Best auto insurance companies of 2024

07 March 2023

(107)

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The best car insurance companies offer consistent customer service and a variety of coverage options at a competitive price. We reviewed the top insurers in the nation to help you find the right one for your auto insurance needs.

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Best car insurance companies of 2023

American Family-BEST OVERALL

USAA-BEST FOR THE MILITARY COMMUNITY

Nationwide-BEST FOR COLLISION AND COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE

Auto-Owners-BEST FOR DRIVERS WITH AN ACCIDENT ON THEIR RECORD

Geico-BEST FOR DRIVERS LOOKING FOR LOW-COST COVERAGE

Travelers-GREAT FOR CUSTOMERS BUYING A NEW VEHICLE

Westfield-BEST FOR FAMILY DISCOUNTS

Compare the best auto insurance of 2023

USAA 5.0 $1,412 Average

American Family 5.0 $2,176 Very low

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Nationwide 5.0 $2,041 Very low
COMPARE VEHICLE INSURANCE

Auto-Owners 5.0 $1,628 Low

Geico 4.5 $1,716 Average

Travelers 4.5 $1,852 Very low

Westfield 4.5 $1,759 Very low

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What is car insurance?

Car insurance is an agreement between you and an insurer that provides financial protection if you’re involved in an accident or another covered incident. In exchange for a premium or regular policy payment, your insurer will cover financial losses associated with a covered accident or incident.

Depending on the type of coverage you have, car insurance can help cover accident-related expenses such as:

Injuries to you and your passengers.
Injuries to another driver, their passengers and pedestrians involved in an accident.
Repairing or replacing another driver’s vehicle if you’re at fault for an accident.
Repairing or replacing your vehicle if it was damaged, totaled or stolen.
Legal expenses if you’re sued after an accident.

What type of car insurance do I need?

Most states require motorists to purchase liability car insurance, but depending on where you live and whether you finance your vehicles, you may be required to purchase other types of coverage. Here are the most common types of car insurance to consider.

1. Liability insurance

Liability car insurance covers costs incurred by other drivers and their passengers if you’re at fault for an accident, as well as your legal defense and any judgments or settlements if you are sued. It is broken down into two parts:

Bodily injury (BI) liability covers the cost of medical care and related expenses incurred by the other driver, their passengers or a pedestrian injured in an accident you caused. It can also cover your legal expenses if you’re sued after an accident.
Property damage (PD) liability covers the cost to repair or replace another individual’s property, such as their vehicle, that was damaged after an accident you caused.

Some level of liability insurance is required in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia. Even drivers in those states may find they still need coverage in certain situations.

2. Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist insurance

Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance covers you and your passengers if you’re injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run. In some states, uninsured motorist insurance may cover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it was damaged in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.

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Underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance offers similar coverage if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover accident-related costs.
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UM coverage is required in some states, but many insurance experts highly recommend adding it to your policy even if it is not required in your state.

3. Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it was damaged after “colliding” with an object, such as a vehicle, fence or tree. It can also provide coverage if you are involved in a hit-and-run or a roll-over accident.

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There are no states that require collision coverage, but your lender or lessor may require it if you finance your car. It is typically bundled with comprehensive car insurance.

4. Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive auto insurance coverage reimburses you for losses from theft, as well as damage caused by an event other than a crash. This includes damage from hail, flooding, fire, vandalism, theft, collision with an animal or falling objects, such as rocks or tree limbs. Generally, it covers damage caused by an incident that you could not have prepared for or prevented.

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Like collision coverage, comprehensive car insurance isn’t required at the state level but is often necessary if you finance your vehicle.

5. Personal injury protection

Personal injury protection (PIP) will cover accident-related medical bills for you, your passengers and family members in your household, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. It can also cover lost wages and the cost of everyday services, like childcare, if an accident leaves you or your passengers unable to complete the task.

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PIP is usually required in “no-fault” or “choice no-fault” states and unavailable in others.

6. Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage, commonly called “MedPay,” covers accident-related medical bills for you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault. This can include the cost of doctor visits, ambulance services, X-rays, surgery and funeral fees.

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MedPay, which is required in some states, is similar to PIP, but coverage is limited to medical expenses. It will not cover lost wages or replacement services.

How much is car insurance?

Our analysis shows that the average annual car insurance rate for a good driver is $2,067. How much you pay for coverage depends on several factors, including:

Type of coverage purchased.
Coverage limits selected.
Selected deductible, when applicable.
Your age.
Your gender (except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania).
Your location.
Your claims history.
Your car insurance history.
Your credit-based insurance score (except in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan).
Make, model and age of the vehicle.
Special equipment or features of the car.

Average annual rate based on driver profile

Good driver $2,067 USAA* $1,412

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After an accident with injury $2,897 USAA* $2,093

After an accident with property damage $2,844 USAA* $2,079

After a DUI $3,454 USAA* $2,751
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After a speeding ticket $2,502 USAA* $1,709

Poor credit $3,629 Geico $2,426

Adding a 16-year-old driver $2,512 Erie $1,594

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Young driver (18 to 25) $4,521 USAA* $2,774

Senior driver $2,323 USAA* $1,554

After a gap in coverage $2,584 Auto-Owners $1,763

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How to find the best car insurance for you

To find the best car insurance company for you, figure out what types of car insurance coverage you need before getting several car insurance quotes to compare.

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Determine the type and amount of car insurance coverage you want

Any car insurance policy you buy should meet your state car insurance requirements, at a minimum. If you finance your vehicle, you must also factor in lender requirements, which often include collision and comprehensive coverage.

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After you meet any state or lender requirements, determine what, if any, additional types of coverage you’d like included in your policy. For instance, if you finance a new car, you may want to consider gap insurance until you pay off your auto loan.

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Purchasing coverage you don’t need can lead to unnecessarily high premiums, while not carrying enough coverage can leave you financially vulnerable if you or your car are involved in a collision.

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Get and compare car insurance quotes

The Insurance Information Institute recommends getting quotes from at least three insurers before purchasing a car insurance policy. Getting several quotes will give you a sense of which companies best meet your needs and preferences, which may be even more important than finding the lowest price.

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When shopping for coverage, make sure you compare quotes for the same type and amount of coverage, taking note of limits and deductibles as you complete the quote process. It’s also a good idea to find out if you’re eligible for any discounts, such as a home and auto bundling discount or a good student discount.

Methodology

Our insurance experts evaluated top car insurance companies in the nation to determine which offer the best auto insurance based on average rates, coverage features, collision claims process and consumer complaints.

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Each car insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:

Cost (50 points): We analyzed rates from Quadrant Information Services based on seven driver profiles for a policy with 100/300/100 in liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and comprehensive and collision coverage.

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We awarded up to 50 points based on insurers’ average rates for:

Drivers in various age groups.
Drivers with bad credit.
Good drivers.
Drivers with infractions, such as speeding tickets, an accident or a DUI on their record.

Consumer complaints (30 points): We collected complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which shows the volume of car insurance consumer complaints against each company. When a consumer lodges a complaint to their state’s department of insurance — often about an insurance company’s claims process, delays, denials or settlements — these complaints are logged and tracked.

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Car insurance coverage features (15 points): Car insurance policy features can help make coverage more affordable both before and after an accident or covered incident.

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We evaluated car insurance policies offered by each insurer and awarded points to insurers that offered these valuable benefits:

Accident forgiveness (5 points).
New car replacement (5 points).
Vanishing deductible (5 points).

SR-22 availability (5 points): After a major traffic violation, some drivers must provide proof that they have the type and amount of coverage required by their state. Proof of coverage is obtained through an SR-22 filing, but not all insurers offer SR-22.

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Insurance companies that offer SR-22s were awarded five points.

Why some companies didn’t make the cut

Insurance companies with rates significantly higher than the national average, or with a substantial number of customer complaints, did not make our list of the best car insurance companies.

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Car insurance companies with a lack of policy options, such as new car replacement or accident forgiveness, may also have been excluded, depending on how well they scored in other categories.

Why you can trust us

Our insurance experts follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and unbiased reviews.

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To help you find the best car insurance for you, our insurance experts evaluated each company’s car insurance rates and coverage options, the volume of customer complaints against the company and its collision repair grade from auto body professionals.
These seven car insurance companies rose to the top.

Who has the cheapest car insurance?

Our analysis shows that USAA offers the cheapest rates for most driver types and age groups. However, USAA is only available for military members and their families. If you don’t qualify for USAA, Geico and Auto-Owners also have low average rates for most driver groups.

Do I need car insurance?

In most states, it is against the law to drive without car insurance. Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or Registry of Motor Vehicles can help you determine how much insurance you’ll need to legally operate your vehicle in your state. You can also get this information from an insurer licensed in your state.

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If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry a specific amount and type of coverage, often full-coverage, which includes liability insurance, as well as collision and comprehensive coverage.

More: How does car insurance work?

How can I find the best price on car insurance?

You can find the best price on car insurance by getting and comparing quotes from multiple car insurance companies. Doing so can help you determine your average rate and which companies offer the most competitive pricing for your coverage needs.

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Other ways to find the best price on car insurance include bundling your car insurance with your homeowners or renters insurance and asking about other discounts for which you or other drivers on your policy may be eligible.

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Who has the best car insurance?

According to our expert analysis, American Family is the best car insurance company overall. This insurer offers average rates, but a wide variety of coverage types and options paired with a low customer ratio make it worth considering.

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