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Best car insurance companies of 2020
Compare the best car insurance companies and find the best policy for your ride.
Who are the 10 best car insurance companies?
Our editorial team has spent thousands of hours analyzing hundreds of car insurance companies, comparing each company’s customer satisfaction, coverage options, rates and ability to pay out claims. We’ve ranked the top 10 companies to help you choose the best car insurance that’s right for you in minutes.
Best cheap rates: Geico
Geico offers low rates and a long list of discounts for just about any driver, including high risk drivers who can’t find cheap coverage elsewhere. In our independent review of car insurance rates, we found Geico offered some of the lowest rates for drivers in many states and for many drivers. You can get nearly any kind of coverage you need and bundle most kinds of insurance to save even more due to Geico’s extensive bundle partner options. Geico’s convenient website and streamlined app allow you to handle anything online, from getting a quote to filing a claim.
Best customer experience: Amica
Amica might not be the most well known company, but its customer support more than makes up for it. Its customer satisfaction scores often top the charts on customer review sites and third party surveys, including JD Power’s highest ratings several years in a row. Because Amica is a mutual company, not only do policyholders have more power, they also could receive dividend payments at the end of every year, depending on company profits.
Best online support: Esurance
An insurance company backed by Allstate, Esurance is committed to offering affordable insurance with a great digital experience. You’ll typically find reasonable rates and a long list of discounts. Esurance also keeps it customer experience primarily online, with an intuitive website and mobile app to manage your account or file claims. Despite its focus on digital support, many customers report an excellent experience as well.
Best coverage and bundling: State Farm
State Farm is one of the most popular car insurers, known for its personalized service through its large network of agents. State Farm has a wide list of coverage from standard coverage to nonstandard coverage that you won’t find everywhere, including rideshare, SR-22 and temporary coverage. State Farm also offers a number of discounts and add-ons to help you customize your policy. Another reason to consider State Farm? Its wide bundling options. You can insure almost any vehicle or personal property with State Farm to save on your auto policy.
Best usage-based insurance: Metromile
One of the original telematics insurers, Metromile’s usage-based insurance offers some of the lowest rates for safe, low-mileage drivers. The Metromile app or a device in your car tracks your driving and charges you based on your driving. Safe drivers who would normally be considered high risk due to their age, car or location could save the most.
Best for free perks & luxury cars: Allstate
With a broad range of coverage options, ways to save and features built for customer convenience, Allstate has earned its place among the top insurance providers. You’ll find some of the best perks in the industry, especially for luxury cars. This insurer works best if you take advantage of its many discounts and redeemable rewards through the safe driver program.
Best local coverage & agent support: Erie
Erie has a reputation for outstanding customer service and has received J.D Power’s highest customer satisfaction ranking for the past five years and running. It’s commitment to affordable auto insurance begins with its generous discounts and is reinforced by the ERIE Rate Lock Program, which helps customers stay in control of their rates. Between high customer satisfaction and an arsenal of great perks, Erie has quickly become one of the best regional car insurance providers.
Best small company with big discounts & fast claims: Electric
Electric Insurance Company offers strong standard coverage and add-ons to cover most of your needs. It also honors its own name with a discount for electric vehicles, plus it guarantees top claims service with a money-back feature if you’re unsatisfied.
Best for SR-22 & high-risk drivers: Titan
Titan offers a range of standard and nonstandard coverage for high-risk drivers who can’t get coverage elsewhere. And if you meet its criteria, you could save with Titan’s long list of auto insurance discounts.
Best for military members & family: USAA
Military members and their families can get some of the lowest rates and best customer service in the industry. And you don’t have to be in the military, though you do have to be related to someone who has a connection. Customers praise its cheap rates and great claims support, and USAA consistently tops the charts for customer satisfaction.However, the list of drivers who will qualify is small, and while online account management is great, the online quoting process is lengthy. If you do qualify, it could be worth the extra time to get a quote and potentially save hundreds of dollars a year.
How do the best car insurance companies compare?
Find out how the top car insurance companies compare on customer experience ratings and financial strength, which is a good indicator of the ability to pay out claims.
| Company | Best for | Finder rating | AM Best rating | JD Power rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | Cheap rates | 4.5/5 stars | A++ | 4/5 stars |
| Amica | Customer experience | 4.5/5 stars | A+ | 5/5 stars |
| Esurance | Online support | 4.5/5 stars | A+ | 5/5 stars |
| State Farm | Coverage and bundling | 4.5/5 stars | A++ | 4/5 stars |
| Metromile | Usage-based insurance | 5/5 stars | NR | NR |
| Allstate | Free perks | 4.5/5 stars | A+ | 3/5 stars |
| Erie | Agent support | 4.5/5 stars | A+ | 4.5/5 stars |
| Electric | Small company | 4.5/5 stars | NR | NR |
| Titan | High-risk drivers | 4.5/5 stars | A- | NR |
| USAA | Military | 5/5 stars | A++ | 5/5 stars |
Best car insurance rates
Looking for the best rates? Compare sample quotes for California drivers and see how much you could save by looking for better car insurance deals.
| Company | Average annual rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,391 | Read review |
| USAA | $1,399 | Read review |
| Esurance | $1,478 | Read review |
| 21st Century | $1,701 | Read review |
| Kemper | $1,723 | Read review |
| Progressive | $1,724 | Read review |
| Mercury | $1,768 | Read review |
| Allstate | $1,917 | Read review |
| Safeco | $2,020 | Read review |
| Nationwide | $2,249 | Read review |
| Farmers | $2,425 | Read review |
| State Farm | $2,474 | Read review |
| The Hartford | $2,529 | Read review |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,611 | Read review |
| Average | $1,910 | Compare all reviews |
Find the best car insurance company in 4 easy steps
Your monthly premium doesn’t tell the whole story about your car insurance.
Car insurance companies may not differ much in the coverage they provide, but can be worlds away on the quality of their service. While both you and the company hope to never make a claim, if you are in an accident, you want to be sure they pay your claim.
- Decide which factors matter most to you. Does your provider charge extra for monthly payments or paperless bills? How easy is it to contact customer service? What’s the process like for making a car insurance claim? These are important questions to ask to make sure you choose the right provider.
- Research companies that meet your criteria. Narrow down your list by comparing how a company treats customers and claims when researching car insurance companies.
- Get quotes. Go online to get quotes from your top picks. The more info you fill out, the more accurate your quote will be. You can also call a broker to help you get multiple quotes.
- Ask for discounts. Use your competing quotes to get the best rate. Make sure you ask for any discounts you could qualify for to get the lowest rate.
What’s the best kind of car insurance policy?
Liability insurance policies come with expensive add-ons depending on the provider, making them difficult to compare on price alone. However, if you decide on full coverage, there are additional options to consider. The best policy for you is something that has all the extras you need, and nothing you don’t.
- Liability only for cheap cars. Liability, personal property and bodily injury coverage will pay for any damage you cause after an accident. You need to meet your state’s minimum liability requirements, but most drivers should consider higher limits to protect the entire value of their car.
- Full coverage for newer cars and frequent drivers. This policy type includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage protects you in a car accident, and comprehensive covers you for everything else. This type of policy is ideal for newer vehicles, drivers with long commutes and anyone else who can’t pay out of pocket after an accident.
- Roadside assistance for older cars. Many insurers offer free towing and roadside coverage if you have collision and comprehensive coverage. Others offer it as an add-on for a few extra dollars a month.
- Mileage-based for low-mileage drivers. If you don’t drive much, consider a policy that lets you save by only paying for the miles you drive.
- Gap insurance for a financed car. If your car is stolen or totaled, your insurer will pay off any remaining lease or loan balance so you aren’t stuck making payments on a car that can’t be driven anymore. Without this coverage, there would be a gap between what the insurance company pays you and what you owe your bank or dealership, and that can be a financially-debilitating burden.
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How do I find a company with the best customer service?
In car insurance, customer service means a lot more than just a smile as you fill out the paperwork. It means being able to depend on your insurer in the event of a claim, and knowing that the next time you speak to them, you might be having a very bad day.
To find car insurance companies with the very best customer service, look into each of the following areas.
- Response times. Email turnaround, how long it takes for a rep to pick up when you call and the ways available to contact an insurer for questions and claims all play a part in how good your experience is. It can be a good idea to avoid insurers that aren’t available for claims service 24/7.
- Claim reporting options. If you have a preference for online claims or want to be able to use an app, make an effort to look for insurers that offer these options. Being able to use what you’re comfortable with during a potentially highly stressful situation can ease the process.
- Communication. How attentive an insurer is throughout the claims process can make an important difference when you’re making a claim. Chasing an agent down for updates when you’re already dealing with a mess can be frustrating and time consuming. Let them keep you in the loop instead.
- Policy flexibility. Flexibility encompasses not only the options available to you, but also the ease with which you can take advantage of them and the responsiveness of your insurer. Having the option to save more doesn’t mean as much if you have to jump through tons of hoops to get it.
- Partnered service quality. Free roadside assistance might not be much use if it’s not available in your area, while towing, vehicle storage, glass and windshield replacement and other repairs will all typically involve the use of partnered service providers. It can be a good idea to compare the quality of these, and look for relevant reviews.
Bottom line
Finding the best car insurance is unique for every driver. Compare each quote and company based on the value you’re getting for the cost. What you value may be different from other drivers, from good customer service to coverage levels that protect you and your family from any road disaster.
Start your search by comparing car insurance options to find the right policy for you.
Get rates from some of the best car insurance companies
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