Is GEICO cheaper than USAA?

Not reliably, in either direction. Both companies file rates state by state, and the lead changes with the state and the driving record. For the same driver in the same state, either can return the lower number.

Which is financially stronger, GEICO or USAA?

AM Best rates both companies A++. A++ is the highest grade AM Best issues, and the grade measures the ability to pay claims rather than service or price.

Do GEICO and USAA file SR-22s?

Both companies file SR-22s, on terms set by each state. An SR-22 is a form the insurer files with the state to prove you carry the required coverage. It attaches to a policy rather than being one.

Auto insurance · Updated August 2026

GEICO vs USAA

Q: Which has fewer complaints, GEICO or USAA?

They are close. On the NAIC's 2025 complaint index the two land close: GEICO General Ins. Co. drew 0.88 and United Services Automobile Assn. drew 0.83, against an industry median of 1.00.

GEICO is built for drivers who buy direct and manage the policy in the app. USAA is built for military members, veterans, and their families. On the NAIC's 2025 complaint index the two land close: GEICO General Ins. Co. drew 0.88 and United Services Automobile Assn. drew 0.83, against an industry median of 1.00. AM Best rates both companies A++. Neither is reliably cheaper. For the same driver in the same state, either can return the lower number.

By Kevin Lee, licensed insurance agent · NPN 19669698

The short answer

GEICO, for drivers who buy direct and manage the policy in the app.

GEICO has written auto since 1936 and writes through GEICO group companies, part of Berkshire Hathaway. The tradeoff: it writes five lines against USAA's six.

USAA, for the wider lineup.

USAA has written auto since 1922 and writes through USAA and its subsidiaries. It writes six lines: auto, home, renters, life, umbrella, and boat. The tradeoffs: it writes in Available nationwide to the military community against GEICO's all 50 states, and its app carries 2,300,916 ratings against GEICO's 4,753,999.

On price, there's no standing winner.

Both companies state by state, and their filed rates trade the lead by address. A national average will not predict which one wins for you. For the same driver in the same state, either can return the lower number.

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Side by side

GEICO vs USAA: the data sheet

Sources are listed under the measured figures. How we compare

	GEICO	USAA
Built for	Drivers who buy direct and manage the policy in the app	Military members, veterans, and their families
Who underwrites it	GEICO group companies, part of Berkshire Hathaway	USAA and its subsidiaries
Complaints per policyEffectively tied	0.88 536 complaints on $12.8B written	0.83 278 complaints on $7.0B written
	NAIC complaint index, 2025, private passenger auto · GEICO General Ins. Co. vs United Services Automobile Assn. · 1.00 is the industry median
Financial strengthTied at A++	A++ Superior	A++ Superior
	AM Best financial strength rating · A++ is the highest issued
Coverage you can buyUSAA, if you want to bundle	5 lines auto, motorcycle, renters, home, rv	6 lines auto, home, renters, life, umbrella, boat
PriceNot rated	Filed state by state, priced to the driver. The main factors are below.
Mobile appEffectively tied	4.80 4,753,999 ratings	4.80 2,300,916 ratings
	Apple App Store, August 2026
SR-22 filing	Yes	Yes
Telematics program	DriveEasy	SafePilot
Availability	All 50 states	Available nationwide to the military community
Known for	Direct sales, fast quotes, multi-policy discounts	Military-only membership, banking and insurance in one account

In practice

Where they differ

The complaint records

On the NAIC's 2025 complaint index the two land close: GEICO General Ins. Co. drew 0.88 and United Services Automobile Assn. drew 0.83, against an industry median of 1.00. The index weighs a company's complaint count against the volume expected for its size, so 1.00 is the industry median and a lower number is fewer complaints than expected.

Financial strength

AM Best rates both companies A++. A++ is the highest grade AM Best issues. The grade measures the company's ability to pay claims, not its service or its price.

Who underwrites each one

GEICO policies are written by GEICO group companies, part of Berkshire Hathaway. USAA policies are written by USAA and its subsidiaries. The brand on the advertising and the company on the policy are often different entities, and the complaint figures on this page belong to the named companies.

What each one covers

GEICO writes five lines and USAA writes six lines. GEICO writes auto, motorcycle, renters, home, and RV. USAA writes auto, home, renters, life, umbrella, and boat. If auto is all you need, the difference costs you nothing.

Price

Which is cheaper: GEICO or USAA?

Neither company is reliably cheaper. What sets the price:

The record sets the range. A ticket, an at-fault accident, or a moves the two prices by different amounts, and the direction is not consistent between states. A quote on the real record is what separates them.

Availability decides some matchups. GEICO writes in all 50 states. USAA writes in Available nationwide to the military community. Where only one of them writes in your state, the comparison answers itself.

Telematics moves the number. Both run a program: DriveEasy at GEICO, SafePilot at USAA. A telematics program measures driving through an app or a plug-in device and adjusts the price on the result. The size of that adjustment is filed per state.

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