When shopping for a car insurance policy, you want to find an auto insurance company with high scores for customer satisfaction that offers the coverage you need at the most affordable price.
That’s why it’s wise to go through the list of car insurance companies and research to see what coverages and discounts they offer, how their prices compare and if they have satisfactory customer service. You can create a list of contenders that suit your needs and get an insurance quote from each to compare costs.
To help you learn all the information you need to find the best car insurance company for you, we compiled a list of auto insurance companies and highlighted specialty coverages, how they rate on customer service and if they allow you to do business online.
List of auto insurance companies
Our editorial team at CarInsurance.com analyzed each company’s average full coverage car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services, insurance coverages and products, discounts, and customer service ratings to create this list of car insurance companies so you can see how they compare.
Here is a list of car insurance companies with the largest market share in the nation and some that are regional, serving a dozen or so states, with details on how they do business.
State Farm
Auto insurance is State Farm’s big seller, but they offer a wide range of insurance coverage and have some of the best customer service ratings in the industry. You can insure your home, apartment, boat, motorcycle, and business with State Farm.
In addition, State Farm offers customers credit cards, loans, and checking and savings accounts.
State Farm uses its own agents to sell its policies.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,505
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 4
Specialty coverages, offerings: State Farm has 19,000 agents spread across the country so there are plenty of local agents to help you find great coverage at an affordable price. State Farm is ranked the number one overall best car insurance company by Insure.com
Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners uses independent agents to sell its auto policies and operates in 26 states. Auto-Owners offers a wide variety of coverages including their Personal Automobile Plus Package which comes with 10 additional coverages for one low premium. This package helps protect you from identity theft, re-keying locks, replacing your cell phone and more.
- Online quote: No
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,435
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 4
Specialty coverages, offerings: Auto-Owners offers a Common Loss Deductible which means that if both your car and home are damaged by the same incident, they will reduce the auto deductible by the amount of the personal property deductible. If your auto deductible is less than your personal property deductible, they will waive it entirely.
Safeco
Safeco is a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, a well-reviewed insurer. It offers a wide variety of coverages, you can insure everything from your house and car to your golf cart.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 4
Specialty coverages, offerings: Safeco offers their RightTrack program which allows customers to earn a discount on their premium if they use an app on their phone to track their driving for 90 days.
Geico
Geico is one of the largest auto insurers in the country. They currently protect more than 28 million vehicles. While auto insurance is Geico’s main business, they sell various coverages and offer a huge array of discounts.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,200
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Geico’s mobile app is one of the best in the industry, allowing you to access your insurance ID car, pay your premium contact roadside assistance and even submit photos of your car after an accident to get a quick estimate of the damage.
American Family Insurance
American Family Insurance started out only insuring automobiles, it has since expanded into a wide range of insurance products, including health and life insurance.
While automotive coverages can be limited to the standard policy types, American Family offers various discounts. Insure.com has ranked American Family as the best insurer for discounts.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Value for price score: 3.5 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: American Family offers the Our Teen Safe Driver smartphone app to its customers with a teen in the house. The app monitors for distracted driving as well as other risky driving behaviors. After the teen is in the program for one year or 3,000 miles, they will earn a 10% discount on your premium.
Travelers
Travelers is a well-respected insurer that has been writing insurance policies since 1863. They are currently the second largest insurance company in the United States.
Travelers may not be the cheapest option regarding car insurance, but they rank exceptionally well in customer service surveys so you know your claim will be handled fairly and they will get your vehicle repaired quickly.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,322
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Travelers offer their Premier New Car Replacement coverage, this policy endorsement is an excellent option if you have a new car. This coverage will replace your vehicle with a brand new one if you total it in the first five years.
Erie
Erie sells insurance in Washington D.C. and 12 states, and it gets excellent reviews for customer service and handling claims. It offers a wide variety of car coverages, including a rideshare endorsement that will protect you when driving for Uber or Lyft.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,372
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: If you add Better Car Protection to your policy it will replace your totaled car with a vehicle that is two years newer.
Progressive
Progressive is the third largest auto insurance provider in the U.S. so they can insure most vehicle types. While their customer service ratings are not as high as some other insurance companies, their policies tend to be very affordable.
Insure.com ranked Progressive as the number one insurer for young adults and college students.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $895
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Progressive offers their Snapshot program which monitors your driving for some time if you are safe out on the road, you will receive a discount.
Progressive also offers their Name Your Price Tool which lets you tell Progressive how much you want to pay for insurance, and they will show you the coverage options that work with your budget.
Allstate
Allstate is the fourth largest insurer in the U.S. and offers various insurance and investment options. However, Allstate policies tend to be more expensive than other insurers.
If you are looking for a one-stop shop for insurance and investments, Allstate may be a good option but if you are looking for car insurance, there are probably cheaper options available from other insurance companies.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $2,164
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Allstate offers a vanishing deductible which will lower your collision coverage deductible $100 every year you remain accident-free, up to $500.
Allstate offers insurance for items such as identity theft, phone protection, and events such as weddings or other large gatherings, coverages you may not be able to find with smaller insurance companies.
Auto Club of Southern California
This is the Southern California affiliate of the American Automobile Association (AAA). It is currently the largest AAA member and has roughly 8 million members in its home territory of Southern California.
They offer a range of insurance options including car, home, recreational vehicles, motorcycles and watercraft. Auto Club gets excellent reviews for pricing, claim handling as well as customer service. The only downside is that they may not offer as many insurance options as other insurers.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Value for price score: 3.5 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Auto Club of Southern California offers a variety of discounts including Students away at school which offers a discount if your child is away at college at least 100 miles from home and without a vehicle.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is the sixth largest car insurance company in the United States and offers a ton of coverages and discounts. However, Liberty Mutual also gets more complaints about customer service and claim handling than other insurers of its size.
Their policies also tend to be on the expensive side of the pricing spectrum. If you need lots of coverage options, Liberty Mutual can be an excellent choice for car insurance.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Liberty Mutual Deductible Fund will help you cover your deductible if you have to make a claim. You pay $30 as part of your premium which goes into the deductible fund and Liberty Mutual kicks in $70 so your deductible goes down by $100 a year. The program is not capped at five years or $500 like many others.
The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group is the second largest AAA club in North America. Currently, it provides insurance and other membership benefits to over 9.8 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories. Like other AAA groups, the Auto Club Group offers a range of car insurance options including car, home, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and watercraft.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: No
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): NA
Specialty coverages, offerings: The Auto Club Group has several discounts available to their members, including one for driving a new or hybrid car. In addition to great insurance coverage, AAA membership offers a variety of other benefits as well.
Nationwide
Nationwide gets excellent reviews for claim handling as well as customer service. They offer a variety of coverages for car and home insurance such as homeowners, RVs, ATVs, golf carts, snowmobiles, boats, motorcycles and even scooters. All these coverage options make it easy to bundle your coverages with Nationwide, which can result in a sizeable discount.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,619
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Their On Your Side review is an annual personal assessment of your insurance needs with a Nationwide agent. This ensures that you are fully protected as your insurance needs changes throughout your life.
They are also happy to do an On Your Side review whenever you experience a life event, such as getting married, buying a home or filling your garage with toys such as an RV or ATV.
Hartford
The Hartford tends to target people who are 50 and over due to their partnership with the AARP. The Hartford offers savings and additional perks to AARP members who purchase insurance through their program.
Non-AARP members are allowed to purchase Hartford insurance via independent agents. Insure.com ranked Hartford as the best insurance company for AARP members and senior drivers.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Value for price score: 3 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Hartford offers classic car insurance for classic and antique vehicles so if you have a restored classic car in your garage, you can insure it with the Hartford.
CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group is part of the nationwide AAA-affiliated insurance companies. The CSAA originally started in the Northern California, Nevada, Utah area but has grown into one of the largest AAA groups. They sell insurance in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
- Online quote: No
- Manage claims online: No
- Value for price score: 3 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: CSAA offers various coverages and discounts to its insurance customers, but you must be a AAA member to access these deals.
Farmers
Farmers sells insurance in all 50 states via exclusive and independent agents. They offer all of the standard insurance products and coverage for recreational vehicles, boats, jet skis, snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, and motor homes.
Farmers also sells IRAs, annuities and mutual funds making them an excellent choice if you are looking for a one-stop shop for insurance and retirement investments.
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Average rate for full coverage: $1,343
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3.5
Specialty coverages, offerings: Farmers offers a Mature Driver discount which is offered to drivers over the age of 55 and who have completed state-approved safe driver training in the last 3 years. They also offer an alternative fuel discount for vehicles that are powered by anything other than gasoline only: hybrid, electric, natural gas, propane, qualify.
Mercury
Mercury Insurance is a major insurer in California but also sells policies in 10 other states. In addition to car insurance, it offers home, renters, condo and business insurance. Mercury policies are sold through independent agents. Mercury is widely considered a no-frills insurance company, which helps keep its premiums low.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Have to submit over the phone but can track your claim online
- Value for price score: 3 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3
Specialty coverages, offerings: Mercury offers an E-Signature Discount if you sign your policy electronically. Mercury also offers rideshare coverage in many states which is not coverage all insurers offer.
The General
While recent commercials indicate The General is trying to widen its customer base, The General mainly sells car insurance to high-risk drivers, often with an SR-22 requirement.
If you have a bad driving record, a low credit score or numerous accidents, The General may be a good choice for getting an auto insurance policy. However, premiums tend to be high and customer service ratings are not stellar.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes- via an app
- Value for price score: 2.5 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 3
Specialty coverages, offerings: The General caters mainly to high-risk drivers, or non-standard auto insurance policies.
USAA
While USAA has some of the best ratings among insurance companies, not everyone can qualify to be a customer. USAA only insures people who have been or are currently in the military and their direct family members such as parents, spouses, and children.
USAA consistently tops the rankings of insurance companies for both customer service and pricing. If you qualify, USAA should be one of your top choices.
- Online quote: Yes
- Manage claims online: Yes
- Value for price score: 4 out of five
- Best car insurance companies score (out of five): 4
Specialty coverages, offerings: Their Vehicle Storage discount is an excellent option for active service members who have been deployed. If you put an insured vehicle into storage while you are away, you could save up to 60% on your premium.
What are the 10 biggest car insurance companies?
The 10 largest auto insurance companies in the United States control about 73% of the market.
According to data from AM Best’s most current market share report, the list of car insurance companies below comprises the largest insurance companies in the U.S.
- State Farm16.15%
- Geico13.51%
- Progressive13.26%
- Allstate10.35%
- USAA6.31%
- Liberty Mutual4.74%
- Farmers3.97%
- Nationwide2.31%
- American Family2.07%
- Travelers1.96%
Of course, there are many smaller, local car insurance companies. If you go with a small, local auto insurance provider, be sure to check the financial strength rating, which indicates the ability of the company to meet its financial obligations.
In other words, you want to be sure it’s financially healthy enough to pay out on a claim if you have to file one.
