Comparing State Farm vs. Geico vs. Progressive vs. Allstate vs. Farmers
State Farm is the best choice for most people because it combines cheap rates with good customer service. Progressive and Farmers are better for coverage add-ons and Geico has the best combo of cheap rates and great discounts.
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Which insurance company is better: Allstate, Geico, Farmers, Progressive or State Farm?
Company | Rating | Cheap? | Many extras? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm |
Yes
|
No
| ||
| Farmers |
No
|
No
| ||
| Progressive |
Yes
|
Yes
| ||
| Geico |
Yes
|
No
| ||
| Allstate |
No
|
Yes
|
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State Farm has the best car insurance for most people, but it's not always the best choice for everyone.
Another company may have lower rates if you have a bad driving record or poor credit score. Or, you may want specific coverage add-ons not offered by the cheapest company.
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It's important to shop around for quotes from multiple companies to find the best policy for you at the right price.
Best auto insurance company for most people: State Farm
-
Full coverage$192/moThis analysis used full coverage car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the U.S. Read our methodology.
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Claims process8th out of 20J.D. Power surveys current customers about their claims experience to assign claims satisfaction scores. State Farm earned a score of 716, which resulted in a tie for 8th place with The Hartford. The average score is 700.
State Farm is typically cheaper than other major insurance companies. At $192 per month, full coverage car insurance from State Farm costs $15 per month less than the second-cheapest major company, Progressive.
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Who has the best car insurance rates: State Farm, Allstate, Geico, Progressive or Farmers?
Company | Min. cov. | Full cov. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $65 | $187 | |
| State Farm | $73 | $192 | |
| Progressive | $75 | $207 | |
| Allstate | $113 | $282 | |
| Farmers | $107 | $293 | |
Monthly rates are for a 30-year-old with a clean driving record.
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The cheapest major insurance company isn't always the best choice. Small and midsize insurance companies may offer lower rates in your area, and they tend to have better customer service compared to big companies.
It's important to compare quotes from multiple companies near you to make sure you're choosing the best company.
Which insurance company has better customer service?
State Farm has the best customer service reviews compared to the largest insurance companies.
J.D. Power ranked State Farm 8th out of 20 companies on its claims satisfaction survey. That means you can count on State Farm to get you back on the road fairly quickly after an accident. It also gets 41% fewer customer complaints than an average company its size.
Customer service ratings for top insurance companies
Company |
J.D. Power
|
Complaints
|
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 8th of 20 | 41% fewer than average |
| Geico | 13th of 20 | 12% fewer than average |
| Allstate | 15th of 20 | 19% fewer than average |
| Farmers | 17th of 20 | 15% fewer than average |
| Progressive | 18th of 20 | 25% fewer than average |
All five companies have fewer complaints than expected, but only State Farm ranked above average in J.D. Power's survey. That could mean that Geico, Allstate, Farmers and Progressive have a tendency to take longer to fix your car after a crash.
Best car insurance discounts: Geico
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Full coverage$187/moThis analysis used full coverage car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the U.S. Read our methodology.
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Claims process13th out of 20J.D. Power surveys current customers about their claims experience to assign claims satisfaction scores. Geico earned a score of 697, which resulted in a tie for 13th place with AAA. The average score is 700.
Which car insurance company has the best discounts?
Policy discounts
Vehicle discounts
Driving history discounts
Young driver discounts
Other discounts
Discount | Geico | Farmers | State Farm | Progressive | Allstate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic payments |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
| |
| Paperless billing |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
| |
| Multi-car |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Internet quote |
Yes
|
Yes
| |||
| Early sign-up |
Yes
|
Yes
| |||
| On-time payments |
Yes
|
Yes
| |||
| Continuous insurance |
Yes
|
Yes
| |||
| Sign online |
Yes
|
Companies may offer different or more discounts based on where you live and your specific situation.
In addition, all five companies offer discounts for:
- Bundling multiple policies
- Paying your entire bill up front
- Students with good grades
- Students living out of town for college who store their car at home
However, Geico isn't the best choice for people looking to save with a safe driving program. That's because Geico's DriveEasy program only usually saves people between 5% and 15%, and your rates can go up if you have bad driving habits.
People looking to sign up for a safe driving program should consider State Farm Drive Safe & Save instead. It offers a discount of up to 30% and won't raise your rates if you get a bad score.
Best for extra coverage: Progressive
-
Full coverage$207/moThis analysis used full coverage car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the U.S. Read our methodology.
-
Claims process18th out of 20J.D. Power surveys current customers about their claims experience to assign claims satisfaction scores. Progressive earned a score of 673, and the average score is 700.
Both Progressive and Farmers offer many useful and uncommon coverage add-ons. Progressive is typically a better choice because its basic full coverage policy is much more affordable. However, the best company for you depends on your specific coverage needs.
Progressive is a good choice if you have a car loan or lease because it sells gap insurance. If your car is totaled, this coverage pays the difference between its current value and your loan or lease balance. With this coverage, you won't be stuck paying off a loan or lease for a car you no longer have.
If you have a brand-new car, you might want to consider Farmers. That's because it offers new car replacement, which pays for a brand new vehicle if your car is totaled in an accident.
Which insurance company has better coverage options?
Extra protection for your car
Other extra protection
Coverage | Progressive | Farmers | Allstate | State Farm | Geico |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic car insurance |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Custom parts |
Yes
| ||||
| Mechanical breakdown |
Yes
| ||||
| New car replacement |
Yes
| ||||
| Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) |
Yes
| ||||
| Vehicle protection |
Yes
|
Companies may offer more or different coverages based on where you live and your specific situation. Classic car insurance if often sold through a partnership with another insurance company, such as Hagerty.
In addition, all five companies offer rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance.
How much car insurance do you need?
Each state requires a different amount of car insurance coverage. Typically, you'll need coverage to pay for injuries to other people and property damage that you cause.
Extra coverage options differ by company and state. It's also usually a good idea to buy comprehensive and collision coverage, roadside assistance and rental reimbursement for added protection.
Allstate vs. Farmers
Farmers and Allstate are pretty evenly matched.
- Rates: Both Allstate and Farmers tend to have expensive car insurance.
- Coverage: Allstate has morecoverage add-ons than Farmers, so it could be a good way to get extra protection.
- Discounts: Farmers has many more discounts compared to Allstate, which could help you get your rates down.
- Service: Both Farmers and Allstate ranked below average in J.D. Power's claims survey but get slightly fewer complaints than expected according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Allstate vs. Geico
Geico is typically a better choice than Allstate.
- Rates: Geico tends to be much cheaper than Allstate, although it's still more expensive than average if you have a ticket or DUI.
- Coverage: Allstate offers more coverage add-ons than Geico, including options like rideshare insurance and accident forgiveness.
- Discounts: Geico has many more discounts than Allstate, which means you may be able to get an even cheaper rate.
- Service: Allstate and Geico both scored below average in the J.D. Power claims satisfaction study, although they have fewer complaints than average from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Allstate vs. Progressive
Progressive is better than Allstate for most people.
- Rates: Progressive tends to have cheaper car insurance than Allstate, but is still more expensive than average if you have a ticket or if you're a teen driver.
- Coverage: Progressive also has a lot more coverage options than Allstate, including things like gap insurance, pet injury coverage and coverage for custom parts on your car.
- Discounts: On top of already-cheap rates, Progressive also has more discounts than Allstate.
- Service: Allstate scored better on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey. That means you'll likely have an easier experience with Allstate after a crash. But Progressive has slightly fewer complaints than Allstate, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Farmers vs. Geico
Geico is a better choice than Farmers for most people.
- Rates: Geico is usually much cheaper than Farmers, although it's still not the cheapest option if you have an accident or DUI on your driving record.
- Coverage: Farmers has a few more add-ons than Geico, but neither company is the best choice if you need or want to personalize your coverage.
- Discounts: Geico has a lot more discounts than Farmers. And Geico is already cheap, so its discounts can help you save even more.
- Service: Both Geico and Farmers scored below average on J.D. Power's claims survey, although Geico fared a bit better. Both companies have slightly fewer complaints than expected, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Farmers vs. Progressive
Progressive is usually a better choice than Farmers.
- Rates: Progressive is much less expensive than Farmers.
- Coverage: Progressive has a lot more add-ons than Farmers, so it's a better choice if you need specific coverage types.
- Discounts: Farmers and Progressive both offer similar discounts.
- Service: Both companies scored below average in the J.D. Power claims survey, although Progressive has slightly fewer complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Farmers vs. State Farm
Most people are better off choosing State Farm over Farmers.
- Rates: State Farm is usually much cheaper than Farmers, but neither company is cheap if you have poor credit or if you have a DUI on your driving record.
- Coverage: State Farm has a few more coverage add-ons than Farmers. However, neither company offers a lot of extras, so they're not great if you want personalized coverage.
- Discounts: Farmers has a lot more discounts than State Farm. But even those discounts probably won't offset its high costs compared to State Farm.
- Service: State Farm has significantly better service than Farmers, according to J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That means you'll probably have an easier time getting your car fixed after an accident.
Geico vs. Progressive
Geico is usually cheaper than Progressive, but Progressive has better coverage options.
- Rates: Geico is usually cheaper than Progressive. But if you have an accident or DUI on your record, Progressive is a cheaper choice.
- Coverage: Progressive offers a lot more ways to customize your coverage, including accident forgiveness, rideshare coverage and trip interruption coverage.
- Discounts: Geico and Progressive offer similar discounts.
- Service: Both companies scored below average when it comes to claims service, according to J.D. Power, but get fewer complaints about their service, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Geico vs. State Farm
State Farm is usually a better choice than Geico, unless getting a rock-bottom price is your priority.
- Rates: Geico tends to be cheaper than State Farm, but both companies usually have cheaper-than-average prices.
- Coverage: Neither State Farm nor Geico offer many add-ons, so they're not good choices if you want a personalized policy.
- Discounts: Geico has a few more discounts than State Farm, but both companies offer a good amount of ways to save.
- Service: State Farm usually has better service than Geico. State Farm gets a higher score for claims service, according to J.D. Power, which means it'll likely be easier to get your car fixed after an accident. Plus, State Farm has fewer complaints than Geico, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
State Farm vs. Progressive
State Farm is better than Progressive for most people.
- Rates: State Farm is typically cheaper than Progressive. However, you may find lower rates with Progressive if you have a recent DUI or a poor credit score.
- Coverage: Progressive is a better choice for people who need extra protection. It offers more coverage add-ons than State Farm, including coverage for custom parts and pet injuries.
- Discounts: Progressive has more discounts than State Farm, but both companies offer lots of savings.
- Service: State Farm scored much higher on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey. That means State Farm customers will probably get back on the road faster after an accident than those insured with Progressive. Both companies have fewer complaints than average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), although State Farm generally does better.
Frequently asked questions
Is Progressive cheaper than Geico?
Geico is usually cheaper than Progressive. However, if you have a recent accident or DUI on your driving record, Progressive may be the cheaper option. It's probably worth it to get quotes from both companies to see what your personalized rates look like.
Is State Farm cheaper than Geico?
Geico is almost always cheaper than State Farm. However, State Farm is cheaper if you have a ticket or accident on your driving record. State Farm also has better customer service reviews, making it a great choice for most people.
Is Allstate cheaper than Geico?
Geico tends to have much lower rates than Allstate, although Allstate is a bit cheaper than Geico, on average, if you have a DUI on your driving record. But remember that your rates are personalized. It's a good idea to get quotes from multiple companies to compare your exact rates.
Is Allstate cheaper than State Farm?
Allstate is usually more expensive than State Farm. But if you have poor credit or a DUI on your record, Allstate may be a cheaper choice compared to State Farm.
Is Progressive cheaper than State Farm?
State Farm is usually cheaper than Progressive. However, Progressive tends to have more affordable rates for people with a DUI and those with poor credit.
Methodology
To compare State Farm, Allstate, Geico, Progressive and Farmers, ValuePenguin's insurance experts started by gathering rates from across the country. All quotes are for a 30-year-old man with no history of accidents or tickets and good credit. He owns a 2018 Honda Civic EX.
Minimum coverage quotes are for each state's minimum required coverages and limits. Full coverage quotes include collision and comprehensive coverage along with higher liability limits than the state requirement.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision coverage: $500 deductible
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were taken from public insurance company filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes may differ.
Our experts rate insurance companies after a thorough review of rates, coverages, customer service and unique features. Customer service info comes from J.D. Power's annual studies and from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint indexes. Reviews and ratings are always unbiased and objective. Insurance companies cannot pay for better placement.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Cate Deventer is a Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
