# Can Geico really save you 15 percent on your car insurance... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576 "2010-09-04T05:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/1 "2010-09-04T05:35:21Z")
You’ve seen the commercials (and likely the threads about them on here). You know what I’m talking about. So insert your own line to finish the statement in the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/2 "2010-09-04T05:38:25Z")
Sure, why not. I don’t know personally, but they can just minus 15% from whatever your bill is now, then raise it back later. But, the way the commercial is phrased, it’s not a guarantee. I think it’s just the average savings of people who switched. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/3 "2010-09-04T06:04:17Z")
In fact, almost every time someone switches it’s to save bucks, and it’s very common to be able to get a cheaper rate somewhere. BTW, Geico has horrible service. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/4 "2010-09-04T06:10:06Z")
Yes, however Progressive will get you a similar rate with much better coverage\* \*in my experience at least ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/5 "2010-09-04T06:13:05Z")
I’m pretty positive Geico cannot get me a better rate. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/6 "2010-09-04T07:07:48Z")
That commercial always pisses me off: “Switching to Geico \*could \*save you 15% or _more_.” So the “could” implies it might be \*less \*than 15%, and the “or more” implies that it might be \*more \*than 15%. In other words, that sentence conveys absolutely zero information, other than “anything could happen”! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/7 "2010-09-04T07:46:10Z")
My wife got full coverage through GEICO, and it cost ~$800/year. Adding my car, it’s now $600 per year per car. Between us, we’ve made ~$15k in claims in the past 3 years, and GEICO has not raised our rates nor charged us any deductibles. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/8 "2010-09-04T10:41:33Z")
I don’t think this thread is turning out the way the OP intended … ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/9 "2010-09-04T10:56:22Z")
… Can the SDMB totally go in the wrong direction with a thread? _jump cut to this thread_ ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/10 "2010-09-04T13:35:46Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > I don’t think this thread is turning out the way the OP intended … The OP chiming in here. Yeah, I really wasn’t talking about whether you could\* really\* save 15 percent with Geico. I was thinking more along the lines of someone inserting their own statement like: Can Geico really save you 15 percent on you car insurance… Can Jenna Jameson really suck the chrome off a trailer hitch? (Cut to video of Jenna Jameson literally sucking the chrome off a trailer hitch with a giant vacuuum) Although I will say it does sound like **Superhal** is getting a deal on his insurance. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/11 "2010-09-04T13:40:45Z")
Since this thread ended up serious, I tried to see what they could do for my motorcycle. I pay about $60 a month right now. They wanted $150 a month. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/12 "2010-09-04T13:47:26Z")
They claim that people who switch save an average of 15%. Of course, people don’t usually switch unless they know they’ll save money because of it. I have State Farm and Geico is more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/13 "2010-09-04T13:58:49Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > That commercial always pisses me off: > > “Switching to Geico \*could \*save you 15% or _more_.” > > So the “could” implies it might be \*less \*than 15%, and the “or more” implies that it might be \*more \*than 15%. In other words, that sentence conveys absolutely zero information, other than “anything could happen”! Yeah, it’s like their version of “Save up to 15 percent! Or more!” What the hell does that mean? As for the OP, how about the obvious one? _Can Geico really save you 15 percent on your car insurance? Does a bear shit in the woods?_ Maybe followed by video of a bear stepping out of a porta-potty in the middle of a forest, with toilet paper stuck to it’s paw. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/14 "2010-09-04T14:05:25Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > _Can Geico really save you 15 percent on your car insurance? > Does a bear shit in the woods?_ > > Maybe followed by video of a bear stepping out of a porta-potty in the middle of a forest, with toilet paper stuck to it’s paw. Even better version of this one. … Does a bear… _Quick cut to bear leaving the port-a-potty._ _Cut back to Deadpan Guy. He’s looking off-screen, but with his completely deadpan look._ … I wasn’t finished speaking. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/15 "2010-09-04T16:43:15Z")
Now, now, GEICO can offer significant discounts to the right people, if you are a federal government employee, current or retired military and some other government affiliations. Because, as you should know, GEICO started out as the Government Employee Insurance COmpany and you still get a break if you work for the government. The business just decided to go public and offer services to everyone. If you are a non-public employee and you really like the idea of paying to subsidize lower rates for those who _are_ government employees, this is the company for you. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/16 "2010-09-04T18:43:47Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/17 "2010-09-04T18:58:21Z")
For the sake of all which is Holy & Beautiful, don’t give them ideas guys! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/18 "2010-09-04T23:33:15Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > > [@Shoeless](#): > > > > _Can Geico really save you 15 percent on your car insurance? > > Does a bear shit in the woods?_ > > > > Maybe followed by video of a bear stepping out of a porta-potty in the middle of a forest, with toilet paper stuck to it’s paw. > > Even better version of this one. > > … Does a bear… > > _Quick cut to bear leaving the port-a-potty._ > > _Cut back to Deadpan Guy. He’s looking off-screen, but with his completely deadpan look._ > > … I wasn’t finished speaking. Well, that meme might confuse audiences into thinking they’re watching a Charmin commercial. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/19 "2010-09-05T05:19:38Z")
Can switching to Geico really save you 15% or more on your car insurance? Is Brett Favre indecisive? (Oh, wait, Sears already used this one, last year. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576/20 "2010-09-05T12:05:39Z")
I’ve tried before, but they can not beat my current rate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-geico-really-save-you-15-percent-on-your-car-insurance/552576.md?page=2)