Overall verdict
GEICO wins 5–3 categories
GEICO leads on more rate factors. Safeco may still win for specific profiles — see the table below.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | GEICO | Safeco | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg annual rate | ~$1,360/yr | ~$1,802/yr | ✓ GEICO |
| NAIC complaint ratiolower = fewer complaints vs. industry avg | 0.69 — excellent | 0.82 — good | ✓ GEICO |
| Credit: excellentrate change for excellent credit | -14% | -11% | ✓ GEICO |
| Credit: fair / poorrate change for fair credit | +28% | +26% | ✓ Safeco |
| Young drivers · 18–24surcharge vs 35–54 baseline | +24% | +18% | ✓ Safeco |
| Drivers 55+discount vs 35–54 baseline | -8% | -7% | ✓ GEICO |
| Homeowner discount | -5% | -8% | ✓ Safeco |
| Multi-policy discount | -5% | -5% | — |
| Lapsed coverage penaltysurcharge for coverage gap | +15% | +16% | ✓ GEICO |
| How to buy | Online / phone only | Agent only | — |
| Telematics program | DriveEasy | RightTrack | — |
Who wins by driver profile
Good credit · clean record
GEICO
saves ~$434/yr
Fair / poor credit
GEICO
saves ~$530/yr
Young driver · 18–24
GEICO
saves ~$442/yr
Drivers 55+
GEICO
saves ~$416/yr
Homeowner bundle
GEICO
saves ~$346/yr
About GEICO
No local agents — all managed online or by phone. The best base rate among major national carriers. In this comparison, GEICO has the advantage on avg rate, complaints, excellent-credit rate. Best for: Online shoppers & good-credit drivers.
About Safeco
Liberty Mutual subsidiary sold through independent agents. Competitive in Western markets, solid complaint record. In this comparison, Safeco has the advantage on fair-credit rate, young driver rate, homeowner discount. Best for: Independent agent shoppers.
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