Comparing Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm Car Insurance

Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm are the four largest car insurance companies in the U.S. All have been in business for decades, enjoy strong financial strength ratings and are well known in the industry.

Nerdwallet compared these insurers to find the top-rated company in five categories:

• Lowest premiums: GEICO

• Fewest consumer complaints: Progressive

• Highest customer satisfaction ratings: State Farm

• Most coverage options: Allstate

• Most tech-friendly: GEICO

The rankings in each category are recapped at the bottom of the next section.

Here’s a quick look at each company’s top traits — the categories in which it ranked first or second in our in-depth comparison of the four largest insurers.

• Allstate: Coverage options, tech, few complaints.

• GEICO: Price, tech, customer satisfaction.

• Progressive: Coverage options, few complaints.

• State Farm: Customer satisfaction, price.

How the 4 biggest insurers stack up

We looked at price, consumer complaints, customer satisfaction, coverage options, and apps and technology to see how the nation’s four largest car insurance companies compare with one another.

Lowest premiums: GEICO

For many, price is king and little else matters. If that describes you, GEICO is worth checking out.

Charging $200 less per year, on average, than the next-cheapest large insurer (State Farm), GEICO ranks as the cheapest among the four companies in NerdWallet’s 2021 analysis. And with over 15 auto insurance discounts available, GEICO offers more ways to save on your car insurance than State Farm, Progressive or Allstate.

» MORE: Cheapest car insurance

To rank by price, we used national average annual rates for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving history. Here are those rates:

1. GEICO: $1,268 per year.

2. State Farm: $1,491 per year.

3. Progressive: $1,562 per year.

4. Allstate: $2,381 per year.

These rates reflect full coverage insurance for drivers with good credit. Full coverage isn’t a specific type of policy. Rather, it includes a combination of coverage types including liability, comprehensive and collision, and any other insurance required by the state.

Rates can vary significantly based on individual factors such as driving history, age, location and, in many states, credit history. Note: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington don’t allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.

For example, one company might have the cheapest car insurance quote for a 35-year-old man living in Georgia, while another may offer a better rate for a 53-year-old woman living in California. The only way to tell which company fits your needs best is to compare car insurance quotes in your state.

Fewest complaints: Progressive

Relative to its size, Progressive had the fewest complaints reported to state regulators for private passenger auto insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the NAIC.

But it wasn’t the only large insurer with good behavior: Allstate and GEICO also had fewer complaints than expected relative to their size, which is measured by premiums written. State Farm had close to the expected number of complaints for auto insurance.

Highest customer satisfaction: State Farm

State Farm customers are not only the most satisfied with customer insurance claims, but also report better overall satisfaction, according to J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study and Consumer Reports’ 2019 car insurance ratings (the most recent survey available). Satisfaction surveys include pricing, claims and customer service questions.

Most coverage options: Allstate

Out of 12 optional coverage needs we looked for — such as gap insurance and accident forgiveness — Allstate offered nine. Progressive was a close second, offering eight of the 12 optional types of coverage.

Here are some other differences:

• Allstate is the only one of the four carriers to offer pay-per-mile insurance, a type of policy where you pay a base rate plus a per-mile rate.

• Allstate offers new-car replacement. This coverage pays for the value of a brand-new car of the same make and model (minus the deductible) if your car is totaled in a covered loss. Alternatively, Progressive offers gap insurance, which pays for the difference between the value of a car at the time it’s totaled or stolen and the balance of its loan or lease. Because the coverage is similar, insurers commonly offer only one or the other, if at all. State Farm and GEICO offer neither.

• Of the big four, only GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance.

Most tech-friendly: GEICO

Consumers expect smooth online experiences and slick apps for many services, and insurance is no exception.

GEICO stands out for having:

• An in-app vehicle care feature to monitor your car’s maintenance.

• Locators in the app for gas and parking.

• Lyft integration so you can hail a rideshare car from the app.

The other three big insurers have some similar technology features, but GEICO has the most.

Recap: How the insurers compare

• Price

  1. GEICO.

  2. State Farm.

  3. Progressive.

  4. Allstate.

• Complaints

  1. Progressive.

  2. Allstate.

  3. GEICO.

  4. State Farm.

• Satisfaction

  1. State Farm.

  2. GEICO.

  3. Allstate.

  4. Progressive.

• Coverage options

  1. Allstate.

  2. Progressive.

  3. GEICO.

  4. State Farm.

• Tech

  1. GEICO.

  2. Allstate.

  3. State Farm.

  4. Progressive.

Extra features

If you’re looking for a particular feature from an insurance company, you may find it with some and not others. These are some of the options that set the four largest auto insurers apart from one another. Some cost extra; others are included at no additional charge when you buy a policy. Star ratings come from NerdWallet’s 2021 ranking of the best car insurance companies.

Price comparisons of all 4 companies

Take a look at these head-to-head price comparisons of each of the four biggest car insurance companies to help decide which insurer is right for you. We looked at average annual car insurance rates to give you an idea of how much you’d pay with each insurer.

GEICO vs. Progressive

When you consider GEICO versus Progressive, think about whether you prefer low prices or need extra options. GEICO has lower average rates in our analyses, while Progressive offers coverage that GEICO doesn’t, such as gap coverage.

GEICO has more robust technology and app offerings than Progressive. Both companies get fewer than the expected number of complaints to insurance regulators, relative to their size.

State Farm vs. Allstate

If you’re choosing between Allstate and State Farm, you’re picking from two companies that get relatively few complaints to state regulators for insurers of their size.

State Farm has lower average prices in our analyses, although you should get quotes to be sure it’s cheaper for you. Allstate offers features that aren’t available from State Farm, such as accident forgiveness, pay-per-mile and new-car replacement insurance.

GEICO vs. State Farm

GEICO and State Farm are both cheaper, on average, than Allstate or Progressive, according to our analysis. Still, GEICO ranked cheaper than State Farm in three out of the four price comparisons below.

GEICO also has the edge for tech options like an app function to monitor your car’s maintenance. State Farm beat GEICO for customer satisfaction, but just barely.

Allstate vs. GEICO

When you’re choosing between Allstate and GEICO, you can expect plenty of tech options. Among the four largest insurers, GEICO has the most features in its apps, and Allstate is a strong second. Both offer more tech and apps than Progressive or State Farm.

If price is your main concern, GEICO may be right for you. NerdWallet’s analysis of insurance rates found GEICO is consistently cheaper than Allstate, on average. But if you’re looking for specific coverage options, Allstate may have what you need. Allstate offers a few options that GEICO doesn’t, including new-car replacement insurance.

Progressive vs. Allstate

Among the top four insurers, Allstate and Progressive stand out most for their coverage options. At either of these companies, you can get coverage for custom parts or stereos, and you can lower your deductible by staying accident-free. Those options aren’t available from GEICO or State Farm.

Progressive has fewer complaints to state insurance regulators and sometimes, but not always, beats Allstate on price. Since their rates are often similar, it’s worth getting quotes from both insurers to know which will be cheaper for you.

Progressive vs. State Farm

When choosing between Progressive and State Farm, think about whether you want more coverage options, or whether price matters more.

State Farm is cheaper, on average, than Progressive. On the other hand, Progressive offers several coverage options that aren’t available from State Farm, including gap insurance, accident forgiveness and coverage for custom parts and equipment.

Other Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm Reviews

If you're interested in bundling insurance or purchasing other products from any of these insurers, comparing reviews can be a helpful step in finding the right company for you.