The Best Car Insurance Companies for April 2022

The best car insurance companies give their customers more than just coverage they want at a reasonable price. They also provide a customer-first experience from quote to claim, including a headache-free way to manage policies and make payments.

How we ranked the top auto insurers: NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, this list of best auto insurance companies is likely to change.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company’s rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

The following companies received 4.5 or 5 stars out of 5 in NerdWallet’s analysis of the best auto insurers in the U.S.

Nerdy tip: American Family really shines when it comes to discounts, with savings for insuring multiple vehicles, completing a defensive driving course and having a student away at school.

Policies available in: 19 states, mainly throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

Pros: American Family offers a wide range of discounts and many coverage types.

Cons: American Family policies aren’t available in all states.

Company overview: In J.D. Power’s 2020 customer satisfaction studies (the most recent available), American Family ranked third among a dozen midsized insurers for satisfaction with the insurance shopping experience and tied for first place for overall satisfaction in the Southwest region. J.D. Power ranked American Family ranked No. 17 out of 24 companies for auto insurance claims satisfaction in 2020.

American Family offers a range of discounts to drivers in some states, including for loyalty, completing a defensive driving course and for students away at school. The company also has apps to monitor driving, allowing good drivers to earn discounts.

Nerdy tip: People who need several insurance policies may benefit from the convenience and discounts of bundling them with Auto-Owners, which has many coverage options and few customer complaints.

Policies available in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Pros: Auto-Owners has fewer complaints when compared to other companies and offers a wide variety of products with the opportunity to bundle.

Cons: The company only sells policies in 26 states.

Company overview: In J.D. Power’s 2020 studies, Auto-Owners ranked fifth among 12 mid-sized insurers for customer satisfaction regarding insurance shopping and first for overall satisfaction in the Central region. Auto-Owners ranked No. 3 out of 24 companies for customer claims satisfaction in 2020.

Auto-Owners has an app to track your driving. Good drivers can get a discount for avoiding hard braking and sharp turns, along with other safe behaviors.

Nerdy tip: NJM is one of a handful of insurers with a five-star rating, offering some of the cheapest car insurance rates on average. However, its policies are available only in five states.

Cost: Cheaper than average.

Policies available in: Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Pros: NJM has high customer satisfaction ratings and low customer complaints. New Jersey policyholders may also receive dividend payments.

Cons: Policies are not available in many states. NJM customers also do not have access to a mobile app to manage their policy.

Company overview: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance (NJM) gets high scores in J.D. Power’s studies of customer satisfaction. It’s ranked No. 1 in “Among the best” in the 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. It’s also ranked third among 14 insurers in the mid-Atlantic region in the 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study, which measures overall customer satisfaction.

You can get all the standard auto coverages from NJM, along with extras including new car replacement coverage for cars with fewer than 15,000 miles and pet coverage, which pays for vet bills if they are injured in a covered car accident. You can also add gap insurance to help pay off your car loan if your vehicle is stolen or totaled.

Nerdy tip: High marks for customer satisfaction and numerous discounts make Amica a great choice for most drivers.

Policies available in: Every state but Alaska and Hawaii.

Pros: Amica has high customer satisfaction ratings and low consumer complaints. It also offers many policy perks and discounts.

Cons: Amica may deny coverage to some people deemed risky by the company.

Company overview: In J.D. Power’s 2020 studies, Amica ranked first for overall satisfaction in the New England region and eighth among 12 midsized insurers for insurance shopping satisfaction. J.D. Power also ranked Amica second-highest for overall auto claims satisfaction in 2020.

If you do have to go through the claims process, you may not even see an increase in your rates. Customers who opt for certain upgrades can earn “Advantage Points” for good driving, renewing a policy and referring other drivers. These points can be used to keep your current rate after an accident. Amica also offers free glass repair, free lock replacement and free airbag repair after deployment.

Nerdy tip: Progressive’s customer satisfaction scores aren’t as high as other companies’, but it offers enough discounts and insurance products to accommodate most people. It also has few customer complaints.

Policies available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Pros: Progressive, one of the largest insures in the nation, offers unique perks such as pet injury insurance in most states if you buy collision insurance.

Cons: Progressive has a below average rating for car insurance shopping, according to J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction survey.

Company overview: Progressive has different features and options depending on your state. Some of the more interesting additions include pet injury protection, which is included with collision coverage, and a deductible “savings bank,” which knocks your deductible down by $50 each claim-free policy period to a minimum of $0.

In J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Progressive ranked seventh out of eight large insurers for customer satisfaction. J.D. Power rated Progressive No. 21 out of 24 companies for customer satisfaction regarding its claims process in 2020.

Nerdy tip: With generous coverage and discounts for good driving habits, State Farm is a popular insurer with better customer satisfaction ratings compared to other large competitors.

Policies available in: You can buy a State Farm auto insurance policy in all states except for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where it does not sell new policies. You can also buy a car insurance policy in Washington, D.C.

Pros: State Farm’s customer satisfaction ratings for purchasing auto insurance are better than average, according to J.D. Power. The company also offers numerous discounts, including two programs — one for safe driving and the other for young drivers.

Cons: State Farm had more complaints than expected for a company of its size.

Company overview: The largest personal auto insurer in the country, State Farm ranked third among eight large insurers in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. The same year, it ranked first for overall satisfaction in New York and the mid-Atlantic region and No. 6 out of 24 companies for customer claims satisfaction.

The company offers discounts to drivers in some states for having multiple cars, being a good driver and having a student away at school. State Farm has a safe driving app that can live on your phone or through OnStar. You can earn a discount by following the rules and driving sensibly.

Nerdy tip: One of the largest auto insurers in the nation, Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.

Policies available in: Forty-two states and Washington, D.C. (Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming.)

Pros: Travelers has fewer customer complaints than the median and offers many coverage options for auto insurance.

Cons: Travelers’ customer satisfaction ratings are below average.

Company overview: Travelers offers potential discounts in some states for using the company’s telematics program, a system that tracks your driving. Optional plans offer forgiveness for one accident and one minor violation so your rates don’t go up after an incident.

In J.D. Power’s 2020 study, Travelers ranked eighth among eight large insurers for customer satisfaction regarding buying insurance. Travelers ranked No. 19 out of 24 companies for customer claims satisfaction in 2020.

Nerdy tip: Auto Club Group insurance is generally available only to members, but the perks and discounts might make joining worth it.

Policies available in: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Auto Club Group may not cover all counties in each state.

Pros: Auto Club Group has few consumer complaints.

Cons: To get insurance from Auto Club Group, you need a AAA membership.

Company overview: With a wide variety of discounts and far fewer complaints for auto insurance than other companies its size, the Auto Club Group is a good option for many drivers. Before you can get coverage, however, you’ll need to become a AAA member. Once you join, you’ll have access to AAA’s perks, including discounts on hotels and restaurants.

Auto Club Group offers plenty of auto insurance options, such as rideshare insurance and original equipment manufacturer coverage, which pays for replacement parts from the manufacturer, rather than aftermarket parts, if you’re in a covered crash.

Unlike some AAA insurers, the Auto Club Group has an app where you can manage both your car insurance policy and AAA membership.

Nerdy tip: Nationwide’s low number of complaints and extensive coverage options make it a solid choice for many consumers.

Policies available in: You can get a Nationwide auto insurance policy in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana and Massachusetts. The company plans to sell Massachusetts policies in 2022.

Pros: Nationwide has fewer complaints than expected and offers a wide variety of options for customers who want to buy multiple products from one company.

Cons: Customer satisfaction for auto insurance is lower than average, according to recent J.D. Power studies.

Company overview: Nationwide, one of the largest insurers in the country, sells a wide variety of products for customers who want to bundle policies. The company boasts few complaints and offers optional extras such as accident forgiveness and vanishing deductible.

Nationwide also offers pay-per-mile insurance, which determines your rate based on how many miles you drive. You can also earn a discount based on your driving behavior, which is tracked through Nationwide’s SmartRide app.

Nerdy tip: Chubb doesn’t focus on cheap insurance, but rather caters to mostly high-net-worth families, providing generous coverage options and perks that aren’t usually available from other insurers.

Policies available in: All 50 states and Washington D.C.

Pros: Chubb offers generous coverage and perks for high-end customers. It also received far fewer complaints than expected for an auto insurance company of its size.

Cons: The company does not focus on providing cheap insurance.

Company overview: Chubb Insurance isn’t trying to be the cheapest car insurer — it’s trying to be the car insurer that delivers exceptional service. Rental reimbursement comes with a whopping $15,000 limit. Coverage will pay for repairing your car with original manufacturer-made parts, for those cars that need just the right imported piece. You can even get extra-high liability limits, up to $10 million.

Nerdy tip: One of the country’s largest insurers, Farmers offers plenty of ways to customize your policies and more discounts than most other insurers.

Policies available in: Forty-two states (Not available in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.)

Pros: Farmers offers numerous discounts and has fewer complaints than expected.

Cons: Farmers doesn’t offer car insurance in all states.

Company overview: Farmers Insurance ranks seventh on the list of the largest car insurance companies in the U.S.

In J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Farmers ranked sixth among eight large insurers for customer satisfaction. J.D. Power rated Farmers No. 10 out of 24 companies for customer satisfaction regarding its claims process in 2020.

You can get discounts for building multiple policies, being a good student and being a member of some professional groups.

Nerdy tip: Country Financial has few customer complaints for auto insurance, but is available in only 19 states.

Policies available in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.

Pros: Country Financial has fewer complaints than expected for auto and life insurance.

Cons: Policies are not available in all states.

Company overview: Country Financial may have started out as a farm and crop insurer, but now offers a wide selection of products such as business, boat and motorcycle insurance. In addition, it received far fewer customer complaints for auto insurance than similar-sized companies.

In addition to a variety of discounts, it also gives customers an opportunity to save based on your driving habits through its app, DriverIQ. Drivers who sign up earn an automatic discount, and driving behavior won’t increase rates.

Nerdy tip: Mapfre’s auto insurance offers a variety of coverage and discounts, and the company boasts low auto complaints to state regulators, but policies are available in only eight states.

Cost: Mapfre does not disclose rate filings.

Policies available in: You can get a Mapfre auto insurance policy in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Mapfre also sells policies in Puerto Rico.

Pros: Mapfre offers many coverage options and discounts. It also offers its website in both English and Spanish.

Cons: Mapfre has a below-average rating for auto insurance claims satisfaction. It also doesn’t sell policies in all states.

Company overview: Mapfre may not sell policies in every state, but it is the biggest auto and home insurance provider in Massachusetts and has far fewer complaints about auto insurance than other companies its size.

In addition, the insurer offers extras such as accident forgiveness and the ability to buy a package with additional coverage for items such as your laptop and mobile phone. This package is not available in all states.

Headquartered in Spain, Mapfre’s website is available in both English and Spanish. You can also use the Mapfre app to view your policy, make payments and submit claims.

Nerdy tip: With generous discounts and plenty of coverage options, this auto insurance giant is worth a look.

Policies available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Pros: Allstate offers a lot of coverage options, including accident forgiveness, new car replacement and a safe-driving bonus every six months. It also offers rideshare insurance in many states.

Cons: Customer ratings are below average for auto insurance claims satisfaction compared with other companies.

Company overview: In J.D. Power’s 2020 studies, Allstate ranked above average for customer claims satisfaction. The insurer also ranked first for overall satisfaction in Florida.

Allstate offers discounts for drivers in some states who use the company’s telematics program — a system that tracks how safely you drive. You can get discounts for being a good student, driving a new car and going paperless. Allstate also gives you a discount on your deductible if you sign up for the optional deductible rewards program, cutting down on your out-of-pocket expenses when you’re in an accident.

Nerdy tip: With nationwide availability and a variety of discounts, Geico is a popular and often affordable choice for car insurance. Among the nation’s four largest insurers, Geico stands out as having the cheapest annual rates on average and the smoothest online experience for users.

Cost: Cheaper than average.

Policies available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Pros: Geico ranked above-average in customer satisfaction for auto insurance claims in a recent J.D. Power study. It also offers a robust website and mobile app, as well as a wide selection of discounts.

Cons: Doesn’t offer gap or rideshare insurance and has a limited network of local agents.

Company overview: One of the most popular car insurance companies in the U.S., Geico stacks up the discounts, giving drivers in some states a few bucks off for everything from clean driving records to good grades. Federal employees also get discounts, as do veterans, active military and reservists. As for coverage, you can get all the basics plus mechanical breakdown coverage, which helps pay for repairs to newer cars with fewer miles.

In J.D. Power’s 2020 customer satisfaction studies, Geico ranked first among large insurers for the insurance shopping experience and first (or tied for first) for overall satisfaction in the North Central, Northwest and Southwest regions.

Nerdy tip: Liberty Mutual provides robust digital tools on its website and app, and offers more discounts than most other insurers.

Cost: Liberty Mutual does not disclose rate filings, but in previous years it was more expensive than average.

Policies available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Pros: Liberty Mutual offers many types of coverage and discounts, along with several robust digital tools.

Cons: Liberty Mutual’s auto claims satisfaction rating is below average.

Company overview: Out of the six largest insurance companies, Liberty Mutual is the only one to offer both gap insurance and new car replacement coverage, which pays for the cost of a new car if it’s totaled in the first year and has less than 15,000 miles. Liberty Mutual also provides a unique benefit for teachers, who can receive free auto insurance such as collision and personal property insurance and vandalism loss protection in certain states.

Among large insurers, Liberty Mutual offers more discounts than anyone besides American Family. For example, drivers can save by paying their bill online, driving a hybrid or electric vehicle, and owning a home.

Liberty Mutual ranked fifth out of eight large insurers for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. The insurer ranked No. 14 out of 24 companies for customer claims satisfaction the same year.

Pricing and discounts made up a portion of each insurer’s score, but we know that cost is the top factor for many auto insurance shoppers. Since pricing is based on personal factors including your age, location, vehicle, credit history and gender (in most cases), it’s important to shop around for car insurance quotes to find the cheapest option.

You may find that your shopping experience also sheds light on a company’s customer service standards.

To find the top car insurance companies:

• Visit your state insurance commissioner’s website to find complaints and other information about companies in your area.

• Ask your agent or a customer service representative questions to make sure you’re getting all the coverage you need — and nothing you don’t want.

• Consider smaller auto insurance companies, too. Small companies offer rates well below large competitors in many locations.

• If you’ve had a ticket, DUI or other violation, be sure to shop three and five years after the incident, when surcharges can drop significantly.

When you’re looking for the best car insurance company, keep in mind that location can have a big impact on your auto insurance rates. This is because each state has different insurance requirements.

To give you a better idea of what you’ll pay in each state, NerdWallet analyzed full coverage insurance rates for 35-year-old drivers with good credit and no recent accidents, DUIs or traffic violations.

The map below shows the average annual car insurance rate in each state. For more information, including the cheapest insurer on average from each state, visit the state page linked in the map.