Head to head
GEICO vs Progressive in Florida
Updated August 2026
GEICO and Progressive are two of the biggest names in Florida auto insurance, and they are built almost nothing alike. GEICO is a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary that sells almost entirely direct — online, in the app, by phone — and underwrites as a standard-market company. Progressive is publicly traded, sells both direct and through independent agents, and grew up in the non-standard market, which still shows in its appetite for drivers with filings and blemished records.
None of that structure tells you which one would quote you less. Every insurer prices Florida's rating factors its own way, so the same driver can get very different numbers from each. What structure does tell you is what the experience will be like and which kinds of profiles each company is set up to serve — and that's what this page compares before you go get the numbers that actually decide it.
| GEICO | Progressive | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1936 | 1937 |
| Ownership | Subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway | Publicly traded (NYSE: PGR) |
| AM Best rating | A++ (Superior) | A+ (Superior) |
| How it sells | Almost entirely direct — online, app and phone | Direct online/phone plus independent agents |
| Telematics program | DriveEasy | Snapshot |
| SR-22 / non-standard appetite | Files SR-22s commonly, but underwrites as a standard-market company | Non-standard roots; one of the mainstream names most associated with SR-22 and Florida FR-44 filings |
| Eligibility notes | Open to the general public | Open to the general public, with a broad appetite from clean to blemished records |
Source: Company disclosures and AM Best public ratings
Two giants, two structures
GEICO's model is a direct-to-consumer machine: no agent network to fund, everything handled online or by phone, backed by Berkshire Hathaway's balance sheet and an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best. Progressive runs two doors side by side — you can buy direct, or through an independent agency that quotes Progressive alongside other companies and can re-shop it at renewal.
The practical difference is the relationship. With GEICO you manage the policy yourself; that suits drivers who want speed and self-service and never plan to call an agent. With Progressive you can choose the same self-serve experience or hand the policy to a local Florida office — a real distinction if you like having a person who answers for your account.
Which kinds of drivers each structure tends to fit
GEICO tends to fit drivers with fairly standard profiles — a clean or lightly blemished record, comfort managing insurance in an app, no need for an agent relationship. Its DriveEasy program adds a usage-based angle for low-mileage, smooth drivers. Progressive tends to fit drivers who want the agent option, drivers carrying an SR-22 or Florida FR-44 filing, and profiles the standard market treats roughly — that's the business Progressive was built on.
But 'tends to fit' is about structure, not price. Both companies quote Florida drivers across the spectrum, and the one whose underwriting likes your specific profile this year is the one that comes back lower. Your quote decides — not the org chart.
The Florida backdrop
Florida's legal minimums are unusual — $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage liability, with no bodily injury requirement for most drivers — and its prices are not: statewide, full coverage typically runs about $2,786–$2,953 a year (MoneyGeek/Insure.com). After a DUI-related conviction the state requires an FR-44 filing at 100/300/50 liability limits, a rule Florida shares only with Virginia.
There's also movement in the market: Florida's insurance regulator reported that the five largest auto insurer groups in the state filed average decreases of roughly 8% for 2026. Filed averages don't map to any one driver, though — the way to capture whatever the market is doing for your profile is to put GEICO, Progressive and a few others through the same quote and let the numbers argue it out.
Frequently asked questions
Is GEICO or Progressive cheaper in Florida?+
Neither is categorically cheaper. Each prices Florida's rating factors differently, so GEICO can be lower for one driver and Progressive for the next. With statewide full coverage typically around $2,786–$2,953 a year (MoneyGeek/Insure.com), the spread between two quotes on the same profile is worth real money — the only way to know yours is to run both.
Can both file an SR-22 or FR-44 in Florida?+
Both are commonly associated with SR-22 filings, and Progressive in particular with Florida's FR-44, which requires 100/300/50 liability limits after DUI-related convictions. Availability and pricing depend on your record — if you need a filing, compare these two against non-standard specialists too, because that's where quote spreads are usually widest.
DriveEasy vs Snapshot — is one telematics program better?+
They score similar behaviors: mileage, braking, phone use, time of day. Low-mileage, smooth daytime drivers tend to do well in either; in some states results can raise rates rather than just discount them. Read each program's current Florida terms before enrolling, and treat telematics as a tiebreaker rather than the reason to pick a carrier.
Can a local agent quote either company?+
Progressive, yes — independent Florida agencies quote and service it alongside other carriers. GEICO is almost entirely direct, so you'd manage that policy yourself online or by phone. If an ongoing agent relationship matters to you, that's a genuine structural difference between the two.
ShowMyRates is an independent comparison service, not affiliated with either company. Marks belong to their owners; details reflect public disclosures and can change. This page compares product structure — the only way to compare prices is a quote for your own profile.
GEICO or Progressive? Your quote decides
Structure narrows the choice — the price for your exact profile settles it. Free, about 2 minutes.
See my rates