GEICO, short for Government Employees Insurance Company, is a private passenger auto insurer founded in 1936 and headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 1996. GEICO primarily sells directly to consumers by phone, website, and mobile app, and it writes auto insurance across the United States.
GEICO stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, a name that reflects its origins rather than its current customer base. Leo Goodwin Sr. and his wife Lillian founded the company in 1936, initially serving federal employees and certain categories of military personnel. The company later opened its underwriting to the general public, and today anyone can apply for a policy regardless of occupation. Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company led for decades by Warren Buffett, first invested in GEICO in the mid-twentieth century and acquired the shares it did not already own in 1996, making GEICO a wholly owned subsidiary. GEICO is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and writes private passenger auto insurance across the United States. Its corporate history is well documented, and its ownership structure means it does not trade as a standalone public stock; investors gain exposure to GEICO only through Berkshire Hathaway shares.
GEICO built its business on selling insurance directly to consumers instead of relying primarily on networks of independent agents. Most customers get quotes and buy policies through GEICO's website, mobile app, or call centers staffed by licensed representatives. GEICO also maintains local offices in some markets, but the agents in those offices represent GEICO products rather than a spread of competing carriers. The practical effect of this model is straightforward: when you request a GEICO quote, you receive underwriting decisions from GEICO alone. Policy service, claims reporting, and changes are likewise handled through GEICO's own channels. Direct distribution is neither superior nor inferior to agent-based distribution as a category; it is simply a different structure. Drivers who want a single carrier's answer can go direct, while drivers who want several carriers evaluated at once typically work with a licensed professional who has access to multiple markets.
An SR-22 is not an insurance policy; it is a certificate of financial responsibility that an insurer files with a state to confirm you carry at least the minimum required liability coverage. States commonly require SR-22 filings after events such as DUI convictions, driving without insurance, or license reinstatement. GEICO generally files SR-22s on behalf of policyholders in states that use them, and it can file FR-44 certificates in Florida and Virginia, where that form applies and higher liability limits are mandated. That said, underwriting standards, filing procedures, and availability can vary by state and by individual driving record, so a driver who needs a filing should confirm the specifics before assuming coverage will be issued. If GEICO declines an application, or if a driver simply wants to see other filing-capable carriers, a licensed insurance professional can identify which companies file SR-22s in that driver's state.
GEICO writes the standard components of a personal auto policy: bodily injury and property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and medical payments or personal injury protection where states use those systems. Optional add-ons commonly include emergency roadside service, rental reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown coverage for newer vehicles. GEICO also underwrites motorcycle, ATV, and RV policies, and it markets products such as homeowners, renters, and umbrella insurance, though several of those are placed through the GEICO Insurance Agency with third-party underwriting companies rather than written by GEICO itself. Exact coverage availability, limits, and eligibility differ by state because auto insurance is regulated at the state level. None of this list implies anything about suitability for a particular driver; it simply describes the product shelf. A licensed professional can explain how these coverages work and what a specific state requires.
Because GEICO distributes directly, a GEICO quote tells you what GEICO would offer and cover, and nothing about how other carriers would treat the same driver profile. Comparing carriers accurately requires submitting the same information to multiple companies, since each insurer weighs factors like driving history, vehicle type, coverage limits, and state requirements using its own underwriting rules. A licensed insurance professional who works with multiple carriers can run one set of details across several markets and explain the differences in coverage terms, not just numbers. That is the service CarInsureLine's free referral call connects you to: we route you to a licensed insurance professional who can quote multiple options, including or excluding GEICO as you prefer. CarInsureLine itself is not an insurer or an agent, does not quote or sell policies, and does not rank carriers. We publish factual pages like this one and provide a referral, nothing more.
Yes. Berkshire Hathaway acquired the remaining outstanding shares of GEICO in 1996, and GEICO has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary since then. GEICO does not trade as a separate public company. The relationship is a matter of public record and is disclosed in Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports. Day to day, GEICO operates under its own brand and management, headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and writes auto insurance across the United States.
No. The name Government Employees Insurance Company reflects the customer base GEICO targeted at its founding in 1936, when it primarily served federal workers and certain military personnel. The company expanded its eligibility decades ago, and today members of the general public can apply. Whether a specific driver is offered a policy depends on GEICO's underwriting criteria in that driver's state, which is true of any carrier, not just GEICO.
GEICO generally files SR-22 certificates in states that require them and FR-44 certificates in Florida and Virginia, but availability depends on your state, your record, and the carrier's underwriting decision on your application. An SR-22 filing only happens alongside an active policy, so approval comes first. If you want to confirm your options before applying anywhere, a licensed insurance professional can tell you which carriers file SR-22s where you live.
No. CarInsureLine is an independent referral service with no affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement relationship with GEICO or any other insurer named on this site. We do not sell insurance, quote policies, or rank carriers. Our role is to publish factual information and connect you, at no cost, with a licensed insurance professional who can compare multiple carriers and answer questions about your specific situation and your state's requirements.
CarInsureLine is an independent referral service, is not affiliated with or endorsed by GEICO or any insurer, and never ranks or recommends one carrier over another.