The Best Car Insurance Companies

We all want the best things in life, and car insurance is no exception. But with so many different auto insurance options available, finding the company that suits you best is a tall task. We examined dozens of car insurance providers to find out which company is best.

QuoteWizard's highest rated car insurance companies

How did QuoteWizard rank the best auto insurance companies? We conducted a customer satisfaction Survata survey of several thousand policyholders. The question we asked is pretty simple: on a scale of one to five, how satisfied are you with your car insurance company?

Everyone’s car insurance needs are different. Some people want the lowest prices, or the best coverage, or top-notch customer service. But what ultimately sets an auto insurance company apart from the others is how satisfied their customers are. According to thousands of respondents, here are the 10 companies with the highest satisfaction rating:

USAA

America’s best insurance company for military members and their families alike

If you’re eligible for USAA, it’s hard to think of a reason that you shouldn’t buy car insurance from them. But that’s the catch. USAA’s policies and customer service are both top notch in part because they’re so exclusive. Only military members and their families are eligible for USAA policies. That helps keep quality up and premiums (relatively) down.

But if you’re a military member, or the family member of one, there’s a lot to like about USAA. J.D. Power consistently recognizes USAA as one of America’s best insurers. Specifically, they get top marks for award-winning customer service, top of the line claims satisfaction, and a stellar shopping experience.

Though USAA is a ‘specialty’ insurer that only insures military members, they still have all the offerings of a major carrier:

• Rideshare coverage for as little as $6 a month.
• Free accident-forgiveness after five years of clean driving.
• 24-hour service, whether it’s over the phone, online, or through the USAA app
• Flexible payment plans including 100 percent up front or four, six, nine, or 12-month installments.
• A robust list of discounts like accident-free, defensive driving, bundling, good student, and more. They proudly state that members save $707 on their annual premium by switching to USAA.

Erie

Next-level customer care puts Erie ahead of the pack

There’s really only one knock on Erie: it’s not available in every state. In fact, it’s only available in 12 states, plus the District of Columbia. If you’re one of the lucky drivers living in a state serviced by Erie, be sure to get a quote.

What sets Erie apart? First and foremost, their commitment to customer service. There’s a reason their ‘Awards’ page is chock full of industry recognition. As they state, “we're a regional insurer that ranks highly among much larger companies.”

Erie isn’t just nice to customers – they also offer comprehensive and customizable policies. Here are just a few of the features you can add to your Erie policy:

• Pet coverage if they’re hurt in a car accident
• Locksmith services after an accidental lockout
• If your windshield gets damaged and it’s repairable, you don’t have to pay a deductible
• Free accident forgiveness after three years as a customer
• Your deductible decreases by $100 every year you don’t file a claim

Erie also offers a Rate Lock policy feature. As the name suggests, you can lock your insurance rate in place unless you make changes to the policy. In an industry where annual rate increases are common, that’s a big positive.

And if you’re looking for discounts, Erie has you covered. They offer all the standard discounts, plus a bundling discount up to 30 percent when you buy home and auto insurance. That's higher than most competitors.

Amica

94 percent of Amica customers stay with the company

That’s right: Amica says that 94 percent of their car insurance policyholders are long-term customers. What’s keeping them around? The company receives consistently high customer service ratings from J.D. Power (including the number one spot in the New England region) and Consumer Reports. Plus, Amica earned an A+ financial strength rating from A.M. Best. They also offer all the standard car insurance discounts, including up to a multi-car discount up to 25 percent.

Their car insurance policies come with several perks:

• Lost key replacement
• No deductibles for damaged windows
• Free repair after an airbag deployment
• Identify fraud monitoring
• A repair shop network with over 1,200 participating locations

An interesting feature unique to Amica is the option of a dividend or traditional policy. Both offer the same coverage, but a dividend policy has a few extra benefits. You pay more upfront than a traditional policy, but you save money in the long run. How? Dividend policies come with return payments – you get 5 to 20 percent of your annual premium paid back to you.

AAA

A plethora of agents and options backed by good customer care makes AAA a popular choice

Most people know AAA for their award-winning roadside assistance, but the company also offers top quality car insurance. AAA sells insurance through different regional carriers including AAA, the Auto Club Group, CSAA, and Auto Club Enterprises.

The Auto Club group, based in Michigan and available mostly throughout the Midwest, received a 94, the fourth highest overall reader score from Consumer Report’s car insurance study. Ninth place with a reader score of 92 goes to Auto Club Enterprises, another AAA subsidiary.

AAA and their regional subsidiaries also make multiple appearances in J.D. Power’s insurance customer satisfaction study. AAA and affiliates nabbed the top spot in the Southwest, the third spot in the California, the fourth spot in the central region, for example.

What does it all mean? AAA has a massive network of agents and services backed up by excellent customer service. And their policies have extra appeal due to the numerous AAA benefits that come with a membership. Top quality roadside assistance, tons of discounts, and thousands of agents make AAA an attractive option for car insurance. That’s part of the reason why AAA has about 56 million members across the US and Canada.

The Hartford

The best choice for seniors and retirees

If you’re a senior shopping for car insurance, look no further than The Hartford. They partner specifically with AARP to offer tailored car insurance for America’s retirees. What makes their policies so great for senior drivers? A few things:

• Lifetime renewability: You’re able to maintain chosen coverage for as long as you’re able to drive. Other insurance companies cancel policies or raise rates for senior drivers, so The Hartford stands out here.
• RecoverCare: Getting into a car accident at an advanced age can come with extra ramifications. The Hartford’s policies come with extra injury protection. That includes covering essential home services after an accident – house cleaning, transportation, food prep, and dog walking are some examples.
• Accident forgiveness: Accidents happen. But if you’ve had a clean driving record for five years, The Hartford will forgive your first accident.
• Disappearing deductible: For every year of clean driving, your collision deductible decreases. Yes, all the way to $0.

Their policies are great for bundling, too. You can cut five percent from your auto premium and 20 percent from condo, renters, or home insurance by bundling. If you suffer a loss on both your home and car insurance, you only pay one deductible. It’s both convenient and cheaper.

Aside from appealing policy features, The Hartford also delivers on customer service. The company received a “Better than most” customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power in many regions.

Travelers

Convenient bill-paying and coverage options helps Travelers stand out

Travelers is America’s ninth largest car insurance company. Why are so many drivers choosing Travelers? First, the company offers all the standard coverage and discounts drivers expect. But a few features stand out:

• Flexible payment plans: Travelers gives you lots of options when it comes to paying your bill. And if you choose certain methods, you qualify for a discount. Paying for a year of coverage can cut 7.5 percent off your premium. Paying with an electronic funds transfer can cut lower your rates by three percent. And simply paying your premium on time can earn you a 15 percent discount.
• Accident forgiveness: If you buy a Responsible Driver Plan, you get both accident and minor violation forgiveness. It forgives one accident and one minor driving violation every 36 months, keeping your coverage affordable even after a mistake.
• GAP coverage: Travelers comes through in two separate ways. First, their standard GAP coverage gets the job done. Second, their New Car Replacement Coverage is great for – you guessed it – new cars. If your new car gets totaled within the first five years of ownership, Travelers will replace it.

State Farm

Unparalleled agent network gives State Farm the lead for in-person customer service

State Farm is America’s largest insurer, owning nearly 20 percent of the market share. With over 65,000 State Farm employees, their extensive network of agents is a big part of the reason for their success. Every State Farm policyholder gets their own personal agent to answer questions, file claims, and tailor their policy. And State Farm scored well on J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction rankings, placing towards the top in most regions.

As the largest insurance company in the country, State Farm offers all the features you could expect, including:

• Competitive discounts for safe drivers, safe cars, and loyal customers.
• Excellent mobile and online access with multiple apps and a well-designed website.
• Great rental car and travel expenses coverage. If your car is rendered undriveable more than 50 miles from home, State Farm will cover rental fees, meals, and lodging.
• Good driving incentives like the Drive Safe and Steer Clear
• Rideshare insurance in almost every state. Many insurance companies don’t over rideshare. Even those that do usually restrict it to a few states.

American Family

Take it from their name: AmFam car insurance is great for families

American Family hits all the right marks for a top insurance company: high customer satisfaction, lots of coverage options, 24/7 claim support, a useful mobile app, roadside assistance, and more. All in all, they’re a solid car insurance company – especially if you live in the Northwest, where they won the top spot in J.D. Power’s car insurance satisfaction ranking.

They’ve got family in the name, so it makes sense many of their discounts cater to families. AmFam is also a great option for teenagers, with good grade discounts and the Teen Safe Driver program. It uses an app that tracks unsafe behavior like speeding, distracted driving, or swerving. After completing 3,000 miles or one year in the program, teens can earn a 10 percent discount. AmFam states that their program is responsible for decreasing risky driving behavior by 70 percent and increasing seat belt use to 96 percent.

Nationwide

A family focus and customizable coverage makes Nationwide a top pick

Why Nationwide? For starters, solid coverage options, a sizeable selection of discounts, and accident forgiveness. We specifically like Nationwide’s ‘Vanishing Deductible’, where you can trim $100 from your deductible for every year of safe driving, for up to five years.

Nationwide is a great choice for families, too. Their family plan means that all drivers living under one roof are entitled to the same discounts, like multi-car and multi-policy discounts. They advertise that their family plan can save families up to 25 percent more than their competitors.

Teen drivers can benefit from Nationwide's good student discounts and their accident forgiveness program. Teens who get at least a B average in school are eligible for reduced rates. Nationwide's customers can add accident forgiveness, where their first at-fault accident doesn't result in rising insurance rates. This policy add-on gives teens (and their parents) a break in the event of an accident.

Progressive

A sizeable stable of discounts and coverage choices make for versatile policies

Who doesn’t like Flo? You probably recognize Progressive’s likeable mascot from your tv screen, computer, or elsewhere. She gets around. And she can help you get affordable car insurance. Progressive states that drivers switching to Progressive saved $668 on their annual premium.

There are a few things we like about Progressive. First, they offer tons of coverage options including:

• Roadside assistance
• Loan and lease payoffs if you total your car
• Rental car reimbursement
• Rideshare insurance
• Decreasing deductible for every year of claim-free driving

And Progressive is good for families, too. Like Nationwide, Progressive's multi-car plan covers everyone in your home – not just relatives. Their multi-car plan discount will save drivers an average of 10 percent. Bundling your car insurance with other insurance plans can lead to significantly more discounts.

Another great way to save money is their safe driver discount. People who avoid tickets or accidents for three years qualify for a rate decrease. Progressive says that safe drivers save an average of 31 percent on car insurance.

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