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AAA vs. Geico Car Insurance Reviews
AAA and Geico are reputable car insurance companies with good coverage options and customer service. However, our research team gives Geico an overall score of 9.1 out of 10.0 to AAA’s 8.6. Geico also ranks as the sixth-best car insurance company in our review, winning our Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers.
Is AAA Better than Geico?
Geico outscored AAA overall in our ratings, as well as in four out of five categories. In the table below, you can see how each company performed.
| AAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1902 | 1936 |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A+ | A++ |
| BBB Rating | Not Rated | A+ |
| J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score | 871 out of 1,000 | 889 out of 1,000 |
| Our Award | N/A | Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers |
In our research, we found that Geico offers some of the lowest car insurance rates nationwide. The provider also has an impressive A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, showing its ability to pay out customers’ claims. Combined with its score from J.D. Power, AAA’s A+ rating from AM Best also gives it a strong reputation for paying claims out.
While Geico has an excellent rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), neither Geico nor AAA have good customer review scores from the site. However, AAA outperformed Geico in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠.
AAA vs. Geico Insurance Comparison
The table below shows a comparison of factors that help determine the reputation scores in our reviews of AAA vs. Geico.
| AAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1902 | 1936 |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A+ | A++ |
| BBB Rating | Not rated | A+ |
| J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score | 890 out of 1,000 | 874 out of 1,000 |
| Our Award | N/A | Affordable for Most Drivers |
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AAA vs. Geico Coverage
Geico has the upper hand with coverage options, but both companies score reasonably well for that category in our review. No matter what kind of insurance policy you need to fit your lifestyle and vehicle, you can most likely find it with either AAA or Geico.
AAA and Geico offer most of the main types of car insurance, such as liability coverage for when you’re at fault for an accident. Here’s a complete look at the six standard types of car insurance coverage options offered by both providers.
- Liability: Liability auto insurance includes bodily injury liability (BI) and property damage liability (PD) coverage. It helps pay for damages to other parties’ vehicles and persons after an accident where you are at fault. This type of insurance is required in most states.
- Collision: Collision insurance helps cover repair costs for your vehicle after an accident.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive car insurance pays for repair costs if your vehicle is damaged by a natural disaster, animals or fire. This coverage also helps pay to replace your car if it’s stolen or vandalized.
- Medical payments (MedPay): MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP coverage helps pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers, in addition to pain and suffering damages and compensation for lost wages if you cannot work due to an accident-related injury.
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist (UIM/UM): Uninsured motorist coverage pays for property and injury-related expenses if you are involved in a hit-and-run accident. This coverage also helps cover accidents with drivers who are uninsured or do not have high enough policy limits to cover the full cost of damages.
Additional Coverage Options
In addition to the standard types of car insurance listed above, AAA and Geico also offer several add-on coverage options. The chart below compares coverage options between the two providers.
| Insurance Type | AAA Coverage | Geico Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Classic car insurance | √ | |
| Commercial auto insurance | √ | |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance | √ | |
| Gap insurance | √ | |
| New car replacement | √ | |
| Rental car reimbursem*nt | √ | |
| Roadside assistance program | √ | √ |
| Accident forgiveness | √ | |
| Mexico car insurance | √ |
Usage-Based Insurance Comparison
AAA and Geico offer telematics insurance programs that track your driving behavior and allow you to earn discounts for good driving habits. With AAADrive™, you can save 5% just for signing up.
One major difference between AAADrive and Geico DriveEasy is that when DriveEasy detects unsafe driving habits, Geico may raise your insurance premium. With AAADrive, driving in an unsafe way only means you’ll miss out on your discount.
Each program uses a mobile app to track behaviors such as the time of day you’re driving, your distance driven and your speed. DriveEasy is a feature in the Geico Mobile app, and AAADrive is a tool within the AAA mobile app.
Below is more information about how each program works and where it’s available.
| AAADrive | Geico DriveEasy | |
|---|---|---|
| Discount | Up to 5% for signing up, up to 10% for enrolling all family members on your policy and up to 25% based on your driving score | Varies by state |
| Device | AAA Mobile app | Geico Mobile app |
| Behaviors Tracked | • Smooth driving • Speed • Mobile distraction • Time of day • Fatigue | • Hard braking • Speed • Distracted driving • Cornering • Time of day • Distance driven |
| Can Premiums Go Up? | No | Yes |
| Availability | Available in select states | • Alabama • Arizona • Arkansas • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maryland • Michigan • Minnesota • Missouri • Nebraska • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • Nevada • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Washington, D.C. |
You can sign up for AAADrive or Geico DriveEasy even if you don’t have a great driving record because both programs only look at your driving behaviors after you sign up.
Is AAA Auto Insurance Cheaper than Geico?
Geico is one of the country’s more affordable car insurance options, generally falling well below the national average of $2,008 per year for full coverage. AAA’s average annual full-coverage cost is on the other end of the spectrum at over $1,000 more than the national average.
On average, Geico has some of the lowest rates in the nation for most drivers. That’s why it receives a perfect 10.0 score in the cost category in our review.
AAA vs. Geico Cost Comparison
The table below lists the average costs for full- and minimum-coverage car insurance from AAA and Geico.
| Company | Average MonthlyMinimum-Coverage Cost | Average AnnualMinimum-Coverage Cost | Average MonthlyFull-Coverage Cost | Average AnnualFull-Coverage Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | $68 | $820 | $240 | $2,880 |
| Geico | $38 | $461 | $133 | $1,596 |
| National Average | $52 | $627 | $167 | $2,008 |
*Cost data for AAA based off 2022 information
AAA Auto Insurance vs. Geico Rates
Your car insurance rate depends on many factors, including your:
- Age
- Gender (as listed on license)
- Marital status
- Location
- Vehicle
- Driving history
- Credit score
AAA tends to be one of the more expensive options for insurance, especially compared to Geico. However, if you’re a AAA member already or you qualify for some of its many discounts, AAA car insurance might be a better option for you.
AAA vs. Geico Discounts
AAA and Geico offer many car insurance discounts to help you get a lower rate. You can get discounts for being a good student, having multiple cars on your policy or having anti-theft equipment on your vehicle, for example.
| Discount | AAA | Geico |
|---|---|---|
| Accident-free/good driver | √ | √ |
| Advanced purchase | √ | |
| Air bag | √ | |
| Anti-lock brakes | √ | |
| Anti-theft system | √ | √ |
| Automatic payments | √ | |
| Daytime running lights | √ | |
| Defensive driving | √ | √ |
| Driver’s education course | √ | √ |
| Emergency deployment | √ | |
| Federal employee | √ | |
| Good student | √ | √ |
| Membership and employee* | √ | √ |
| Military | √ | |
| Multi-car | √ | √ |
| Multi-policy | √ | √ |
| New driver | √ | |
| New vehicle | √ | √ |
| Paperless payments | √ | |
| Pay-in-full | √ | |
| Prior insurance tenure | √ | |
| Seat belt use | √ | |
| Student away | √ | |
| Vehicle safety | √ |
*AAA’s occupation and membership discounts are separate.
AAA vs. Geico Bundling Options
AAA and Geico offer discounts for bundling your car insurance with other types of insurance from the same company. To save money with Geico, you can bundle your car coverage with renters, condo, mobile home, motorcycle or homeowners insurance.
With AAA, you can bundle your home and auto insurance policy to save even more on car coverage as an AAA member.
AAA vs. Geico Car Insurance Customer Experience
AAA scores lower than Geico overall in our review, but when it comes to customer experience, it has some advantages over Geico. While Geico was below the industry average for overall customer satisfaction among large insurers in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠, AAA was above the average for midsize insurers.
AAA has closed a much lower number of customer complaints from the BBB in the last three years: more than 340 compared to Geico’s more than 1,900. However, it should be noted that Geico has a much larger customer base than AAA. When you look at the number of complaints per dollar of premiums written, both companies have much more similar results.
In addition, because many AAA groups have their own BBB pages, customer service ratings may vary with the affiliates in your region.
Our review team reached out to Geico and AAA for comment on their customer ratings but did not receive a response from either provider.
| AAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Customer Review Score | 1.2 out of 5.0 | 1.1 out of 5.0 |
| J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Rank | • 865 out of 1,000 • Sixth place for midsize insurers | • 857 out of 1,000 • Fourth place for large insurers |
| J.D Power Auto Insurance Study Rank | • 2nd place: California • 3rd place: Florida • Above regional average: Central region | 3rd place: • Central region • New York • Northwest Above regional average: |
AAA vs. Geico Mobile App Ratings
Geico and AAA have strong ratings when it comes to their mobile apps. Both are available on iOS and Android. Geico Mobile has 4.6 stars out of 5.0 on Google Play and 4.8 stars out of 5.0 on the App Store. The AAA Mobile app has 4.4 stars on Google Play and 4.6 stars on the App Store.
AAA vs. Geico Customer Survey Results
Our team conducted a consumer survey that asked almost 7,000 customers how they felt about their car insurance companies. In the table below, you can see how AAA and Geico scored in our survey.
| AAA | Geico | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Satisfaction | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Affordability | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Coverage Selection | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Customer Service From Agents | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Claims Service | 4.1 | 4.2 |
The survey also asked consumers how likely they would be to recommend their car insurance companies to friends and family. On this question, Geico scored 7.7 out of 10.0 and AAA scored 7.6.
The Bottom Line: Which Is Better, AAA or Geico?
Comparing AAA vs. Geico auto insurance, our team finds that Geico is the better option for many drivers. Our review gives Geico better scores in all categories except for coverage, where it ties with AAA. However, both Geico and AAA are strong insurance companies with good coverage options and customer service.
Geico often has cheap car insurance compared to AAA, but with AAA discounts, that might not be the case. Our team recommends getting auto insurance quotes from both companies to get the best price on car insurance. You can learn more about the companies individually in our AAA auto insurance review and Geico insurance review.
Top Alternatives to AAA and Geico
Geico and AAA are quality insurers, but there are other options worth looking at when you’re searching for the right car insurance policy for you. Our team recommends Travelers and State Farm as two companies to consider.
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
Travelers has an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best, and it offers a wide range of coverage options. The company offers a variety of discounts for good drivers and similar discounts for customers with multiple covered vehicles. Traveler’sIntelliDrive®program that can reduce insurance costs through safe driving habits.
Read more: Travelers insurance review
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm is our top-ranked auto insurance company for a variety of reasons. It has many discounts, as well as local insurance agents all over the country. This makes it easy to find and save on your coverage. State Farm is also a top option for young drivers with its Steer Clear® program, which helps policyholders under 25 save money when they practice safe driving habits.
Read more: State Farm insurance review
Compare providers: State Farm vs. Geico
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Geico vs. AAA: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about AAA vs. Geico.
Geico tends to be a cheaper option for most drivers because it sells insurance policies directly to consumers and offers various discounts. This direct-to-consumer model eliminates the need and cost for any middleman and allows Geico to have fewer offices and agents compared with companies like State Farm and Allstate.
In our 2023 review of the best car insurance companies, we ranked Geico as the sixth-best — based on reputation, availability, coverage, cost and customer experience. It was awarded Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers by our editorial team.
On average, Geico is a cheaper car insurance option than AAA. Our team found the average annual premium for full-coverage insurance from AAA is $2,880, while Geico’s is $1,596. The national average for full-coverage car insurance is $2,008.
Geico can be a good option for car insurance since its average cost for full coverage tends to be well below the national average. Geico also offers a lot of discounts, including a usage-based insurance program called Geico DriveEasy, which rewards safe driving with a discount.
On average, AAA car insurance costs about $240 a month or $2,880 per year for a full-coverage policy. However, your rate will depend on factors such as your deductible, the type of vehicle you drive and the discounts you’re eligible for.
Yes, AAA car insurance can be a solid option for most drivers. The auto insurer offers coverage throughout various motor clubs in the U.S. and typically offers additional options beyond standard insurance coverage.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
**Data accurate at time of publication.
***AAA coverage and other details may vary by location and AAA affiliate.
