Top 10 Best Car Insurance Companies
Knowing you have selected a good car insurance company is peace of mind you will want to have before you get in an accident, have your car stolen, or encounter any number of situations that involve you having to make a claim. You don't want to find out too late that your car insurance provider isn't up to par.This list contains the top ten best auto insurance companies in the U.S. based on affordability, value of services, and responsiveness. Because, after all, what good is having a rock-bottom rate if you don't get enough in return or can't get the help you need when you need it?
Esurance, founded in 1999, is a direct-to-consumer insurance company offering auto, home, and renters insurance. Acquired by Allstate in 2011, the company is known for its online platform and technology-focused approach. I was tired of my insurance payments going up and up and up, so I thought it was time to start shopping for new insurance. I had tried over the internet before but hadn't a clue what I was doing, so I just gave up. I had my previous insurance elsewhere and came to find out I was paying way, way too much.
I am saving $750.00 a year by switching to Esurance! I could not believe it! I immediately started the process of switching, and I am now a new Esurance customer and a very happy one! Today, I received my policy and cards via email just as promised, and I am glad I switched!
Liberty Mutual is an American diversified global insurer, founded in 1912. The company offers various types of insurance including auto, home, and life insurance. They are the best out there! I have gone to different ones and had to come back to them because they are so honest, friendly, and professional. They are not ripping you off with those six-month policies and a bunch of other fees. Do your research. Call around, and you will be shocked at how many of those other companies are charging for their premiums (double what Liberty Mutual charges). Then, once they get you the first year with somewhat low rates, they hike them back up the second year! Do your research, and you will realize that Liberty Mutual is the best all around!
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State Farm is one of the largest providers of auto insurance in the United States. Founded in 1922, the company offers a wide range of insurance products and financial services. I've had State Farm my whole life, and they have always done right by me. On April 10, 2009, my home was destroyed by a tornado. Amidst all the turmoil, the traffic, and the inability to call anyone, I was finally able to reach my agent around midnight to report my claim.
The next morning, I went to the location of my destroyed home around 8 am to find my agent was already there with a check in hand to keep me on my feet. My agent and claims team found me a townhome to stay in, fully furnished it with supplies and furniture, and allowed me to stay there until the construction on my new home was complete. All the while, they tended to my every need and resolved any complications or worries I had very quickly.
Progressive Corporation is an American insurance company that specializes in car insurance. Founded in 1937, it also offers a variety of other insurance products like home and renters insurance. I used to have Farmers Insurance until I got into an accident. Even though I had a local insurance agent, because I had to file my claim after hours, I had to contact a generic claims call center. Then, since I initiated the claim using the 1-800 number, I had to complete the rest of the process that way. At that point, I was asking myself why I was paying a premium to have a local agent when he was doing nothing to help me.
After the whole experience, I decided to shop around and ended up choosing Progressive. They had much better prices, and since it no longer mattered to me to have a local agent, I signed up. I've had nothing but a positive experience with Progressive so far.
GEICO, short for Government Employees Insurance Company, was established in 1936. It is one of the most well-known car insurance providers and offers a variety of insurance plans and discounts. I had State Farm before. I bought a new car and sold the old one. State Farm was charging me $120 a month for full coverage, and that didn't include coverage for a broken windshield. I wouldn't have thought about getting a new insurance company if it hadn't been for my State Farm agent who kept ignoring me. I called him multiple times, but someone else answered the phone. He took my message and said my agent would call me back, but he never did.
Then, I happened to drive by a GEICO office and decided to inquire. GEICO is charging me $90 per month for the same full coverage I had with State Farm, and it includes windshield insurance. That's a savings of $360 per year! Additionally, they gave me some freebies like pens, a tumbler, and other stuff.
I went to AAA, but they said they wouldn't insure me because my US driver's license is less than 18 months old. They also wouldn't honor my professional driver's license from another country, even though I'm 30 years old. On the other hand, GEICO gave me more discounts because of that license and an additional discount for being a registered nurse.
Allstate was founded in 1931 and has its headquarters in Northfield Township, Illinois. The company offers multiple types of insurance, including auto, home, and life, and has a broad network of agents across the U.S. They helped me during an insurance lapse during a move to Oklahoma from California. I could have lost quite a bit without coverage. It helped that it was not my fault.
In Cali, I would have just got zilch. Here, I got help, thanks.
I had two unfortunate accidents, and they never canceled my policy (like State Farm does). I've been with them for six years! That's all I have to say.
Best car insurance! Saved $688 for six months. You can call up your local agent anytime, and they know you by name. There's no 800 number. They're number one!
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USAA, or United Services Automobile Association, specializes in providing insurance to military members and their families. The company was founded in 1922 and is known for its excellent customer service. They are always there! When I lost control of my new pickup (11 months old) on slick streets and totaled it in 2007, I was all alone. No one for miles in any direction. I called USAA to let them know what had happened. I was scared and alone, and the representative stayed on the phone with me until someone got to me.
I was physically unhurt but scared. She eased my fear and talked me through everything I needed to do. She gave me sound advice as to where to take the truck. Everything was handled smoothly and quickly. The settlement was swift. I was in a rental car in a matter of a few hours and in a new car in a matter of days.
We have been with USAA since 1976. We have had three burglary claims with them over the years, and every one was handled well, and payment was swift. They are an honorable company who put their customers first. They are fast, efficient, and thorough. I highly recommend USAA to anyone who wants to be treated well!
Nationwide is a large insurance and financial services company established in 1926. With headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, the company provides a range of insurance services, including auto and home insurance. I just switched from State Farm to Nationwide. State Farm was reasonable, though I wasn't necessarily happy with the coverage. It was only $79 a month for full coverage, but they didn't have accident forgiveness. If I got into an accident, I would have to pay 20% of the rental fee for a car, and the lowest deductible for collision they would offer is $250.
I switched to Nationwide a week ago, and the quote was for $70 a month (every little bit counts). The big difference is the coverage. I got accident forgiveness included. Also, they pay 100% of the car rental fee, and I only have a $100 deductible for collision. However, they do have a $0 deductible option, but $100 is manageable. This is for a 2011 Ford Focus, which are generally cheap to insure.
AAA, also known as the American Automobile Association, was founded in 1902. While originally focused on promoting automotive safety and providing roadside assistance, it now also offers a variety of insurance products. I just finished up an auto claim with AAA. I had used AAA for my first car years ago but switched to Geico and then State Farm since I had to be insured on a college student budget.
Post-grad, I moved back to AAA when I was making a higher income. This past weekend was the first time I've had to actually invoke my car insurance coverage due to a hit-and-run on my car while parked. The response time, courteousness, and professionalism shown by the AAA agent were amazing.
I intend to stay with AAA for many, many years to come. Thumbs up.
Farmers Insurance, founded in 1928, has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. It offers a wide range of insurance products including auto, home, and life insurance, and is known for its comprehensive coverage options. My agent really took the time to explain, or I should say educate me, on my policy, how to read what each part meant, and scenarios of how I was covered if something happened. I ended up paying a little more in premium, but the protection I have for myself and my family makes me feel like I'm a celebrity.
My agent values protecting my family. I also like the fact he calls my house just to see how we are doing. If you live in the Kansas City area, Farmers agent Troy Bower would be a real blessing to your home.
I work in the collision repair business. I get the best service from Farmers. Their claims reps and adjusters are fantastic. I even went as far as changing my insurance from another carrier to Farmers! They are far superior in my opinion!
21st Century Insurance, founded in 1958, focuses primarily on offering auto insurance products. Acquired by Farmers Insurance Group in 2009, the company strives for simplified, direct-to-consumer insurance services. When I talked to the employees at 21st Century Insurance, they didn't talk at me, they talked to me just like they would any other person. They looked past the bottom line dollar signs and saw me as an individual. A lot of insurance companies today can't seem to deliver that. I think it's obnoxious when a company becomes so big that they don't treat the customers as people anymore or when companies become so large that the employees become impersonal and arrogant. So far, I haven't encountered this with 21st Century Insurance and that, my friends, leaves me a satisfied customer!
Travelers is one of the oldest insurance companies in the United States, founded in 1853. With its headquarters in New York City, the company provides various types of insurance including auto, home, and business insurance. I've had Travelers for over thirty years. My insurance agent a few years ago left a message on my answering machine that I should give her a call, and I might be able to save money on my insurance. And my insurance went down by over 1/3 of the cost.
This year, I had all my policies starting on the same date - my auto insurance is now for a year instead of two six-month terms, and I saved money on the yearly policy! I have never had a problem with any claim.
I compared other online and "brick" insurance companies against Travelers, and they were the best compared to the coverages we previously had. I even called AARP-The Hartford and told them that I found better-priced coverage. I asked if they could do better, but they told me no. So we switched.
I even got my Jeep covered. Our combined home and (2) cars for 2013-2014 cost $1419 for the year. We had a glass claim, and it was handled quickly and efficiently. I recommend trying them.
I love MetLife! My brother was driving my car and wrecked it. They were so responsive and proactive. They encouraged him to see a doctor right away, paid all the medical bills promptly, and paid a decent price for my totaled car. They routinely checked up on my brother to make sure he was getting all the attention he needed.
I couldn't believe these guys! THEN my brother hit a building with my truck and did some damage to the building. They again dealt with it promptly and settled with the property owner. They were so available and easy to talk with. They were so nice to me, and after these two incidents, they did not raise my rates or anything. Truly, I will never use any other company! I have absolutely nothing negative to say about them.
I've dealt with them on two homeowner claims (for my grandmother) and three auto claims (a $68,000 uninsured motorist claim and a broken windshield claim on my cars, and my mom's car after she hit a deer). These claims have spanned the last nine years. Each one was handled with a high level of professionalism, but also with decency, kindness, and compassion. They are truly an honest company that pays the claims they owe quickly and fairly. When I was injured by the uninsured motorist in 2010, the first thing my attorney said when he saw that I had A-O was, "You have nothing to worry about. They will take care of you."
I'm switching to Amica from State Farm because I reviewed my State Farm policy and found that they no longer pay to return my vehicle to "pre-loss" condition. Instead, they only cover what is competitive in the market area. I have been with State Farm for over 12 years and only recently read my policy booklet to discover this change. Based on the language in State Farm's auto policies, I am very unhappy.
State Farm gets to dictate what is competitive in the market area. Because most of the shops in my area are subpar, State Farm will not pay to have my vehicle properly repaired, as it isn't considered competitive in my market area. This also means that if I hit someone and they take their vehicle to a quality shop, but State Farm does not cover the repair costs properly, I could be sued by the person I hit. I expect more from my insurance, and I hope others do too.
After contacting Amica, I have found their representatives to be far better than any State Farm agent I've interacted with in twelve years. By switching to Amica, I now receive the best customer service available and also benefit from increased coverages to protect me in the event that I do have a claim.
Working with insurance adjusters on a daily basis, I couldn't imagine carrying insurance through any other company. I find Erie to be the most likely to settle claims, which makes me feel extremely well-covered when I'm on the road.
I know that if something happens and the other person doesn't have insurance, my company will take care of me without pushing back or thinking of dropping me. I love ERIE!
I left Nationwide after 33 years for Erie. I had policies for three cars and two houses and saved over 30%. That's a big savings that no one could match for the same coverage.
There was nothing wrong with Nationwide. They just kept increasing the price even though I had no claims. After a lot of research, Erie was the best choice I found.
Very good auto insurance rates. I have them through Costco. The representatives that I generally talk to are relatively pleasant and helpful.
We have saved money with outstanding customer service. We have been insured with Ameriprise for over 15 years.
Great rates on higher coverage (100/300) per incident. Very nice customer service.
The Hartford through AARP has had the cheapest rates we have found for both our auto and homeowners insurance. We had American Family prior and The Hartford saved us tons. They respond and send out the adjusters within a couple days of calling them. They also will not drop you if you get a ticket, we haven't had any tickets or accidents in over 25 years, tickets over 30 years. We have filed claims when our home was damaged due to a water leak in the wall and they replaced the drywall, we had to have our plumber friend weld the pipe that was leaking, but they took down the shelfs, replaced the damaged carpet with tile which we paid a little more for but it was worth it, and they painted two rooms due to the drywall damage. Everything was put back in its place like it was prior to the damage unlike my mother who had a water leak in her brick wall where they had to reroute the plumbing through the backyard. State Farm sent out to my mother's house a crew that broke through her brick and cement and dug up her backyard, but she had to pay someone to come out and rebrick the hole they had made, pour new cement and left her backyard dug up and she had to pay for it out of pocket $50,000 out of pocket. Our damage and the complete repair was $600 with our deductible.
For a great low rate you can get online, go to The General and save some time!
Way better than state farm who can go felch themselves. Also meet richie.
I have been with Safeco for over 20 years. I have totaled three cars with over $40k in claims there. I have been impressed with their fast claims service and the fact that they never raised my rates after a claim.
I have shopped rates in the past and Safeco could not be beat. Safeco has always been there when I needed them.
My daughter has piled up her car on numerous occasions and Safeco always paid the bill! She has never had an increase in premium for over 10 years. I think Safeco is one of the hidden gems of car insurance companies!
Mercury Insurance was founded in 1961 and is based in Los Angeles, California. The company specializes in personal automobile insurance, as well as home, renters, and business insurance. Mercury gave me a lower auto insurance quote than any of the others that I have checked that are ranked higher on this list.
Well, I had been with Mercury for the last 8 years and I am satisfied with their low rates.
Best Insurance Company I've ever had. They may not be the cheapest but if you rate your insurance companies on price I hope you never have a claim. You will be shaken to the core to see what the cheap guys do when you have a claim. With American Family we called Russ our agent and his staff helps us through the whole process. When we talked to the claim adjuster he was very informative and worked with us. Our car was totaled. It was an older car but it was my daughter's grandmother's car and had less the 10000 miles on the 7 year old car. The adjuster came back with an amount I felt was low. He showed me how he came up with the value. I told him the car was truly worth more then the average excellent condition 1993. He talked to our mechanic and the the body shop guys to get their input to the condition of the car. He increased the offer by 33%. He had to get approval from the company to do this. He and my agent went to bat for us and we were paid what I considered a fair price for the car just two days later. That's why I will always be an American Family Insurance customer.
Farm Bureau has paid every claim we have had fairly and quickly. I hydroplaned after a tire blew out and my Honda flew over an deep embankment and landed upright but the damage was significant. Again, I was easing out of a parking place at a restaurant when a large pickup blew through the lot and couldn't stop. My car was a total loss and Farm Bureau gave me what seemed to be more than they needed to based on my research of my car's worth. A third time, I bumped someone at a right turn stop sign and they took care of the dent on the other car, no questions asked. If I were them, I would refer me to another company, but they continue to offer great service at an very fair price and have just insured our new condo at an excellent rate..
Sucks to be the guy you hit but it's cheap.
Very friendly, personal, and informative staff. I enjoyed the choices that were given to me and how my coverages suited my needs and budget.
I am a non-standard customer and my rate compared to the other non-standard insurance companies was lower, and I received better customer service.
Extraordinary customer service through and through! This is one of the few places that I've shopped where I really felt like the agents listened to me and understood my needs. My only regret is not checking them out sooner.
How much car insurance do I need?
While your state dictates the minimum liability insurance required, getting only the bare minimum can be risky. Liability coverage pays for damages or injuries you cause to others in an accident where you're found at fault. If those costs exceed your minimum coverage, you could be held personally responsible for the difference, potentially putting your assets at risk.
To financially protect yourself, consider higher liability limits than your state's minimums. Many experts suggest carrying at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, along with $100,000 in property damage liability. This offers a greater safety net in case of a serious accident.
What are the types of car insurance?
Car insurance isn't one-size-fits-all. Here's a breakdown of some common types:
- Liability Insurance: This is the most basic and often state-mandated coverage. It pays for damages or injuries you cause to others in an accident where you are at fault.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: This protects you if you're in an accident with a driver who doesn't have insurance or doesn't have enough insurance to cover your damages.
- Medical Payments (Med Pay) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP): These coverages pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault in an accident.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Provides protection for losses outside of collisions, such as theft, fire, vandalism, or damage from weather events.
- Collision Coverage: Pays for damages to your own vehicle if you're involved in a collision with another car or an object.
What factors affect my insurance rates?
Insurance companies consider a variety of factors when calculating your car insurance premiums. Your driving history plays a significant role. A clean driving record with few or no accidents and traffic violations will generally lead to lower premiums. The type of vehicle you drive also matters – insuring a sports car will usually cost more than a standard sedan. Finally, your location makes a difference, with higher premiums common in densely populated areas due to increased risks.
How can I find the best deal?
The key to finding the best car insurance deal is comparing options. Don't settle for the first quote you receive! Take the time to get quotes from several reputable insurance companies. Online comparison tools or independent insurance agents can help you quickly analyze rates and coverage options from different insurers.
What are discounts, and am I eligible?
Car insurance companies offer various discounts to help you save on premiums. Some common discounts include safe driver discounts, discounts for bundling your car insurance with other policies like homeowners or renters insurance, and discounts for having certain safety features in your car. It's best to inquire directly with your current insurer or potential new ones about the specific discounts they offer. Doing so could significantly lower your car insurance costs.