What Does GEICO Full Coverage Auto Insurance Cover?
GEICO’s full coverage auto insurance offers excellent protection for your vehicle—but is it the best option for you and your needs?
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
GEICO full coverage auto insurance adds collision coverage and comprehensive coverage on top of basic liability coverage. If you want protection for your own vehicle, you need to get full coverage—and GEICO is one of the best companies for customer service and young drivers.
The first thing you need to know about buying car insurance is that your state has a minimum required liability coverage level. While there’s no denying that
cheap car insurance
is good for your wallet, the bare minimum is not usually enough to protect your assets in the event of a serious accident. So, should you pick full coverage or basic liability only? We’re here to help you make an educated decision. From cost considerations and legal requirements to explanations of your coverage options, here’s what you need to know about GEICO’s full coverage
car insurance
policies. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds (Title in payload)
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat does GEICO full coverage insurance cover?
“Full coverage” is a bit of a misnomer. It’s not a type of policy you can purchase.
The phrase “
full coverage
” means a policy that includes at least three types of coverage that offer you broad protection against the most common types of risks that drivers face:- Liability insurance:Nearly every state requires this type of insurance, which covers vehicle repairs and medical expenses for other drivers if you cause an accident. That includes bothbodily injury liabilityandproperty damage liability.
- Collision insurance:Collision coverage from GEICO will help cover costs to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged in a collision with another car or a stationary object.
- Comprehensive insurance:Comprehensive insurance helps cover costs for damage due to something other than a collision, like theft, vandalism, animals, hail, or windstorms.
If you have a full coverage insurance policy from GEICO, you have robust protection against a variety of threats like car accidents and falling branches. Not only does full coverage pay for your own vehicle’s damage but it also covers damage to other people and property. The alternative is to pay out-of-pocket for these repairs costs—or be sued and have your wages garnished, if you don’t have the cash on hand.
Does full coverage really cover everything?
No. Full coverage gives you a lot of protection, but it’s not all-inclusive. There are other types of coverage you can (and should) consider buying.
When a company or lender says “full coverage,” it’s mostly to mark the difference between basic liability coverage. Whereas basic liability only covers other people and their property, full coverage allows you to submit claims for your own vehicle. Lenders are especially keen on full coverage since they want to protect the vehicle until it’s paid off.
What is missing from full coverage car insurance? Well, you might want extra protection against uninsured drivers with
uninsured motorist coverage
in case you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance. Rental reimbursement could be useful if your car is in the shop for repairs and you need a rental vehicle to get around. Your state’s minimum insurance requirements
may include personal injury protection
, too.Here are some other types of coverage available to GEICO customers.
Type of coverage | Description |
|---|---|
There are two types of uninsured motorist coverage from GEICO. One is for property damage and one is for bodily injury. Together, they pay for your own medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and sometimes “pain and suffering” if you get into an accident with someone who has no coverage or insufficient coverage to pay for what you need to recover. | |
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage from GEICO will help pay for the medical bills of you or your passengers after a car accident, regardless of who caused it. It can also be used to pay for funeral costs. MedPay may be required in your state. | |
Like MedPay, PIP coverage from GEICO helps to offset medical expenses related to an accident but it also includes coverage for lost wages. PIP is required for GEICO customers in no-fault states . | |
GEICO’s emergency road service is an add-on that covers towing, jumpstarts, lockout assistance, tire changes, winching, and fuel delivery if you need help on the road. | |
If you have full coverage insurance from GEICO and your car is in the shop following a collision or comprehensive claim, this rental reimbursement add-on can help offset the cost of alternative transportation (like a rental car) until your vehicle is repaired | |
Rideshare insurance with GEICO offers Uber and Lyft drivers additional coverage to help fill in the gaps in the rideshare company’s policy. |
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Is full coverage car insurance from GEICO worth it?
Full coverage car insurance with GEICO offers the broadest protection for drivers. While it’s not required by law in any state, full coverage is the best way to protect yourself and your assets. Note that
full coverage insurance on a financed car
may be required by the lender.The cost of full coverage is worth it for the help you’d receive if you have a
totaled car
. Plus, rates could be lower than you think, especially if you have a clean driving record
and good credit.But before you buy a policy from GEICO, you should compare car insurance rates from other companies. GEICO may not offer the lowest rate for your driver profile.
Benefits of full coverage GEICO car insurance
Some drivers will benefit more than others with full coverage GEICO insurance. Here are some of the advantages of full coverage with GEICO:
- Meet any requirements from your lender or leasing company
- Assets are protected during inclement weather
- Peace of mind if you live in a high-theft area
Ultimately, the biggest reason to get full coverage car insurance is so you can file a claim for a totaled vehicle.
If you drive an expensive car, full coverage is well worth the money. If you live in an area with high accident rates and high auto theft rates, full coverage is a smart investment. If bad weather is becoming more common in your area (like windstorms and hail storms), full coverage can help protect your vehicle.
Drawbacks to full coverage GEICO car insurance
You might be dissuaded from full coverage by some of these disadvantages:
- Full coverage costs more than basic liability insurance
- After you file a claim, your premiums will increase
- You don’t get the payout until you pay your out-of-pocketdeductible
Car insurance can be expensive, but it’s important to have coverage that actually protects your assets. Otherwise, what’s the point? If money is a major concern for you, try qualifying for discounts. GEICO—and most other companies—offer discounts if you bundle home and auto insurance. You can also save money by going paperless or signing up for the company’s
telematics
program.Does GEICO have the best full coverage auto insurance?
It might! The truth is that GEICO’s full coverage car insurance is basically the same as every other company’s coverage. With pretty much every company, you can tweak your coverage levels to your desired level.
Rates vary significantly from one company to the next.
Every insurance company has its own unique formula for calculating premiums. Your age, gender, zip code, driving history, and other factors will affect the rate you pay. For some drivers, GEICO’s formula spits out a favorable rate. Drivers with poor credit and young drivers may find agreeable rates with GEICO.
However, some drivers may find a better rate with another company, like
Allstate
or Progressive
. Drivers with DUIs
on record are unlikely to find low rates with GEICO.There’s one area where GEICO excels: customer satisfaction. It ranked highest in the service segment in 2021, according to J.D. Power. GEICO has impressively low rates of customer complaints and high rates of customer recommendations. GEICO is also well rated for claims handling—so if you actually get into an accident, GEICO knows how to help you through it.
The only way to find out if a GEICO full coverage policy is the best option for you is to compare GEICO’s rates with the rates at three to five other companies.
Start by asking a GEICO agent for a quote. There are a few
questions insurance companies ask
and then you’ll receive a customized rate. You can also use a mobile broker like Jerry
to quickly generate personalized rates from multiple companies based on your unique driver profile. The bottom line
GEICO is a top-rated insurance company for a reason! It offers excellent customer service, with a strong reputation for fast claims handling. You’re likely to find good rates for full coverage insurance at GEICO if you have a good driving record, but drivers with poor credit and young drivers can usually find good rates with GEICO as well.
Overall, full coverage insurance is a good investment because it allows you to submit claims for your own vehicle. For most drivers, that protection is well worth the slight increase to your monthly premium.
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At what point is full coverage not worth it?
We can’t give you a specific number because your insurance needs are so individualized. However, full-coverage may not be worth it for people who drive high-mileage vehicles that aren’t worth much. If your car is only worth a few thousand dollars, you may not need full coverage car insurance.
What is the difference between full coverage and liability coverage?
The difference is who and what gets protection in an accident. With basic liability coverage, the protection only extends to other drivers and other people’s property. If you cause a crash, minimum liability coverage will pay for the other person’s medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other property damage. Full coverage (adding collision and comprehensive coverage on top of liability) gives you and your vehicle protection as well.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket toward a claim before the insurance company will kick in to cover costs. Deductibles usually apply to collision and comprehensive insurance. You can adjust the amount of your deductible. The average deductible is $500. A lower deductible may trigger a higher premium and vice versa.
