CarInsurance.com Insights
- Progressive is closing the gap on State Farm. The difference between the No. 1 and No. 2 U.S. auto insurers was just 0.04 percentage points.
- State Farm wrote $69.3 billion in direct premiums earned, about $2.1 billion more than Progressive’s $67.2 billion.
- The top four carriers, State Farm, Progressive, Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO) and Allstate, control 58.95% of the U.S. auto insurance market.
- Bigger isn’t always cheaper. Travelers averages $1,962 a year for full coverage and Nationwide $2,524, while State Farm averages $2,875 and Farmers $3,207.
State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the U.S., with an 18.64% share of the market, followed by Progressive at 18.60%, a gap of just 0.04 percentage points. Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO) sits third at 11.56%, and Allstate fourth at 10.15%. The top 10 carriers together write about 77% of all U.S. private passenger auto insurance premiums. Below, see how the biggest carriers compare on price, service ratings and market share, and which one leads in your state.
Top 10 largest auto insurance companies in the U.S.
State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. with 18.64% market share, narrowly ahead of Progressive at 18.60%. The top four carriers, State Farm, Progressive, Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO) and Allstate, write 58.95% of all U.S. private passenger auto premiums. The top 10 carriers together account for 76.88% of all U.S. private passenger auto premiums.
Direct premiums earned is the standard measure of size: the actual dollars each insurer collected and earned on auto policies during the year.
In the table below, see the top 10 companies by market share in the U.S.
| Rank | Company | Direct premiums earned (FY2025, $B) | Market share | Cumulative share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Farm | $69.3 | 18.64% | 18.64% |
| 2 | Progressive | $67.2 | 18.60% | 37.24% |
| 3 | Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO) | $42.7 | 11.56% | 48.80% |
| 4 | Allstate | $37.2 | 10.15% | 58.95% |
| 5 | USAA | $22.7 | 6.19% | 65.14% |
| 6 | Farmers | $13.3 | 3.57% | 68.71% |
| 7 | Liberty Mutual | $11.1 | 2.81% | 71.52% |
| 8 | Travelers | $7.2 | 1.93% | 73.45% |
| 9 | Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $6.8 | 1.90% | 75.35% |
| 10 | American Family | $5.9 | 1.53% | 76.88% |
Sophie’s Tip
A bigger market share doesn’t always mean a better price for you. Two of the top four carriers, Allstate and Farmers, charge over $3,100 a year on average for full coverage, while Travelers, at #8 by size, averages under $2,000.
How the top 10 insurance companies compare
State Farm: The largest U.S. auto insurer, with 18.64% market share and $69.3 billion in direct premiums earned. It holds an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and scored 674 in J.D. Power’s 2026 insurance shopping study, above the 662 industry average. Full coverage averages $2,875 a year, mid-pack among large carriers.
Progressive: Progressive is second in size at 18.60% market share and $67.2 billion in direct premiums earned, just 0.04 percentage points behind State Farm. It carries an A+ AM Best rating and posts one of the lowest NAIC complaint indexes among large carriers at 0.60. Full coverage averages $2,569 a year.
Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO): Berkshire Hathaway, GEICO’s parent, ranks third at 11.56% market share and $42.7 billion in direct premiums earned. GEICO holds an A++ AM Best rating, the highest available, and ties for the lowest NAIC complaint index among large carriers at 0.60. It is the cheapest widely available carrier for liability-only coverage at $651 a year.
Allstate: Allstate is fourth at 10.15% market share and $37.2 billion in direct premiums earned. It carries an A+ AM Best rating and led large carriers on J.D. Power insurance shopping study in 2026 with a score of 685. Its full coverage rates are among the highest of the large carriers at $3,159 a year.
USAA: USAA ranks fifth at 6.19% market share and $22.7 billion in direct premiums earned. It holds an A++ AM Best rating and the strongest J.D. Power insurance shopping study among large carriers. USAA is available only to military members, veterans and their families. For those who qualify, full coverage averages $1,628 a year, the lowest in this group.
Farmers: Farmers is sixth at 3.57% market share and $13.3 billion in direct premiums earned. It carries an A AM Best rating. Among large carriers in the rate data, Farmers is the most expensive for full coverage at $3,207 a year, about 24% above the national average.
Liberty Mutual: Liberty Mutual ranks seventh at 2.81% market share and $11.1 billion in direct premiums earned. It holds an AM Best rating of A. Liberty Mutual does not provide its rates to the public.
Travelers: Travelers is eighth at 1.93% market share and $7.2 billion in direct premiums earned. It carries an A++ AM Best rating. Travelers is the cheapest widely available large carrier for full coverage at $1,962 a year, about 24% below the national average.
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA): Auto Club Enterprises Insurance Group (AAA) ranks ninth at 1.90% market share and $6.8 billion in direct premiums earned. AAA holds an A+ AM Best rating. AAA is not in our rate dataset.
American Family: American Family rounds out the top 10 at 1.53% market share and $5.9 billion in direct premiums earned. It carries an AM Best rating and one of the lower complaint indexes among large carriers at 0.67.
Cheapest car insurance companies
Travelers is the cheapest widely available large car insurance company for full coverage, with average rates of $1,962 a year. GEICO leads on liability-only at $651 a year. USAA, which is restricted to military families, is cheaper than both at $1,628 a year for full coverage. Rates vary widely by state and driver profile, so these national averages are a starting point, not a quote. The table below shows rates for large insurance carriers in the U.S.
Note: Liberty Mutual, AAA and American Family aren’t in our rate dataset. Rates for those carriers vary by region, so see our state pages for local averages.
| Carrier | State minimum | Liability coverage with limits of 50/100/50 | Full coverage with limits of 100/300/100 | Non-owner | Compared to the national average ($2,578) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $946 | $1,059 | $3,159 | $826 | +$581 (+22.5%) |
| Farmers | $950 | $1,064 | $3,207 | $615 | +$629 (+24.4%) |
| GEICO | $539 | $651 | $2,159 | $458 | −$419 (−16.3%) |
| Nationwide | $932 | $941 | $2,524 | $758 | −$54 (−2.1%) |
| Progressive | $752 | $864 | $2,569 | $708 | −$9 (−0.3%) |
| State Farm | $1,025 | $1,139 | $2,875 | $555 | +$297 (+11.5%) |
| Travelers | $767 | $833 | $1,962 | $464 | −$616 (−23.9%) |
| USAA (military families only) | $406 | $465 | $1,628 | $207 | −$950 (−36.9%) |
Sophie’s Tip
Run your own quote against three of the cheapest carriers listed above, using the same coverage limits and deductibles. That’s the only way to see who actually saves you money where you live.
Car insurance company ratings at a glance
USAA posts the strongest customer-satisfaction score among the large carriers, while GEICO and Progressive draw the fewest complaints relative to their size. Every one of the top 10 carries an A or better financial-strength rating from AM Best. Use the table below to weigh service quality against price and market share.
Three numbers tell most of the service-quality story. The J.D. Power insurance shopping study score is the audience rating on a 1,000-point scale, with higher scores being better. The NAIC Complaint Index is how often a carrier draws confirmed complaints relative to its size, where 1.0 is the industry average and lower is better. The AM Best rating is the studio’s track record, or how reliably the carrier can pay claims, where A++ is the top and anything A- or better is considered solid.
| Carrier | J.D. Power 2026 (of 1,000) | NAIC Complaint Index (2024) | AM Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 674 | 0.87 | A+ |
| Progressive | 645 | 0.60 | A+ |
| Berkshire Hathaway (GEICO) | 656 | 0.60 | A++ |
| Allstate | 685 | 1.20 | A+ |
| Farmers | 659 | 1.24 | A |
| Liberty Mutual | 670 | 1.28 | A |
| Travelers | 650 | 0.63 | A++ |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | 668 | 1.29 | A+ |
| American Family | 670 | 0.67 | A |
| USAA* | 719* | 1.16 | A++ |
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The largest car insurance company by state
State Farm is the largest auto insurer in more states than any other carrier, leading in roughly 29 states. Progressive leads in about 14 states, concentrated in the Sun Belt and Northeast, including Texas and Florida.
GEICO is the biggest in five jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Allstate leads North Carolina, and MAPFRE leads Massachusetts.
State Farm’s footprint is concentrated through the South and central U.S., where its captive-agent model has the deepest roots. Progressive’s share has grown across the Sun Belt and parts of the Northeast. GEICO’s strength is mostly on the East Coast and in metropolitan areas. Massachusetts is unusual: MAPFRE, a Spanish-owned insurer, has held the top position there.
| State | Largest carrier | Market share | Avg. full-coverage rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Farm | 27.10% | $2,116 |
| Alaska | State Farm | 30.40% | $2,167 |
| Arizona | Progressive | 20.00% | $2,420 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | 24.80% | $2,942 |
| California | State Farm | 13.60% | $3,444 |
| Colorado | State Farm | 22.80% | $3,181 |
| Connecticut | Progressive | 16.60% | $2,742 |
| Delaware | State Farm | 29.80% | $3,157 |
| Washington, D.C. | GEICO | 36.20% | $3,465 |
| Florida | Progressive | 24.50% | $3,916 |
| Georgia | State Farm | 24.80% | $2,503 |
| Hawaii | GEICO | 26.70% | $1,757 |
| Idaho | Progressive | 17.40% | $1,901 |
| Illinois | State Farm | 32.00% | $1,938 |
| Indiana | State Farm | 22.40% | $1,894 |
| Iowa | Progressive | 23.80% | $2,460 |
| Kansas | State Farm | 19.50% | $2,496 |
| Kentucky | State Farm | 24.90% | $2,624 |
| Louisiana | State Farm | 30.00% | $3,999 |
| Maine | Progressive | 20.70% | $1,808 |
| Maryland | GEICO | 22.10% | $1,999 |
| Massachusetts | MAPFRE | 18.00% | $2,429 |
| Michigan | Progressive | 21.30% | $3,964 |
| Minnesota | State Farm | 24.50% | $2,591 |
| Mississippi | State Farm | 25.60% | $2,397 |
| Missouri | State Farm | 23.70% | $2,151 |
| Montana | State Farm | 22.90% | $2,476 |
| Nebraska | State Farm | 21.00% | $2,095 |
| Nevada | Progressive | 18.80% | $3,963 |
| New Hampshire | Progressive | 19.30% | $1,689 |
| New Jersey | GEICO | 23.10% | $3,122 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | 24.20% | $2,577 |
| New York | GEICO | 29.10% | $2,596 |
| North Carolina | Allstate | 19.40% | $2,638 |
| North Dakota | Progressive | 26.20% | $2,439 |
| Ohio | State Farm | 21.40% | $1,783 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | 25.60% | $2,993 |
| Oregon | State Farm | 22.50% | $2,048 |
| Pennsylvania | State Farm | 21.00% | $2,327 |
| Rhode Island | Progressive | 35.60% | $2,878 |
| South Carolina | State Farm | 25.50% | $2,417 |
| South Dakota | State Farm | 20.30% | $2,575 |
| Tennessee | State Farm | 21.30% | $2,235 |
| Texas | Progressive | 21.00% | $3,106 |
| Utah | Progressive | 18.90% | $2,356 |
| Vermont | Progressive | 23.10% | $1,660 |
| Virginia | State Farm | 17.80% | $1,835 |
| Washington | State Farm | 18.70% | $2,389 |
| West Virginia | State Farm | 30.90% | $2,415 |
| Wisconsin | Progressive | 23.20% | $2,343 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | 23.80% | $2,061 |
Large vs. small car insurance companies
Choose a large carrier for nationwide reach, a polished mobile app and the option to bundle auto with home and life. Choose a smaller or regional carrier for more personal service, more underwriting flexibility and pricing built around your region rather than national averages. Both can be financially strong, so the right answer depends on what you value most.
Pros of large car insurance companies
“The best benefit of larger insurance companies is that they often have a larger pool of money to offset risk, which means they should be able to maintain more stable premiums,” says Shane Page, president of Piedmont Insurance Associates in North Carolina. “If a small company sustains catastrophic losses from a storm in a given state, it will impact their future rates much more drastically than the large companies who sustain the same losses.”
Choose a large carrier if you want broad nationwide coverage, digital self-service and one company for multiple policies.
Cons of large car insurance companies
Bigger doesn’t mean cheaper or more personal. As the rate table shows, two top-four carriers average over $3,100 a year for full coverage. Service can also feel less individual, with claims routed through national call centers rather than a local agent who knows your history.
Pros of small car insurance companies
“Small companies are often much more personal and locally engaged, as you would expect. Plus, there is usually more latitude for underwriting decisions, and being a loyal customer can pay off,” says Page.
A distinguishing factor: “A national insurer may have more personnel to handle claims and customer service issues, especially after a major catastrophe like a hurricane or wildfire,” says Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), an industry research and outreach organization. “However, many regional insurers are highly rated for their claims and customer service. A distinguishing factor to consider is whether your insurer has a robust mobile app where you can easily manage your policy and file claims.”
Choose a smaller carrier if you want a real person handling your claim, more underwriting flexibility or regional pricing.
Cons of small car insurance companies
Smaller carriers may operate in only a few states, offer fewer digital tools and carry less of a financial cushion against a single catastrophic event. If you move often or want a national app and broad bundling, a large carrier may be a better fit.
Sophie’s Tip
Go large if you want a polished mobile app, broad nationwide coverage and one company to handle multiple products (auto, home, life). Go smaller and local if you want a real person handling your claim, more underwriting flexibility or rates built around your region rather than national averages.
How to choose a car insurance company
Start with price, then work through coverage match, claims experience, financial strength and service quality. Get quotes from at least three carriers using the same limits and deductibles, then use the tables above to compare what you get for the price.
- Price. Get quotes from at least three carriers using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles. Carrier-to-carrier price gaps run 20% or more for the same coverage, and in our data, the spread between the cheapest and priciest large carrier for full coverage tops 60%.
- Coverage match. Confirm the carrier offers every coverage you need, not just liability and collision, but also gap insurance, rideshare coverage, OEM-parts coverage or accident forgiveness if relevant. Not every top-10 carrier offers all of these.
- Claims experience. Use the NAIC Complaint Index from the ratings table above. 1.0 is the industry average, and lower is better.
- Financial strength. Verify the carrier holds at least an A- rating from AM Best. All of the top 10 currently do.
- Service quality. Cross-reference J.D. Power scores against your priorities, then pick three carriers and run a quote on each.
How we measured market share and rates
Market share figures on this page come from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2025 Market Share Report, released March 18, 2026, which ranks U.S. auto insurers by direct premiums earned.
Direct premiums earned is the standard NAIC measure of size: the actual dollar amount each insurer collected and earned on auto policies during the year. The NAIC report covered roughly 98.25% of all U.S. property and casualty filings.
Rate figures come from Quadrant Information Services’ 2026 dataset, which CarInsurance.com licenses for its rate analysis. Rates shown are national averages for our standard sample driver. “Full coverage” means 100/300/100 bodily injury and property damage liability plus $500 deductibles on comprehensive and collision.
“Liability” means 50/100/50 bodily injury and property damage. State minimums vary by state. USAA, which restricts membership to current and former military service members and their immediate families, is shown separately in rate comparisons because it is not available to the general public.
Frequently Asked Questions: Largest auto insurance companies
Who is bigger, State Farm or Progressive?
State Farm is the largest U.S. auto insurer with an 18.64% market share. Progressive is second at 18.60%, a gap of just 0.04 percentage points.
The two companies wrote $136.6 billion in direct premiums earned, accounting for more than 37% of the entire U.S. private auto insurance market.
Who is bigger, GEICO or Progressive?
Progressive is bigger than GEICO. Progressive holds 18.60% of the U.S. auto insurance market, while Berkshire Hathaway, GEICO’s parent, holds 11.56%.
Which large car insurance company is the cheapest?
Travelers is the cheapest widely available large car insurance company for full coverage, with average rates of $1,962 a year.
GEICO is the cheapest for liability-only at $651 a year. USAA, restricted to military families, is cheaper still at $1,628 a year for full coverage. Rates vary by state and driver profile.
What’s the largest auto insurance company in my state?
State Farm leads in more states than any other carrier. Progressive leads much of the Sun Belt and Northeast, including Texas and Florida. GEICO leads several East Coast jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, D.C. MAPFRE leads Massachusetts.
Does a bigger insurance company mean lower rates?
Not necessarily. Two of the top four U.S. auto insurers, Allstate ($3,159 a year) and Farmers ($3,207 a year), are notably more expensive than smaller carriers like Travelers ($1,962) and Nationwide ($2,524) on average annual full coverage. Size correlates with stability and reach, not with price.
The bottom line
State Farm and Progressive are now in a near-tie at the top of the U.S. auto insurance market, but size and price don’t move together.
The cheapest widely available large carrier for full coverage, Travelers, costs less than half what the priciest large carrier charges. Compare quotes from at least three carriers using the same coverage and deductibles to see which large insurer is actually cheapest where you live.
Sources
- AM Best. “Carrier financial strength ratings.” Accessed June 2026.
- J.D. Power. “Auto insurers struggle to maintain seamless interactions across channels, J.D. Power finds.” Accessed June 2026.
- NAIC. “2025 Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium, Total Private Passenger Auto.” Accessed June 2026.
- NAIC. “Consumer Information Source, complaint data lookup.” Accessed June 2026.
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