Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the SmartCoverage Editorial Team · How we research
With a clean record, these three are almost tied: the national averages are within $20 a month of each other. The gap opens up once something on your record changes. A single accident can make GEICO about $106 a month more expensive than State Farm, and a DUI turns Progressive into the cheapest option by around $170 a month. So the honest answer to “which is cheaper” is: it depends on your profile, and here is how.
Compare them for your profile
Head to head: pick your driver profile
Tap the profile closest to yours. The bars show each insurer’s average monthly price for that profile and who comes out cheapest.
Average monthly premiums from ValuePenguin’s analysis of quotes across tens of thousands of US ZIP codes (updated September 2026). Clean-record prices are for a 30-year-old driver; full coverage unless stated. Your own quote depends on your state, car, age and history, so treat these as a guide to who to quote first, not a price.
Round by round
Clean record. GEICO ($187 a month) edges State Farm ($192), with Progressive ($207) about $240 a year behind. At this level, small differences in your ZIP code or car will decide the winner, so quote all three.
Minimum coverage. GEICO again, at $65 a month against $73 and $75. Remember that minimum coverage pays for damage you cause to others, not for your own car. Our guide to full coverage vs liability shows when dropping to minimum makes sense.
After a speeding ticket. State Farm rises the least: from $192 to $210 a month. GEICO and Progressive both jump by $67 to $71 a month.
After an at-fault accident. This is where State Farm pulls clearly ahead, at $218 a month against $309 at Progressive and $324 at GEICO. If you have a recent claim, State Farm should be the first quote you get. For the bigger picture, see how much car insurance goes up after an accident.
After a DUI. The order reverses. Progressive averages $268 a month, while GEICO ($441) and State Farm ($469) charge well over $400. Many drivers with a DUI also need an SR-22 filing; our SR-22 guide explains how that works.
Poor credit. The biggest gap in the whole comparison. State Farm averages $801 a month for drivers with poor credit, more than double GEICO ($305). If your credit is weak, State Farm is unlikely to be your cheapest option, except in California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, where insurers cannot use credit to set rates.
Teen drivers. GEICO is cheapest ($488 a month) and Progressive the most expensive ($782). These figures are for a teen on their own policy; adding a teen to a parent’s policy is usually much cheaper, so get both versions quoted.
Beyond price: claims, complaints and stability
A cheap policy is only good value if the insurer pays claims fairly. On the measures that track this, State Farm leads the three:
| State Farm | GEICO | Progressive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claims score, J.D. Power 2025 | 716 (8th/20) | 697 (13th/20) | 673 (18th/20) |
| Complaints vs. expected (NAIC) | 41% fewer | 12% fewer | 25% fewer |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A++ | A+ |
| Market share 2025 | 18.64% | 11.56% | 18.60% |
All three hold strong financial strength ratings and are among the four largest auto insurers in the country, so stability is not a real concern with any of them. The difference is in the experience: State Farm sells mostly through local agents, GEICO mostly online and by phone, and Progressive both ways. Progressive’s claims score sits below the J.D. Power study average of 700.
Why the winner flips from one driver to another
Every insurer prices risk with its own formula. One may treat an accident as a strong warning sign while barely moving on a DUI; another may weigh credit history heavily. Their published averages describe millions of quotes, not you. Two drivers with the same car in the same city can see opposite rankings because of one claim or a few points of credit score.
That is also why the cheapest company in a national ranking, like the one in our best car insurance companies guide, is a good starting list but not a final answer.
How to compare the three yourself
- Use identical coverage in all three quotes: the same liability limits, deductibles and extras. A cheaper quote with a $1,000 deductible is not comparable with one at $500.
- Answer the history questions honestly. Insurers check your driving record and claims history, and an inaccurate quote can change at purchase.
- Ask each one about discounts such as bundling, paying in full and their usage-based programs: GEICO DriveEasy, Progressive Snapshot and State Farm Drive Safe and Save.
- Look up complaints in your state in the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is GEICO or State Farm cheaper?
With a clean record GEICO is slightly cheaper on average ($187 vs $192 a month). After a ticket or an accident, State Farm is usually cheaper. With poor credit, GEICO is far cheaper.
Is Progressive cheaper than GEICO?
Usually not. Progressive was more expensive than GEICO in every profile except after an accident ($309 vs $324 a month) and after a DUI, where it was much cheaper ($268 vs $441).
Which of the three is best for claims?
State Farm, by a clear margin: it scored 716 in J.D. Power’s 2025 claims study, against 697 for GEICO and 673 for Progressive, and it draws far fewer complaints than expected for its size.
Sources
- ValuePenguin: State Farm vs GEICO vs Progressive vs Allstate vs Farmers (rates, claims and complaint data; updated September 29, 2026)
- J.D. Power: U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study
- CarInsurance.com: AM Best ratings of major auto insurers
- Repairer Driven News: 2025 auto insurance market share, NAIC data
- NAIC Consumer Insurance Search
This comparison is for informational purposes only and is not insurance advice. Prices are national averages and your quote will differ. Confirm coverage, discounts and prices with each insurer or a licensed agent before you buy.