Are GEICO insurance rates competitive?

GEICO comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car that is not caused by a car accident. This includes damage caused by theft, vandalism, flooding, fire, and natural or man-made disasters.

Your comprehensive coverage will pay for the cost of necessary repairs, as calculated by a GEICO inspector, minus your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket for each claim. You can select a deductible from $0 to $1,500. But keep in mind that a lower deductible means higher premiums.… read full answer

If the cost of repairs is greater than the value of your car, the car will be declared a “total loss.” Your comprehensive coverage will pay out GEICO’s determination of the car’s value minus your deductible, to you or to your leasing or financing company.

GEICO’s comprehensive insurance does not cover accident/collision-related damage, roadside assistance or towing, renting a car while yours is being repaired, replacement of personal property stolen from inside your vehicle, or medical treatment of injuries. Other types of coverage can help in these situations.

GEICO towing coverage is part of the GEICO Emergency Road Service package, which can be added to an auto insurance policy for as little as $14 per car per year.

GEICO's towing package includes:

• Towing in the event of a breakdown
• Labor to change flat tires
• Jumpstarts for dead car batteries… read full answer
• Lockout services for up to $100

The towing part of the package covers any towing that’s not related to a car accident, like a flat tire or anytime your car won’t start. You can contact GEICO for towing assistance from anywhere, via the GEICO mobile app (GEICO’s preferred method) or by calling 800-861-8380. Once help is requested, GEICO will tow your car to the closest repair shop at no cost to you.

If you want your car towed to a specific location that is farther away, you may have to pay the towing fee yourself at the time of service and request reimbursement from GEICO. It generally takes 3 to 5 business days to be reimbursed. The reimbursement may be total or partial, depending on how much farther the tow was to your requested destination than to the suggested “closest” location. For example, if the closest repair shop is a mile away, but you want your car to be towed to your preferred shop that’s 5 miles away, you may have to pay for the extra 4 miles yourself.

You can also ask that your car be towed to your home. The distance will determine if the service is fully covered upfront, fully reimbursable, or only partially covered. The best way to find out what you will be paying is to ask your tow truck driver in advance if the service cost will be fully covered by your GEICO insurance. Often, you can negotiate the cost, especially if the towing company wants your business.

There is no official limit to how often you can use GEICO’s non-collision towing service. However, if you use it more than 3-5 times within a year, you may receive a caution letter from GEICO or even have your coverage cancelled.

If you don’t already have GEICO’s Emergency Road Service, you can easily add it to your current GEICO policy. Log in to your online account using a browser or mobile app, or call GEICO’s customer service to have an employee add it for you. Note that you need to add coverage for each car if you have more than one vehicle on your policy and want each of them to be covered. If you only use one car for long trips or lengthy commutes, you might not need roadside coverage for all of your cars.

GEICO glass and windshield claims are subject to a $0-$1,500 deductible, depending on how the glass damage occurs, where it is on the car, and whether or not the policyholder has comprehensive coverage. If your glass or windshield is damaged in an accident that is not your fault, it should be covered by the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. If it is damaged in a collision caused by you, whether with another vehicle or an object such as a fence or a tree, it can be covered by GEICO collision insurance. This is optional coverage that you can get when you purchase your auto policy.… read full answer

To make a claim for glass damage not caused by a collision, you need to have GEICO’s comprehensive coverage. This is also a choice you make when you buy your policy. In general, GEICO’s comprehensive insurance covers glass damage caused by:

• Fire
• Flood
• Theft
• Falling or flying objects
• Vandalism
• Animals
• Hail
• Windstorms
• Lightning
• Explosions
• Earthquakes
• Civil disturbances

GEICO will waive your comprehensive deductible for repair or replacement if the damage is to your windshield. Required by law in a few states, this $0 deductible coverage encourages drivers to fix a seemingly minor issue that can become a serious hazard if left unrepaired. However, your deductible will apply if other windows/glass areas are damaged.

It’s important to repair any glass damage on your vehicle quickly, especially a damaged windshield. It’s unsafe to drive with a broken windshield, and the damage can spread over time.

As a rule of thumb, chips or cracks less than the size of your cell phone may be repairable. Anything larger probably calls for glass replacement. Either way, repairs and replacements aren’t time-consuming – most can be completed within the hour.