GEICO and Travelers are two of the largest auto insurance companies in the U.S., and if you’re in the market for new coverage, you’re probably comparing these companies.
GEICO is the third-largest auto insurance company in America and insures more than 28 million vehicles. The company has earned high marks for financial stability and an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 9.2 thanks to its affordable rates, 24/7 customer service, and numerous available discounts.
Travelers has solid financial strength ratings and a 165-year history of offering automobile insurance. Travelers earned an IQ Score of 8.5 and has received top marks for customer service in some markets.1 However, customer reviews are mixed online.2
GEICO and Travelers both offer an abundance of discounts.
Travelers has a slightly higher Insurify Quality (IQ) Score than GEICO.
Both have agents nationwide, but Travelers’ network is larger.
GEICO vs. Travelers: The verdict
GEICO car insurance offers more affordable rates than Travelers for both full-coverage and liability-only policies. Drivers with a clean record, with an accident, or with a DUI will all find GEICO’s average car insurance rates more affordable than Travelers’ rates.
GEICO auto insurance also outranked Travelers in most markets for customer satisfaction in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance study, and it has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), compared to an A for Travelers.3 4
However, for drivers who want to work with a licensed insurance agent, GEICO has a much smaller network, with around 300 agents and brokers nationwide. This is compared to 13,500 for Travelers.
In the table below, you can see some other ways these insurers stack up against one another.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
GEICO
GEICO is the third-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and has earned good marks both with the BBB and on J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
GEICO DriveEasy vs. Travelers IntelliDrive
DriveEasy is a GEICO program offered in 38 states. Drivers with an iPhone or Android device can download the GEICO mobile app to participate. The app measures factors like phone use while driving, hard braking, speeds around corners, how smoothly you drive, how often you drive, and when you drive. Based on data the app collects, GEICO will assign you a driving safety score. This score is considered when setting rates each time you renew your policy. The better your score, the lower your premium costs will be.
Travelers IntelliDrive is a similar program but is available in 43 states compared to GEICO’s 38. IntelliDrive measures speed, acceleration, braking, time of day you drive, and distraction (phone use) to evaluate your driving performance. After 90 days for new customers, the company will adjust your premiums based on your driving history. Prices can also be adjusted at renewal, allowing safe drivers to save up to 30%.
GEICO vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?
GEICO offers less expensive full-coverage and liability-only policies both for drivers with a clean record, as well as for customers who are considered high-risk drivers. This includes people with a DUI or a speeding ticket on their driving history.
In some cases, Travelers’ average rates are nearly double what GEICO charges typical motorists with the same background. So Travelers may not be the best option for people who are focused on getting the absolute best auto insurance rates. However, many factors affect the price each driver pays for car insurance — including age, marital status, and driving history — so comparing quotes is important.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
GEICO offers more affordable average rates than Travelers for drivers with a clean record.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
Drivers who have a speeding ticket will find GEICO offers lower average rates for both full-coverage and liability-only policies.
GEICO: Cheapest for teen drivers
GEICO’s average auto insurance rates for teen drivers are well below what Travelers charges for young drivers.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Travelers charges higher average premiums for drivers with a bad credit history, while GEICO’s lowest average rates for drivers with bad credit are more affordable.
GEICO: Cheapest for senior drivers
Senior drivers in their 60s and 70s will find GEICO charges a lower rate on average for older motorists buying auto insurance coverage compared to Travelers.
Compare coverages: GEICO vs. Travelers
Both Travelers and GEICO offer standard types of insurance coverage, including liability, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance. Both also offer some customizable add-ons, including emergency roadside assistance coverage and mechanical breakdown coverage.
Travelers provides rideshare insurance in some states, though, while GEICO doesn’t offer this coverage. Travelers also offers gap insurance. It’s often a good idea for drivers with loans or leases to buy gap coverage, as this type of auto insurance pays the difference between the amount the insurer pays when a car is a total loss and the amount still due on any vehicle loans.
The chart below provides you with a detailed look at the coverages available from each insurer.
Compare discounts: GEICO vs. Travelers
The discounts offered by GEICO and Travelers vary slightly. For example, while Travelers provides special savings for teens away from home, it doesn’t offer a military discount. The reverse is true for GEICO.
This chart provides you with a broad look at the discounts available from each insurer.
GEICO vs. Travelers FAQs
Still want to know more about GEICO vs. Travelers insurance? Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions below to learn more about each auto insurance company.
Is GEICO better than Travelers car insurance?
GEICO has more affordable average rates than Travelers but a smaller agent network. People who prefer to work with an insurance agent may prefer Travelers despite the higher rates. But remember that the right insurer for you will depend on your situation, including your driving history and what you prioritize when selecting an insurance company.
Which company is GEICO’s biggest competitor?
GEICO has many competitors, but State Farm is currently the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. GEICO is the third-largest company.
How reliable is Travelers insurance?
It’s a little unclear. Travelers received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, but the company has received mixed customer reviews, earning only 1.02 out of a possible 5 stars on the BBB website.5
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