Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Expert reviewed
Expert reviewed
This article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.
Fabio Faschi is a licensed property and casualty insurance agent. His expertise on home and auto insurance has been featured on Forbes, Consumer Affairs, Realtor.com, Apartment Therapy, SFGATE, Bankrate, and Lifehacker.
Cost is important, but the best car insurance companies offer more than just the lowest rates. The best companies combine affordability, with fast claims processing, reliable customer service, and lots of available coverage types for complete protection.
After comparing costs, service, and coverage offerings from 115 car insurance providers, we created a list of the best companies for every type of driver to make it easy to find your best auto insurance.
We determined the best companies for car insurance by evaluating companies based on cost, availability, customer experience and satisfaction, and strength of coverage. Our own Policygenius agents — who have years of experience working with real car insurance shoppers — also weighed in.
We assigned a value to each measurement based on its importance, then found the weighted average of these values for each company. Next, we ranked the top performing companies for different types of drivers by their aggregated final score.
Our rating system breaks down like this:
Customer experience and satisfaction (29%): Includes ratings from trusted third-party quality reviews, like J.D. Power, Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, Consumers Advocate, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Ease-of-use (29%): Evaluates companies based on how easy it is to get coverage and make a claim. Includes ratings for availability, points of contact, options for payments, quality of digital tools and apps, and ways to file a claim.
Coverage options (24%): Our analysis of the coverage offerings from insurance companies considers both the number of available types of insurance, along with the quality of the coverage options. This measurement includes the number of available coverage options, the strength of each company’s roadside assistance endorsement, extra perks, and other financial products and policies.
Cost (12%): Our cost analysis compares the average cost for a full-coverage policy from each car insurance company on our list. Each company receives points for affordability relative to the national average. This measurement also takes into consideration the number of available discounts .
Financial security (6%): This measurement assigns point values to each company’s A.M Best rating. Most companies have a financial strength rating that’s stable, but comparing credit ratings is a great way to weed out potentially untrustworthy insurance companies.
How we calculated average costs
In order to find the best car insurance companies, we first had to find the average cost of car insurance from each of the companies in our study. We determined the costs in our comparison using public rate data provided by Quadrant Information Services.
These rates were from every ZIP code across every state, along with the District of Columbia. Rates were for a sample driver who was a 30-year-old male with a 2017 Toyota Camry. Our sample full-coverage policy included the following limits:
Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for most people
Ful coverage
$99/month
GEICO has exceptionally cheap rates for most drivers with good records. Minimum and full coverage from GEICO are affordable, and you’ll find some useful (although common) add-ons, too — like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement.
Pros
One of the overall cheapest companies
Offers useful coverage add-ons
Easy-to-use full-service app
Cons
Mixed customer service reviews for non-auto insurance
GEICO’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
GEICO extra coverage options
Emergency roadside assistance
Mechanical breakdown coverage
Rental car reimbursement
GEICO discounts
Accident free
Affinity
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft system
Daytime running lights
Defensive driving course
Good driver
Good student
Emergency deployment
Federal employee
Military
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Whether you want liability insurance only or a full coverage policy, GEICO is the best auto insurance company for most people. Our analysis shows that minimum-coverage car insurance with GEICO is 35% cheaper than industry average, while a full coverage policy from GEICO is 28% cheaper.
One downside about GEICO is that it doesn’t underwrite its own home and renters policies. If you want to bundle policies you may have to get coverage through one of GEICO’s partners, which may not have the same quality of customer service as GEICO.
Best car insurance for coverage options: Travelers
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for coverage options
Full coverage
$125/month
There are a ton of ways to customize your Travelers car insurance. You can add useful coverage like new car replacement, gap coverage for a financed or leased car, and more. Also, a basic Travelers policy is cheap — $1,586 per year.
Pros
Optional add-ons include new car replacement, gap coverage, and accident forgiveness
Offers nearly a dozen discounts
Cheaper-than-average rates for good drivers
Cons
Average number of complaints and mixed customer satisfaction
Travelers’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Travelers extra coverage options
Accident forgiveness
Emergency roadside assistance
Gap insurance
Rental car reimbursement
Rideshare coverage
New car replacement
Non-owner coverage
Travelers discounts
Advanced quote or early sign-up
Affinity
Accident free
Continuous insurance or no late payment
Defensive driving course
Distant student
Good driver
Good student
Homeowner
Hybrid/EV
Loyalty or switching
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
New car
Pay in full
Available states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN , IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI
Travelers is the best car insurance for drivers who want to personalize their coverage by adding more protection to their policies. Travelers offers a wide range of useful add-ons, including:
New car replacement for the first five year of your car’s life
Gap coverage for leased or financed vehicles
Rental car replacement if your regular car is in the shop
Roadside assistance with coverage for interrupted trips
There are lots of other ways to save on car insurance with Travelers, too. Travelers offers a range of discounts including savings for driving an electric car, owning a new car, or enrolling in automatic payments.
Compared to the other top car insurance companies, Travelers has mixed customer service ratings. It receives about the average number of complaints for the industry, and Travelers scored below average in the 2022 J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for highly rated customer service
Full coverage
$141/month
While car insurance from Amica is $1,723 a year ($35 more per year than average) we believe that since Amica gets few complaints and positive reviews for its claims process, it’s worth the extra cost to know you’ll have great service after a claim.
Pros
Consistently high ratings for customer satisfaction
Receives fewer complaints than average most years
Customers love Amica’s online app
Offers gap coverage, accident forgiveness, and more
Amica’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Amica extra coverage options
Accident forgiveness
Emergency roadside assistance
Full glass coverage
Gap coverage
Rental car reimbursement
Amica discounts
Accident free
Anti-theft GPS
Anti-theft system
Automatic payment
Child of a legacy insured
Daytime running lights
Defensive driving course
Distant student
Good student
Homeowner
Teen driver (18 years old or older)
Loyalty or switching
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
New car
Paperless
Pay in full
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Amica is our pick for the best car insurance company for customer service. J.D. Power consistently ranks Amica near the top of its annual Claims Satisfaction Study.
Data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that Amica received 44% fewer complaints than average in 2021, which compares well with its top competitors.
Company
J.D. Power (out of 1,000)
Amica
895
State Farm
892
American Family
889
GEICO
881
Liberty Mutual
876
Amica is more expensive than average for both minimum and full-coverage car insurance, but only by a few dollars. High customer service and claims satisfaction ratings mean it’s still a good car insurance company for most drivers.
Amica’s Platinum Choice coverage
Amica’s highest-tier auto policy is its Platinum Choice package, which includes accident forgiveness, full glass coverage, rental car reimbursement of up to $5,000 with no daily limit, and enrollment in a credit monitoring program.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for discounts
Full coverage
$118/month
American Family (sometimes shortened to AmFam) offers lots of discounts that may help drivers lower their costs, based on everything from policy choices to billing preferences to driving habits. There are a few special discounts for teen drivers too.
Pros
Long list of discounts for your car, policy, payment methods, driving, and age
AmFam’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
American Family extra coverage options
Accidental death and dismemberment
Emergency roadside assistance
Gap coverage
Rental car reimbursement
American Family discounts
Accident free
Advanced quote or early sign-up
Automatic payment
Defensive driving course
Distant student
Good driver
Good student
Loyalty or switching
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
Paperless
Pay in full
Teen driver (18 years old or older)
Available states
AZ, CO, CA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NV, ND, OR, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
American Family is the best company for drivers who want to save with discounts. Most people will easily qualify for at least a few of the company’s more than one dozen available discounts.
Here are the discounts that are easy for most drivers to get:
Switching to American Family before your current policy expires
Requesting a quote at least seven days before the policy starts
Owning a car that’s equipped with safety features
Completing a defensive driving course
Signing up for automatic payments
American Family also offers discounts specifically for young drivers. Drivers who are still in school can get a discount for being a good student, demonstrating safe driving habits, and by volunteering at least 40 hours in a year.
Rates from American Family are also cheaper than average for a typical driver. In the 19 states where American Family is available, it costs $118 per month for a full-coverage policy, 14% less than average.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for good drivers
Full coverage
$70/month with Snapshot
Drivers can get low rates by signing up for the Progressive’s usage-based insurance program, Snapshot. Good drivers can lower their costs by more than half with Snapshot. Plus, Progressive has solid extras, including gap coverage and vanishing deductible.
Pros
Offers significantly marked-down rates for good drivers
Automatic savings just for signing up for Snapshot
Has add-ons like gap insurance and custom parts coverage
Range of easy-to-qualify-for discounts
Cons
Rates cost slightly more than average for most drivers
Progressive’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Progressive extra coverage options
Custom parts and equipment coverage
Emergency roadside assistance
Gap insurance
Rental car reimbursement
Rideshare coverage
Vanishing deductible
Progressive discounts
Accident free
Automatic payment
Continuous insurance or no late payment
Distant student
Good driver
Good student
Homeowner
Multi-policy (bundlings)
Multi-vehicle
Online quote
Online purchase
Paperless
Pay in full
Teen driver (18 years old or older)
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Progressive is the best car insurance company for good drivers, since they can save by signing up withSnapshot, a usage-based insurance program. Car insurance from Progressive costs $148 per month without a discount for good driving, but the average cost after signing up for Snapshot is $70 per month.
Compared to other companies’ usage-based discounts, Progressive’s has the highest upside by far. Progressive also lets you try Snapshot out before committing to it. You’ll see your potential savings after 30 days, so you can decide whether it’s for you or not.
We also like the endorsements that Progressive offers. For example, drivers can add $5,000 of custom parts protection for modified cars, along with gap coverage, and a diminishing deductible perk that lowers your deductible every year you don’t make a claim.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Full coverage
$224/month when bundling home and auto
Allstate is the best car insurance company for drivers looking to bundle their home and auto policies. Plus, Allstate’s wide range of home insurance offerings mean you can fully protect your home — even if its car insurance add-ons aren’t very noteworthy.
Pros
Offers lower-than-average rates for bundling home and auto
Wide range of ways to protect a home, including water backup coverage
Receives few complaints for its service
Cons
Few car insurance endorsements, and no gap insurance
Rates are more expensive than average without a discount
Allstate’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Allstate extra coverage options
Car insurance for Mexico
Classic car insurance
Emergency roadside assistance
Rental car reimbursement
Allstate discounts for home
Accident free
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft system
Automatic payments
Early sign up
Good driver
Good student
Loyalty
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
New car
Paperless
Pay in full
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Allstate is the best car insurance company for drivers who want to bundle their home and auto policies. A home and auto and home bundle from Allstate is $224 per month (or $2,690 per year). That’s $403 less than average per year compared to other competitors.
While Allstate doesn’t offer many car insurance discounts, it offers a wide range of home insurance add-ons, like reimbursement for recovering lost computer data, extra protection for valuables, and special coverage for adding “green” improvements to your home.
Allstate also has a reputation for having solid customer service. It gets fewer complaints than average from its auto insurance customers. Allstate also receives the average number of complaints from its homeowners insurance policyholders.
Best car insurance for military families: USAA
USAA
4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for vets and military families
Ful coverage
$87/month
USAA is the top rated auto insurance company for drivers in the military and their families by nearly any metric. USAA costs $613 less than average per year — and it consistently gets top reviews from customers for claims satisfaction.
USAA’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
USAA extra coverage options
Emergency roadside assistance
Rental car reimbursement
USAA discounts
Accident free
Anti-theft system
Good driver
Good student
Loyalty or switching
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
New car
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
USAA is the best company for active, reserve, and retiredmembers of the military and their families. USAA is one of the cheapest car insurance companies around — almost 40% cheaper than industry average for minimum and full coverage policies.
USAA also offers a number of discounts, like for completing a defensive driving course, owning a new vehicle or a car with an anti-theft system, or by signing up for USAA’s TrustPilot program to track your driving. USAA also partners with retailers to offer members discounts on things like travel, theme parks, car services, and shopping.
While USAA has low rates and consistently highly-rated customer service, it doesn’t offer many endorsements to customize your coverage. You can still add rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance, though.
Best car insurance for teen drivers: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners
3.9
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Full coverage:
$242/month with a teen driver
After your teen gets their license, you can add them onto your Auto-Owners policy without a significant rate increase. You can also upgrade a basic Auto-Owners policy with add-ons, like accident forgiveness and a waived deductible after a collision.
Pros
Cheaper-than-average costs for teen drivers
Cheapest overall rates for minimum coverage for most drivers
Lots of add-on coverage, like accident forgiveness and gap coverage
Auto-Owners’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Auto-Owners extra coverage options
Accident forgiveness
Diminished value coverage
Emergency roadside assistance
Gap coverage
One deductible after a damage to your home and auto
Rental car reimbursement
Transportation and lodging expenses if you’re stranded
Auto-Owners discounts
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft devices
Good student
History of on-time payments
Life insurance with Auto-Owners
Multi-policy
Multi-vehicle
Paid-in-full
Paperless billing
Request quote ahead of time
Student away from home
Teen driver monitoring via GPS
Available states
AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WI
Auto-Owners is the best car insurance company for families with teenage drivers in the home. It’s usually very expensive to add a newly licensed teenager to a policy, but with Auto-Owners it costs $145 less per month than average.
Even for teens who need to get an independent policy, Auto-Owners is still a top company for young drivers. Teens can get their own car insurance from Auto-Owners for $281 per month, which is $1,754 less than average each year.
Auto-Owners is a good option for drivers of all ages who are looking for cheap coverage — its rates for all coverage levels are among the absolute cheapest we found. Auto-Owners also receives about 30% fewer complaints than average for its service.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best regional carrier
Full coverage
$94/month
Erie is the best company for drivers who want a smaller, regional provider. It’s one of the cheapest companies on our list for both minimum and full coverage. And Erie offers a range of coverage to choose from, some of which come built-in to your policy.
Pros
Cheap rates for minimum and full coverage
Policies include coverage for an injured pet and lodging if you’re stranded
Lots of coverage add-ons like new car replacement and rate lock
Erie’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Erie extra coverage options
Death benefit after a fatal crash
Locked rates until you add or remove a vehicle
New or better car replacement
Rental car reimbursement
Transportation and expenses after a total loss
Vanishing deductible
Erie discounts
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft system
Good student
Multi-policy (bundling)
Pay in full
Teen driver (18 years old or older)
Available states
DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, NC, OH , PA, TN, VA, WV, WI
If you live in one of the 12 states where it’s offered, Erie is one of the best auto insurance companies around. We found that the cost of a full-coverage policy with Erie is 32% less than industry average, and Erie is known for top-notch customer service. See how Erie stacks up against other smaller providers.
Company
Minimum coverage
Full coverage
Erie
$31
$94
Auto-Owners Insurance
$27
$99
National General
$52
$143
CSAA
$64
$201
Mercury Insurance
$90
$217
Erie drivers have plenty of endorsements to choose from, like new car replacement, better car replacement (which pays for a new car that’s one year older than your current model), rental car reimbursement coverage, and roadside assistance. We also like Erie’s Rate Lock perk, which keeps your rates from going up — even after a claim.
What perks come with an Erie policy?
Erie offers some free perks to all its drivers, including first accident forgiveness after three years, full glass coverage, coverage for pets injured in a car accident, coverage for emergency lodging and meals if you’re stranded, and roadside assistance.
Best car insurance after an accident or driving violation: State Farm
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best after an accident or violation
Full coverage
$120/month after an accident or violation
State Farm’s rates stay cheap after an at-fault accident (and most other violations). After an accident, traffic ticket, or DUI, State Farm has full coverage for $1,415 per year. As a national carrier, State Farm is available to drivers almost everywhere.
Pros
Cheapest option after an accident or driving violation
Very affordable coverage for drivers with good records
Receives high marks for claims satisfaction and few complaints
Nationally available coverage and brick and mortar offices
State Farm’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
State Farm extra coverage options
Emergency roadside assistance
Rental car reimbursement
Rideshare coverage
State Farm discounts
Accident free
Anti-theft system
Defensive driving course
Good driver
Multi-policy (bundling)
Multi-vehicle
Available states
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
State Farm is the best insurance for drivers with an accident speeding ticket, a DUI, and other types of high-risk violations on their records. These drivers can also find cheap (or cheaper) coverage with State Farm, at an average of $118 per month.
Given the company’s national presence, it’s a good bet that you’ll be able to find coverage in your area.
Company
Average before violation
Average after violation
State Farm
$98
$118
Erie
$94
$125
USAA
$87
$127
Auto-Owners
$99
$137
GEICO
$99
$159
Average cost of insurance after an accident is $215 per month.
State Farm offers fewer endorsements than its competitors. This means you don’t have as many ways to customize your coverage. But you can still get full coverage (meaning a policy that includes comprehensive and collision).
Best car insurance for working from home: Nationwide
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for working from home
Full coverage
$123/month
Nationwide’s has cheap per-mile car insurance for drivers who don’t commute or drive much. Good drivers can even double up on savings and add Nationwide’s usage-based insurance to a per-mile policy.
Pros
Has the best per-mile insurance option of any company
Offers cheaper-than-average rates for drivers with a regular policy
Receives very few complaints for service
Also the best rates for drivers with bad credit
Cons
Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts
Nationwide’s extra coverage, discounts, and availability
Nationwide extra coverage options
Accident forgiveness
Emergency roadside assistance
Gap coverage
Rental car reimbursement
Vanishing deductible
Waived deductible after total loss
Nationwide discounts
Accident free
Anti-theft system
Automatic payment
Defensive driving course
Good driver
Good student
Paperless
Available states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Nationwide is the best-rated car insurance company for drivers who work from home and don’t drive very often (sometimes called low-mileage drivers). We recommend Nationwide’s SmartMiles program, which is a form of per-mile insurance that adjusts your rates based on the number of miles you drive.
In most states where Nationwide is available, drivers who work from home can sign up for SmartMiles and save for driving less. Nationwide also offers infrequent drivers an exception from higher rates for road-trips during the first 250 miles, plus a 10% discount for renewing with SmartMiles.
Nationwide is also one of the overall cheapest car insurance companies, even for drivers who don’t work from home. While Nationwide doesn’t have the absolute lowest rates, coverage is still 11% cheaper than average.
Bad credit? Nationwide might be the best company for you
Besides having the best car insurance for people who work from home, Nationwide is also the best insurance for drivers with bad credit. We found that Nationwide costs $2,205 a year for drivers with poor credit, $849 less each year compared to average.
Best car insurance for high-value and luxury cars: AIG
AIG
3.7
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Full coverage
$267/month
AIG has best-in-class coverage for high-value cars and offers a wide range of coverage add-ons, like new car replacement and a cash settlement after a crash. AIG has higher premiums, but it also receives few complaints for its service.
Pros
Lots of coverage add-ons, including a cash settlement option
Receives very few complaints for its service
Range of other financial products for high-net worth drivers
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
AIG is the best auto insurance company for drivers who own high-value or luxury cars. Drivers can choose from a range of add-ons to further protect their vehicles, like AIG’s $1 million liability limits, agreed value appraisement, and a cash settlement option.
While AIG insurance is more expensive than average, the company’s high premiums reflect the value of the vehicles that it insures and the company’s service — AIG receives far fewer complaints than average.
In addition to having the best insurance for luxury and speciality cars, AIG also has a few products that make it a one-stop shop for high-net worth drivers. You can also get insurance for your high-value home, yacht, collectible cars, and any horses you own, too.
Recap of the best auto insurance companies
Best company for most people: GEICO
Best for coverage options: Travelers
Best company for customer service: Amica
Best company for discounts: American Family
Best company for good drivers: Progressive
Best company for bundling: Allstate
Best company for military families: USAA
Best company for adding a teen driver: Auto-Owners
Best company from a smaller company: Erie
Best company after an accident: State Farm
Best company for drivers who work from home: Nationwide
Best car insurance for high-value and luxury vehicles: AIG
Ratings for all the top auto insurance companies in 2022
In addition to our top picks, there are more car insurance companies that may be the best and cheapest for you, depending on what you’re looking for.
We’ve listed all of these companies below, along with each one's Policygenius rating, average rates, and customer service scores based on their J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey and NAIC Complaint Index.
When you shop for the best car insurance, think about whether you most want a company with the cheapest rates, top-rated service, or a wide range of coverage options. Then, choose the best insurance company based on which of these qualities is most important to you.
No matter what the best car insurance company means for you, Policygenius makes it easy to find one that fits your needs. We’ll show you quotes from top auto companies, and help you choose the policy that’s best for you.
Remember, you can always switch companies if and when your needs change. Price and affordability may be more important to you than exceptional customer service right now, but that could change down the line.
While you’re deciding on the best car insurance, the questions that you should ask about each company are:
1. Do this company’s rates fit into my budget?
According to recent income data from the Census Bureau, the cost of car insurance may take up more than 2% of the typical household’s income. [1] For families who live in high-cost areas, this could be even higher.
That’s why it’s so important to compare quotes from different companies when you shop for auto insurance to find the best and cheapest coverage available. Even in places where insurance costs are high, comparing rates can help you find affordable coverage.
2. Is it easy to file a claim with this company?
Customer service is an important part of picking the best car insurance policy. Even if you have the cheapest coverage, it won’t matter if your company is unresponsive or combative when it comes time to actually file a claim for damage.
The best car insurance companies balance good customer service with affordable car insurance rates. If you can afford it, it can be worth paying a little more for a company that's known for good service.
3. Does this company offer the protection I need?
The best auto insurance for you should offer the right protection for your needs. Besides the minimum amounts of coverage your state requires, you’ll probably need comprehensive and collision coverage. You may also need specific types of coverage if you:
Need to insure more than one vehicle: Some companies have set limits on how many cars you can insure on one policy. If you have more than a few vehicles at home, you might need to find a company that’s willing to insure them all together.
Have a teenage driver at home: Teen drivers who are safe drivers could save on their insurance by getting usage-based car insurance.
Have a history of accidents, tickets, or other violations: You may need high-risk or non-standard insurance if you have past violations on your record, like multiple accidents or a DUI.
Drive a leased or financed vehicle: A lessor or lender will require you to get full-coverage insurance or gap coverage, and sometimes even new car replacement coverage.
The good news is that since you can cancel your auto insurance at any time, you can always get a new policy as your needs change.
What do people look for when shopping for the best insurance company?
A 2022 Policygenius survey asked 1,500 drivers what the most important factors were when choosing an auto insurance company:
High claims satisfaction scores (27%)
It will let me bundle multiple policies (17%)
It has the cheapest coverage (17%)
Highest customer reviews (16%)
Highest level of coverage (14%)
I've heard of the company before (8%)
How much does car insurance cost?
According to our analysis, car insurance costs the average driver $138 per month (or $1,652 per year) for a full-coverage policy. For minimum coverage, drivers pay an average of $51 per month (or $617 per year) for less protection, but risk being uninsured after an accident.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
But what you pay for auto insurance depends on lots of factors, especially where you live — costs can even change depending on your city and ZIP code. We found the cost of the cheapest company in each state and compared it with the state’s average rate.
Any accidents or violations on your record will make your car insurance more expensive, but not every company handles your driving record the same way.
If you have an accident or get a ticket and your insurance becomes too expensive, it can be helpful to know what a normal rate change is after a violation.
Driving history
Monthly cost
Rate increase
Clean record
$138
N/A
Not-at-fault accident
$149
+8%
Expired registration
$172
+25%
Failure to stop
$173
+25%
Failure to yield
$177
+28%
Illegal turn
$177
+28%
Following too closely
$178
+29%
Improper passing
$179
+30%
Passing a school bus
$186
+35%
Speeding ticket
$191
+38%
Driving with an open container
$208
+51%
At-fault accident
$213
+54%
Reckless driving
$252
+83%
Racing
$259
+88%
Driving with a suspended license
$261
+89%
DUI citation
$264
+91%
Hit-and-run
$267
+93%
Violations sorted from lowest to highest price increases.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
Although auto insurance companies charge different rates — and some are better than others for certain drivers — most of the time companies determine rates according to:
Age
Younger drivers pay more for insurance because they’re more likely to have accidents and file claims.
Location
Areas that have lots of uninsured drivers, high crime rates, and lots of traffic will see higher insurance rates.
Driving record
You’ll pay more for coverage if you’ve been involved in an accident, gotten a ticket, or you just got a license.
Coverage levels
The more coverage you choose and the higher you set your limits, the more you’ll pay (but you’ll also be better protected).
Credit score
A lower credit score usually means you’ll pay more for car insurance.
Insurance history
Your insurance will be more expensive if you’ve had any lapses in coverage or filed a lot of claims.
While it’s true that companies use these factors when they calculate your cost of car insurance, local laws where you live might keep insurance providers from using certain factors, like your gender or credit history, to determine your rates.
What are the different types of car insurance?
All of our picks for the top car insurance companies have the basic coverage that every driver needs in order to be fully protected. It’s a good idea to get familiar with the different types of car insurance coverage before you shop for insurance, so you know exactly what’s going into your policy.
Coverage type
What it does
Property damage liability
Covers the cost of the other party's repairs if you're at-fault in a car accident
Bodily injury liability
Pays for the other party's medical bills and related expenses if you cause an accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Covers the costs if you're hit by a driver without insurance, or who doesn't have enough insurance to pay for the damage
Collision coverage
Pays for damage to your own car after an accident, even if you were the one at-fault
Comprehensive coverage
Covers damage to your car not caused by a collision, like damage from extreme weather, fire or theft
Personal injury protection
Required in no-fault states, pays for your own medical expenses after an accident
MedPay
Available in at-fault states, pays for medical bills after an accident, usually up to a limited amount
Nearly every company — and all of our picks for the best companies — has a few optional coverage add-ons (called endorsements) that drivers can choose to add to a basic policy.
Accident forgiveness: If you’re in an at-fault crash and have to make a claim, your rates won’t go up afterwards with accident forgiveness.
Gap coverage: A must-have if you’re financing or leasing your car, gap insurance helps pay off the remainder of your lease or loan once your car is totaled.
Glass coverage: Your insurance covers damage to windshields and windows, but without glass coverage you might have to pay a deductible to get the damage repaired in some states.
Mechanical breakdown protection: While it excludes normal wear and tear, mechanical breakdown protection covers the cost of repairs that aren’t normally covered by insurance, like when your engine, brakes, or suspension has issues.
New or better car replacement: When you have new or better car replacement and your vehicle is totaled within the first few years of its life, your company will replace it with the same model, or a car that’s one model year younger.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage: Usually available for newer vehicles, OEM coverage ensures that any repairs to your vehicle will use original parts from the manufacturer wherever possible.
Custom equipment coverage: Aftermarket additions to your car, like a fancy stereo system or a custom paint job, won’t be covered by insurance unless you add a custom equipment endorsement.
Rideshare coverage: Extends your regular car insurance coverage if you’re also using your car to drive for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.
Roadside assistance: Covers emergency roadside services like towing, jumpstarts, lockout help, and transportation if you’re stranded.
Classic car coverage: Unlike regular cars, the value of classic and collector vehicles does not depreciate over time, which means they need specialized coverage.
What car insurance discounts are available with the top companies?
All the best car insurance companies have at least a few discounts available. You should compare the discounts each company offers and look out for ones that already apply to you.
There are a few popular car insurance discounts offered by most of the top providers. Common ways to save on car include discounts for:
Taking a defensive driving course: Insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who complete accredited driving safety courses.
Remaining accident-free: If you’re accident-free for a certain amount of time, you may earn major savings..
Your job and other personal details: If you’re married, a student, homeowner, a veteran, or employed by a participating company, your insurance provider may offer you a discount.
Being a good student: Students who keep up a high grade point average can get lower insurance rates.
Living away from home as a student: Your policy could be discounted if you have a child who lives on campus and doesn't have their own car.
Owning a vehicle with safety features: Most insurance companies offer drivers a range of discounts for having different types of safety equipment in their cars.
Insuring more than one vehicle: Most companies offer a discount for insuring two or more cars on the same policy.
Buying more than one policy: Bundling your car insurance policy with another type of coverage can earn you a big discount at most companies.
Renewing your policy: You can earn lower rates for renewing your policy with the same company year after year.
Making automatic payments or paying in full: If you opt to pay your premiums automatically or pay all at once at the start of the policy, you’ll save money.
Switching companies: Some car insurance companies offer a discount if you switch to them from another provider.
Signing up for telematics or usage-based insurance: Drivers who allow their insurance companies to monitor their driving habits for a short time can get discounts for safe driving.
Safety discounts offered by the best companies
Most of the best car insurance companies offer at least one discount for driving safely and avoiding tickets. We found that State Farm, GEICO, American Family, and Travelers offer the most.
Discounts
Defensive driving course
Accident free
Good driver
GEICO
X
X
X
Amica
X
X
American Family
X
X
X
Progressive
X
X
Travelers
X
X
X
USAA
X
X
Erie
State Farm
X
X
X
Nationwide
X
X
X
Driver discounts offered by the best companies
Amica and GEICO are the best auto insurance companies for finding driver-specific discounts, like for being a homeowner or having a child away at school. And while companies may not offer it as an official discount, married drivers usually pay slightly less for car insurance.
Discount
Good student
Emergency deployment
Federal employee
Affinity
Military
Teen driver
Child of a legacy insured
Distant student
Homeowner
GEICO
X
X
X
X
X
Amica
X
X
X
X
X
American Family
X
X
X
Progressive
X
X
X
X
Travelers
X
X
X
X
USAA
X
Erie
X
X
State Farm
Nationwide
X
Vehicle discounts offered by the best companies
Almost all of the top auto insurance companies offer at least one discount that’s tied to your vehicle’s features. Usually newer cars are more likely to qualify for several discounts, as they come with more safety features pre-installed than older models.
Discounts
Anti-lock brakes
Anti-theft system
Anti-theft GPS
VIN etching
Daytime running lights
New car
Hybrid/EV
GEICO
X
X
X
Amica
X
X
X
X
American Family
Progressive
Travelers
X
X
USAA
X
X
Erie
X
X
State Farm
X
Nationwide
X
Policy discounts offered by the best companies
All of our picks for best car insurance companies offer policy discounts, like savings for bundling your auto coverage with a homeowners insurance policy (or another kind of property insurance, like RV, motorcycle, or boat coverage).
It’s easier to take advantage of discounts that are related to your policy since you have control over how you shop and pay for coverage.
Discounts
Multi-vehicle
Multi-policy
Online quote
Online purchase
Paperless
Pay in full
Automatic payment
Advanced quote or early sign-up
Loyalty or switching
GEICO
X
X
Amica
X
X
X
X
X
X
American Family
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Progressive
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Travelers
X
X
X
X
X
USAA
X
X
X
Erie
X
X
State Farm
X
X
Nationwide
X
X
X
Usage-based discounts offered by the best companies
Almost all of the biggest auto insurance companies have their own usage-based or telematics discount programs. By signing up for these discounts, you can often save up to 20% or more on your coverage if you drive safely during the period where your driving is being monitored.
The telematics programs offered by our picks for the best car insurance companies are:
GEICO: DriveEasy
American Family: KnowYourDrive
Progressive: Snapshot
Travelers: IntelliDrive
USAA: SafePilot
Erie: YourTurn
State Farm: Drive Safe & Save
Nationwide: SmartRide
Frequently asked questions
Are there different types of car insurance companies?
Yes — some car insurance companies are smaller, regional carriers that only offer coverage in a few states, while others are national companies that offer policies no matter where you are in the U.S. Some companies only offer auto insurance, while others can also insure your home, boat, RV or trailer.
How do I find the best car insurance rates?
The most surefire way to get the best car insurance rates is to shop around, and compare quotes from at least three different companies before you choose coverage. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies in one go, so you know you’re choosing the best price.
Can anyone get USAA car insurance?
No, USAA insurance is limited to current and former members of the U.S. military, as well as their spouses and children. If that doesn’t describe you, you’ll have to look for car insurance coverage elsewhere.
How do I find the best discounts?
Discounts will be automatically applied to your policy when you buy insurance, but to make sure you’re getting all the best savings, ask about specific discounts during the car insurance application process. Savings for bundling policies and insuring multiple cars can typically net you bigger savings than discounts for vehicle features.
References
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of our
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Fabio Faschi is a licensed property and casualty insurance agent. His expertise on home and auto insurance has been featured on Forbes, Consumer Affairs, Realtor.com, Apartment Therapy, SFGATE, Bankrate, and Lifehacker.
