Key takeaways
Allstate has some useful coverage options, and it’s the only company on the list that offers pay-per-mile insurance.
GEICO offers the widest range of discounts of all the car insurers we analyzed.
Progressive offers the most coverage options out of these four companies.
State Farm is great for drivers who prioritize mobile apps and customer satisfaction.
Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm are the four largest car insurance companies in the country. All four have been in business for decades, enjoy strong financial strength ratings and are well known to most drivers.
Together, they held almost 60% of the total market share of personal auto insurance policies in 2025, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
But while large insurers might seem similar, one company can be a much better match for you than the rest. So we analyzed Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm for average costs, customer satisfaction rates and coverage options — key factors you might consider when looking at different car insurance companies.
We identified eight optional coverage types that might be important to drivers. Each one is either common enough to expect from large insurers, or special enough to stand out. Our list was:
Accident forgiveness.
Classic car coverage.
Custom parts and equipment.
Gap coverage.
Mechanical breakdown coverage.
Pay-per-mile insurance.
Pet injury coverage.
Rideshare coverage.
Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm all offer usage-based insurance. These programs often use a mobile app to track driving habits (such as abrupt stopping, late-night driving and excessive speeding) to calculate a score, which can then increase or decrease the cost of your policy. However, Allstate was the only insurer with a dedicated pay-per-mile insurance option, which calculates your policy cost based on how many miles you drive.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a state where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
Allstate vs. GEICO, Progressive and State Farm
Full coverage
$264 /month
Liability only
$66 /month
This insurance giant is worth a look for those who can qualify for its many discounts and plan to purchase several types of insurance from the same company.
Discounts
Average set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Allstate may be a good pick for you if: You're willing to pay more to get extra coverage options. Allstate offered five of the eight optional coverage types we looked for, including gap coverage and accident forgiveness. Allstate was also the only one of these four companies to offer pay-per-mile insurance, a type of policy where you pay a base rate plus a per-mile rate.
Don't pick Allstate if: You don't need a lot of coverage add-ons, or if you want to prioritize a lower price. Other insurers are often cheaper than Allstate.
Allstate vs. GEICO
Allstate offers a wider selection of coverage types than GEICO, including gap coverage, which is important for drivers who finance a newer vehicle. Gap coverage will pay the difference between what you owe on your car and its current worth if it's totaled.
However, GEICO is often cheaper than Allstate and offers more discounts as well.
Here's how Allstate's average rates compare to GEICO's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $3,163 from Allstate vs. $2,053 from GEICO
Good driver with poor credit: $4,701 from Allstate vs. $2,883 from GEICO
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $4,946 from Allstate vs. $3,483 from GEICO
Driver with liability-only coverage: $795 from Allstate vs. $494 from GEICO
Rates updated April 2026.
Allstate vs. Progressive
Among the top four insurers, Progressive stands out by offering six of the eight types of optional coverage we looked for, such as gap insurance and rideshare coverage. Progressive also had fewer customer complaints filed to insurance commissioners than Allstate, according to the NAIC.
Here's how Allstate's average rates compare to Progressive's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $3,163 from Allstate vs. $2,057 from Progressive
Good driver with poor credit: $4,701 from Allstate vs. $3,218 from Progressive
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $4,946 from Allstate vs. $3,115 from Progressive
Driver with liability-only coverage: $795 from Allstate vs. $616 from Progressive
Rates updated April 2026.
Allstate vs. State Farm
If you’re choosing between Allstate and State Farm, you’re picking between two companies that get a similar number of complaints filed to state regulators, according to the NAIC.
While State Farm may offer lower prices, on average, Allstate offers features that aren’t available from State Farm, such as accident forgiveness, pay-per-mile and new car replacement insurance.
Here is how Allstate's average rates compare to State Farm's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $3,163 from Allstate vs. $2,123 from State Farm
Good driver with poor credit: $4,701 from Allstate vs. $8,358 from State Farm
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $4,946 from Allstate vs. $2,691 from State Farm
Driver with liability-only coverage: $795 from Allstate vs. $498 from State Farm
Rates updated April 2026.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
GEICO vs. Allstate, Progressive and State Farm
Full coverage
$171 /month
Liability only
$41 /month
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
GEICO may be a good pick for you if: You want to prioritize affordability without sacrificing coverage quality. GEICO may not offer the most coverage options, but the company's wide range of discounts can make its budget-friendly premiums even cheaper. As an added bonus, GEICO's user-friendly website and mobile app make filing claims and making changes to your policy easy.
Don't pick GEICO if: You plan to get a lot of coverage add-ons. GEICO doesn't offer some common optional coverage types, like gap insurance.
» MORE: Cheapest car insurance companies
GEICO vs. Allstate
Although Allstate offers a wider selection of coverage types than GEICO, including gap coverage, GEICO is often cheaper than Allstate for most driver profiles. So if you’re choosing between GEICO and Allstate, GEICO may be right for you if price is your main concern.
Here's how GEICO's average rates compare to Allstate's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,053 from GEICO vs. $3,163 from Allstate
Good driver with poor credit: $2,883 from GEICO vs. $4,701 from Allstate
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,483 from GEICO vs. $4,946 from Allstate
Driver with liability-only coverage: $494 from GEICO vs. $795 from Allstate
Rates updated April 2026.
GEICO vs. Progressive
When you compare GEICO vs. Progressive, think about whether you prefer low prices or need extra coverage options. GEICO may have lower rates on average, according to our analysis, but Progressive tends to be competitive when it comes to cost — though neither is the clear-cut cheaper option.
However, GEICO doesn't offer as many policy add-ons as Progressive, such as gap and rideshare coverage or vet reimbursement coverage.
Here's how GEICO's average rates compare to Progressive's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,053 from GEICO vs. $2,057 from Progressive
Good driver with poor credit: $2,883 from GEICO vs. $3,218 from Progressive
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,483 from GEICO vs. $3,115 from Progressive
Driver with liability-only coverage: $494 from GEICO vs. $616 from Progressive
Rates updated April 2026.
GEICO vs. State Farm
GEICO offers more discounts and is often the cheaper option for many common driver profiles, according to our analyses. GEICO also outranked State Farm in our comparison of optional coverage offerings.
However, if you value customer satisfaction, State Farm may be a better option.
Here's how GEICO's average rates compare to State Farm's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,053 from GEICO vs. $2,123 from State Farm
Good driver with poor credit: $2,883 from GEICO vs. $8,358 from State Farm
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,483 from GEICO vs. $2,691 from State Farm
Driver with liability-only coverage: $494 from GEICO vs. $498 from State Farm
Rates updated April 2026.
» MORE: GEICO auto insurance review
Progressive vs. Allstate, GEICO and State Farm
Full coverage
$171 /month
Liability only
$51 /month
Progressive offers a variety of discounts and insurance products to cater to most people, though there’s room for improvement when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Progressive may be a good pick for you if: You want the most coverage options plus an affordable price. Progressive offered six of the eight optional coverage types we tracked in our comparison, including accident forgiveness, rideshare coverage and even pet injury coverage, which helps with veterinarian bills if your pet is injured in a covered accident.
Don't pick Progressive if: You care most about customer experience. Progressive scored below average on JD Power’s 2025 Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey. This study measures how satisfied drivers are with their claims experience with large insurers across the U.S.
Most optional types of car insurance coverage cost extra, but some may be included at no additional charge depending on the insurer and the details of your policy. For example, in some cases Progressive may include accident forgiveness and reduced insurance deductibles (which is how much you have to pay towards a claim) for free.
It's helpful to keep details like that in mind when you compare quotes from different insurers.
Progressive vs. Allstate
Among the top four insurers, Progressive stands out for offering the most types of optional coverage according to our analysis. Progressive also received fewer complaints to state insurance regulators (compared to similar sized insurers) and offers cheaper rates, on average.
Here's how Progressive's average rates compare to Allstate's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,057 from Progressive vs. $3,163 from Allstate
Good driver with poor credit: $3,218 from Progressive vs. $4,701 from Allstate
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,115 from Progressive vs. $4,946 from Allstate
Driver with liability-only coverage: $616 from Progressive vs. $795 from Allstate
Rates updated April 2026.
Progressive vs. GEICO
When you compare Progressive vs. GEICO, think about what matters more to you: Lots of potential discounts or lots of coverage options. GEICO typically has cheaper rates in our analyses, but Progressive offers several types of coverage that GEICO doesn’t, such as gap coverage and custom parts and equipment coverage.
Here's how Progressive's average rates compare to GEICO's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,057 from Progressive vs. $2,053 from GEICO
Good driver with poor credit: $3,218 from Progressive vs. $2,883 from GEICO
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,115 from Progressive vs. $3,483 from GEICO
Driver with liability-only coverage: $616 from Progressive vs. $494 from GEICO
Rates updated April 2026.
Progressive vs. State Farm
Progressive and State Farm are the two most mobile user-friendly insurers out of the top four. So when choosing between Progressive and State Farm, think about which other factors — like customer experience, price, and coverage options — matter the most to you.
State Farm customers submitted more customer complaints for its size than Progressive customers, according to the NAIC. Progressive also offers several coverage options that aren’t available from State Farm, including gap insurance, accident forgiveness and coverage for custom parts and equipment.
Here's how Progressive's average rates compare to State Farm's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,057 from Progressive vs. $2,123 from State Farm
Good driver with poor credit: $3,218 from Progressive vs. $8,358 from State Farm
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,115 from Progressive vs. $2,691 from State Farm
Driver with liability-only coverage: $616 from Progressive vs. $498 from State Farm
Rates updated April 2026.
State Farm vs. Allstate, GEICO and Progressive
Full coverage
$177 /month
Liability only
$41 /month
State Farm is a popular insurer that provides personalized service to its customers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
State Farm may be a good pick for you if: You want an insurer with a great mobile experience and high customer satisfaction. State Farm outscored Allstate, GEICO and Progressive on JD Power’s 2025 Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey and has the highest combined app ratings for iOS and Android devices.
Don't pick State Farm if: You have poor credit, which may negatively affect your car insurance cost. (Insurers may consider your credit-based insurance score when pricing your rates.) State Farm also offers fewer coverage add-ons than other companies.
State Farm vs. Allstate
Both State Farm and Allstate received close to the expected number of customer complaints for companies of their size, according to the NAIC.
But while Allstate offers some coverage types that State Farm doesn't — such as pay-per-mile and accident forgiveness — State Farm tends to be more affordable and provide a better mobile app experience.
Here's how State Farm's average rates compare to Allstate's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,057 from State Farm vs. $3,163 from Allstate
Good driver with poor credit: $3,218 from State Farm vs. $4,701 from Allstate
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $3,115 from State Farm vs. $4,946 from Allstate
Driver with liability-only coverage: $616 from State Farm vs. $795 from Allstate
Rates updated April 2026.
State Farm vs. GEICO
State Farm outranked GEICO for customer satisfaction and mobile user-friendliness, but GEICO is the better pick if you want more available discounts and cheaper rates for some common driver profiles. Additionally, State Farm only offered two of the eight optional coverage types we tracked, compared to GEICO’s four.
Here's how State Farm's average rates compare to GEICO's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,123 from State Farm vs. $2,053 from GEICO
Good driver with poor credit: $8,358 from State Farm vs. $2,883 from GEICO
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $2,691 from State Farm vs. $3,483 from GEICO
Driver with liability-only coverage: $498 from State Farm vs. $494 from GEICO
Rates updated April 2026.
State Farm vs. Progressive
State Farm and Progressive are the most mobile user-friendly companies out of these four options, so you should consider other factors when comparing them.
For example, State Farm customers filed more customer complaints (compared to the insurer’s size) than Progressive customers. However, State Farm only offers two of the eight optional coverage types we included in our comparisons, while Progressive offers six of the eight, including gap coverage and accident forgiveness.
Here's how State Farm's average rates compare to Progressive's average rates for common driver profiles:
Good driver with good credit: $2,123 from State Farm vs. $2,057 from Progressive
Good driver with poor credit: $8,358 from State Farm vs. $3,218 from Progressive
Driver with a recent at-fault accident: $2,691 from State Farm vs. $3,115 from Progressive
Driver with liability-only coverage: $498 from State Farm vs. $616 from Progressive
Rates updated April 2026.
» MORE: State Farm car insurance review
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Compare coverage options from each insurer
If you want to add a particular type of insurance coverage, you may find it with some companies and not others. We identified eight common optional coverage types and checked to see whether Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm carried them.
Company | Coverage options |
|---|---|
Allstate |
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GEICO |
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Progressive |
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State Farm |
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Bundling your insurance policies
Comparing car insurance companies is the best way to find out if an insurer is right for you. And those comparisons are especially important if you're interested in bundling policies or purchasing other products from the same company.
Here are NerdWallet's reviews of different insurance products from Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and State Farm:
Allstate | GEICO | Progressive | State Farm |
|---|---|---|---|
Frequently asked questions
The five largest car insurance companies in the nation are State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and USAA, according to the NAIC’s 2025 market share report. However, USAA car insurance is only available to active military, veterans, certain federal employees and their families.
Of the four largest insurers, State Farm has the highest ranking for customer satisfaction with auto claims based on a 2025 JD Power auto insurance claims satisfaction study.
Average annual car insurance rates for good drivers are cheaper from GEICO than from State Farm, according to NerdWallet’s April 2026 rates analysis. These are only averages, however. Factors like your age, gender, location and vehicle affect your rates, so you should always shop around to find the lowest price for you.
GEICO ranked among the best car insurance companies, according to NerdWallet's 2026 analysis. GEICO also has some of the cheapest rates for certain driver profiles among the nation’s largest insurers. But only you can determine if GEICO’s offerings match your needs best.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 2025 Property/Casualty Market Share Report. Accessed .
- 2.JD Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Apr 17, 2026.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
