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State Farm and Berkshire Hathaway-owned GEICO are the largest and 14th-largest insurance companies in the country, respectively. These two providers offer more than a dozen types of insurance, including personal policies and business policies. State Farm and GEICO have many decades of industry experience and are among the most popular insurance companies on the market.
To see which company is better, we compared State Farm and GEICO based on factors like policy offerings, discounts, and customer service. Overall, we found that GEICO has cheaper premiums and more discounts, but State Farm has more comprehensive commercial insurance offerings. State Farm also has a wider network of agents than GEICO.
State Farm
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State Farm
Network of more than 19,000 agents around the country
Long list of commercial insurance policies
Good variety of online resources for first-time insurance buyers
No military discounts for car insurance
Coverage can be expensive, depending on the type and amount of coverage needed
Some coverage options and discounts are only available in select states
GEICO
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GEICO
Impressive car insurance discounts
Very affordable coverage for most consumers
Policyholders can access live chat for real-time support
Coverage options tend to be very limited
Customer reviews indicate poor claim handling
Only has 18 offices around the country
State Farm vs. GEICO: Auto Insurance
At-a-Glance
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic availability | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Discount opportunities | 13 | 19 |
| Customer service | Phone, online, in-person | Phone, chat, online, email, in-person |
| Claims processing | Phone, online, mobile app | Phone, online, mobile app |
| NAIC complaint score | 1.61 (above average) | 2.01 (above average) |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A++ |
Coverage
GEICO and State Farm both offer minimum and full coverage car insurance policies. However, the exact amount of coverage you can buy will depend on where you live.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Collision insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Comprehensive insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Medical payments insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Uninsured motorist insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Underinsured motorist insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
Riders
Riders are optional coverages that you can add to your car insurance policy for additional protection in specific areas. Based on our research, neither company offers many riders—both offer four endorsements, which is fewer than many of their competitors.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance | No | Yes |
Rates and Discounts
Auto insurance rates are personalized for every driver, and discounts can help you get a lower rate. GEICO and State Farm both stand out for their impressive car insurance discounts, but GEICO offers a few more discounts than State Farm. It also has savings for military personnel, federal employees, and employer/membership affinity groups.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Smart student | Yes | Yes |
| Distant student | Yes | No |
| Multi-vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Air bag | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-lock brakes | No | Yes |
| Alarm system | Yes | Yes |
| Daytime running lights | No | Yes |
| Seat belt usage | No | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes |
| Driver’s education course | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency deployment | No | Yes |
| Military | No | Yes |
| Federal employee | No | Yes |
| Affinity group | No | Yes |
| Safe driver reward program | Yes | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic payments | Yes | Yes |
| Claim-free | Yes | Yes |
| New vehicle | Yes | Yes |
State Farm vs. GEICO: Home Insurance
At-a-Glance
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic availability | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Discount opportunities | 5 | 4 |
| Customer service | Phone, online, in-person | Phone, chat, online, email, in-person |
| Claims processing | Phone, online, mobile app | Phone, online, mobile app |
| NAIC complaint score | 1.61 (below average) | 2.01 (above average) |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A++ |
Coverage
You can get a standard homeowners insurance policy from GEICO or State Farm, but the amount of coverage varies depending on where you live, the size and age of your home, and other unique factors.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Other structures coverage | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Personal property insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Personal liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Medical payments coverage | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Loss of use insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
Riders
State Farm and GEICO offer limited home insurance riders, so neither company is a great option if you’re looking to customize a policy with add-ons. We’ve included the available riders from both companies in the table below.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Inflation guard | Yes | No |
| Personal umbrella insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Flood insurance | Yes | Yes |
Rates and Discounts
Every homeowner pays a different rate for insurance based on unique circumstances, like their zip code, credit score, and claim history. However, you can save money by taking advantage of discounts. We found that State Farm has better homeowners insurance discounts than GEICO, which are listed below.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Security system | Yes | Yes |
| Impact-resistant roof | Yes | No |
| Fire alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes |
State Farm vs. GEICO: Renters Insurance
At-a-Glance
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic availability | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Discount opportunities | 4 | 4 |
| Customer service | Phone, online, in-person | Phone, chat, online, email, in-person |
| Claims processing | Phone, online, mobile app | Phone, online, mobile app |
| NAIC complaint score | 1.61 (below average) | 2.01 (above average) |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A++ |
Coverage
Standard renters insurance policies come with four types of coverage, which are sold by State Farm and GEICO. To find out how much coverage you can purchase, we recommend getting a personalized rate quote online.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal property insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Personal liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Medical payments insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Loss of use insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
Riders
When it comes to renters insurance riders, State Farm is the clear winner. State Farm offers six riders, and GEICO only offers two. If you’re looking to personalize your policy and fill gaps in your coverage, we recommend going with State Farm.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Flood insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Personal liability umbrella insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Earthquake insurance | Yes | No |
| Business property insurance | Yes | No |
| Incidental business liability insurance | Yes | No |
| Identity restoration coverage | Yes | No |
Rates & Discounts
Renters insurance is usually inexpensive, but your rate will depend on things like your city and state, age, and claim history. State Farm and GEICO both offer a handful of discounts that can help you get a lower renters insurance premium.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Security system | Yes | Yes |
| Fire alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes |
State Farm vs. GEICO: Commercial Insurance
At-a-Glance
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic availability | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Discount opportunities | 0 | 0 |
| Customer service | Phone, online, in-person | Phone, chat, online, email, in-person |
| Claims processing | Phone, online, mobile app | Phone, online, mobile app |
| NAIC complaint score | 1.61 (above average) | 2.01 (above average) |
| AM Best rating | A++ | A++ |
Coverage
If you’re a small business owner, State Farm is one of the best insurance companies for commercial insurance. The company offers more than 15 different business insurance products, which is significantly more than GEICO sells. However, GEICO sells malpractice insurance, so it may be a better option if you work in the health care field.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial auto insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Commercial property insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Medical malpractice insurance | No | Yes, amount varies |
| Commercial liability umbrella insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Business owners policy (BOP) | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Workers’ compensation | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Surety and fidelity bonds | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Builder’s risk insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| General liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Professional liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | Yes, amount varies |
| Cyber liability insurance | No | Yes, amount varies |
| Employment practices liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Employers non-owned car liability insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Farm and ranch insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Key employee insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Employee health insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Employee life insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
| Employee disability insurance | Yes, amount varies | No |
Riders
State Farm and GEICO don’t mention any business insurance riders on their websites. If you’re looking for a specific type of coverage, we recommend reaching out to a GEICO or State Farm agent to see if the endorsement is available in your state.
Rates and Discounts
The cost of business insurance is based on the industry you're in, the number of employees you have, the risk your employees face on the job, and more. Neither State Farm nor GEICO advertise any business insurance discounts online, but you might be able to get a multi-policy discount if you purchase two or more business insurance policies from the same company.
State Farm vs. GEICO: Other Insurance Products
State Farm and GEICO offer lots of insurance products besides auto, home, renters, and commercial coverage. Most of State Farm's and GEICO’s policies, with the exception of pet insurance and a few others, are underwritten in-house. The table below includes a full list of the other insurance products available from State Farm and GEICO.
| State Farm | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Boat insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Classic car insurance | Yes | Yes |
| RV insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Mexico auto insurance | No | Yes |
| Off-road vehicle insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Condo insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Landlord insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Personal articles insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Manufactured home insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Farm and ranch insurance | Yes | No |
| Identity theft insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Individual life insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Individual health insurance | Yes | No |
| Pet medical insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Umbrella insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Travel insurance | No | Yes |
| Overseas insurance | No | Yes |
| Individual disability insurance | Yes | No |
| Flood insurance | Yes | Yes |
State Farm vs. GEICO: Customer Service
When it comes to customer service, GEICO and State Farm have similar options. You can get in touch with an agent via phone during business hours, by visiting a local office, or through the online customer portal. GEICO also offers email assistance options, as well as live chat and 24/7 phone support for current policyholders. If you have auto or property insurance, both companies make it easy to get in touch online or through the app.
When choosing between State Farm and GEICO, it’s also important to understand the differences in their business models. If you purchase a policy from State Farm, you’ll be assigned a personal agent who will handle all your insurance needs. With GEICO, you don’t get matched with an agent, so you have to rely on the call center if you need assistance.
If you value insurance companies with good customer service, State Farm is probably your best option. You’ll get more personalized attention, and probably have better agent interactions.
State Farm vs. GEICO: Claims
GEICO and State Farm have easy claims processes. For auto, home, or renters insurance, you can file a claim online, over the phone, or through the mobile app. You’ll be asked to provide your policy number, then provide a description of the event and share photos of the damage. Then, you will be assigned an adjuster who will oversee your claim. If you have any policy besides the those mentioned above, you’ll have to call an agent to start the claim process.
State Farm vs. GEICO: Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is extremely important to consider when choosing an insurance company. To gauge the overall customer satisfaction for GEICO and State Farm, we read online reviews from current and past policyholders.
For GEICO, customers were generally happy with the company’s affordable policies, discount options, and mobile app and web experience. However, a significant number of consumers complained about GEICO’s flawed claims handling process, with denied claims, lower-than-expected payouts, and unfriendly agents being recurring issues. Many also complained of rate hikes.
State Farm’s customer reviews also indicate slow claims handling, payout issues, and pricey premiums. On the other hand, we saw many reviews praising State Farm’s friendly customer service agents, easy policy management, and multi-policy discount options.
State Farm vs. GEICO: Getting a Quote
Getting a quote from State Farm or GEICO is simple, and both companies have online quotes if you prefer to not call an agent. For most policies, the process only takes a few minutes. You’ll be asked to share some personal details, and provide other information used to determine your policy premium. If you’re satisfied with the quote, you can purchase most policies online.
Methodology
To compare GEICO and State Farm, we focused on four popular policies—auto, home, renters, and commercial insurance. We evaluated each product based on the policies offered, rates, discounts available, and riders.
We also considered each company’s area of availability, AM Best score, and NAIC Company Complaint Index rating. The NAIC index tells you the ratio of complaints compared to the market share of the company–ratios below 1.0 show a company that has fewer complaints than expected for its size.
Finally, we compared GEICO and State Farm based on their customer service options, claim and quote processes, and customer satisfaction reviews.
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