GEICO Insurance — Company Profile
What it is: a direct-to-consumer auto insurer and the third-largest private-passenger auto writer in the United States. GEICO — Government Employees Insurance Company — was founded in 1936 in San Antonio, Texas, by Leo Goodwin Sr. and Lillian Goodwin to sell auto insurance to federal government employees; despite the name, it has always been a private company, never a government agency. It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since January 2, 1996, and it relocated its headquarters to Bethesda, Maryland, in 2026 after more than 60 years in nearby Chevy Chase.
Verdict: Legit Our rating: Not yet rated — the evidence check is published (see the legit check); numeric scoring with visible inputs is in progress, and we do not publish a number without them.
GEICO is a real, licensed insurer with the strongest financial-strength grade AM Best gives (A++) and a below-average complaint index. The practical question is fit: it sells direct — online, app, and phone — with no independent agents, so drivers who want a local agent relationship may be better served by an agent-led carrier. Full verdict evidence: Is GEICO legit?
The evidence
- Identity & scale: founded 1936 in San Antonio, Texas; headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland since the 2026 relocation (previously Chevy Chase for 60+ years); wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 1996; writes private passenger auto in all 50 states and DC.
- Market position: third-largest U.S. private-passenger auto insurer — $41.7B in direct premiums written and 11.6% market share in NAIC’s 2024 data (reported at the Berkshire Hathaway group level, via the Insurance Information Institute).
- Complaint pattern: NAIC complaint index for auto insurance of 0.69 — below the 1.00 benchmark, meaning fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size (compiled by CarInsurance.com, August 2026).
- Financial strength: AM Best affirmed an A++ (Superior) Financial Strength Rating — its highest grade — for GEICO group members in April 2026, citing the direct model’s expense advantage and strongest-level risk-adjusted capital. Ratings can change — check AM Best for the current rating before relying on it.
- Pricing: prices are individualised and quoted direct, online or by phone. One structural note: for homeowners, renters, and umbrella coverage, GEICO acts as an agent and places the policy with third-party insurers — the company named on a GEICO-sold home policy may not be GEICO itself.
Where to check next
There are no live quote offers for GEICO on this site yet, so the honest next step is comparison, not a checkout button:
| Alternative | Best for | See |
|---|---|---|
| All major insurers, side by side | Comparing sales models and fit | Best auto insurance comparison |
| Your own overpay estimate | Deciding whether to switch at all | Take the 60-second quiz |
| Arizona drivers | State minimums and Arizona averages | Cheap car insurance in Arizona |
Reader reviews
No verified reviews yet. This profile is new, and we will not dress it up with placeholder praise. When reviews arrive, each one is moderated by a human, labelled verified only when we can verify the reviewer, and published whether it is positive or negative.
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GEICO questions
Is GEICO a government agency?
No. The name expands to Government Employees Insurance Company because it was founded in 1936 to sell auto insurance to federal employees, but GEICO has always been a private company. Since January 2, 1996, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
How do I buy GEICO insurance?
Directly: online, in the app, or by phone — or through local sales offices staffed by GEICO Field Representatives. There are no independent agents. For home and renters coverage, GEICO places the policy with a third-party insurer, acting as agent.
Why does this profile say “Not yet rated”?
We publish a numeric score only with the inputs behind it visible on the page. This company’s evidence check (on our Is It Legit page) is complete; its full numeric scoring is in progress, so the honest label is “Not yet rated” rather than an invented number.
Is this your business?
GEICO representatives can claim this profile to respond to reviews and correct factual errors. Claiming is free; it never changes a verdict, a score, or a review. How claiming works
Sources (checked October 2026): GEICO founding and founders (Wikipedia); Berkshire Hathaway acquisition completed January 2, 1996 (joint Berkshire/GEICO press release filed with the SEC). Headquarters relocation to Bethesda, Maryland (GEICO press release, 2026; AM Best release, April 2026). NAIC 2024 market share via Insurance Information Institute. NAIC complaint index 0.69 compiled by CarInsurance.com (Aug 2026). AM Best affirmation of A++ (Superior) FSR (Apr 16, 2026).