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Summary: Best Car Insurance Companies
Our Picks for the Best Car Insurance Companies
Best Overall
Travelers
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,597
Customers satisfied with claims experience
87%
AM Best financial strength rating
A++
(Superior)
$1,597
87%
A++
(Superior)
We’re impressed by Travelers’ low rates, wide variety of coverage options and decent digital experience. These elements combined to push Travelers to the top of our rankings. Travelers’ rates are well below the nationwide average for every driver profile we analyzed, making it a terrific company to shop rates with. Upgrade coverage packages allow you to customize your policy, such as Travelers’ Responsible Driver Plan that includes accident forgiveness and minor violation forgiveness.
- Its new car replacement coverage lasts five years instead of the standard two to three years that others offer.
- Discount for hybrid or electric vehicles.
- Rideshare insurance endorsement available for Lyft and Uber drivers.
- Very low level of car insurance complaints logged against Travelers with state insurance departments.
- Doesn’t offer SR-22 insurance.
- Received only a C grade from repair specialists for its claim repair processes.
- Available in only 42 states.
Best for Claims Handling
Erie
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,866
Customers satisfied with claims experience
90%
AM Best financial strength rating
A+
(Superior)
$1,866
90%
A+
(Superior)
Erie stands out for excelling in handling claims. It received the highest grade (A-) among the insurers we evaluated, based on grades from auto body specialists for its collision repair claims process. And 90% of Erie customers we surveyed who have filed a claim were satisfied with the claims process, that’s the highest satisfaction rate in our survey. Erie also offers great rates for many driver types and provides a wide range of coverage options, with some automatically included at no extra cost.
- Superb rates for good drivers and drivers with issues, like a speeding ticket or accident on their record.
- Low rates for teens, young adults and seniors.
- Erie’s Rate Lock freezes your premium so it stays the same year after year.
- Great average discount of 10% for paying in full.
- Low level of auto insurance complaints made against Erie to state insurance departments.
- Only available in 12 states.
- Its digital experience is just OK. Its app received low marks from users and its website lacks a live chat feature.
- You can obtain a quote online, but you must connect with an agent to buy a policy.
- Its usage-based insurance program, YourTurn, doesn’t offer a discount for safe driving but rewards through gift cards to various retailers.
Best Rates for the General Public
Nationwide
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,452
Customers satisfied with claims experience
85%
AM Best financial strength rating
A
(Excellent)
$1,452
85%
A
(Excellent)
We like Nationwide because it offers the lowest rates available to the general public for good drivers, those with poor credit or a speeding ticket and those who have caused an accident with injury. (USAA is slightly cheaper for a few of the driver profiles, but it sells exclusively to the military community.) Nationwide also has a terrific lineup of coverage options to tailor a policy to your specific needs, such as accident and minor violation forgiveness, new car replacement and a vanishing deductible if you don’t make claims.
- Has good rates for teens added to parents’ policies and senior drivers ages 65 to 80.
- Its usage-based insurance program, SmartRide, offers a potential discount of up to 40% at renewal if your driving scores well.
- Its pay-per-mile program, SmartMiles, can save you up to 10% if you have low mileage.
- Low level of car insurance complaints made against Nationwide to state insurance regulators.
- Has a Spanish version of its website.
- Doesn’t offer rideshare insurance.
- Poor digital experience, in part because we were unable to obtain online quotes.
- Rates for state minimum car insurance are slightly higher than the national average.
- Received a mediocre C grade from collision repair specialists for its claim procedures.
Best for Military Members and Veterans
USAA
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,475
Customers satisfied with claims experience
84%
AM Best financial strength rating
A++
(Superior)
$1,475
84%
A++
(Superior)
USAA stands out for its wide range of coverage options and discounts designed specifically for military members. For example, there’s a 15% discount if you garage your car on a military base. And if you store your vehicle during deployment, you can save as much as 60%. USAA rates are fantastic for military members, having the lowest prices in our analysis for drivers who have caused an accident with injury or property damage, as well as those with speeding tickets. It offers a robust lineup of coverage options, allowing you to customize your policy.
- Offers accident forgiveness, new car replacement and rideshare insurance coverage.
- Excellent rates for teens and young adult drivers.
- Great rates for senior drivers ages 65 to 80.
- Offers pay-per-mile insurance through Noblr, a USAA company.
- Available Nationwide.
- Eligibility is limited to veterans, active members of the military and their immediate families.
- Complaint level about USAA auto insurance is only about average.
- Does not offer gap insurance unless your car loan is through USAA.
- Has a low grade (D+) from collision repair specialists for its claims processes.
Great for Drivers With Poor Credit
Geico
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,849
Customers satisfied with claims experience
86%
AM Best financial strength rating
A++
(Superior)
$1,849
86%
A++
(Superior)
Geico’s competitive rates make it a strong contender for many types of drivers, especially those with poor credit. Geico makes it easy to get quotes online and is available nationwide. But its coverage options are somewhat limited: It doesn’t offer new car replacement, gap insurance, rideshare insurance or a vanishing deductible.
- Rates for good drivers are lower than the national average.
- Low level of complaints made against Geico car insurance to state insurance departments.
- Low insurance costs for senior drivers ages 65 to 80.
- Has a very good digital experience, with a helpful live chat and Spanish version of its website.
- Rates for drivers with a DUI are higher than average.
- Received an unexceptional grade of C- from collision repair experts for its claims procedures.
Best for Drivers With a DUI
Progressive
Average annual cost for good drivers
$2,000
Customers satisfied with claims experience
77%
AM Best financial strength rating
A+
(Superior)
$2,000
77%
A+
(Superior)
Progressive offers competitive auto insurance rates for good drivers, drivers who have caused accidents and drivers with speeding tickets or poor credit. It had the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI conviction among the companies we analyzed. Progressive’s attractive rates span across age groups, too, with lower-than-average rates for teens, young adults and seniors. Low-cost rates, combined with a good variety of coverage options, make it worth checking out.
- Three levels of accident forgiveness available.
- Offers vanishing deductible.
- Provides rideshare insurance, nonowner car insurance and SR-22 filings.
- Low level of complaints made to state insurance departments.
- Available nationwide and you can get a quote and buy a policy online.
- No new car replacement coverage.
- Received only a C grade for the last four years from auto repair experts for its collision claim process.
- Progressive’s usage-based program (Snapshot) may get you a decent discount, but your rates could increase instead if your driving score is low. Progressive says rates go up for 20% of drivers who use Snapshot.
Best for Family Discounts
Westfield
Average annual cost for good drivers
$2,044
Customers satisfied with claims experience
85%
AM Best financial strength rating
A
(Excellent)
$2,044
85%
A
(Excellent)
Westfield can be a good bet for families trying to rein in auto insurance costs. It offers family-related discounts, including one for teenage drivers (the Family Discount) and another for adult children ages 22 to 29 who buy their own Westfield car insurance policies (the Next Generation Discount). Beyond discounts, it offers competitive rates and coverage packages to tailor your auto policy to your specific needs.
- Offers accident forgiveness, new car replacement and gap insurance.
- Competitive costs for seniors 65 to 80, plus a discount is offered for drivers 65 or older who drive fewer than 3,000 miles per year.
- Wespack package bundles car and homeowners insurance into one policy, with one bill and one shared deductible.
- Received a high grade (B) for its collision claims process.
- Very low level of complaints about Westfield car insurance made to state insurance departments.
- Highest average rate for drivers with a DUI among the companies we evaluated.
- No vanishing deductible, rideshare insurance or SR-22s.
- Poor digital experience due to lack of a mobile app and online quotes.
- Only available in 10 states in the Midwest.
What Is the Best Car Insurance Company?
Our analysis finds that Travelers is the best car insurance company, followed closely by Erie, Nationwide and USAA.
The best car insurance company for you will depend on your driving record, state and other individual factors. We recommend shopping around to compare car insurance quotes, as the company with the lowest rates will depend on your specific profile.
Best Overall: Travelers
Travelers is the best overall car insurance company thanks to its superb rates for a variety of driver ages and driving records, its wide selection of coverage options, decent digital experience and very low level of complaints.
Travelers’ average cost for good drivers is 26% lower than the national average. It’s one of the cheapest companies for good drivers as well as drivers who have caused an accident with injury, have a DUI or have poor credit of the companies we analyzed.
| Company | Average cost per year for good drivers |
|---|---|
| $1,452 | |
| USAA* | $1,475 |
| $1,597 | |
| $1,849 | |
| $1,866 | |
| $2,000 | |
| $2,044 | |
| National average | $2,149 |
Best for Claims Handling: Erie
Erie has the top score by repair specialists among the companies we analyzed. Its score ranked it fourth overall with CRASH Network, which surveyed more than 1,100 repair experts on auto insurers and the quality of their claims procedures.
Erie also received top scores on claims handling from our survey of 3,000 drivers who have filed a car insurance claim within the past 12 months. Erie had a high percentage of survey respondents satisfied with the ease of claim filing, communication during the claim, the claim outcome and overall satisfaction.
| Company | % satisfied at ease of filing a claim | % satisfied at outcome of claim | % satisfied at communication during the claim process | % overall satisfied with claims experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92% | 93% | 91% | 90% | |
| 87% | 87% | 86% | 85% | |
| 87% | 84% | 85% | 84% | |
| 86% | 89% | 89% | 87% | |
| 86% | 85% | 86% | 86% | |
| 85% | 87% | 89% | 85% | |
| 77% | 76% | 77% | 77% |
Best Rates for the General Public: Nationwide
Nationwide has the best rates overall that are available to all drivers. USAA beats Nationwide’s costs with some driver profiles, but USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their immediate family members.
For drivers in the general public, Nationwide has the cheapest rates for good drivers, drivers with a speeding ticket or poor credit, and drivers who caused an accident with injury. It is also the cheapest for parents adding a teen driver to their policy and senior drivers 65 to 80.
| Driver Type | Nationwide’s cost per year | $ annual savings compared to national average | % difference from the national average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good drivers | $1,452 | $697 | 32% cheaper |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $1,928 | $741 | 28% cheaper |
| Drivers who caused an accident with injury | $2,407 | $803 | 25% cheaper |
| Drivers with poor credit | $2,076 | $2,097 | 50% cheaper |
| Teen drivers added to parents’ policy | $2,808 | $1,626 | 37% cheaper |
| Senior drivers (ages 65 to 80) | $1,504 | $820 | 35% cheaper |
Best for Military Members: USAA
USAA is the best car insurance option for military members year after year with its consistently cheap rates and variety of coverage options. USAA sells exclusively to military members, veterans and their family members. It offers a discount of up to 15% for drivers who garage their cars on a base and up to 60% if you store your car while you’re deployed.
USAA’s average rate for good drivers is 31% below the national average. Costs are 32% lower for drivers with a speeding ticket and those who caused an accident with injuries.
| Driving record | Cost per year | National average per year |
|---|---|---|
| Good drivers | $1,475 | $2,149 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $1,803 | $2,669 |
| Drivers with a DUI conviction | $2,781 | $3,593 |
| Drivers who caused an accident with injury | $2,174 | $3,210 |
| Drivers with poor credit | $2,799 | $4,143 |
Great for Drivers With Poor Credit: Geico
Geico offers lower rates to drivers with poor credit compared to other top insurers. Its rates are 32% cheaper than the national average.
| Company | Average cost per year for drivers with poor credit |
|---|---|
| $2,076 | |
| $2,799 | |
| $2,826 | |
| $2,830 | |
| $3,556 | |
| $3,576 | |
| $4,173 | |
| National average | $4,143 |
Best for Drivers With a DUI: Progressive
Progressive offers the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI among the companies we analyzed. A DUI is considered a major offense so it can really hike up your insurance costs. Our analysis found rates go up by 72% on average for drivers with a DUI, but Progressive’s rates only increase by 24%.
| Company | Average cost per year for a driver with one DUI |
|---|---|
| $2,485 | |
| $2,766 | |
| USAA* | $2,781 |
| $2,961 | |
| $3,198 | |
| $4,251 | |
| $4,909 | |
| National average | $3,593 |
Best for Family Discounts: Westfield
Compared to other top-rated companies, Westfield has an excellent assortment of discounts so family members can save on auto insurance. It offers a family discount, next generation discount and companion car insurance discount.
Best Digital Experience: Geico
We analyzed mobile app ratings and website functionality to see if auto insurers are keeping up with increasing demands for a delightful digital experience. We found that Geico has the overall best digital experience among the top-rated companies in our analysis.
| Company | Forbes Advisor rating for digital experience |
|---|---|
| Geico |  |
| Progressive |  |
| Travelers |  |
| Erie | |
| USAA | |
| Nationwide | |
| Westfield | No stars |
Other Car Insurance Companies We Rated
Here are other car insurance companies we analyzed but that did not make our top picks.
| Company | Forbes Advisor rating | Average cost per year for good drivers |
|---|---|---|
| | $1,979 | |
| | $2,223 | |
| | $2,167 | |
| | $3,066 | |
| | $2,334 | |
| | $3,062 | |
| | $2,974 |
Tips for Finding the Best Car Insurance
Marty Ellingsworth
Advisory Board Member
Penny Gusner
Insurance Senior Writer
Michelle Megna
Insurance Lead Editor
Les Masterson
Insurance Editor
Ashlee Valentine
Insurance Editor
Jason Metz
Insurance Lead Editor
Shop Around Frequently
When it comes to auto insurance shopping advice, early, often and regularly are the three watchwords to remember. I recommend making insurance shopping a regular exercise and not once a decade, when you trade in a vehicle or only when rates go up. Take advantage of all your resources—call your company to ask for discounts, use the internet to get multiple quotes, ask a local agent to describe options and don’t forget to ask your family and neighbors.
Advisory Board Member
Don’t Overlook Small Insurers
I recommend looking at companies of all sizes when searching for the best insurance company. If you count out small insurers, you may miss out on a company that offers good coverage perks and superb rates.
Insurance Senior Writer
Confirm There’s a Mobile App
If digital experience is important to you, make sure the insurer you’re considering has a mobile app. Believe it or not, not all insurers do! I like to have the ability to show my insurance ID card from my phone, for example.
Insurance Lead Editor
Don’t Skimp on Liability Insurance
With an increasingly litigious society, I think it’s very important to make sure you have generous liability insurance. If you haven’t paid much attention to this line item on your declarations page, I recommend taking a look. You want enough liability insurance to equal your net worth, which is essentially what you can be sued for. Buy umbrella insurance for extra liability insurance at a good price.
Insurance Editor
Be Careful With Usage-Based Insurance
Auto insurance companies may recommend that you join their usage-based auto insurance program to get discounts. I’d say this isn’t a good choice if you like your privacy. Your data could be shared with others and may affect future car insurance quotes and rates. Also, most people in these telematic programs don’t drive well enough in the eyes of insurers to get a significant discount.
Insurance Editor
Consider Rental Reimbursement Insurance
I think rental reimbursement insurance is an underappreciated coverage. Car repair times have been going up. Your vehicle could easily be in the shop for a collision repair for three weeks or more, waiting to get worked on and waiting for parts. This coverage can help pay for a rental, so you’re not footing the whole bill yourself.
Insurance Lead Editor
How To Buy Car Insurance
Here are six steps to help you navigate the car insurance buying process.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?
Car insurance costs an average of $179 a month, based on our analysis of full coverage rates. That comes to $2,149 a year on average for an auto policy that pays if you harm others in an auto accident and covers your car if damaged in an accident or by severe weather, fire or theft.
State minimum car insurance costs an average of $53 a month. A minimum car insurance policy costs much less—only $631 a year on average—because it doesn’t provide coverage for your car.
Methodology
To identify the best car insurance companies we evaluated each company based on its average rates for a variety of drivers, the coverage options offered, complaints against the company, digital experience, collision repair grades from auto body professionals and our surveys of customer service, pricing and claims satisfaction.
Auto insurance rates (40% of score): We analyzed average rates from each company for good drivers, drivers who have caused an accident, drivers with a speeding ticket, drivers with a DUI, drivers with poor credit and drivers caught without insurance.
Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
- $100,000 for injuries to one person, $300,000 for injuries per accident and $100,000 of property damage (known as 100/300/100).
- Uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300.
- Collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
Source: Quadrant Information Services.
Car insurance coverage options (20% of score): Any auto insurance company can provide the basics of liability insurance, collision and comprehensive coverage and other standard offerings. But it’s also important to have access to additional coverage types that can provide greater protection or cost savings. In this category, we gave points to companies that offer:
- Accident forgiveness
- Gap insurance
- New car replacement
- Nonowners policies
- Usage-based insurance
- Pay-per-mile insurance
- Rideshare insurance
- SR-22s
- Vanishing deductibles
Source: Forbes Advisor research.
Complaints (15% of score): We used complaint data from state departments of insurance across the country. Most auto insurance complaints center on claims, including unsatisfactory settlements, delays, and denials.
Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
The industry complaint average is 1.00, so companies with a ratio below 1.00 have lower levels of complaints.
Collision repair (5% of score): We incorporated insurance company grades from collision repair professionals. We used data provided by CRASH Network, a weekly newsletter covering the collision repair and auto insurance market segments.
Source: CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card provides grades from more than 1,100 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Auto Insurance Collision Repair Grades
| Company | CRASH Network collision repair grades |
|---|---|
| A- | |
| B | |
| C | |
| C | |
| C | |
| C- | |
| D+ |
Digital experience (5% of score): We analyzed the quality of each company’s mobile app and website. We evaluated car insurers on:
- Mobile app ratings for Android and Apple.
- If there’s a useful website search function.
- If there’s a live chat that provides helpful information.
- If there’s a Spanish version of the website.
- If you can get a quote online.
Source: Forbes Advisor research.
Likelihood to recommend car insurers to others (5% of score) and satisfaction with customer service and price (5% of score): We surveyed 3,000 American drivers with car insurance who purchased a new policy or renewed their policy within the last 12 months, 200 per company.
Source: This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11-29, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.5 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Satisfaction with claims process (up to 5% of score): We surveyed 3,000 American drivers who have filed a car insurance claim within the past 12 months.
Source: This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11 to November 12, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.8 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates car insurance companies
More About Our Customer Satisfaction Survey
We surveyed 3,000 American drivers with car insurance who had purchased a new policy or renewed a policy within the last 12 months. Our analysis found that car insurance customers by and large have a high level of satisfaction: 86% of survey respondents said they were somewhat to exceptionally likely to recommend their car insurance company to friends and family.
We found that a high portion (87%) of survey participants said they were somewhat to completely satisfied with customer service but only 82% thought their car insurance was somewhat to exceptionally competitively priced compared to other car insurance companies.
We also surveyed 3,000 drivers who had filed a car insurance claim with their insurer. A good percentage (average of 86%) said they were somewhat to completely satisfied with their claims experience. However, there are areas for improvement, as just 82% said their insurers were somewhat to exceptionally responsive when they reached out for updates on their claims.
Only 80% of the survey respondents rated the convenience of submitting a claim as convenient or very convenient.
Looking For Car Insurance?
Via Forbes Advisor's Partner
Best Car Insurance Companies Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I find the best price on car insurance?
The key to finding a good deal is to get car insurance quotes from multiple companies. That’s the only way you’ll know what companies are going to charge and which companies are coming in with the lowest rates.
Another good savings strategy is to bundle auto insurance with another policy, such as homeowners or renters insurance. Buying more than one policy from the same company typically results in a decent discount.
Do I need car insurance to drive?
Yes, in almost all states, you need car insurance to drive. Liability insurance—which includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage—is mandatory in nearly every state. That’s so you can pay for the harm you cause others in an auto accident.
New Hampshire does not require car insurance. However, if you’re in a car crash there you need to show proof of financial responsibility. Having an auto insurance policy is the easiest way to show such evidence.
What factors impact the cost of car insurance?
Common car insurance rating factors that impact the cost of car insurance include your age, driving record, location, auto insurance claims history and credit-based insurance score (in states that allow it). Other factors that determine your rates are the make and model of your car and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose for your policy.
