2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES
Selecting the Best Car Insurance Companies
Not many consumers enjoy paying for car insurance, but it is essential to have coverage from one of the top auto insurance companies.
Car insurance is required by law designed to cover losses if they occur, so consumers should work to find not only the best auto insurance rates but the overall best car insurance companies.
When working with the best-rated auto insurance companies, the covered driver essentially enters into a contract with their insurance company that they’ll pay the required premiums, and the insurance company then pays in the event of an accident, based on what’s outlined in the particular policy.
It’s important to try and get coverage from one of the best-rated auto insurance companies because this can determine things such as how quickly a claim is handled if there is an accident.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Car Insurance Companies
The components of policies offered by top-rated auto insurance companies include property coverage. This is designed to pay for any damage or theft that occurs to the policyholder’s vehicle. Insurance policies from the best-rated insurance companies can also contain liability coverage.
This is offered by top auto insurance companies to cover losses suffered by others including bodily injury or property damage. Insured drivers may also have plans from the best-rated car insurance companies that include medical coverage. As the name implies, this pays for the cost of medical care used to treat injuries, rehabilitation, and in some instances, lost wages or funeral expenses.
It’s important to do research on the best car insurance companies before deciding on a policy. Some of the things that distinguish the best-rated insurance companies include not just lower costs, but also high customer satisfaction scores and the ability to earn discounts for things such as establishing a pattern of safe driving.
The following ranking and review of the top-rated car insurance companies covers the leading six names in the industry, and also includes details of why they’re the best auto insurance companies.
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List of the Best Car Insurance Companies
This list is sorted alphabetically (click any of the below car insurance companies to go directly to the detailed review for that best auto insurance company).
Top Car Insurance Companies | Comparison
Best Car Insurance Firms | Homepage |
| AllState | https://www.allstate.com/ |
| Esurance | https://www.esurance.com/ |
| GEICO | https://www.geico.com/ |
| Nationwide | https://www.nationwide.com/ |
| Progressive | https://www.progressive.com/ |
| State Farm | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
What Is The Price Of Car Insurance?
For many consumers, when searching and comparing the top auto insurance companies, a key consideration is the price. It can take a little time to find the best auto insurance rates, but overall even working with the best car insurance companies this type of insurance product isn’t considered incredibly expensive.
Image Source: Bigstock
Some of the factors that determine whether or not you get the best car insurance rates from the top auto insurance companies include the state you live in, the safety of your car, your driving record, and demographics such as your age and gender.
Many of the top auto insurance companies also offer a range of discounts that most consumers can qualify for.
Some of the most common discounts offered by best-rated auto insurance companies include good student discounts for younger drivers on a policy, good driver discounts, discounts for having multiple cars and drivers insured by the same company, and multi-policy discounts. Multi-policy discounts are usually offered by top auto insurance companies to reward consumers who bundle both their home and car insurance with their company.
What Is Covered By Auto Insurance?
There are different categories of coverage offered by top auto insurance companies. It’s important to understand these coverage types so when you’re comparing the best-rated car insurance companies, you know you’re making the right decision when you select a specific policy.
- Liability: Liability is the primary type of coverage offered by all of the best auto insurance companies. If you are at fault for an auto accident, liability coverage from the top auto insurance companies pays for car repairs, medical costs for injuries to others in the vehicle at the time of the accident, and any other associated expenses, like the cost of hiring a lawyer. Under the larger umbrella of liability coverage are bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Every policy is going to have a maximum amount that is paid by the top auto insurance companies. If your costs go above that maximum, expenses are either covered by another insurance policy or paid out of pocket.
- Collision: When you’re deciding to work with one of the best auto insurance companies you may also opt to have collision insurance. This is coverage that pays for damages if you hit something including another vehicle. With collision from one of the top-rated car insurance companies, you have a deductible that has to be met before insurance will start to pay.
- Comprehensive: When choosing the best auto insurance companies to work with, comprehensive coverage is often what drivers opt for in addition to collision. If your car is damaged because of something aside from a collision, such as hail damage during a storm, there is coverage, after the deductible is met.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: If you’re in an accident with another driver who’s at fault and that person is uninsured or doesn’t have enough coverage for your injuries and damage to your vehicle, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will provide payment. It’s also used if there’s a hit-and-run accident where the driver leaves the scene, and you’re unable to file a claim against their insurance.
How Do You Get Auto Insurance?
If you need to get auto insurance from one of the top-rated insurance companies, you can begin by comparing the best car insurance rates, customer service and specific extras offered by different companies.
It’s a good idea to compare only top car insurance companies with an established history, and a good track record with other customers. You can research this by looking at online reviews of the best-rated auto insurance companies.
You can also use online comparison tools from independent websites to compare products and the best auto insurance rates and find the best car insurance companies.
Once you’ve decided on one of the top car insurance companies that you’d like to obtain coverage through, you can either work with an independent insurance agent, you can go directly to the company you select, or you can buy coverage online.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?
Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review—Top-Rated Auto Insurance Companies
After carefully considering the best auto insurance companies we compiled the following list of the top six best-rated insurance companies. As you continue reading, you’ll find detailed reviews of each of our picks, as well as an outline of the factors used in the decision-making process.
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Allstate Review
Allstate is the largest publicly held insurer of personal lines property and casualty products in the U.S., serving the needs of more than 16 million households throughout the country. Since 1931, Allstate has been leading the way as one of the best car insurance companies, and at the end of 2015, the company had almost $104.7 billion in assets.
In terms of financial strength and stability, Allstate is ranked very well by the top rating companies which include A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s Investors Service. Along with being one of the top car insurance companies, Allstate also features home, renter’s, condo, motorcycle, business, life and roadside insurance products. Their long and established history among the best car insurance companies is just one reason they’re part of this ranking.
Key Factors That Enabled This To Rank As One of the Top-Rated Auto Insurance Companies
When comparing the best car insurance companies, listed below are pertinent reasons Allstate was included on this list of the best-rated auto insurance companies.
Personalized Insurance Proposals
When searching for the best auto insurance, the best car insurance rates, and the best car insurance companies, it’s important to realize that not all rates are the same. It’s valuable to look for companies that offer personalized rates and pricing because every driver is unique.
This is an area where Allstate, one of the top auto insurance companies, really excels. They offer something called the Personalized Insurance Proposal. With this program, potential policyholders aren’t treated like “another number,” according to Allstate. Instead, they can work with the company to receive a comprehensive, personalized proposal at no extra cost.
To take advantage of this unique service from Allstate, one of the best-rated insurance companies, consumers simply have to visit a local Allstate agent. All of the pricing and coverage is personalized to what the individual wants and needs, so they’re getting the best possible rates and not paying for coverage they don’t need.
Policy Features
Regardless of the type of coverage you get from Allstate, one of the reasons they’re considered one of the top car insurance companies and included on this list of the best-rated car insurance companies, is because of their policy features. Customers can choose from the right features for their needs to build a tailored policy and save money on their monthly premium.
Some of the policy features available from Allstate, one of the top-rated auto insurance companies, include:
- Claim Satisfaction Guarantee: This guarantees customers of Allstate, one of the best auto insurance companies, will be happy with any car insurance claims they need to make.
- Your Choice Auto: There are a variety of features available under this program including Accident Forgiveness and the Safe Driving Bonus, all of which add value to policies.
- Drivewise: With this policy option, consumers download an app or install a small device in their car to demonstrate safe driving habits that can help them save money.
Allstate Rewards
Allstate Rewards is a program designed to reward drivers for good, safe driving habits. It’s a relatively new program introduced by this leader among the best-rated auto insurance companies, and drivers receive points for their regular safe driving habits. They can then redeem those points for brand name items, gift cards, and other things.
The Allstate Rewards program is linked with Drivewise, so participants either install a device in their vehicle or use a mobile app that gathers their safe driving information.
When policyholders start using the program, they get 10,000 points to welcome them, and then just for their first visit to the Rewards site they receive 5,000 introductory points. Then they can earn points weekly for behaviors such as avoiding high driving speeds and hard braking.
Rewards merchandise is from brands like Apple, Oakley, and Kate Spade.
Image Source: Allstate
Agent Advantage
When comparing top-rated car insurance companies, some consumers will prefer to work with a company offering products and services exclusively online, while others will prefer to work with an agent in person. Allstate is known for their extensive network of accessible, expert agents that work around the country, which is an important part of why they’re one of the best auto insurance companies.
Working with these professionals provides what Allstate calls the “Agent Advantage.” When consumers work with Allstate agents they know they’re maximizing the possible savings, because the agent can make sure all available and relevant discounts and savings opportunities are identified and used.
Consumers can also get an explanation of coverage options and have questions answered, so they know they’re making the right policy decision, and if a driver does need to file a claim, their agent can walk them through the process.
In general, agents who work for this leader among the best-rated insurance companies provide guidance and support in all areas of car insurance.
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Esurance Review
Esurance is a leading online insurance company and a popular resource used by customers to find the best auto insurance rates and the best auto insurance policies. Esurance uses advanced technology to offer customers a seamless experience, whether it’s online or on a mobile device. They are a multiline insurance company offering not only some of the best car insurance rates, but also property insurance such as homeowners and renters.
There are more than 3,000 Esurance associates located around the country and 17 offices. Residents of 43 U.S. states have access to car insurance through Esurance, and they’ve insured more than five million vehicles to-date, making them not only one of the top-rated insurance companies but also one of the largest.
Key Factors That Led Us to Rank This As One of the Top Auto Insurance Companies
When searching for the best auto insurance companies and the best car insurance rates, the following are some specific ways Esurance excels.
Express Lane
One of the primary ways Esurance is different from other car insurance companies, including even many of the best-rated car insurance companies, is their foundation built on state-of-the-art technology. They are recognized as not only one of the general best car insurance companies but also one of the top-rated insurance companies in terms of innovation.
One of their forward-thinking services is called Express Lane. With Express Lane, consumers can receive car insurance quotes in a way that’s faster and easier than many other options.
Consumers only need their name, date of birth and address to get their quote started, and through the Express Lane service, Esurance will look up things like car information and previous insurance records.
CoverageMyWay
A trademarked element of service from Esurance, one of the best auto insurance resources, is CoverageMyWay. With CoverageMyWay, consumers don’t have to try and guess what car insurance coverage is right for them. Instead, this service makes it easy to find the right coverage options so consumers can make smart protection decisions.
CoverageMyWay uses a combination of technology and algorithms so this intuitive technology can automatically prioritize coverage options, helping consumers get what they need and avoid what they don’t.
Once you have coverage recommendations, you can still adjust it if you choose to. CoverageMyWay is built into the Esurance quoting process, and it’s free to take advantage of this unique feature offered from one of the top-rated auto insurance companies.
Mobile App
Along with offering the best car insurance rates and some of the best auto insurance policy options, important to this ranking of the best car insurance companies was convenience. Esurance, as an online company, specializes in offering seamless, convenient service including a mobile app.
Esurance Mobile lets policyholders take care of insurance-related issues anytime and from anywhere. This app, along with a fresh, sleek design, lets policyholders view their ID card on their mobile device.
Users can also update their contact information, check their payment schedule and make premium payments, update their payment method, and add a new car simply by scanning the VIN.
What’s also unique about the app offered from Esurance, one of the top car insurance companies, is the ability to file a claim. Users can not just file a claim but also schedule an inspection, reserve a rental car and monitor the claims process from their mobile device.
Image Source: Esurance
Discounts
When comparing top-rated insurance companies, many consumers are looking for discount options so they can save money on their policy.
Esurance offers many different discount options to help customers get the best car insurance rates. These include:
- Fast 5 Discount: This is earned simply by starting a quote online at esurance.com.
- Multi-Policy Discount: Consumers can qualify for this by bundling an Esurance policy in addition to their car insurance. Both policies are eligible for a discount.
- Paid-in-Full: To earn this simple discount, policyholders simply have to pay their premium in a lump sum instead of making monthly payments.
- Switch & Save: When a customer switches to Esurance from another insurance company they can get this.
- Claim-Free Discount: The specifics for this vary based on state, but essentially it offers a discount to customers with safe driving.
These are actually just a small sample of possible discounts available from Esurance, which is why it’s one of the top-rated auto insurance companies.
GEICO Review
One of the most well-known and best-rated auto insurance companies, GEICO offers not only some of the best auto insurance options but also homeowners, renters, condo, motorcycle and ATV, boat and RV insurance. GEICO was founded in 1936, with the goal of providing affordable insurance to the military community.
Now, GEICO serves all consumers but does still offer exclusive discounts and service options for military members and their families. GEICO is financially strong, with an AA+ rating from Standard and Poor’s, an Aa1 from Moody’s, and an A++ from A.M. Best.
Key Factors That Enabled This To Rank As One of Top Auto Insurance Companies
When comparing the top car insurance companies and listing the top-rated auto insurance companies, the following list details some of the reasons GEICO does well.
Quick Claims Process
No one purchases auto insurance with the intention of having to file a claim, but unfortunately, there are many situations where consumers are required to do just that, and for that reason, GEICO strives to make the claims process as simple, fast and hassle-free as possible for policyholders. This dedication to a painless claims process is a key reason GEICO is included on this list of the best auto insurance companies.
Many GEICO claims are settled in as little as 48 hours, and policyholders can visit the online Claims Center to report their claim online in just five minutes. They can also track their claim and view its progress, and use the Auto Repair Xpress program, which also makes it fast to get your car repaired.
Accident Forgiveness
Among the best-rated insurance companies, some offer programs like Accident Forgiveness, and GEICO is one of them. With Accident Forgiveness, policyholders have the peace of mind of knowing that filing a claim doesn’t automatically mean an increase in their premium.
GEICO, as one of the top-rated car insurance companies, carefully reviews the pertinent details of a claim and takes multiple factors into account include the policyholder’s driving record, their number of past claims, and the payout amount of GEICO claims.
With Accident Forgiveness, GEICO customers get what amounts to a “free pass” for their first at-fault accident. The policyholder isn’t surcharged for the accident and they get to keep their good driver discounts they’ve accrued to that point.
Auto Repair Xpress Promise
So much of whether or not a company is ranked as one of the best-rated car insurance companies is related not only to things such as offering the best car insurance rates but also what they do if a customer does have an accident or need assistance. Life is full of uncertainties, and one of the reasons GEICO is ranked as one of the best car insurance companies is because they have safeguards in place to give policyholders peace of mind if they are in an accident or something unexpected happens.
One of these protections is the Auto Repair Xpress Promise. This gives a commitment that if a policyholder’s car requires repairs, they will have the best possible customer service experience.
As part of this promise, customers work with a GEICO Auto Damage Adjuster as they go through the Auto Repair Xpress process. They get a clear explanation of their repair estimates and the anticipated repair time, one-stop rental pick-up and return, updates on the status of the vehicle repair, and the adjuster completes a pre-delivery repair before the car is returned to the customer.
It also includes a written lifetime guarantee provided when the customer receives delivery of their repaired vehicle.
GEICO Mobile App
GEICO, one of the top auto insurance companies and provider of some of the best car insurance rates, also features an excellent mobile app. The GEICO mobile app has won awards for its features and functionality. The GEICO mobile app includes storage of digital ID cards, and users can access roadside assistance through the app as well.
Customers can access all of their policy information at their fingertips, add, replace or remove vehicles from their policy, and check on the status of claims and repairs.
It also includes a Chat feature so customers can quickly speak with a GEICO representative.
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Nationwide Review
Nationwide is not only one of the best car insurance companies but is also one of the overall best-rated insurance companies offering a variety of types of insurance policies and financial services. Nationwide has a history spanning more than 85 years, and they have more than $158 billion in assets.
Nationwide is unique among even the top auto insurance companies because policyholders own it. This is also a Fortune 100 company, and as well as being one of the top car insurance companies, Nationwide leads the way in providing life and commercial insurance, mutual funds, long-term savings plans and more.
Key Factors That Allowed This To Rank As One of the Best Car Insurance Companies
Some of the big reasons Nationwide is included on this list of the best auto insurance and the best-rated car insurance companies are detailed below.
Vanishing Deductible
A unique offering exclusive to Nationwide, one of the top-rated insurance companies, is the Vanishing Deductible program. With the Vanishing Deductible, policyholders can earn $100 off their deductible for every year they demonstrate safe driving.
That means safe drivers can have their deductible lowered up to $500, and the deductible could be completely eliminated with this program.
If a policyholder of Nationwide, one of the top-rated car insurance companies, does have an accident, their deductible won’t go all the way back up to $500. Instead, the Vanishing Deductible reward would be reset to $100. This is an optional feature available to customers of this company, which is one of the top car insurance companies in the U.S.
On Your Side Review
One of Nationwide’s objectives as one of the best-rated insurance companies is to not only offer some of the best auto insurance rates but is also to give policyholders a sense of security and peace of mind with their coverage.
As part of this, they offer the On Your Side Review program. This is an insurance assessment that can be scheduled so the consumer can ensure they have all their insurance questions answered. They can learn about the details of their policy benefits, make sure their coverage is adequate, and ensure their maximizing the availability of discounts and benefits.
This free insurance assessment helps consumers make sure they’re getting the options and protection that’s right for them, at the right price.
SmartRide Program
Most of the top-rated car insurance companies included in this ranking offer some kind of discount program for safe drivers. At Nationwide this program is called SmartRide. It’s designed to reward drivers who remain alert, avoid distractions and follow driving rules.
This is a usage-based insurance program available from Nationwide, one of the top auto insurance companies. Users get an instant 5% discount just for signing up for SmartRide, and the safer they continue to drive, the higher the discounts. Discounts as part of the SmartRide program can go up to 40%.
Participants receive a small device they plug into their car that monitors their driving. Users can go online to track their discount and receive personalized feedback. At the end of the program, customers send the device back in, and the final discount is locked in and applied at the next policy renewal.
Accident-Free Discount
Nationwide offers an array of discounts to consumers, making them one of the best auto insurance providers. In addition to participation in the SmartRide Program, some customers of this leader among the best-rated auto insurance companies may be eligible for the Safe Driver Discount. This discount rewards customers who haven’t had any at-fault accidents or major violations for at least five years.
This discount can be up to 10%, and it depends on the state the policyholder lives in.
Other possible discounts available from Nationwide, one of the best car insurance companies, include multi-policy discounts, the Nationwide Family Plan, a good student discount, and a defensive driving discount for policyholders that take approved driver safety courses.
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State Farm Review
One of the best-rated insurance companies, State Farm first started serving clients in 1922. This mutual company puts the focus on policyholders, and as one of the best auto insurance companies, State Farm is accessible with more than 65,000 employees and more than 18,000 agents throughout the U.S.
State Farm services 82 million policies, and along with being one of the best car insurance companies, they also offer insurance products for homes, condos and renters, life insurance, business insurance and disability insurance.
Key Factors That Enabled Us to Rank This As One of the Top Auto Insurance Companies
State Farm was included in this ranking of the top auto insurance companies offering the best auto insurance products and some of the best car insurance rates for the following reasons.
Online Quotes
Typically when a consumer is searching for the best car insurance rates and the best auto insurance companies, they either have a preference of wanting to work primarily online or to work with an agent. State Farm is unique and included on this list of the top auto insurance companies because they offer both.
If a consumer prefers, they can visit the State Farm website and enter some simple information to receive an online quote.
At the same time, if other consumers prefer to work with an agent there are tens of thousands of State Farm locations throughout the country.
It’s this sense of flexibility that was key to naming State Farm on this list of the best auto insurance companies.
Ratings
State Farm isn’t just rated well by AdvisoryHQ on this list of the best auto insurance companies. They’re well-rated by some of the world’s top financial ratings agencies as well, in terms of financial strength and claims-paying ability.
A.M. Best’s gives State Farm an A++ rating. This is the highest possible rating offered by this independent agency, and it’s based on the superior financial condition of State Farm, one of the top-rated insurance companies, as well as their operation performance.
Standard & Poor’s gives AA, which is a high rating based on their strong ability to pay claims.
Safe Vehicle Discounts
As with other names on this list of the top-rated auto insurance companies, State Farm features many discounts. One set is called Safe Vehicle Discounts.
The Vehicle Safety Discount is offered to State Farm customers with a vehicle made in 1994 or later, and depending on the make or model the policyholder could save 40% on related medical coverage. The discount percentages are based on the repair records for the make and model of the vehicle, and they’re adjusted each year.
Another Safe Vehicle Discount is for vehicles 1993 and newer with a factory-installed air bag or another passive restraint system.
Additionally, if a policyholder’s vehicle has an alarm or approved anti-theft device, there are discounts for this.
Pocket Agent App
The Pocket Agent is a mobile app available from State Farm, one of the best-rated car insurance companies. This app offers services and features at the policyholder’s fingertips.
Some of the features available from this app include:
- Users can get automatic updates to their offline insurance card
- They can view their upcoming payments, a breakdown of premiums due, and see scheduled payment dates if they’ve selected auto pay
- Users can access their State Farm Bank Account if they have one
- The app can be used to check the status of active auto claims quickly
- Apple Pay can be used to make secure one-time payments on insurance
Conclusion—Top 6 Best Auto Insurance Companies
It’s important to realize that when searching for the top auto insurance companies and the best auto insurance products, they should look beyond just the best car insurance rates.
The best-rated insurance companies offer competitive rates and discounts on their products and services, but they also offer something else, which is peace of mind.
The best auto insurance companies and the top-rated auto insurance companies have those added services and conveniences that help policyholders feel as if they have a partner if they are ever to get into an accident and need to file a claim.
Each of the names on this ranking of the top-rated auto insurance companies is a trendsetter in the industry, pairing the best car insurance rates with the best auto insurance products, as well as technology, convenience and innovation.
AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:
Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.
