GEICO vs. The Hartford: Which Is the Best? (2025)
GEICO’s low rates, robust discounts, and wide availability earn it an IQ Score of 9.2, which is higher than The Hartford’s score of 8.3.
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Excellent
)
Written byEmily Guy Birken
)
Plutus Award winner
Over 12 years writing about insurance and personal finance
Emily is a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer and former educator who makes complex financial topics easy to understand. She specializes in the science behind money habits and has written for outlets like The Huffington Post, Business Insider, and The Washington Post.
Featured in
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
Edited byCourtney Mikulski
)
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Over 3 years of experience producing content on insurance and personal finance.
Key architect of Insurify's quality score.
Courtney's deep knowledge of personal finance goes beyond insurance and includes credit cards, consumer loans, and banking. She loves creating practical content.
Featured in
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Updated
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
Advertiser Disclosure
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
GEICO is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the United States by market share, and its long-running advertisements suggest that a call to GEICO can save drivers 15% or more on their insurance.[1]
The Hartford doesn’t have as large a market share, but it’s offered auto insurance since 1913, a full 23 years before GEICO’s founding. The Hartford offers specialty insurance that caters to drivers older than 50.
To determine if The Hartford or GEICO is the best car insurance company for you, take the time to compare quotes, discounts, customer service, and coverage options from each company so you can make an informed decision.
Quick Facts
Hybrid and electric vehicle drivers are eligible for a discount with The Hartford’s AARP Auto Insurance Program.
The Hartford’s average rates for drivers in their 60s are higher than GEICO’s rates for the same age group.
GEICO has a high complaint index score with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), meaning it receives more complaints than expected for its size.[2]
GEICO vs. The Hartford: The verdict
While both GEICO and The Hartford offer similar auto insurance coverages, senior drivers may find exclusive services with The Hartford’s partnership with AARP.
Drivers of any age can get insurance through GEICO, while The Hartford specializes in auto insurance products for drivers 50 years and older. GEICO’s average monthly rates are also significantly cheaper than The Hartford’s for all drivers, whether they have clean records or spotty driving histories.
GEICO insurance may have the best rates, but it has a much worse record for customer satisfaction. GEICO’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index is 1.35, meaning it has a higher rate of complaints compared to the average.[2] In other words, GEICO receives nearly one and a half times the number of complaints as the national average. The Hartford’s NAIC index of 0.78 means it receives fewer complaints than expected.[3]
Factor  | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 9.2 | 4.0 |
| Customer satisfaction score | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Average quote: liability only | $90 | $156 |
| Number of discounts | 16 | 8 |
| Number of states where it operates | 50 | 50 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
GEICO
GEICO is the third-largest auto insurance company by market share, according to the NAIC, and it offers competitive rates and a long list of potential discounts. While it’s a nationally known insurer, it also has a lower-than-average J.D. Power rating for claims satisfaction.[4]
| User Reviews | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.2 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $90/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $140/mo |
4.0
Best choiceBased on 13,555 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about GEICO
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
How drivers feel about GEICO
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
Reviews (6,943)
Linda
Verified Review
Horrible Customer Service
Reviewed in California on December 2025
Find another insurance company. Their rates are insane, and they pay any scammer's claim, leaving you disadvantaged.
Deborah
Verified Review
Expensive Insurance
Reviewed in Florida on December 2025
Too expensive for a driver with nothing on their record.
Michael
Verified Review
Good Company
Reviewed in Georgia on December 2025
To me, all car insurance has gotten way too expensive. GEICO is as good as any and better than most!
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
637NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.59A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++Why we picked this company
GEICO, a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway Group, is the third-largest U.S. insurer by market share. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO sells homeowners, renters, flood, travel, life, and business insurance, among other products. The insurer offers numerous car insurance discounts to help drivers save. For example, drivers who are accident-free for five years could earn 22% off premiums, and good students could earn 15% off. GEICO’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index score is below average, meaning it receives fewer consumer complaints than average.
Pros
Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers
Accident forgiveness available
A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Cons
High rates for drivers with certain violations, like DUIs
No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available
Lower customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
The Hartford
Only AARP members can qualify for car insurance policies with The Hartford, but the company offers a number of benefits to customers, including customer support via local agents, disappearing deductibles, discounts for hybrid or electric cars, and new car replacement coverage.
| User Reviews | 4.2 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.3 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $156/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $244/mo |
4.2
Best choiceBased on 1,619 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about The Hartford
Drivers appreciate the prompt customer service and reliable coverage but are frustrated by the significant annual price increases and limited policy options.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Senior drivers
Bundling discounts
Customer service
How drivers feel about The Hartford
Drivers appreciate the prompt customer service and reliable coverage but are frustrated by the significant annual price increases and limited policy options.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Senior drivers
Bundling discounts
Customer service
Reviews (848)
Mitzi
Verified Review
Where is the Heart, Hartford?
Reviewed in Texas on December 2025
I would not encourage or suggest my friends use this insurance company at all. I started out paying $164 a month for a 2007 Honda Civic but was told not to worry; after being with them and with my driving record, it would go down. I have a tracker that rates my driving, and I received a 26% discount the first time, which brought it down to $141. Then it went back up to $164 because I had not renewed my AARP membership for the discount. I called to find that out, renewed AARP, and it went back down after I called to see why it had not changed back, only to find out that the renewal information was not posted. It went back to $144. Well, I just received my new six-month payment plan, and it has gone back to $164 for the first month, then $160 for the other five months, with my tracker showing another 26% starting 1/20/26. I called, and the lady could not really explain this to me. Again, this is for a 2007 Honda Civic, and she could not explain why I wasn't getting the 26% discount. She really acted like she could care less and mentioned something about a tariff. I am 81 and on a fixed income.
Jeannie
Verified Review
They are a great company. They are there when you really need them. They won't insure my home and the new premium is over $1000 more than last year. Being a senior living on $2200 a month, I can't afford taxes and insurance. They are a great company.
Reviewed in Utah on December 2025
They are a great company. They are there when you really need them. They won't insure my home and the new premium is over $1000 more than last year. Being a senior living on $2200 a month, I can't afford taxes and insurance. They are a great company.
Ivelisse
Verified Review
I chose this insurance because I trusted AARP
Reviewed in Connecticut on December 2025
I started with a payment plan that charges $7 a month, and out of the blue, I received a $25 late fee for late payments on dates I never set. Don’t use this insurance if you are on a limited income.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
642NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.52A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A-Why we picked this company
The Hartford is known less for its home and auto coverage and more for its other products, including workers’ compensation, professional liability, and other business insurance, and its employee benefits offerings. The company sells auto insurance policies only to AARP members, offering member incentives like a 10% insurance discount. The Hartford provides several additional discounts for safe driving, taking a defensive driver course, certain vehicle safety features, paying in full, getting a quote online, and bundling auto with homeowners or another type of insurance.
Pros
Savings for AARP members
Above-average customer satisfaction
Available in all states and D.C.
Cons
Available only for AARP members
No accident forgiveness coverage
Higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Compare Top Car Insurance Companies
Liability coverage rates start at $42 per month
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 7,669+ reviews
4.8/5
GEICO DriveEasy vs. The Hartford TrueLane
GEICO and The Hartford both offer telematics programs that could potentially help safe drivers save money on their premiums.
The GEICO DriveEasy program is in the insurer’s main mobile app, and drivers can sign up for it by logging into their accounts on their phones. Once you sign up for DriveEasy, the mobile app uses your phone’s sensors to track various driving behaviors, including distracted driving, hard braking, cornering, and smoothness. It also tracks factors like distance driven, time of day, route regularity, and weather. The program assigns you a driving score based on this information.
Each time you renew your policy, GEICO partly determines your premiums based on your DriveEasy score. This means it’s possible to lower or raise your premiums with DriveEasy, and there’s no guaranteed discount. Additionally, every driver on your policy must enroll in DriveEasy if you sign up for the program.
The Hartford’s telematics program, TrueLane, offers an automatic discount of up to 12% when you enroll. The app automatically collects information about your driving behavior, including your speed, phone usage, cornering, braking, and acceleration.
When it’s time to renew your policy with The Hartford, your new policy premium will depend partly on your driving behavior. Good drivers can potentially save up to 25% at renewal. Not every driver on your policy has to enroll in TrueLane for you to take advantage of this program.
)
See Next: How Does Usage-Based Car Insurance Work?
GEICO vs. The Hartford: Which is the cheapest?
GEICO has cheaper car insurance rates than The Hartford, based on Insurify data. GEICO’s average rates are cheaper for every type of driver, including senior drivers, drivers with good credit, drivers with a DUI, and other high-risk drivers.
Because insurance companies use different factors to determine your car insurance rates, including your age, marital status, credit, ZIP code, and driving history, your rates with GEICO and The Hartford may vary.
Here’s what you need to know about both insurers’ average rates.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
Keeping a clean driving record is a major factor in lowering your average annual premium, but GEICO’s rates for both full-coverage insurance and liability-only insurance are cheaper than The Hartford’s rates.
Driver Type | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $90 | $156 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
GEICO has lower rates for both full-coverage and liability insurance than The Hartford for drivers with a speeding ticket on their record.
Driver Type | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $121 | $233 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
GEICO: Cheapest for teen drivers
Considering The Hartford specializes in insuring drivers older than 50 rather than young drivers, it’s not surprising that GEICO offers much lower average rates for teenage drivers.
Driver Type | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $162 | $422 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
ESTIMATED RATE: $176 per month
40.1% of similar drivers pay less for coverage. Save up to $1284 per year by comparing quotes!
Quoted premiums and averages sourced from Insurify's database of more than 97 million car insurance quotes from 120+ partner providers. Actual rates may vary based on each policy buyer's unique driver profile.
GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Drivers with bad credit generally pay more for their auto insurance than drivers with good or excellent credit. GEICO’s premiums for drivers with bad credit are cheaper than The Hartford’s premiums for the same drivers.
Driver Type | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $110 | $207 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
GEICO: Cheapest for senior drivers
Even though The Hartford specializes in senior drivers, GEICO’s premium rates are lower for drivers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Driver Type | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $66 | $90 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare coverages: GEICO vs. The Hartford
Drivers looking for liability-only policies can get the coverage they need from either GEICO or The Hartford. Liability insurance policies usually include bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, which together pay for damages to another party if you cause an accident.
Both insurers also offer additional coverages, like personal injury protection, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, comprehensive, and collision insurance.
Drivers looking for add-on coverage will find similar options at both GEICO and The Hartford.
Coverage | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Gap insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Rental coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| New-car replacement | No | No |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical breakdown | Yes | No |
Shop for Auto Insurance Online
Save up to $1,100 by comparing quotes from the top 120+ insurance companies
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 7,669+ reviews
4.8/5
Compare discounts: GEICO vs. The Hartford
GEICO offers a more robust list of car insurance discounts than The Hartford. Drivers with GEICO who insure multiple cars, install anti-theft devices, drive a new car, and get good grades may be able to access savings on their insurance bill. The Hartford doesn’t offer any of these types of discounts.
However, The Hartford does beat GEICO when it comes to alternative fuel discounts. Hybrid and electric car drivers can save with The Hartford and help the environment at the same time.
Discount | GEICO | The Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | No |
| Low mileage | No | No |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | Yes | No |
| New car | Yes | No |
| Military/affiliation | Yes | Yes (AARP members) |
| Good student | Yes | No |
| Loyalty | No | No |
| Auto pay | No | No |
| Student away at school | No | No |
| Homeowner | No | No |
| Alternative fuel | No | Yes |
GEICO vs. The Hartford FAQs
Use Insurify’s guide to the best and worst comparison sites while you shop for insurance, and check out the answers to common questions about GEICO and The Hartford below.
Is The Hartford good at paying claims?
The 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Claims Satisfaction Survey found that The Hartford scored 877 out of 1,000 points for customer satisfaction with the insurance claim process. This is only one point below the study average of 878, which indicates that policyholders with The Hartford were reasonably satisfied with the insurer’s claims process.[4]
Is GEICO the most expensive car insurance?
GEICO’s auto insurance rates aren’t the most expensive, according to Insurify data. They’re within the top 10 cheapest rates of the insurers Insurify analyzed. While several insurers have cheaper rates than GEICO, this company’s rates are quite competitive.
How is The Hartford auto insurance rated?
The Hartford generally rates well in a number of areas. It has a 0.78 complaint index with the NAIC, which means it receives fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size. It also scored 877 in claims satisfaction for J.D. Power, meaning its satisfaction rating is about average.[3] [4] The Hartford enjoys the highest customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power in the Northwest region, as well as above-average ratings in several other regions.
Related articles
)
List of National and Regional Car Insurance Companies
December 21, 2025
)
Travelers Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes
December 21, 2025
)
USAA Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes
December 21, 2025
)
State Farm Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes
December 21, 2025
)
Liberty Mutual Insurance Review: 3,213+ User Ratings
December 21, 2025
)
GEICO Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes
December 21, 2025
)
Farmers Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes
December 21, 2025
)
Allstate Insurance Review: 7,746+ User Ratings
December 21, 2025
Sources
- NAIC. "Property and Casualty Insurance Industry 2022 Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium."
- NAIC. "Government Employees Ins Co National Complaint Index Report."
- NAIC. "Hartford Cas Ins Co National Complaint Index Report."
- J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study."
)
Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.
Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.
She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.
Emily has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Over 3 years of experience producing content on insurance and personal finance.
Key architect of Insurify's quality score.
Courtney's deep knowledge of personal finance goes beyond insurance and includes credit cards, consumer loans, and banking. She loves creating practical content.
Featured in
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.