Fact CheckedKey takeaways
Amica is NerdWallet's best car insurance company for April 2026, based on factors like financial strength, customer experience and coverage options.
Travelers offers the best affordable car insurance compared to the other top companies in our analysis.
Acuity receives the fewest customer complaints for the amount of coverage it sells compared to other top insurers, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Progressive offers some of the best coverage add-ons among our top picks, with options like vet reimbursement and minor dent repair coverage.
GEICO is the runner-up on our list, and it also stands out for excellent discount options that give drivers lots of ways to save.
NerdWallet’s editorial team collected and analyzed data on more than 130 auto insurers, then scored each one for a variety of factors to determine the best car insurance companies. Some of the things we consider are financial stability, customer satisfaction, digital experience and discount offerings.
Our top picks for April 2026 are:
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall pick: Amica | |
Best budget pick: Travelers | |
Best customer satisfaction: Acuity | |
Best coverage add-ons: Progressive | |
Best ways to save: GEICO |
For our list of the best car insurance companies, we only considered insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.
NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:
Financial strength: We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Consumer experience: These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the NAIC. We also look at survey data from J.D. Power’s annual studies.
Digital ease of use: This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes the quality of information offered online, mobile app scores based on user ratings, and whether a user can start and track a claim, or get a quote online.
Ways to save: We look at the kinds of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a 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.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Best car insurance overall: Amica
Why Amica is the best: Amica scored at or near the top for most of the categories we consider when choosing the best car insurance companies. It has strong financial strength plus high scores for both customer complaints and its online experience. Helpful coverage add-ons from Amica include full glass coverage, new car replacement coverage and gap coverage.
Don’t pick Amica if: You want cheap rates but don’t have a clean driving record. According to our April 2026 analysis, Amica isn’t the most affordable pick out of our top companies for several common driver profiles.
✅ Low consumer complaints.
✅ Many discounts and policy perks, including accident forgiveness and new car replacement in some states.
✅ Potential to earn dividends.
❌ Often more expensive than average in the states where we have data.
❌ Amica car insurance isn’t available in Hawaii, but other kinds of insurance, like life insurance, may be.
Amica earned high scores for both customer complaints and online experiences, but one unique feature that stood out to us was the option to choose between a traditional policy and one that pays out a dividend. While a dividend policy can cost more at first, it may return a percentage of what you paid for your policy. And you can pick whether you want that dividend to be paid directly or apply the savings to your next premium.
As an added bonus, Amica also offers some of the best savings for bundling home and auto insurance or renters and auto insurance.
How much is Amica car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Amica for someone with a clean driving record is $264 per month, or $3,167 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Amica's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,167 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $4,114 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,957 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $11,783 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $9,541 $3,916 Driver age Amica's median rate National median rate 20 $6,793 $4,712 30 $3,194 $2,394 35 $3,167 $2,315 40 $3,111 $2,247 50 $2,917 $2,087 60 $2,917 $1,997 70 $2,971 $2,133
» Read more: Amica auto insurance review
Why Amica is the best: Amica scored at or near the top for most of the categories we consider when choosing the best car insurance companies. It has strong financial strength plus high scores for both customer complaints and its online experience. Helpful coverage add-ons from Amica include full glass coverage, new car replacement coverage and gap coverage.
Don’t pick Amica if: You want cheap rates but don’t have a clean driving record. According to our April 2026 analysis, Amica isn’t the most affordable pick out of our top companies for several common driver profiles.
✅ Low consumer complaints.
✅ Many discounts and policy perks, including accident forgiveness and new car replacement in some states.
✅ Potential to earn dividends.
❌ Often more expensive than average in the states where we have data.
❌ Amica car insurance isn’t available in Hawaii, but other kinds of insurance, like life insurance, may be.
Amica earned high scores for both customer complaints and online experiences, but one unique feature that stood out to us was the option to choose between a traditional policy and one that pays out a dividend. While a dividend policy can cost more at first, it may return a percentage of what you paid for your policy. And you can pick whether you want that dividend to be paid directly or apply the savings to your next premium.
As an added bonus, Amica also offers some of the best savings for bundling home and auto insurance or renters and auto insurance.
How much is Amica car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Amica for someone with a clean driving record is $264 per month, or $3,167 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Amica's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,167 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $4,114 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,957 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $11,783 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $9,541 $3,916 Driver age Amica's median rate National median rate 20 $6,793 $4,712 30 $3,194 $2,394 35 $3,167 $2,315 40 $3,111 $2,247 50 $2,917 $2,087 60 $2,917 $1,997 70 $2,971 $2,133
» Read more: Amica auto insurance review
Best budget pick: Travelers
Why Travelers is the best: To find the best option for affordability, we compared average prices from top-ranked insurers. Travelers often had the cheapest car insurance for most driver types in our April 2026 rates analysis. Travelers also offers great coverage options that may appeal to a lot of drivers, such as gap coverage and new car replacement, as well as rideshare coverage (if available in your state).
Don’t pick Travelers if: You value a company with top customer satisfaction scores. Although state regulators receive relatively few complaints from Travelers customers, its ratings are below average in national studies for both car insurance shopping and customer satisfaction.
✅ Received fewer customer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
✅ Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
✅ One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
❌ Rideshare insurance is not available in all states.
You might be eligible for two different accident forgiveness plans from Travelers, depending on where you live and your driving history. And, if you enroll in Travelers’ top safe driver plan, driving safely could also lower the cost of your car insurance deductible, or remove it completely if your car is totaled. (A deductible is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket when you file a claim.)
How much is Travelers car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Travelers for someone with a clean driving record is $139 per month, or $1,664 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Travelers' average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,664 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,160 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,304 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $2,929 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,862 $3,916 Driver age Travelers' median rate National median rate 20 $3,980 $4,712 30 $1,711 $2,394 35 $1,664 $2,315 40 $1,589 $2,247 50 $1,495 $2,087 60 $1,425 $1,997 70 $1,618 $2,133
» Read more: Travelers auto insurance review
Why Travelers is the best: To find the best option for affordability, we compared average prices from top-ranked insurers. Travelers often had the cheapest car insurance for most driver types in our April 2026 rates analysis. Travelers also offers great coverage options that may appeal to a lot of drivers, such as gap coverage and new car replacement, as well as rideshare coverage (if available in your state).
Don’t pick Travelers if: You value a company with top customer satisfaction scores. Although state regulators receive relatively few complaints from Travelers customers, its ratings are below average in national studies for both car insurance shopping and customer satisfaction.
✅ Received fewer customer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
✅ Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
✅ One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
❌ Rideshare insurance is not available in all states.
You might be eligible for two different accident forgiveness plans from Travelers, depending on where you live and your driving history. And, if you enroll in Travelers’ top safe driver plan, driving safely could also lower the cost of your car insurance deductible, or remove it completely if your car is totaled. (A deductible is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket when you file a claim.)
How much is Travelers car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Travelers for someone with a clean driving record is $139 per month, or $1,664 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Travelers' average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,664 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,160 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,304 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $2,929 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,862 $3,916 Driver age Travelers' median rate National median rate 20 $3,980 $4,712 30 $1,711 $2,394 35 $1,664 $2,315 40 $1,589 $2,247 50 $1,495 $2,087 60 $1,425 $1,997 70 $1,618 $2,133
» Read more: Travelers auto insurance review
While Travelers was often the most affordable company in our analysis, it might not be the cheapest for you. We recommend comparing car insurance quotes from at least three insurers to make sure you're getting the best price possible.
Best for customer satisfaction: Acuity
Why Acuity is the best: For our 2026 list, we analyzed the complaint numbers reported to the NAIC for our top insurers. State insurance commissioners received fewer complaints about Acuity than any other insurer in our comparison, based on the amount of coverage Acuity sells compared to other companies.
Don’t pick Acuity if: You haven’t gotten a quote from another company first. Acuity isn’t available nationwide, and we don’t have rates data from Acuity in every state where it sells insurance. You’ll want to make sure that it’s available and affordable before you purchase a policy.
✅ Few consumer complaints.
✅ Offers many coverage options.
❌ Doesn't sell rideshare insurance.
Acuity groups several add-ons into a single package, called an “endorsement.” This package includes perks like reimbursing you for both veterinarian bills if your pet is injured in an accident, as well as travel expenses if you are involved in an accident while away from home.
Gap coverage is also available from Acuity. If your car is totaled in an accident, this type of coverage will pay the difference between your vehicle’s current value and how much you owe on it. And you can get full glass coverage so you don’t have to worry about repairing or even replacing a damaged window or windshield.
How much is Acuity car insurance? We don’t have rates data about Acuity in every state where it’s available. But the average cost of car insurance from Acuity for someone with a clean driving record is $279 per month, or $3,346 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Acuity's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,346 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $5,844 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $5,747 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $6,721 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $5,092 $3,916 Driver age Acuity's median rate National median rate 20 $10,404 $4,712 30 $3,656 $2,394 35 $3,346 $2,315 40 $3,278 $2,247 50 $2,943 $2,087 60 $2,778 $1,997 70 $2,482 $2,133
Why Acuity is the best: For our 2026 list, we analyzed the complaint numbers reported to the NAIC for our top insurers. State insurance commissioners received fewer complaints about Acuity than any other insurer in our analysis, based on the amount of coverage Acuity sells compared to other companies.
Don’t pick Acuity if: You haven’t gotten a quote from another company first. Acuity isn’t available nationwide, and we don’t have rates data from Acuity in every state where it sells insurance. You’ll want to make sure that it’s available and affordable before you purchase a policy.
✅ Few consumer complaints.
✅ Offers many coverage options.
❌ Doesn't sell rideshare insurance.
Acuity groups several add-ons into a single package, called an “endorsement.” This package includes perks like reimbursing you for both veterinarian bills if your pet is injured in an accident, as well as travel expenses if you are involved in an accident while away from home.
Gap coverage is also available from Acuity. If your car is totaled in an accident, this type of coverage will pay the difference between your vehicle’s current value and how much you owe on it. And you can get full glass coverage so you don’t have to worry about repairing or even replacing a damaged window or windshield.
How much is Acuity car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Acuity for someone with a clean driving record is $279 per month, or $3,346 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Acuity's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,346 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $5,844 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $5,747 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $6,721 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $5,092 $3,916 Driver age Acuity's median rate National median rate 20 $10,404 $4,712 30 $3,656 $2,394 35 $3,346 $2,315 40 $3,278 $2,247 50 $2,943 $2,087 60 $2,778 $1,997 70 $2,482 $2,133
Best coverage add-ons: Progressive
Why Progressive is the best: Progressive offers an excellent selection of optional coverages that set it apart, even from other top insurers. Depending on where you live and the coverage you have, your policy might even include accident forgiveness and vet reimbursement for up to $1,000 if a pet is injured in a covered accident.
Don’t pick Progressive if: You want your insurance company to have high customer satisfaction ratings. Although state regulators receive fewer complaints than expected from Progressive customers, it scored below average in national studies for both customer satisfaction and auto insurance shopping.
✅ Three different accident forgiveness programs, including two with automatic enrollment, available in certain states.
✅ If your pet is injured in a car accident and you have collision insurance, Progressive will help pay your vet bills in most states.
✅ Rideshare coverage available.
❌ Below average rating for claims satisfaction from J.D. Power.
In addition to options like minor dent repair and veterinary reimbursement coverage, Progressive also offers custom parts coverage, gap coverage and rideshare insurance insurance (although it’s not available in every state).
Progressive scored highly in our analysis in part because of its excellent mobile experience. Its mobile app has high customer ratings for both Android and Apple devices. And while many insurers let you get a quote without speaking to an agent, you can actually start a new Progressive policy entirely online.
We also appreciated Progressive’s teen driver discount. Young drivers are often the most expensive to insure, but a discount for adding a teen drive to your policy can help manage that cost.
How much is Progressive car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Progressive for someone with a clean driving record is $171 per month, or $2,057 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Progressive's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,057 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,781 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,115 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $2,812 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $3,218 $3,916 Driver age Progressive's median rate National median rate 20 $3,682 $4,712 30 $2,146 $2,394 35 $2,057 $2,315 40 $1,931 $2,247 50 $1,744 $2,087 60 $1,641 $1,997 70 $1,707 $2,133
» Read more: Progressive auto insurance review
Why Progressive is the best: Progressive offers an excellent selection of optional coverages that set it apart, even from other top insurers. Depending on where you live and the coverage you have, your policy might even include accident forgiveness and vet reimbursement for up to $1,000 if a pet is injured in a covered accident.
Don’t pick Progressive if: You want your insurance company to have high customer satisfaction ratings. Although state regulators receive fewer complaints than expected from Progressive customers, it scored below average in national studies for both customer satisfaction and auto insurance shopping.
✅ Three different accident forgiveness programs, including two with automatic enrollment, available in certain states.
✅ If your pet is injured in a car accident and you have collision insurance, Progressive will help pay your vet bills in most states.
✅ Rideshare coverage available.
❌ Below average rating for claims satisfaction from J.D. Power.
In addition to options like minor dent repair and veterinary reimbursement coverage, Progressive also offers custom parts coverage, gap coverage and rideshare insurance insurance (although it’s not available in every state).
Progressive scored highly in our analysis in part because of its excellent mobile experience. Its mobile app has high customer ratings for both Android and Apple devices. And while many insurers let you get a quote without speaking to an agent, you can actually start a new Progressive policy entirely online.
We also appreciated Progressive’s teen driver discount. Young drivers are often the most expensive to insure, but a discount for adding a teen drive to your policy can help manage that cost.
How much is Progressive car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from Progressive for someone with a clean driving record is $171 per month, or $2,057 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile Progressive's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,057 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,781 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,115 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $2,812 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $3,218 $3,916 Driver age Progressive's median rate National median rate 20 $3,682 $4,712 30 $2,146 $2,394 35 $2,057 $2,315 40 $1,931 $2,247 50 $1,744 $2,087 60 $1,641 $1,997 70 $1,707 $2,133
» Read more: Progressive auto insurance review
Best ways to save: GEICO
Why GEICO is the best: In addition to being one of the best insurance companies in our comparisons across all categories, GEICO also scored the highest among insurers for discount offerings. You can get discounts for things like driving a new car, being a federal employee, serving in the military and getting your quote online.
Don’t pick GEICO if: You’re looking for the absolute cheapest rates and you have poor credit or a recent speeding ticket, accident or DUI. We found that, on average, other insurers may be more likely to have cheaper rates than GEICO.
✅ Often among the cheapest car insurance companies in NerdWallet's rates analyses.
✅ Many discounts available.
✅ Fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
❌ Doesn't offer gap insurance.
❌ Limited network of local agents.
❌ Below-average customer satisfaction for auto insurance claims in a recent J.D. Power study.
GEICO's discount offerings are a main reason why we picked GEICO as our Best Budget-Friendly Auto Insurance winner in NerdWallet's 2026 Best-Of Awards.
In addition to earning a high score from us for its discounts, GEICO is also one of the best insurance companies in our comparisons across financial strength, customer experience and digital offerings.
One particular benefit for drivers is the GEICO mobile app. It has high ratings for both Android and Apple devices. Additionally, GEICO’s website provides helpful information about car insurance, and you can start and manage your policy online.
How much is GEICO car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from GEICO for someone with a clean driving record is $171 per month, or $2,053 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile GEICO's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,053 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,713 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,483 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $4,689 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,883 $3,916 Driver age GEICO's median rate National median rate 20 $3,780 $4,712 30 $2,064 $2,394 35 $2,053 $2,315 40 $2,032 $2,247 50 $1,874 $2,087 60 $1,854 $1,997 70 $2,059 $2,133
» Read more: GEICO auto insurance review
Why GEICO is the best: In addition to being one of the best insurance companies in our comparisons across all categories, GEICO also scored the highest among insurers for discount offerings. You can get discounts for things like driving a new car, being a federal employee, serving in the military and getting your quote online.
Don’t pick GEICO if: You’re looking for the absolute cheapest rates and you have poor credit or a recent speeding ticket, accident or DUI. We found that, on average, other insurers may be more likely to have cheaper rates than GEICO.
✅ Often among the cheapest car insurance companies in NerdWallet's rates analyses.
✅ Many discounts available.
✅ Fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
❌ Doesn't offer gap insurance.
❌ Limited network of local agents.
❌ Below-average customer satisfaction for auto insurance claims in a recent J.D. Power study.
GEICO's discount offerings are a main reason why we picked GEICO as our Best Budget-Friendly Auto Insurance winner in NerdWallet's 2026 Best-Of Awards.
In addition to earning a high score from us for its discounts, GEICO is also one of the best insurance companies in our comparisons across financial strength, customer experience and digital offerings.
One particular benefit for drivers is the GEICO mobile app. It has high ratings for both Android and Apple devices. Additionally, GEICO’s website provides helpful information about car insurance, and you can start and manage your policy online.
How much is GEICO car insurance? The average cost of car insurance from GEICO for someone with a clean driving record is $171 per month, or $2,053 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the national average, which is $2,315 per year.
Driver profile GEICO's average rate National average rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,053 $2,315 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,713 $2,968 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,483 $3,436 One DUI, good credit $4,689 $4,369 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,883 $3,916 Driver age GEICO's median rate National median rate 20 $3,780 $4,712 30 $2,064 $2,394 35 $2,053 $2,315 40 $2,032 $2,247 50 $1,874 $2,087 60 $1,854 $1,997 70 $2,059 $2,133
» Read more: GEICO auto insurance review
GEICO is also our runner-up as the best car insurance company for 2026, and it’s actually available in more states than Amica. If you can’t get a policy from Amica where you live, then GEICO is usually our top choice for most drivers.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Other top car insurance companies
If you’re looking for more options, check out these other car insurance companies that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher. Each one could be a great choice, depending on your location, driving history and insurance needs.
Company | Why we picked it |
|---|---|
Best bundle options | |
Best for high-risk drivers | |
Best online tools | |
Best for older drivers | |
USAA* | Best for military households |
*USAA is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families. | |
Insurance offerings vary widely by location, and the best companies nationwide might not be the best in your state. In fact, small or regional insurers may offer better customer service or more affordable rates than larger companies. Some 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:
How much does car insurance cost?
Your car insurance costs may change every year, or even every month. Insurers look at a wide variety of factors when they set pricing, including your age, location, vehicle details, driving history and coverage needs. The economy and even seasonal weather trends can affect what you pay.
It’s hard to predict how much an individual can expect to pay for car insurance. But we analyzed 120 million rates to find national averages for a few common types of drivers:
| Driver profile | Full coverage rate | Minimum coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record, good credit | $2,315 | $621 |
| One speeding ticket, good credit | $2,968 | $794 |
| One at-fault crash, good credit | $3,436 | $908 |
| One DUI, good credit | $4,369 | $1,200 |
| Clean driving record, poor credit | $3,916 | $1,006 |
Your location is one of the biggest influences on your car insurance costs. NerdWallet's car insurance calculator can show you the average cost in your area so you can see what you might have to pay.
Enter your ZIP code to find the average monthly car insurance rate for your area. Rates are for policies that include full coverage for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
Average monthly car insurance rate in your ZIP code:
$0The 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.
More Nerdy Perspective
Policies aren’t always the same, so check the details to decide which company is best for you. When I recently compared quotes, one company offered a rate lock and a lower deductible if I stayed claims-free. The other had a discount for safe driving and the option to choose new car replacement coverage. Which is best? It depends on your priorities.
Policies aren’t always the same, so check the details to decide which company is best for you. When I recently compared quotes, one company offered a rate lock and a lower deductible if I stayed claims-free. The other had a discount for safe driving and the option to choose new car replacement coverage. Which is best? It depends on your priorities.
Lisa GreenManaging Editor for Insurance
Policies aren’t always the same, so check the details to decide which company is best for you. When I recently compared quotes, one company offered a rate lock and a lower deductible if I stayed claims-free. The other had a discount for safe driving and the option to choose new car replacement coverage. Which is best? It depends on your priorities.
How to choose the right insurer
Every driver is different, and that can make it hard to figure out which insurance company is the best option for you. Here are a few things you should expect from any top insurer:
Affordable pricing and a good variety of discounts, so you can actually get a policy.
Coverage options in case you need specialty coverage or want more than the standard coverage limits.
Great customer service that can simplify the claims process if or when you need it.
Reliable reputation so you can have peace of mind that the company will be there for you in the future.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. Accessed Apr 14, 2026.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Apr 14, 2026.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
