Best vehicle insurance agency in 2022
If you have to file a claim for car insurance, a company that has a smooth claims process will have additional costs and fewer headaches. State Farm has received above-average scores from J.D. Power for its overall customer satisfaction, shopping experience, and claims satisfaction.
State Farm receives fewer customer complaints than its competitors according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaints Index. Additionally, our editors gave State Farm four and a half out of five stars—a rating that includes ratings for customer satisfaction, value, and coverage options.
State Farm also received the highest financial stability rating from AM Best – A++. This means that the company has a superior ability to repay claims, even in difficult economic times.
With State Farm, drivers don’t have to pay more for excellent customer service. It is one of the great affordable insurance companies. A full coverage policy costs $1,310, 41% less than the national average.
One caveat: Although State Farm is known for their great support online or through a proxy, the online quoting process is not the most convenient. You may need to contact an agent to terminate your subscription to the policy.
Alternative company for the best support
Best Car Insurance Company for Reasonable Coverage: Erie
Pros and Cons
- Cheap rates for minimum and full coverage policies
- Excellent customer service
- Only available in 12 states and capitals
The price you pay for auto insurance is important. With so many insurance companies offering similar levels of customer service and types of coverage, pricing should definitely influence your decision. If you’re shopping for the cheapest car insurance possible, we’ve found that Erie has some of the most affordable rates on average.
Erie offers some of the best rates across multiple coverage levels, making it one of the best insurers for affordable car insurance.
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Policy type
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Erie’s average annual rate
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National average annual rate
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | $503 | $875 |
| full coverage | $1,379 | $2,208 |
Drivers looking for a minimum coverage policy — one that meets the minimum insurance required by their state — can get big savings with Erie. Erie’s auto insurance policies, adjusted for minimum requirements in each state, are 43% cheaper than the national average.
Full coverage insurance is also affordable from Erie. The company charges $1,379 annually, which is 38% cheaper than the national average.
Unfortunately, Erie insurance is only available in 12 states and in the capital. Customers looking for cheap insurance outside of these states will need to consider another company, such as State Farm, Farm Bureau, American Family, or Geico.
Best car insurance company for safe drivers: Root
Pros and Cons
- Cheap rates for high-risk drivers and teens
- Big discounts for safe drivers
- Available in 31 countries
- Double the number of customer complaints on average
Drivers are usually rewarded for having an excellent driving record, but people in high-risk demographics may find that their insurance rates are still too high. For example, drivers in their teens and early twenties pay more for car insurance than most other drivers, even if they are exceptionally safe on the road.
Root is relatively unique in that the price of your car insurance depends almost entirely on your driving behavior rather than your demographics.
Drivers who perform well based on selected driving behaviors, such as braking and speed habits, can make significant savings with Root over a traditional insurance company.
Since young drivers are statistically more prone to accidents, the demographic as a whole experiences high car insurance rates. Root allows you to prove that you are a safer driver than your peers.
However, there are some risks and downsides associated with rooting.
- Bad Claims Process: According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Root receives about twice as many customer complaints as competitors, mostly due to claims delays and lack of response.
- Limited coverage options: You can’t get some optional add-ons like gap insurance and trip share insurance.
Best alternative company for teens
Best Accident or Ticket Car Insurance: Farm Bureau
Pros and Cons
- Cheap prices after an accident
- highest satisfaction
- The average annual fee is $50 per year to become a member of the Farm Bureau
If you recently had an accident in your driving history, insurance companies will charge you higher fees. However, they will not all punish you to the same degree.
The Farm Bureau raises rates by 34% when drivers have recently had a mishap. Most companies will increase your rates by 46%.
Using rates pulled from across the country, the Farm Bureau only increases rates by an average of $534 per year for a full-coverage car insurance policy after an accident . This is 6% below average.
|
a company
|
Clean record
|
one accident
|
change price
|
|---|---|---|---|
| state farm | $1,310 | $1,628 | 24% |
| farm office | $1,576 | $2,110 | 34% |
| Allstate | $2,349 | $3,610 | 54% |
| that | $1,917 | $3,166 | 65% |
The price is changed after a faulty accident causing $2000 property damage.
While the Farm Bureau is an affordable company in most states, you’ll need to pay to get to those cheap prices. Like the AAA, you’ll need to join the local Farm Bureau group in your state. And while membership is open to anyone, not just farmers, you usually have to pay an annual fee of about $50 per year.
Best Car Insurance Company for Drivers with Bad Credit: Nationwide
Pros and Cons
- Cheap rates for drivers with poor credit
- Good customer support reviews
- More expensive prices with good credit
- Car and home packages are not available in every state
Your credit score can have a significant impact on the price of your auto insurance policy in most states. Each company calculates its own credit score and uses it to adjust its base rates. In many cases, drivers with poor credit pay twice as much for car insurance as people with an excellent credit score.
Nationwide has one of the lowest price increases for drivers with poor credit scores, compared to other major insurance companies.
Drivers with poor credit scores will only pay 52% higher insurance rates with Nationwide. The average increase is a 60% increase for drivers with poor credit.
|
a company
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double credit
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very good credit
|
they change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| nationally | $2,698 | $1,772 | 52% |
| farmers | $3,650 | $2,182 | 67% |
| Allstate | $3,431 | $2,016 | 70% |
| state farm | $2,859 | $874 | 227% |
| Erie | $2,846 | $1,051 | 171% |
| travelers | $3,208 | $1,511 | 112% |
Average annual auto insurance rates for full coverage based on credit score
Nationwide may have reasonable rates for drivers with poor credit, but Nationwide may not be the cheapest company if you have a good credit score. Companies like State Farm, Erie, and Geico tend to get cheaper rates for drivers with average to excellent credit.
Best Auto Insurance for Military and Veterans: USAA
Pros and Cons
- The cheapest company in most countries
- Highly rated customer service
- Only military personnel and families are eligible
- Lengthy online quotation process
Year after year, USAA combines the best of both worlds: It is one of the most affordable auto insurance companies and has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry.
USAA has some of the best rates and quality services if you are an active duty military member or a veteran.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), USAA receives fewer complaints from policyholders than its competitors. The company also received the highest satisfaction score for JD Power’s claims.
In addition to service and pricing, USAA also offers discounts that cater to the lifestyles of military drivers . If your vehicle is parked in a garage on a military base, you can get a 15% discount on the cost of comprehensive insurance. The company also has a vehicle storage discount that can save policyholders up to 60% of their premiums if their vehicle is stored in a safe place while not in use, meaning that policyholders spread out can get coverage at a discounted rate.
Unfortunately, you will need to qualify for USAA membership to get a car insurance policy. Membership is limited to current and former military personnel and certain family members.
Compare the best auto insurance companies by state
The best car insurance company for you will depend on your location. A great way to save money on auto insurance is to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies in your area.
List of Top Rated Auto Insurance Companies
The key to finding the best car insurance is to compare stores and research multiple insurance companies. Besides our top-rated insurance picks, you have dozens of other companies to choose from that offer affordable rates and great customer support.
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Rank
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a company
|
Editor’s Rating
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|---|---|---|
| 1 | state farm |
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| 2 | United States of America |
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| 3 | Erie |
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| 4 | Friend |
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| 5 | farm office |
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| 6 | AAA |
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| 7 | Ameriprise |
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| 8 | like |
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| 9 | Include |
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| 10 | that |
|
How to find the best car insurance for you
In the end, the best car insurance company for you will combine a variety of factors.
- It combines good customer service with good pricing , making it the best value for your situation.
- It has all the coverage you want. Some drivers only need the basics, while others need rare coverage like gap insurance or trip share protection.
- Local to you and available in your state. But your best insurance company may not be a big name you’ve seen in ads and may only work locally.
- Financially stable so your claim will be paid and you can have your vehicle repaired quickly.
How to find the best affordable car insurance company
If you could get the same car insurance coverage for cheaper with a different insurance company, wouldn’t you? You might be surprised how often this scenario can apply to you.
Get quotes from multiple companies to find the best deal for you
Each car insurance company calculates rates differently for a specific driver. You can get a cheaper insurance policy with few downsides.
For example, all companies charge higher rates if you have had a recent accident or driving accident. But not all companies punish you to the same extent. In other words, anyone with an accident history is treated uniquely by each company based on that company’s calculation of the risks to that particular driver.
Each auto insurance company will also have unique accounts for the type of car you drive, where you live, your credit history and a variety of other factors. That’s why you should compare quotes from several companies, especially if your driving record has changed recently.
Request car insurance discounts to help you save more
In addition to the policy’s base price, you may qualify for car insurance discounts that may affect which company is cheaper for you. Make sure your final quote contains all the discounts you qualify for, and compare prices between companies after all available discounts have been applied.
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discount
|
how to memorize
|
|---|---|
| defensive driving | Take a certified defensive driving course |
| accident free | You don’t have tickets or recent accidents |
| Low Mileage | Drive less than average, about 12,000 miles a year |
| good student | Have good grades, at least a B average or 3.0 GPA |
| student away | Your child leaves his car at home while at school |
How to find an insurance company with the best coverage
All the best insurance companies offer the same standard coverages—some of which are required by law —that provide protection against personal injury and property damage on the road.
- Bodily Injury Liability Insurance
- Property damage liability insurance
- full insurance
- collision insurance
- Protection from personal injury
- Insurance for uninsured or uninsured drivers
Optional coverage you can pay to add
Other than these standard coverages, insurance companies may offer optional coverages or features. None of these are required by law, and you may not need each one.
- Accident tolerance : Your first mishap will not affect your insurance rates.
- Vanishing Deductible: The deductible on your comprehensive and collision insurance gradually decreases for each year that you are accident-free.
- Mechanical breakdown coverage : The insurance covers the cost of repairing the gradual damage to the vehicle as a substitute for the vehicle’s warranty from the agent.
- Rideshare Insurance : For those who use their personal vehicles for rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, this insurance fills in the coverage gaps in the insurance policies those companies offer.
- Gap insurance : If you rent or finance your car, this covers the difference between the amount owed to the lender and the value of your car in the event of a total loss.
- Emergency Roadside Assistance: This is useful for assistance when your vehicle breaks down, such as towing, battery service, flat tire service, and gas delivery.
- Rental car reimbursement : This covers the cost of the rental car if your car is being repaired in-store after a covered accident.
How to find the best customer service company
The company with the best service will handle your car insurance claim quickly and fairly so that you can get your car repaired as quickly as possible.
To get acquainted with the quality of customer service of a particular company, you can:
- Browse our editor’s reviews and ratings
- Look at the results of the JD Power survey
- Compare customer complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Start your search with our editor’s recommendations . Our five-star editorial ratings are an appreciation of each company’s overall quality – combining service, value, and coverage – but customer service weighs heavily on the bottom line.
If you’re interested in more customer service data, you can also see JD Power’s U.S. Automobile Claims Satisfaction Study . JD Power conducts customer surveys to measure the quality of the claims process – the most important part of an insurance company’s customer service – through overall satisfaction, claims service, claim settlement and other factors.
If these sources aren’t enough and you’d like some hard data about your service experience, you can check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) website . NAIC measures service using the Customer Complaint Index , which indicates the number of times policyholders file formal complaints about an insurance company compared to the national average.
A financially strong company will pay your claim
An insurance company offers you financial protection when you face high costs. The last thing you want is an insurance company that can’t cover your expenses because they can’t meet their financial obligations.
The best way to quickly assess the financial stability of an insurance company is through a rating of financial strength from professional analysts. We recommend the AM Best rating for financial strength. AM Best, a credit rating agency, independently assesses insurers’ ability to pay their claims and rates them on a conventional rating scale from A++ to D-. A rating of A- or above indicates excellent or superior ability to pay claims.
However, some smaller local insurance companies may not have the same financial strength. If the insurance company you’re looking for isn’t on our list, search online to see if AM Best has rated its financial strength to give you peace of mind that the company backing your insurance coverage is on sound.
