Our list of best auto insurance companies was developed using data found in the JD Power 2018 Auto Insurance Study, Consumer Reports, BBB ratings, A.M. Best ratings, and online user reviews. Not all companies operate in all states. Click here for a full list.
Auto insurance is one of those things most of us can’t escape. While finding coverage at a reasonable price is essential, it’s also necessary to find companies that will actually be there when the need arises. By looking across different factors, we can see certain companies start to shine when it comes to important characteristics.
One of the first things you must be sure of when looking at an insurance company is its financial health. Being confident in an insurer’s financial strength is critical for any product you purchase, including auto insurance. Companies that have strong financial ratings (all of ours have at least an “A” rating) are the ones most fit to pay out any claim you may have on your policy.
Certain companies rate others for financial strength, with A.M. Best being one with a focus on the insurance industry. For that reason, we have included their rating as a critical part of our overall rankings.
These ratings represent an overall score for all insurance companies regardless of region. For this reason, some of the best car insurance companies may not operate, or have the same satisfaction scores in all areas. J.D. Power has a more detailed study of satisfaction scores done by region.
| Company | JD Power | Consumer Reports | A.M. Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 903 | 95 | A++ |
| Note - USAA is available only to current/former military members and their families. | |||
| Erie Insurance | 891 | 94 | A+ |
| Amica Mutual | 887 | 96 | A+ |
| Travelers | 866 | 90 | A++ |
| State Farm | 864 | 89 | A++ |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 882 | 93 | A+ |
| Auto Club of Southern California Insurance Group | 868 | 94 | A+ |
| Automobile Club Group | 854 | 0 | A++ |
| GEICO | 857 | 0 | A++ |
| The Hartford | 868 | 90 | A+ |
| Allstate | 857 | 88 | A+ |
| Nationwide | 858 | 88 | A+ |
| Progressive | 849 | 87 | A+ |
| Metlife | 854 | 86 | A+ |
| 21st Century | 853 | 0 | A+ |
| Esurance | 852 | 0 | A+ |
| Farmers | 874 | 89 | A |
| American Family | 853 | 89 | A |
| CSAA Insurance Group | 835 | 90 | A |
| Liberty Mutual | 847 | 88 | A |
| MAPFRE Insurance | 828 | 86 | A |
| Mercury | 821 | 86 | A |
| Safeco | 848 | 0 | A |
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Ratings – JD Power rates auto insurance companies across many different satisfaction categories. These include First Notice of Loss, Estimation Process, Repair Process, Rental Experience, Claims Servicing, and Settlement. This is one of the most extensive studies conducted on customer satisfaction for the auto insurance industry. We use their ratings as one variable in our overall score.
Consumer Reports – Consumer reports also offer ratings based on a set of consumer satisfaction criteria. Because of their well known and respected studies, we have included their scores and another factor.
A.M. Best Rating – Because insurance companies financial stability is one of the most critical factors in an initial search, we’ve included this rating as part of our methodology. A.M. Best specializes in financial ratings of insurance companies, making it one of the best scores to rate this category of business appropriately.
Online Ratings – We have scoured the web for other rating sites that show both editorial, and user reviews. Where appropriate, we have included these as a part of our calculation.