Safeco vs. Geico

Safeco and Geico are both solid auto insurance providers. Each company offers reliable, standard coverage options, and provides discounts and affordable prices. One place these companies differ is the little details: differences in customer service, how to access those services, and what types of discounts are offered. Continue reading below to learn more about the history of these companies, how they operate, and which might be better for you.

Car insurance premiums by age

All About Safeco

Safeco was initially founded in 1923 as the General Insurance Company of America in Seattle, Washington, and took on the Safeco name in 1953. For nearly 100 years, the company has been expanding its coverage and options across the United States.

In 2008, Safeco became part of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. While the company still operates as a network of local independent agents, the company has the backing of the larger insurance institution, offering an additional degree of safety to its clients.

Generally, Safeco is considered to be a good choice for young drivers looking for lower-cost insurance, and people who drive less than 8,000 miles per year, but is not as highly ranked for people who enjoy the ability to make insurance claims or utilize other services online.

Safeco Discounts And Savings

Safeco offers most standard auto insurance coverage options, including liability, personal injury protection, uninsured motorist, and rental car reimbursement coverage. Safeco also provides a few unique services, such as glass repair and replacement, a “valet” service that will drive your car to an authorized repair shop for you after an accident, and a RightTrack program that follows your driving and offers discounts based on your driving habits. Safeco policyholders will also receive reimbursement for up to $10,000 the first accident, and a diminishing deductible that is reduced by $100 each time the policy is renewed, with a maximum deductible discount of $500.

Safeco offers many discounts to its customers. These include home and auto bundling discounts, accident prevention education course completion discounts, fewer driven miles discounts, multiple auto discounts, homeownership discounts, anti-theft device discounts, premium paid in full discounts, and good student discounts.

All About Geico

Geico was founded in 1936 by Leo and Lillian Goodwin in the midst of the Great Depression, who believed they could find success in marketing to carefully targeted customer groups. From there, the company grew, eventually drawing the attention of a young Warren Buffett. Geico was one of the first companies to introduce 24/7/365 customer service via telephones in 1980. As of 2019, the company provides more than 17 million policies and insures more than 28 million vehicles, all while having a strong focus on customer service.

Generally, Geico is considered to be a good choice for insurance shoppers who want to do everything online, and who are looking for low rates on multiple lines of insurance, but not as strong for people who like to work directly with a local insurance agent and drivers who have had an at-fault accident within the last five years. Either way, there are many ways to save on Geico auto insurance, including discounts, through deductible adjustments, and by only getting the types of policies you need.

Geico Discounts And Savings

Geico auto insurance offers coverage in line with other auto insurance companies, but has some additional benefits over some. Some offerings, as well as the cost of the insurance, varies state to state and vehicle to vehicle. Geico offers bodily injury insurance and property liability coverage, comprehensive insurance and collision coverage, uninsured and underinsured liability coverage, medical payment and personal injury coverage, and gap insurance for leased vehicles. Geico also has a few unique offerings, including mechanical breakdown insurance, rideshare insurance, auto glass coverage, and rental reimbursement. The company also offers an Accident Forgiveness program, which means your auto insurance rates will not go up after your first at-fault accident in most cases.

Geico offers many discounts to its customers. Home and auto bundling discounts, anti-theft device discounts, accident prevention education course completion discounts, seat belt usage discounts, multiple auto discounts, federal employee discounts, accident-free discounts, emergency deployment discounts, and good student discounts.

Comparing Car Insurance Rates And Beyond

The cost of the average auto insurance rate is dependent on several factors beyond just your company of choice. Credit history, state of residence, and the age and type of car you drive will all influence the average annual premium cost of your auto insurance plan. That said, Geico has an average annual premium of $1,090, while Safeco has an average annual premium of $1,967.

Both Safeco and Geico offer some discounts, but Geico offers a few additional, sometimes niche, discounts. One discount that Geico offers that Safeco does not is a discount for federal employees, who were Geico’s original clientele.

Discounts that Safeco offers that Geico does not include paying for your premium in full, discounts for owning your home, and discounts for driving fewer miles. Discounts that Geico offers that Safeco does not include emergency deployment discounts, five years without an accident discount, others.

Discounts: GEICO and Safeco

Safeco and Geico also both offer roadside assistance coverage that covers towing, lockout services, flat tire changes, and jumpstarting of dead batteries. Safeco’s roadside assistance also delivers fuel, which Geico’s does not. Many people decide to get a roadside assistance plan as part of their auto insurance policy. There are large numbers of people that need these services every year.

If customer service is a top priority for you, Geico may edge out Safeco. A 2018 auto claims satisfaction study by JD Power found that Geico scored an 857 on the reviewer’s 1,000 point scale, while Safeco scored an 848. These scores are quite close, so while there is not much difference in the big picture, Geico does edge Safeco out.

It is also important to keep location in mind: if you live in Hawaii, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or the District of Columbia, you will probably not be able to get a policy through Safeco. Geico, however, does provide auto insurance in these areas. No matter which car insurance company you decide on, General offers free car insurance quotes that help people find the top auto insurance plans for their needs.

After you have decided on which car insurance carriers you want to get an auto insurance quote from, you can use this site to get car coverage premium quotes. Compare each policy line by line and choose a provider. You can quickly and easily purchase policies here at General. Take advantage.