The 5 Best Car Insurance Companies of September 2025

NerdWallet’s editorial team collected and analyzed data on more than 50 auto insurers. We then scored each one for affordability, ease of use, financial strength and complaints to determine the best car insurance companies in the nation.

Our five winners for September 2025 are:

• How we found the best car insurance companies

  NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how simple it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies is likely to change over time. In our list of the best insurers in the state, we only include insurance companies that have achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5.

• Why you can trust NerdWallet

  • Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.

  • Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.

  • More than 270 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.

  • More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

  You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in the state where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

The following companies all scored 5 stars in our analysis. While each company may offer different types of coverage, discount options and insurance rates, we believe any of our top picks can be a great option for most drivers.

We calculated the average rates for a 35-year-old sample driver with a clean driving history, good credit and full coverage car insurance. (A full coverage policy includes liability, comprehensive and collision insurance.)

Why it’s one of the best: Travelers earned the best overall score out of the insurers we analyzed. With few customer complaints and lots of discounts and coverage options to choose from, Travelers is an all-around solid choice for drivers.

Wide-ranging coverage options: Some of Travelers’ options include gap insurance and new car replacement coverage, which can help if your new car is totaled, as well as rideshare insurance. You may also be eligible for one of the insurer’s two forgiveness plans, which will keep your rates from going up after a crash or ticket.

Average rates: Travelers car insurance costs an average of $1,714 a year for full coverage, or $143 a month. That’s less than the national average of $2,285 a year, or $190 a month.

• Price comparison: Travelers vs. national average

  Driver profile	Company average rate	National average rate
  Clean driving record, good credit	$1,714	$2,285
  One speeding ticket, good credit	$2,221	$2,894
  One at-fault crash, good credit	$2,411	$3,381
  One DUI, good credit	$2,970	$4,251
  Clean driving record, poor credit	$2,908	$3,808

  These full coverage rates are for 35-year-old drivers and were updated in September 2025.

» Read more: Travelers auto insurance review

Why it’s one of the best: Auto-Owners is an excellent choice for people who want to bundle their home and auto insurance. The company also offers a wide range of coverages to help minimize stress after an accident, including paying for expenses if you are stranded away from home and covering extra fees if you were driving a rental car.

Uncommon bundling benefits: Customers who bundle home and auto insurance with Auto-Owners can take advantage of a common loss deductible, which means that if you go through a covered event that damages both your house and your car, you won’t have to pay the full deductibles for both policies.

Average rates: Auto-Owners car insurance costs an average of $1,955 a year for full coverage, or $163 a month. That’s less than the national average of $2,285 a year, or $190 a month.

• Price comparison: Auto-Owners vs. national average

  Driver profile	Company average rate	National average rate
  Clean driving record, good credit	$1,955	$2,285
  One speeding ticket, good credit	$2,672	$2,894
  One at-fault crash, good credit	$2,640	$3,381
  One DUI, good credit	$3,931	$4,251
  Clean driving record, poor credit	$5,683	$3,808

  These full coverage rates are for 35-year-old drivers and were updated in September 2025.

» Read more: Auto-Owners auto insurance review

Why it’s one of the best: American Family gets high marks from us for customer satisfaction. The company earned fewer customer complaints to state regulators (relative to similarly sized insurers) than the other top companies on our list. The insurer also ranked well for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study[1].

Long list of discount opportunities: American Family offers more discounts than many insurers, which may help offset its rates. Discounts include common ones like bundling or meeting the company’s criteria for being a “good driver,” as well as less common ones like completing volunteer work for a nonprofit if you’re under 25 years old.

Average rates: Full coverage car insurance from American Family costs an average of $2,142 a year, or $178 a month. That’s slightly less than the national average of $2,285 a year, or $190 a month.

• Price comparison: American Family vs. national average

  Driver profile	Company average rate	National average rate
  Clean driving record, good credit	$2,142	$2,285
  One speeding ticket, good credit	$2,506	$2,894
  One at-fault crash, good credit	$2,953	$3,381
  One DUI, good credit	$2,748	$4,251
  Clean driving record, poor credit	$3,464	$3,808

  These full coverage rates are for 35-year-old drivers and were updated in September 2025.

» Read more: American Family auto insurance review

Why it’s one of the best: State Farm offers a wide range of coverage options, including rental car and travel expenses coverage that’s superior to what’s offered by competitors. It also stands out when it comes to its user-friendly website and highly-rated mobile app.

Great customer service: State Farm is a good choice for drivers who prefer a human touch, as its policies are sold exclusively through agents. The insurer also earns strong marks when it comes to consumer satisfaction. State Farm gets fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, and it ranked near the top in a J.D. Power customer satisfaction study[2].

Average rates: State Farm car insurance costs an average of $2,140 a year for full coverage, or $178 a month. That’s slightly less than the national average of $2,285 a year, or $190 a month.

• Price comparison: State Farm vs. national average

  Driver profile	Company average rate	National average rate
  Clean driving record, good credit	$2,140	$2,285
  One speeding ticket, good credit	$2,439	$2,894
  One at-fault crash, good credit	$2,716	$3,381
  One DUI, good credit	$3,140	$4,251
  Clean driving record, poor credit	$8,219	$3,808

  These full coverage rates are for 35-year-old drivers and were updated in September 2025.

» Read more: State Farm auto insurance review

Why it’s one of the best: There are a few top military car insurance companies. However, we found that USAA is usually the best pick for active-duty military members, veterans and their families. It gets fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size. USAA also received high marks in J.D. Power’s 2024 customer satisfaction study, suggesting USAA’s customers tend to be happy with the insurer[3].

Military-minded benefits: USAA offers competitive rates and military-specific perks, such as a discount for storing your car on a military base. Policyholders may be able to get add-ons like accident forgiveness, rideshare insurance and car replacement assistance.

Average rates: A full coverage policy from USAA costs an average of $1,457 a year, or $121 a month. It offers the cheapest average rates of all of our 5-star insurers, and is significantly less expensive than the national average of $2,285 a year, or $190 a month.

• Price comparison: USAA vs. national average

  Driver profile	Company average rate	National average rate
  Clean driving record, good credit	$1,457	$2,285
  One speeding ticket, good credit	$1,761	$2,894
  One at-fault crash, good credit	$2,117	$3,381
  One DUI, good credit	$2,824	$4,251
  Clean driving record, poor credit	$2,650	$3,808

  These full coverage rates are for 35-year-old drivers and were updated in September 2025.

» Read more: USAA auto insurance review

If you’re looking for more options, check out these other car insurance companies that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. Each one could be a solid choice, depending on your state and your insurance needs.

• Read more auto reviews from NerdWallet

  • AAA

  • Acceptance

  • Allstate

  • American Family

  • American National

  • Amica

  • Auto-Owners

  • Bristol West

  • Chubb

  • Clearcover

  • Connect

  • Country Financial

  • Dairyland

  • Direct Auto Insurance

  • Elephant

  • Encompass

  • Erie

  • Farm Bureau

  • Farmers

  • Fred Loya

  • Gainsco

  • GEICO

  • The General

  • Georgia Farm Bureau

  • GoAuto

  • Good2Go

  • The Hanover

  • Infinity

  • Kemper

  • Lemonade

  • Liberty Mutual

  • Mapfre

  • Mercury

  • Nationwide

  • National General

  • NJM

  • Progressive

  • Root

  • Safeco

  • Safety Insurance

  • Shelter

  • State Farm

  • Texas Farm Bureau

  • Toggle

  • Travelers

  • USAA

  • Wawanesa

Insurance offerings vary widely by location, and the best companies nationwide might not be the best in your state. In fact, regional insurers may offer better customer service or more affordable rates than larger companies. Some may even offer state-specific perks and discounts.

NerdWallet analyzed the auto insurance offerings available in different states to put together the best car insurance companies in a variety of locations:

Here are some bonus tips on how to get the best car insurance:

• Shop around. With rates on the rise, price may be at the top of the minds of many drivers. Prices are based on many factors like your age, location, vehicle and driving history. Because every insurance company weighs these factors differently, it’s best to shop around and compare car insurance quotes to find the cheapest option.

• Check for complaints. Filing a car insurance claim can be complicated, but the best insurance companies should help you manage that process. To see how an insurer compares to others, you can use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ database. This resource shows how many complaints have been filed against an insurer in each state.

• Shop strategically. If you recently had a speeding ticket, DUI or other violation, be sure to shop three to five years after the incident, when surcharges can drop significantly.

• Check your coverage. Ask your agent or a customer service representative if you’re getting the coverage you need so that you’re not under- or overinsured. Use the tool below to learn about the different auto insurance coverage types.

The best car insurance companies, according to Reddit users

Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like auto insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about insurers. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

The general consensus among Redditors is that you’ll find the best car insurance by comparing quotes from different insurers and evaluating the amount of coverage you need.

Many Redditors shared their picks for the best car insurance companies as well.

• USAA: Some Reddit users called out USAA as offering the best auto insurance. One cited the company's “top-notch” claims service and coverage for original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, parts for newer model repairs. It’s important to note that USAA car insurance is only available to active military, veterans and their families. (Several companies offer OEM parts in claim repairs, but it is wise to ask your agent or check the quote details before you buy.)

• GEICO: Another Reddit user said GEICO offers quick response times when calling their representatives or filing a claim. Like so many things related to auto insurance, this and other customer service practices can vary depending on your state.

• Progressive: According to another Redditor, Progressive stands out because the company was easy to work with and offered them the cheapest rate and fair payouts when they filed claims for two accidents where they were not at fault. Their experience is a good reminder to shop around after filing claims and receiving payouts, when rates are most likely to increase.