Geico And Aaa: Unlocking The Best Auto Insurance Savings

When comparing AAA and Geico auto insurance, Geico offers more affordable insurance coverage options, and AAA provides more discount opportunities. Geico is one of the largest car insurance providers in the U.S., while AAA is best known for its roadside assistance.

Geico typically beats AAA's car insurance rates by hundreds of dollars, though that may not be the case for all drivers or situations. AAA is cheaper for drivers with an at-fault collision in their past, and those with a low credit score. However, Geico offers lower rates for drivers who have had an at-fault accident or violation.

Both companies offer similar types of car insurance coverage options, including liability, comprehensive, and collision. AAA, however, provides more add-on coverage options, including new car and glass protection.

Geico has better customer service ratings than AAA, with solid reviews for their claims processing and customer service. AAA scores lower than Geico overall in this regard, but it has some advantages, including its legendary roadside assistance program.

Overall, Geico is the better option for many drivers due to its affordable rates, solid customer service, and wide range of coverage options. However, AAA may be a good choice for those seeking loyalty discounts, roadside assistance, and additional add-on coverage options.

Discounts for military members

Military members can access a wide range of discounts on products and services. These discounts are offered as a token of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Here are some examples of the discounts available to military members:

Retail and Shopping Discounts:

• Clothing and Accessories: Several clothing brands offer discounts to military members, including Under Armour (10% off), Kohl's (15% off on Mondays), Oakley Standard Issue, American Giant (20% off), and many others.
• Electronics: Apple (10% off), Dell (10% off), Microsoft (10% off on Microsoft Office and other products), and Lenovo (5% off) offer discounts to military members.
• Home Improvement: Home Depot and Lowe's offer a 10% military discount.

Travel and Entertainment Discounts:

• Hotels and Resorts: Many hotel chains, such as Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, offer discounted rates for military members.
• Airlines: Airlines like Delta, Lufthansa, Southwest, and United offer special fares and discounts for military personnel.
• Car Rentals: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty are among the car rental companies that provide discounts to military members.
• Amusement Parks: Popular amusement parks like Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Legoland offer discounted tickets or free admission to eligible military members.

Financial Products and Services:

• Banking and Investments: Several banks and investment platforms, such as Chase, USAA, and Vanguard, offer special benefits and discounts to military members.
• Insurance: GEICO provides a military discount of up to 15% on total premiums, while other insurance companies like Embrace Pet Insurance and Liberty Mutual Insurance also offer discounts.
• Tax Services: Military members can file their taxes for free with TurboTax and Tax Slayer.

Food and Dining Discounts:

• Restaurants: Many restaurants offer discounts or free meals to military members, especially on Veterans Day. Examples include Applebee's, Bob Evans, Buffalo Wild Wings, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, Chipotle, and many others.
• Grocery and Food Services: Companies like Blue Apron, HelloFresh, and Omaha Steaks provide discounts to military members.

These are just a few examples of the extensive range of discounts available to military members. It's always a good idea to inquire about military discounts when shopping or booking services, as many businesses offer these benefits to show their appreciation.

Customer satisfaction

In terms of customer satisfaction, Geico has consistently received higher ratings from industry experts and customers alike. Geico's customer service has been praised for its responsiveness, ease of use, and effectiveness in handling queries and claims. According to J.D. Power, a global marketing information services company, Geico scored 843 out of 1,000 in customer satisfaction, placing it above the industry average. Geico's mobile app has also received high ratings, with users commending its user-friendly features, such as 24/7 chat support and easy access to digital ID cards and roadside assistance.

On the other hand, AAA's customer satisfaction ratings are more mixed. While AAA is renowned for its excellent roadside assistance program, its auto insurance customer service has received lower scores. In a survey conducted by ValuePenguin, only about one-third of AAA customers reported receiving excellent customer service, compared to 42% of Geico customers. Additionally, AAA ranked near the bottom in The Zebra's customer satisfaction survey, falling short in categories like online experience, claims satisfaction, ease of use, and customer service.

When it comes to claims satisfaction, Geico once again outperforms AAA. In the ValuePenguin survey, 64% of Geico customers reported being extremely satisfied with their most recent claim, compared to 44% of AAA customers. Geico's claims process is often praised for its efficiency and fairness, with only 2% of customers reporting negative experiences.

In terms of customer complaints, AAA has a lower complaint index than Geico. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), AAA's complaint ratio is 0.58, which is significantly lower than the national median score of 1.00. Geico, on the other hand, has a higher-than-average complaint ratio of 2.04, indicating that it receives more than double the average number of complaints.

Overall, while both AAA and Geico have their strengths and weaknesses, Geico appears to have a slight edge when it comes to customer satisfaction and claims handling. Their higher ratings in industry surveys and lower complaint ratios suggest that customers generally have a more positive experience with Geico's auto insurance services. However, it's important to note that individual experiences may vary, and it's always a good idea to compare quotes and reviews from multiple sources before making a decision.

Roadside assistance

GEICO offers 24/7 roadside assistance to its auto insurance customers at a lower cost than the price of an AAA membership. GEICO's roadside assistance covers common needs such as towing, locksmith services, gas delivery, and flat tire repair and replacement.

GEICO's Emergency Road Service provides coverage for the following roadside emergencies:

• Towing to the nearest repair facility where the repairs can be made
• Tire changes when you have a functioning spare
• Lockout services (up to $100)
• Winching your vehicle if it is stuck on or next to a publicly maintained roadway
• Fuel delivery

GEICO's roadside assistance is available through the GEICO Mobile app, which can pinpoint your exact location. The app also allows you to request help in as little as 2 minutes and has a service tracker that lets you see when help is on the way.

GEICO's roadside assistance costs $1.17 per month for each vehicle covered under the same auto policy. This means that if you have three automobiles covered under your family GEICO policy, you will pay $3.51 per month for all three vehicles.

While GEICO offers cheaper car insurance than AAA, AAA provides a more robust roadside assistance program. AAA's roadside assistance includes 24/7 assistance for flat tires, dead car batteries, locked keys, towing, and other car problems. AAA also provides its members with discounts at over 164,000 places across the US.

AAA's roadside assistance is available to both drivers and passengers, while GEICO's roadside service is only available for the specific insured vehicle. Additionally, AAA allows each member four free service calls annually, while GEICO provides unlimited free service calls.

Insurance rates for high-risk drivers

The cost of high-risk auto insurance varies depending on the driver's specific circumstances and their location. In general, high-risk drivers can expect to pay substantially more than the average annual auto insurance premium of $1,730 for full coverage. The increase in insurance rates for high-risk drivers can be as little as 4% or as much as 165%. The specific risk factors will determine the final cost.

Several companies offer competitive rates for high-risk drivers, including:

• State Farm: State Farm is consistently ranked as one of the best options for high-risk drivers, offering affordable rates and a range of discounts.
• USAA: USAA is a good option for military members, veterans, and their families, offering affordable rates and high customer satisfaction.
• Nationwide: Nationwide has competitive rates for high-risk drivers, especially for those with severe speeding tickets.
• Geico: Geico is a good choice for budget-conscious drivers, offering relatively cheap rates for young and high-risk drivers.
• Progressive: Progressive has been insuring high-risk drivers since the 1950s and offers competitive rates, especially for drivers with DUIs and severe speeding tickets.
• Travelers: Travelers offers affordable rates for most drivers, including high-risk ones, and provides discounts for students.

To get the best rates, high-risk drivers should shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurance providers. Additionally, they can look into ways to lower their insurance premiums, such as taking a defensive driving course, improving their credit score, bundling insurance policies, or increasing their deductible.

Telematics options

Telematics is an interdisciplinary field that combines telecommunications and informatics for use in vehicles. In the context of vehicle telematics, it involves monitoring and controlling vehicles on the move. This can include tracking the location, movements, status, and behaviour of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles.

Telematics devices, also known as "black boxes", are plugged into the OBD II or CAN-BUS port of a vehicle. They collect and transmit data on vehicle use, maintenance requirements, and automotive servicing. This data can include location, speed, idling time, harsh acceleration or braking, fuel consumption, vehicle faults, and more.

Telematics solutions can be integrated with existing applications and systems to enable a range of use cases for fleets of all sizes. This includes:

• Vehicle tracking: Using GPS satellites, receivers, cellular networks, and cloud computing to track vehicles and dispatch the nearest driver to a new job.
• Trailer and asset tracking: Attaching GPS trackers to trailers and other non-motorized assets to ensure they don't go missing and route drivers directly to stationary trailers.
• Maintenance improvements: Tracking hours-of-use records, scheduling preventative maintenance, and keeping tabs on warranty recovery, engine hour tracking, and service records.
• Safety tracking: Monitoring vehicle speed, location, harsh driving events, and seat belt use to help improve accident prevention measures and driver safety standards.
• Insurance risk assessment: Monitoring driver behaviour to allow insurance companies to more accurately determine risk factors and adjust insurance premiums.

Telematics solutions can help fleets achieve operational improvements, such as decreased fuel costs, improved safety, elevated productivity, and better payroll management.

Frequently asked questions