Geico vs. AAA Car Insurance: Which Is Better for You?
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Bottom line: Geico offers cheaper car insurance overall, while AAA has a more robust roadside assistance program.
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Geico offers cheaper car insurance for nearly every driver persona, including teen drivers. For perspective, here's how Geico and AAA compare on price.
| Type of Driver | Which Is Cheaper? | Geico's Annual Rate | AAA's Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 year-old female, clean record | Geico | $1,513 | $3,050 |
| 35 year-old male, clean record | Geico | $1,502 | $3,050 |
| 35 year-old female, one accident | Geico | $2,378 | $4,376 |
| 18 year-old male, clean record | Geico | $4,459 | $8,770 |
Geico and AAA offer drivers the kinds of standard auto insurance coverage they'd expect from a big auto insurance company, including:
In addition to these, AAA also offers gap insurance and enhanced total loss replacement. Gap insurance helps drivers cover the difference if they owe money on a totaled car, while total loss replacement will replace a totaled car with a comparable model, in contrast to paying out the car's market value. Currently, Geico doesn't offer gap insurance, and it only offers enhanced total loss replacement for certain RVs and trailers.
Geico and AAA offer several ways to save on premiums. Many of these overlap, such as getting a discount for having anti-lock brakes or taking a driver course, but in some ways they offer their own ways to save. For instance, AAA will give a discount when drivers switch to its car insurance before their current policy expires, while Geico gives discounts to military and drivers with new cars.
It's important to keep in mind that some discounts are only available to drivers in certain states or ZIP codes. For example, while Geico has usage-based coverage, it doesn't provide it in every state. With that in mind, here are some common discounts that both companies offer.
| Common Discounts | Geico | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Accident-free/good driver | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced shopping | No | Yes |
| Anti-lock brakes | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft | Yes | Yes |
| Bundling | Yes | Yes |
| Daytime running lights | Yes | No |
| Defensive driving | Yes | Yes |
| Distant student | No | Yes |
| Driver training | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency deployment | Yes | No |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Federal employee | Yes | No |
| Loyalty ("Insurance Persistency") | No | Yes |
| Membership and employee | Yes | Yes |
| Military | Yes | No |
| Multiple car | Yes | Yes |
| New vehicle | Yes | No |
| Paperless discount | No | Yes |
| Pay in full | No | Yes |
| Seat belt use | Yes | No |
| Usage-based insurance | Yes | Yes |
Geico and AAA give multiple ways to file a claim, including through their apps, websites, or on the phone with a claims representative. However, after the claim is filed, a driver's experience can be very different depending on which company they use.
Geico prides itself on giving drivers a simple, streamlined claims processing experience. In fact, for some claims, Geico can make a decision within 48 hours. The company will promptly schedule a time to take the car to an adjuster, or send the adjuster to a driver's location if the car isn't safe to drive. For repairs, drivers can use its Auto Repair Xpress® program, which gives drivers a one-stop shop to get an estimate, repairs, and a rental car.
For its part, AAA can connect members with reputable body shops through its AAA Approved Auto Repair program. If drivers use an approved body shop in this network, they get a 10% discount on some repairs (up to $75 saved) and repair warranties up to 24 months or 24,000 miles. Drivers can also use AAA's legendary roadside assistance program (sold separately from its car insurance). With AAA roadside assistance, drivers can get 24/7 assistance for flat tires, dead car batteries, locked keys, towing, and other car problems.
Both companies frequently rank high for stellar customer service and claims processing speed. However, the quality of customer service will depend on location. This is especially true for AAA, which is actually a collection of different automobile clubs that service different regions in the U.S. For example, in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, customers in California, Texas, Florida, and the Southwest were more satisfied with AAA than other regions, while customers in New England were generally more satisfied with Geico
Geico and AAA are both highly valued insurance companies that offer several discounts and similar coverage. Geico has cheaper car insurance than AAA, though the latter does offer discounts for being an AAA member and for continued loyalty. Of course, just because Geico has on average cheaper insurance doesn't mean it will be the best deal for all drivers, which is why it's important for drivers to compare insurance rates for themselves. It's also essential for drivers to compare these companies with other car insurers, as another company may offer a lower price for one's specific situation.
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Geico is right for those drivers who are looking for cheap car insurance or want discounts for being a military member or federal employee. It's also notably cheaper for teen drivers.
AAA is ideal for drivers who want a loyalty discount or discounts for paying their premium in full. It might also be right for drivers who plan to buy AAA roadside assistance along with their car insurance.
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