
You should care what employees think about working at GEICO, as a large majority of employees disgruntled with the company probably means quite a few unhappy customers as well.
Before GEICO’s certification expired in 2016, A Great Place to Work said that 68 percent of employees (out of 33,681 ) said that GEICO was a great place to work at.
Let’s take a quick look at how long employees stay at GEICO.
Tenure | Percentage of Employees |
---|---|
<2 years | 33% |
2-5 years | 25% |
6-10 years | 16% |
11-15 years | 14% |
16-20 years | 7% |
20+ years | 6% |
Six percent of the employees at GEICO have been with the company for over twenty years. The vast majority, though, have been with the company for less than two to five years.
Let’s dig a little deeper into employees’ experiences at GEICO.
- 86 percent say people are treated fairly regardless of sex.
- 86 percent say GEICO is a friendly place to work.
- 85 percent say employees are given a lot of responsibility.
- 85 percent say they feel good about the ways the company contributes to the community.
- 85 percent say that when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.
While only 68 percent of employees say GEICO is a good place to work, a higher percentage say that GEICO is a friendly, fair place to work.
Part of the reason for only 68 percent of employees voting for GEICO could be due to other factors, such as pay.
Payscale, another rating website, gave GEICO’s work environment 3.2 stars out of five (based on the following factors).
Factor | Rating (out of 5) |
---|---|
Appreciation | 3.3 |
Company Outlook | 4.4 |
Fair Pay | 3.0 |
Learning and Development | 3.7 |
Manager Communication | 3.9 |
Manager Relationship | 4.1 |
Pay Policy | 3.2 |
Pay Transparency | 3.4 |
GEICO’s ratings are all above three stars, which is about average. A few factors, manager relationship and company outlook, received over four stars.
– Awards and Accolades
GEICO has won numerous awards and accolades, and we’ve listed some of them below (we’ve excluded awards for GEICO’s state offices, as they don’t apply to Texas offices).
- 2014 Glassdoor award for Top CEOs
- 2015 Ward Group’s award for the 50 Top financially high-performing insurers
- 2016 Potential Park (human resources market research firm) ranked GEICO as Top 10 companies
- 2016 CollegeGrad.com gave GEICO a Top Intern and Entry-Level Employer award
- 2017 AnitaB.org gave GEICO a Top Company for Women Technologists award
- 2018 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award
As we mentioned, we excluded awards for specific offices at GEICO. Even without those awards listed, though, GEICO still has an impressive range of awards to its name.
Cheap Car Insurance Rates
Geico promises to save you money on car insurance, but do GEICO’s rates really save you a significant amount of money? That’s the question we’ll attempt to answer in this next section.
While you may save some money by switching providers, you want to make sure that you are picking the best provider possible. There may be a company with better rates, or a company with better coverage, than the one you picked.
That’s why we are going to go into everything you need to know about GEICO so you can determine if GEICO will actually save you the money it promises.
From company rates in Texas to driving record rates, we partnered with Quadrant to bring you the all the following information we are going to cover here. So let’s get started.
– GEICO Availability and Car Insurance Rates in Texas
As one of the largest insurers in the U.S., GEICO is licensed to sell in all 50 states.
Why is this good?
Because if you someday move out of Texas, you can keep GEICO as your insurance provider. This lessens the stress of having to get new insurance in addition to the hassles of moving.
Of course, GEICO’s rates will change depending on what state or area you move to, but generally, it shouldn’t be too much of a drastic difference in price (it may even be lower).
Let’s take a look at what GEICO’s rates are in Texas.
Texas Average Premium | GEICO Average Premium in Texas | Compared to State Average (+/-) | Compared to State Average (%) |
---|---|---|---|
$4,043.28 | $3,263.39 | -$664.95 | -20.38% |
GEICO is over $600 less than the Texas state average.
– GEICO Compared to Top 10 Companies
Below, you can see how GEICO’s rates compare to other companies in Texas.
Insurer | Average Premium | Compared to State Average (+/-) | Compared to State Average (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $5,485.44 | $1,442.16 | 26.29% |
American Family | $4,848.72 | $805.44 | 16.61% |
Farmers | Data Not Available | - | - |
GEICO | $3,263.28 | -$780.00 | -23.90% |
Liberty Mutual | Data Not Available | - | - |
Nationwide | $3,867.55 | -$175.73 | -4.54% |
Progressive | $4,664.69 | $621.41 | 13.32% |
State Farm | $2,879.94 | -$1,163.34 | -40.39% |
Travelers | Data Not Available | - | - |
USAA | $2,487.89 | -$1,555.39 | -62.52% |
GEICO is the third cheapest insurer in Texas, costing almost 24 percent LESS than the Texas state average. We should also point out that USAA is only for military personnel, which means that for everyone else, GEICO is the second cheapest provider in Texas.
– Commute Rates
Some companies want to know your commute rate so that they can charge you more. Why? Because the longer you are on the road, the more you are at risk of being in an accident.
Let’s take a look at GEICO’s commute rates.
State | Commute and Annual Mileage | Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
TX | 10 miles commute. 6000 annual mileage. | $3,201.16 |
TX | 25 miles commute. 12000 annual mileage. | $3,325.39 |
While some companies won’t charge for a longer commute, GEICO will charge you an extra $125.
– Coverage Level Rates
When accidents happen, people are either grateful for their coverage or wish they had more. Unfortutently, the higher price on high coverage can make some people opt out.
Let’s take a look at how economical GEICO’s rates are in the increases between low, medium, and high coverage.
State | Low | Medium | High |
---|---|---|---|
TX | $3,090.61 | $3,221.63 | $3,477.58 |
GEICO’s increased rate from low to high coverage is about $390, which is economical compared to other companies (where it can cost about a thousand to upgrade to high coverage).
If GEICO’s high coverage is still too expensive for your budget, consider medium coverage instead of low coverage. In case of an accident, you’ll be glad for better protection.
– Credit History Rates
The average credit score in Texas is 656, which is lower than the national credit score of 675. A score of 656 is considered a fair credit score, so if your credit score is the average in Texas or less, insurers will likely charge you extra.
Below, you can see the rates GEICO charges based on credit score.
State | Good Credit | Fair Credit | Poor Credit |
---|---|---|---|
TX | $1,902.10 | $2,851.51 | $5,036.22 |
GEICO charges steep rates based on credit score. Good to fair credit racks up a thousand dollars, and fair to bad credit will add on over two thousand.
This means that if you go from having good to bad credit, you’ll have to pay an extra three thousand at GEICO. This is more than other providers, were good to bad credit usually costs between one to two thousand extra.
– Driving Record Rates
Equally as important as your credit score is your driving record, which tells insurers how risky you are to insure. If you have a history of speeding tickets, accidents, and DUIs, you can expect your rates to increase.
GEICO’s rates based on driving history are the following.
State | Clean Record | With 1 DUI | With 1 Speeding Violation | With 1 Accident |
---|---|---|---|---|
TX | $2,769.51 | $3,061.87 | $3,570.43 | $3,651.30 |
In Texas, GEICO penalizes speeding violations more than DUIs. This makes sense when you consider Texas’s flat roads are perfect for speeding, creating the perfect opportunity for a deadly crash.
If you speed and get into an accident, you’ll have to pay almost a thousand more a year.
This may seem like a lot, but other companies generally charge AT LEAST $1,000 for offenses like DUIs and accidents. GEICO’s increased rates in Texas are on the low side.
Coverages Offered
We know GEICO’s prices are lower than the usual provider in Texas, but the price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. You want to make sure you are actually getting a good bargain.
You don’t want to pay less for a subpar product, especially if you are in an accident and find the insurance you’ve been paying for each month won’t cover nearly enough of the accident costs.
To see if GEICO’s coverages are worthwhile, we are going to cover everything from the types of insurance offered to the various discounts. This way, you can make an informed decision about choosing GEICO.
– Types Besides Car Insurance
Almost every insurer will offer customers the opportunity to bundle — purchasing other types of insurance (home, life, etc.) in addition to car insurance. To encourage people to do this, insurers will offer a bundling discount.
GEICO is no different. In addition to car insurance, GEICO offers the following types of insurance.
- Property Insurance
- Covers homeowners, renters, condos/co-ops, and mobile home insurance.
- Business Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Identity Protection Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Travel/Overseas Insurance
- Jewelry Insurance
So if you want to protect your dog and your car, you can do it all through GEICO. This makes it easier if you prefer to have all your policies through one provider.
– Types of Car Insurance
What we really care about, though, is what types of car insurance GEICO offers. We should note that vehicle insurance at GEICO isn’t just limited to cars.
GEICO also offers vehicle insurance for ATVs, RVs, boats, and motorcycles.
Below, you can see a complete list of what car insurance coverages GEICO offers to customers.
- Collision Coverage — This coverage will pay for repairs to your vehicle when you hit another car/object.
- Comprehensive Coverage — Useful for when something OTHER than another car causes damages to your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage covers a wide range of accidents, such as natural disasters, animal collisions, thefts, and more.
- Liability Coverage — GEICO has bodily and property damage liability insurance, which pays the injury and damage costs in an accident you caused.
- Medical Payments Coverage — Pays your medical expenses from an accident.
- Personal Injury Protection — This coverage is different from medical payments, as it helps pay for lost wages and other accident-related costs in addition to your medical payment costs (regardless of who caused the accident).
- Umbrella Coverage — Provides you with extra liability coverage (useful in case the other driver sues you).
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage — If the driver who caused the accident has no insurance (or poor insurance), he or she will be unable to pay YOUR bills. This coverage will help you out with costs so that you aren’t paying out of pocket.
GEICO has a normal range of car insurance, as they offer all the major coverages and more. This means that you can make sure your vehicle (and you) are protected as completely as possible in case of an accident.
– Additional
GEICO has multiple add-on coverages in addition to basic auto insurance coverages. Check the list below to see what GEICO has to offer.
- Auto Repair Express — GEICO has a car repair program where you receive priority treatment to get you back on the road as soon as possible.
- Car Buying Service — This GEICO program will show you what others have paid for the car you’re interested in.
- Classic Car Insurance — Vintage cars require different protection than vehicles you drive every day, which is why GEICO offers special insurance for classic cars.
- Commercial Coverage — If your vehicles are used for your business, you can purchase commercial coverage.
- Emergency Road Service — GEICO will provide assistance for common breakdowns, such as flat tires, jump starts, and towing.
- Mechanical Breakdown Assistance — Covers the costs of major repairs due to mechanical breakdowns.
- Mexico Car Insurance Coverage — If you are traveling in Mexico, your regular policy won’t cover you. GEICO offers daily, 6-month, or annual coverage in travelers.
- Prime Time Contract — Is a guaranteed renewal program for drivers over 50 years of age.
- Rental Reimbursement — Pays for a rental car while yours is in the repair shop.
- Ridesharing — GEICO offers insurance for rideshare drivers (which is required).
GEICO has a full range of extra coverages, more so than the average provider. These extra coverages can cut out the need to have separate services, such as calling a tower when your car breaks down.
– Discounts Offered
Who doesn’t love a good discount? While a car insurance discount may not be as exciting as a discount on a new car, the money saved on car insurance can be spent (or saved) on more exciting things.
Let’s take a look at what discounts GEICO offers its customers just for having safety features in their cars.
Vehicle Equipment Discount | Savings up to: | Policy type savings are applied to: |
---|---|---|
Air Bag | 40% | medical payments or personal injury |
Anti-lock Brakes | 5% | collision |
Anti-Theft System (select states only) | 25% | comprehensive |
Daytime Running Lights (select states only) | 1% | varies |
Being accident-free is always a good thing at providers, and GEICO will offer you a discount if you’ve been accident-free for at least five years.
Driving History and Habits Discount | Savings up to: | Policy type savings are applied to: |
---|---|---|
Five-Year Accident-Free Good Driver | 26% | varies |
Seat Belt Use | 15% | medical payments or personal injury protection |
To encourage accident-free driving, GEICO also offers discounts for customers who continue their driver’s education.
Driver's Education Discount | Savings up to: | Policy type savings are applied to: |
---|---|---|
Defensive Driving Course | unspecified | Depends on your state |
Teen Driver's Education | unspecified | varies |
Full-Time Students age 16-24 with B average | 15% | varies |
Taking courses in driving or being a good student with solid grades will earn you a discount. As well, various affiliations will also earn you a percentage off of your policy.
Driver Affiliation Discount | Savings up to: | Policy type savings are applied to: |
---|---|---|
Emergency Deployment | 25% | varies |
Federal Employee (Eagle Discount) active and retired | 8% | total auto insurance premium |
Membership and Employee Discounts | varies | check the list here |
Military active and retired | 15% | total auto insurance premium |
Finally, you can earn discounts simply for being a loyal customer.
Customer Loyalty Discounts | Savings up to: | Policy type savings are applied to: |
---|---|---|
Multi-Vehicle | 25% | varies |
Multi-Policy | unspecified | If auto is combined with a homeowners, renters, condo or mobile home policy |
While these already seem like an extensive list of discounts, GEICO has a few little discounts that aren’t as openly advertised.
Because we want you to save as much as possible, check out the complete list of discounts below that includes lesser-known discounts in addition to the ones we’ve already covered.
Discounts | Percentage Saved |
---|---|
Anti-lock Brakes | 5% |
Anti-Theft | 25% |
Claim Free | 26% |
Continuous Coverage | x |
Daytime Running Lights | 1% |
Defensive Driver | x |
Distant Student | x |
Driver's Ed | x |
Early Signing | x |
Emergency Deployment | 25% |
Family Legacy | x |
Farm Vehicle | x |
Federal Employee | 8% |
Full Payment | x |
Further Education | x |
Good Student | 15% |
Homeowner | x |
Low Mileage | x |
Loyalty | x |
Membership/Group | x |
Military | 15% |
Multiple Policies | 10% |
Multiple Vehicles | 25% |
Newer Vehicle | x |
Occupation | x |
Passive Restraint | 40% |
Safe Driver | 15% |
Seat Belt Use | 15% |
Students and Alumni | x |
Utility Vehicle | x |
Vehicle Recovery | 25% |
Total Discounts Provided | 31 |
Many of these discounts are easy to get (such as simply being a homeowner). GEICO also has a large number of discounts available (31), which is more discounts offered than at most providers, who have 20 to 30 discounts.
– GEICO’s Programs
Now that we know what coverages GEICO offers, we want to take a look at its programs. A company’s programs can make life easier by providing discounts or help after accidents.
So let’s see what programs GEICO has to offer.
– Accident Forgiveness
GEICO offers accident forgiveness to eligible customers. Depending on how long you’ve been with GEICO and what your driving record is like, you may get accident forgiveness for free or have to pay a monthly fee.
Either way, accident forgiveness will help give you peace of mind that your rates won’t increase with your first accident.
– Usage-Based App
GEICO has caught up with other companies technology by introducing its first usage-based driving app in 2019. The DriveEasy app records drivers’ habits and scores them accordingly.
GEICO bases drivers’ scores on the following conditions, which are typical of most driving apps.
- The time of day
- The distance driven
- Distracted driving
- A driver’s hard braking
The time of day and distance driven may seem odd, but they are important. Driving home at 1 p.m. is less risky than coming home at 3 a.m.
As for distracted driving, staying off your phone in the car is the best way to avoid a dip in your score. If you are a careful driver, though, GEICO’s new app could help you save money each month.
– What Stands Out/What’s Missing
Let’s take a step back and look at GEICO’s coverages and rates in terms of what stands out and what’s missing.
- What Stands Out — GEICO has a great selection of coverages to choose from, as well as a higher than the average number of discounts.
- What’s Missing — While GEICO does have a lot of discounts, it’s missing simple discounts like autopay or paperless billing that other providers have.
GEICO offers a lot for its price, but it doesn’t have discounts other providers offer.
How to Make a Claim
Claims are an important factor to look at. The last thing you want is a company with a claims process that seems more stressful than the accident itself.
To see how easy GEICO’s claim process is, we are going to go through every aspect of a claim, from premiums written to how to make a claim.
Stick with us, because we are going to jump right into it.
– Premiums Written and Loss Ratio
Premiums written and loss ratios tie directly into the claims process. How?
Well, the amount of premiums written tells us if a company is still attracting customers. If a company isn’t writing out premiums but is paying out a high number of claims, it impacts a company’s loss ratio.
A high loss ratio (over 100 percent) means a company is paying out too many claims, which will impact your rates (that extra money to pay off claims has to come from somewhere, and it’s usually the other customers).
If a high loss ratio continues for too long, that company has a high chance of becoming bankrupt in the near future.
On the other hand, you don’t want a company with a low loss ratio. These companies aren’t paying out many claims, which means you have a higher chance of your claim being rejected.
Luckily, GEICO hasn’t become a top insurance contender due to low written premiums and terrible loss ratios.
Private Passenger Auto | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
Premiums written | $22,808,382,000 (22.8 billion) | $25,531,762,000 (25.5 billion) | 29,596,404,000 (29.6 billion) |
Loss Ratio | 74.36 % | 74.38% | 77.14% |
GEICO has increased its premiums since 2015, as well as increasing its loss ratios. GEICO’s loss ratios are great, as they are neither too high nor too low.
– Ease of Making a Claim
So now that we know GEICO pays out a respectable number of claims each year, how easy is it to make a claim at GEICO? Below are the main methods through which you can start the claim process at GEICO.
- Online — You can file a claim online at GEICO’s main website.
- Agent — You can contact your agent directly to file a claim.
- App — If you have the GEICO app, you can file through the app.
- Phone — You can call (800) 841-3000 to file a claim.
With the exception of talking to your local agent, these claim methods can be used at any time, even if its the middle of the night.
How To Get a Quote Online
We’ve talked about the different factors that affect rates, but sometimes its simply easier to get a quote online. Though you should doublecheck your quote against GEICO’s known discounts and rates to make sure the quote seems similar.
We are going to walk you through the easy steps to get a quote at GEICO.
The first thing you’ll need to do is visit GEICO’s website. Right away, you’ll see a quote box in the middle of the screen.
You can get quotes for insurances other than auto insurance, but auto insurance is automatically selected as the default. Simply enter in your zip code and click start quote to get begin the quote process.
You may see a popup that requests additional information about why you want the quote. You can select an option or simply click skip.
You will then enter your personal information, such as your name, birthday, and address. The form will also ask you for the following.
- Vehicle Information — Asks a few basic questions, such as if you own your vehicle and what its annual mileage is.
- Detailed Personal Information — Will ask questions about driving history, as well as questions about your homeownership, education, etc., to calculate what discounts you qualify for.
- Past Accidents — GEICO will ask about all drivers who are going to be on the policy who have had past accidents.
You also have the option to customize your coverage at the end of the quote process (GEICO will automatically add in the minimum car insurance required in Texas).
As you can see, GEICO’s quote process is easy (and free). You can fill out the form on any electronic device with access to the internet, so if you don’t have access to a laptop you can fill it out on your phone whenever and wherever.
As a reminder, you’ll need the following information.
Information | Required? |
---|---|
Social Security Number | No |
Driver's License | No |
Vehicle Identification Number | No |
Contact Information (email, phone, address, etc.) | Yes |
Driver's History | Yes |
Vehicle Information | Yes |
Personal Information (affiliations, gender, etc.) for Discounts | Yes |
This information allows GEICO to create a more accurate quote and contact you when the quote is done (as well as if you have more questions about the quote).
– Design of Website/App
No-one wants to pick an insurance company and then find out later they are stuck with an outdated, hard-to-navigate website or app. Luckily, GEICO’s website is easy to navigate.
On the upper left side of the screen, there are drop-down menus for insurance and information. There is also a search bar and a log in option on the right side of the screen.
If you want to search for information on the dropdown menus, you will see plenty of options to learn more about different types of insurance and coverages.
Clicking on any option on the menu will lead you to a page filled with basic information. This makes it easy to find answers to common questions.
As for GEICO’s mobile app, it has 4.8 stars out of five (from 1.4 million ratings).
There are very few critical reviews of the app, and most have to do with app bugs that have since been fixed in updates. So what can you do with this highly-rated app?
- View/share ID cards
- Pay/Manage bills
- Roadside Assistance
- Submit claims/view claims process
- Submit pictures of an accident
- Talk to GEICO representative
- Get a new quote
- Use GEICO Explore
GEICO has clearly poured time and energy into making its general app one of the best insurance apps on the market.
https://youtu.be/AcgVyPjKTII
Pros and Cons
Now that we are nearing the end of this review of GEICO, let’s take a quick look at GEICO’s basic pros and cons.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Lower rates than most Texas providers | Will still have huge price increases for common driving mishaps (accidents, etc.) |
Great mobile app | Discount driving app is still new and not fully vetted yet |
Available in all 50 states | May have increased rates if you move |
Wide range of coverages and discounts | Not all discounts save significant amounts |
While GEICO does have lower rates and a wide range of coverages, there are a few cons you should consider. For instance, if you have a less than stellar driving record or credit history, GEICO’s rates may be too expensive.
Getting a quote from GEICO and comparing it to other providers is the best way to decide if GEICO’s price meets your budget, though remember to consider the benefits of GEICO’s coverages and programs as well.
The Bottom Line
GEICO is a great company. Its growth over the last decade hasn’t been by mistake. It’s cheaper rates, good customer satisfaction ratings, and wide range of coverages make it a top contender in most people’s search for a new provider.
GEICO also has a great app and it’s easy to use the website, making it easy to find the information you need without sifting through dozens of webpages.
Since GEICO has good financial standings and has grown substantially since its origins, it should be around for a while yet.
FAQ
If you still have questions about GEICO, check out our list of frequently asked questions below.
What happens if I miss a payment? If you miss a payment, you’ll receive notice of cancellation. If you don’t pay by the time listed on the notice of cancellation, GEICO will cancel your policy and you’ll be without insurance.
If accidentally forgetting a payment concerns you, there is always the option of signing up for automatic payments every month.
How do I get accident forgiveness? If you have a clean driving record, you may qualify for accident forgiveness. In other words, you’ll get accident forgiveness for free for a clean record.
You also have the option of purchasing accident forgiveness, as long as you meet driving record and experience requirements. After you’ve been in your first accident, the monthly charge for accident forgiveness will be dropped.
Will GEICO cover my windshield repair or replacement? Generally, GEICO will only cover glass repairs/replacement if you have comprehensive coverage. You will have to check your policy or ask an agent before submitting a claim.
Will GEICO cover me when I drive abroad? GEICO will only cover you if you are driving in Canada or Mexico (you’ll need to purchase Mexico coverage). This means that if you are driving somewhere else, you should purchase rental insurance.
What if I want to cancel my GEICO policy? You can cancel your GEICO policy at any time, and GEICO won’t charge a cancellation fee.
You’ll need to call (800) 841-1587 to speak to an agent in order to cancel your auto insurance policy. You can also call this number if you need to change something in your policy to make it work better for your needs.
Now that you’ve finished our review of GEICO, you are more than ready to make the decision of if GEICO is right for you. Picking the right insurance provider is important, as you never know when an accident will happen.
If you want to start comparison shopping in your area today, enter your zip code in our FREE online tool below.