GEICO vs Progressive (2026): Ratings, Complaints, Discounts and Coverage Compared
GEICO vs Progressive compared on dated AM Best ratings, NAIC 2025 market share, J.D. Power 2026 satisfaction scores by region, state complaint index data, discounts, telematics and how each company sells, all cited.
Last verified October 3, 2026 · Insurance 8020 is not a licensed insurance producer, broker or agent, does not sell policies and is not affiliated with GEICO or Progressive.
GEICO vs Progressive is a comparison of the two largest auto insurers after State Farm. In 2025, Progressive wrote 18.60% of U.S. private passenger auto premium and GEICO’s parent group, Berkshire Hathaway, wrote 11.56%, according to the NAIC. AM Best gives GEICO an A++ (Superior) rating and Progressive an A+ (Superior). GEICO scored higher in every J.D. Power 2026 region we reviewed.
Key Takeaways
- Both are rated Superior by AM Best - GEICO holds an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating, affirmed April 16, 2026, and Progressive an A+ (Superior), affirmed May 1, 2026.
- Progressive is larger in auto - Progressive wrote about $69.0 billion in 2025 private passenger auto premium, versus $42.9 billion for the Berkshire Hathaway group that includes GEICO.
- GEICO led on satisfaction - in all 10 J.D. Power 2026 regional rankings we reviewed, GEICO scored higher than Progressive, by 2 to 42 points.
- They sell differently - AM Best credits GEICO’s direct business model with an expense advantage, while Progressive also works with more than 40,000 independent agents and brokers.
- Both offer app-based telematics - GEICO’s DriveEasy and Progressive’s Snapshot price partly on measured driving, and both can change your rate based on the results.
- Complaint data is state- and company-specific - each brand operates through many insurance companies, so complaint indexes must be checked company by company in your state.
How do GEICO and Progressive compare at a glance?
GEICO and Progressive are both national auto insurers with Superior AM Best ratings, but they differ in size, ownership and how they sell. GEICO, founded in 1936, is a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary that sells mainly direct. Progressive, founded in 1937, is publicly traded and sells direct and through independent agents. The table compares verified attributes only.
| Attribute | GEICO | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best financial strength rating | A++ (Superior), affirmed Apr 16, 2026 | A+ (Superior), affirmed May 1, 2026 |
| Founded | 1936 | 1937 |
| Ownership | Wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Public company (NYSE: PGR) |
| 2025 U.S. private passenger auto market share (NAIC) | 11.56% (Berkshire Hathaway group) | 18.60% |
| How it sells | Mainly direct (online, app, phone) | Direct, plus 40,000+ independent agents and brokers |
| Telematics program | DriveEasy (phone app; not offered in CA, HI or VT) | Snapshot (phone app or plug-in device) |
| J.D. Power 2026, Southeast region score | 668 | 644 |
Sources: AM Best rating actions for GEICO and Progressive; NAIC 2025 market share; GEICO history and financial strength pages; Progressive about and agent pages; J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. All accessed October 3, 2026.
How do GEICO and Progressive financial strength ratings compare?
AM Best affirmed GEICO’s A++ (Superior) financial strength rating on April 16, 2026, and Progressive’s A+ (Superior) on May 1, 2026, both with stable outlooks. A++ is AM Best’s highest grade and A+ the next. Both ratings describe a superior ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations, including paying claims.
AM Best’s reports add context. It cited GEICO’s 2025 combined ratio of 85.5% and nearly $4.2 billion in underwriting gains, along with explicit support from Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity. For Progressive, it reported $11.3 billion in 2025 net income, up from $8.5 billion in 2024.
Other agencies rate both highly too. GEICO reports an S&P rating of AA+ (information current as of November 2025), and Progressive reports S&P AA and Moody’s Aa ratings on its site.
Which has better customer satisfaction, GEICO or Progressive?
GEICO scored higher than Progressive in all 10 regions we reviewed from J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, released June 9, 2026. The gap ranged from 2 points in New England to 42 points in the Northwest, on a 1,000-point scale. Neither company ranked highest in any region; the overall industry score was 644.
| J.D. Power region (2026) | GEICO | Progressive | Region average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 644 | 614 | 640 |
| Florida | 642 | 634 | 639 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 634 | 630 | 651 |
| New England | 631 | 629 | 631 |
| New York | 654 | 624 | 636 |
| North Central | 657 | 631 | 645 |
| Northwest | 646 | 604 | 636 |
| Southeast | 668 | 644 | 659 |
| Southwest | 637 | 615 | 638 |
| Texas | 646 | 635 | 648 |
Source: J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, overall customer satisfaction index by region, based on 52,216 responses fielded April 2025 to April 2026. Press release, accessed October 3, 2026. The California chart could not be retrieved and is omitted.
J.D. Power notes that its rankings are based on numerical scores and are not necessarily statistically significant. Satisfaction scores measure trust, price, people, ease of doing business, coverage offerings, problem resolution and digital channels, not claims outcomes alone.
How do GEICO and Progressive complaint records compare?
Complaint records for GEICO and Progressive have to be read company by company and state by state, because each brand writes policies through many separate insurance companies. AM Best lists 10 GEICO companies and more than 30 Progressive companies. State regulators publish complaint indexes in which 1.00 is the market baseline.
As one example, the Indiana Department of Insurance’s 2025 Auto Complaint Index compares each company’s share of auto complaints with its share of auto premium in Indiana. An index below 1.00 means fewer complaints than its size would predict, and above 1.00 means more.
| Company (Indiana, 2025) | Complaints | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|
| Government Employees Ins Co (GEICO) | 1 | 0.81 |
| GEICO Marine Ins Co | 3 | 1.06 |
| GEICO Advantage Ins Co | 4 | 1.18 |
| Geico Cas Co | 2 | 1.35 |
| Geico Ind Co | 5 | 1.60 |
| GEICO Choice Ins Co | 3 | 1.84 |
| GEICO Secure Ins Co | 8 | 2.48 |
| Progressive Southeastern Ins Co | 19 | 0.65 |
| Progressive Paloverde Ins Co | 35 | 1.11 |
Source: Indiana Department of Insurance, 2025 Auto Complaint Index, accessed October 3, 2026. The report excludes companies with zero complaints. Indiana results do not predict complaint rates in other states.
Small complaint counts swing an index sharply, so one or two complaints can move a small company well above 1.00. To check the specific company on your policy, use the NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search or your state insurance department.
What discounts do GEICO and Progressive offer?
GEICO and Progressive both list multi-vehicle, multi-policy, good student, online, paperless, pay-in-full and automatic payment discounts. GEICO publishes maximum savings, such as up to 25% for multiple vehicles and up to 22% for a clean record. Progressive publishes averages, such as 12% for multiple cars and 10% for signing online. All figures are company-reported.
| Discount type | GEICO (stated maximum) | Progressive (stated average or minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple vehicles | Up to 25% | Average 12% |
| Clean driving record | Up to 22% (accident-free 1+ year, varies by state) | Separate 3-year and 5-year accident-free and 5-year claim-free discounts |
| Good student | Up to 15% on certain coverages | Starts at 5% (B average or better) |
| Telematics | DriveEasy, typically 5% to 15% | Snapshot, average $328 a year for drivers who save |
| Online quote | Varies | Average 7% |
| Sign or go paperless | Paperless: varies | Sign online: average 10%; paperless: varies |
| Bundling with home or renters | Varies | Varies |
Sources: GEICO car insurance discounts and Progressive auto discounts, accessed October 3, 2026. Discounts are state- and fact-specific and not available everywhere.
A stated maximum and a stated average are not comparable numbers, so this table shows what each company offers rather than which saves more. Your total depends on which discounts apply to you in your state.
How do DriveEasy and Snapshot compare?
DriveEasy and Snapshot both use driving data to personalize your rate. GEICO’s DriveEasy runs on the GEICO Mobile app, scores braking, cornering and phone use, and is offered in 47 states plus D.C. Progressive’s Snapshot uses an app or plug-in device and also weighs how much and when you drive.
- Rate effect: GEICO says premiums generally vary with participation and the driving habits the app logs, and all enrolled drivers on a policy must participate. Progressive says most states give an automatic discount for signing up, and that rates could increase with high-risk driving.
- What is measured: DriveEasy looks at hard braking, cornering speed and phone use. Snapshot looks at hard braking and acceleration, how much you drive, late-night driving and phone use.
- Availability: DriveEasy is not offered in California, Hawaii or Vermont. Snapshot can switch to a plug-in device where the app is not available.
Which may suit different drivers?
Neither company is the right fit for every driver, and only quotes for your own profile show what you would pay. Based on the attributes above, drivers who prefer an independent agent may note that Progressive sells through agents. Drivers who weigh satisfaction surveys may note GEICO’s higher J.D. Power 2026 regional scores. Both hold Superior AM Best ratings.
Other differences come down to your situation: which discounts you qualify for, whether you are comfortable with telematics, and the complaint record of the specific company that would issue your policy in your state. Our GEICO profile, Progressive profile and full carrier directory collect more detail, and you can request a quote to compare prices for the same coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GEICO or Progressive bigger?
Progressive is bigger in auto insurance. NAIC data for 2025 shows Progressive with 18.60% of U.S. private passenger auto premium, about $69.0 billion, second only to State Farm at 18.64%. The Berkshire Hathaway group, which includes GEICO, held 11.56%, about $42.9 billion, ranking third nationally.
What is GEICO’s AM Best rating?
AM Best affirmed GEICO’s financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) on April 16, 2026, with a stable outlook, for 10 GEICO insurance companies. A++ is AM Best’s highest financial strength grade. Ratings can change, so check AM Best directly for the current rating of the specific GEICO company on your policy.
What is Progressive’s AM Best rating?
AM Best affirmed an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating with a stable outlook for Progressive’s insurance companies on May 1, 2026. A+ is the second-highest grade on AM Best’s scale and sits in the same Superior category as A++. Ratings can change, so verify the current rating with AM Best.
Does GEICO or Progressive have higher customer satisfaction?
In J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, GEICO outscored Progressive in all 10 regions we reviewed, by margins from 2 to 42 points on a 1,000-point scale. In the Southeast, GEICO scored 668 and Progressive 644, against a region average of 659. Neither ranked highest in any region.
Can I buy GEICO or Progressive through an independent agent?
Progressive says it works with more than 40,000 independent insurance agents and brokers nationwide, in addition to selling online and by phone. GEICO sells mainly direct, and AM Best credits its direct business model with an underwriting expense advantage. GEICO’s website also lists local agent offices.
Is DriveEasy or Snapshot available in every state?
No. GEICO says DriveEasy is offered in 47 states plus D.C. and not in California, Hawaii or Vermont. Progressive says Snapshot uses a mobile app or, where the app is not available, a plug-in device. Both programs vary by state, and enrollment rules are shown during your quote.
How we verified this page
Ratings come from AM Best’s own rating announcements, market share from the NAIC’s 2025 market share report (based on filings received by March 18, 2026), satisfaction scores from J.D. Power’s 2026 regional charts, and complaint figures from the Indiana Department of Insurance. Discounts and telematics details come from each company’s website and are company-reported. We did not compare prices, because published average-rate figures for these carriers could not be verified against rate filings. Our methodology explains how we source data.
Important disclosures
Premium figures are estimates for illustrative purposes only and are not quotes. Your actual rate depends on factors including your driving record, vehicle, location, coverage selections, and insurer underwriting criteria. Get a quote from a licensed agent for your specific situation.
Ratings and financial strength scores shown reflect publicly available data as of the dates cited. Ratings can change; verify current ratings directly with the rating agency.
Insurance laws and requirements change. Always confirm current requirements with your state Department of Insurance or a licensed insurance professional. Citations in this article reflect information as of October 3, 2026.
About Insurance 8020. Insurance 8020 is an independent insurance comparison and education resource. We are not a licensed insurance producer, broker, or agent, and nothing on this site is a recommendation to buy any specific policy or a substitute for professional guidance on your situation. Always consult a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions. GEICO, DriveEasy, Progressive and Snapshot are trademarks of their respective owners.
Sources
- AM Best, “AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Members of GEICO”, April 16, 2026, accessed October 3, 2026.
- AM Best, “AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of The Progressive Corporation and Its Subsidiaries”, May 1, 2026, accessed October 3, 2026.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2025 Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium, Total Private Passenger Auto”, accessed October 3, 2026.
- J.D. Power, “2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study”, June 9, 2026, accessed October 3, 2026.
- Indiana Department of Insurance, “2025 Auto Complaint Index”, accessed October 3, 2026.
- NAIC, Consumer Insurance Search, accessed October 3, 2026.
- GEICO, “GEICO’s Financial Strength”; “Car Insurance Discounts”; “DriveEasy”; “History: The Full Story”; all accessed October 3, 2026.
- Progressive, “Third-party financial ratings”; “Auto Insurance Discounts”; “Snapshot”; “About”; “Independent Insurance Agents”; all accessed October 3, 2026.