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BEST RATES & DISCOUNTSGEICO
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- Average Premiums: $1,100 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online, phone, local agent
- Available Discounts: 16
If you’re looking for a great car insurance company that offers competitive rates and a lengthy list of incredible discounts, then GEICO is definitely the best choice for you. Furthermore, some of the amazing features in the GEICO mobile app really make this company stand out from the rest of the top insurance providers across the country.
- Multiple discounts available
- Top-rated mobile app
- No gap insurance coverage offered
- Limited presence of local agents
Its satiric ads can be head-scratchers, but GEICO does offer impressive discounts, excellent customer service, and some of the lowest premiums in the industry. A well-designed, highly efficient website and mobile app also cause the company to stand out among bargain-rate carriers.
GEICO’s extensive coverage options include:
- Liability coverage
- Collision and comprehensive
- Personal injury protection
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance
- Mechanical breakdown insurance
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
In addition to covering cars, GEICO provides policies for a variety of vehicles: motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, and RVs. The company also offers other types of coverage, like homeowners and renters insurance, that you can bundle with your auto insurance.
Another of GEICO’s big strengths is the breadth and variety of its discount options. Some of the breaks are if the car has:
- Airbags
- Anti-lock brakes
- Anti-theft system
- Is a new vehicle
Other breaks relate to you and your behavior. You might qualify for a discount if you are a:
- Good driver
- Seat belt use
- Educated driver
- Student
- Federal employee
- Member of the military
The company also partners with hundreds of groups, associations, and corporations to provide special rates for members or employees. GEICO also awards discounts for customer loyalty: There are multi-vehicle and multi-policy discounts. Some of the breaks mentioned above increase the longer you retain your GEICO insurance coverage.
In addition to their great discount offerings, one of the other reasons people love GEICO is its mobile app. Although many car insurance companies have gone digital, GEICO is on the cutting-edge when it comes to communication, provides state-of-the-art online tools and ease of service through both the company website and mobile app.
As the slogan says, GEICO offers a quick quote process through their website. Once you enroll with GEICO insurance, you can manage your policy and make changes 24/7 through the online customer portal. You can also file claims or check the status of pending claims, receive quotes for adding new drivers or vehicles to your policy, and more.
The GEICO mobile app is also an amazing asset to customers. Through the GEICO app, you can request emergency roadside assistance, view digital insurance ID cards, report a claim (or track existing claims), and receive virtual assistance. Its Mobile Vehicle Care feature, a joint venture with CARFAX, allows you to view repair costs, vehicle recalls, and service history for your vehicle.
What’s more, GEICO now offers connectivity with your Amazon Echo or Google Home, plus it offers voice command options with your smartphone so that you can access policy information or request assistance anywhere, anytime.
GEICO sports an A++ rating in financial strength with AM Best.1 However, the company saw its place in the J.D. Power 2021 Insurance Shopping Study go from the top slot to fourth overall.2
BEST PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCEState Farm
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- Average Premiums:$1,168 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online, phone, local agent
- Available Discounts:11
Although State Farm doesn’t offer as many digital perks as some other large insurance companies, the company does offer an extensive network of agents to help with your insurance needs anytime. Furthermore, State Farm is one of the oldest insurance companies in the industry and has a great track record with customers.
- Helpful mobile app
- Numerous discounts available
- Rideshare insurance isn’t available in every state
- Personal information required for quote
Over the past century, State Farm has grown into a national name for a variety of insurance products, including car coverage. And—increasingly rare in this digitized, outsourcing age—it maintains a network of employees across the United States, meaning you always have access to a local State Farm agent for your insurance questions and needs.
State Farm offers fairly extensive car insurance coverages like:
- Liability coverage
- Collision and comprehensive
- Medical payments & Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist coverage
- GAP insurance
- Rideshare insurance
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car & travel expense reimbursement
Additionally, State Farm offers coverage for other vehicles, like motorcycles, boats, and off-road vehicles. You can bundle your auto coverage with one of its other insurance policies.
When it comes to discounts, State Farm offers lots of options for safe drivers, safe vehicles, and customer loyalty. Bundling different insurance policies can save up to 17%, and multi-vehicle policies, up to 20%.
In comparison to some of the other top insurance companies, State Farm is a bit behind in a streamlined digital experience. That being said, State Farm started a partnership with Salesforce back in 2018 to enhance the online experience for its customers. Like most other insurance websites, you can now manage your account through the State Farm customer portal.
State Farm holds numerous awards and accolades for its customer service. J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study ranked State Farm sixth out of 18 insurance companies.3 Of course, what makes State Farm stand out are those local service agents, who get high marks for being efficient, knowledgable, and easy to reach (no dialing a 1-800 number, and enduring endless prompts and sitting on hold).
BEST CLAIMS SATISFACTIONAmica Mutual
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- Average Premiums:$1,071 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online or phone
- Available Discounts: 18
While Amica Mutual doesn’t offer any unique discounts or digital bells and whistles, its reputation for customer service and claims satisfaction speaks for itself. And their premiums aren’t out of line; in fact, they rank among the lowest in the business. We highly recommend this company if you’re looking for a reliable vendor when it comes time to make a claim.
- Many discounts available
- Highly rated with extra perks
- More expensive option
- No rideshare coverage available
Amica Mutual has received the top spot on J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study multiple times. It earned the second top spot in 2020.3 From low complaints to low premiums, it garners superlatives in several areas. We’re singling it out as the best based on claims satisfaction.
Like most other auto insurance companies, Amica offers all of the required and beneficial elective coverages you’d need: 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and even glass coverage (repairing your windshield or windows without incurring a deductible). Amica also offers an inclusive package called Platinum Choice Auto, which includes perks like accident forgiveness, glass coverage, identity theft monitoring, and premium rental car coverage. Customers can also receive referral and loyalty discounts.
Amica’s rates are competitive. Although it doesn’t offer a huge amount of discounts, the company does have:
- Safe vehicle discounts for airbags, anti-theft systems, and more
- Multi-vehicle and multi-policy discounts
- Loyalty discounts for customers who remain with Amica for 2+ years
- Auto-pay and paid-in-full discounts
- E-discount for customers who go paperless
Note that Amica Mutual is currently not available in Hawaii.
Overall, Amica’s website and mobile app are very basic and don’t do anything overly impressive. Still, they are easy to navigate, and you can do the standard tasks, like pay bills or access ID cards. Amica also allows its customers to file claims through the app and online. Customers can also request roadside assistance through the app.
Amica’s customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Furthermore, the company holds a complaint rating of 0.58 with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, one of the lowest in the industry.4 Customers say that Amica handles claims quickly and efficiently and that customer service representatives are always available to answer questions.
BEST FOR MILITARY FAMILIESUSAA
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- Average Premiums:$875 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online or phone
- Available Discounts: 13
If you meet the criteria for USAA’s car insurance coverage, you should definitely take advantage of it. The company offers great rates, impressive discounts for current military members, and a wonderful online experience.
- Multiple discounts available
- Rideshare insurance available
- Must be a USAA member
- No in-person agents
If you or a family member has or has had military ties, then the car coverage offered by USAA is hands down your best choice. The well-regarded financial institution, which is open to armed services members (active or retired) and their immediate kin (spouses, children), offers some of the lowest premiums in the industry, along with sterling customer service.
Like those of most other auto insurance carriers, USAA’s policies offer:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Personal injury protection and medical payments
USAA offers rideshare coverage for Lyft and Uber drivers, 24/7 roadside assistance, and towing coverage. USAA customers can also bundle their car and homeowners policies, or select other coverages like life insurance, renters or condo insurance, or boat insurance.
When it comes to discounts, USAA offers:
- Safe driver discounts
- Student discounts for drivers under 21
- Multi-vehicle and multi-policy discounts
- Base and storage discounts
- Mileage-based discounts
- Return customer discounts
Current military personnel who live on base or deployed overseas can receive discounts for upwards of 60%. Additionally, USAA offers accident forgiveness if you go accident-free for five years or if you end up in any accidents where you are deemed not at fault.
USAA offers a great digital experience through the USAA website and mobile app. Through the USAA website, customers can use the free quote tool and receive rates without even providing an email address or phone number. The site also includes lots of information about coverage options, planning and calculating tools, and general insurance and money management advice. The USAA mobile app also provides secure access for customers to pay their bill, access digital ID cards and insurance policies, or even start the claims process.
When it comes to the claims process, USAA makes it easy for you to complete the entire process digitally, which is great for people on the go. When you end up in an auto accident, you can simply go to the USAA website or open the mobile app and file your claim. A claims adjuster will notify you via text message or email if additional information is needed. Furthermore, you can upload images of the damage and other needed information to attach to your claim through the site or app.
When it comes to ratings, USAA car insurance receives top marks. In fact, J.D. Power gave USAA some of the highest ratings in its 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,5 and U.S. News & World Report also listed the company as their top pick on their review of the Top Insurance Companies in 2021.6
USAA also receives top marks for financial strength from AM Best rating services.7 Finally, The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reported USAA as having fewer customer complaints than the industry median.
BEST FOR HIGH-RISK DRIVERSProgressive
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- Average Premiums: $1,334 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online, phone, local agent
- Available Discounts: 13
Overall, Progressive really shines in its discount offerings and willingness to accept high-risk drivers. Because of this, we highly recommend Progressive for any driver with a history of accidents or any other negatives on their driving record. In fact, we suggest you enroll in the Snapshot program and let your current record help reduce the rates that your past may currently influence.
- Gap insurance available
- Rideshare insurance available
- Different prices for different purchase methods
- Discounts not available everywhere
If your driving record is less than stellar, Progressive can help you avoid the financial burden of your driving record. In fact, Progressive’s Name Your Price Tool allows you to opt-in for a coverage plan that meets your state’s minimum coverage requirements while also fitting your budget. Also, you can redeem your driving record and save even more through Progressive’s Snapshot program. This is why many high-risk drivers choose Progressive over other car insurance companies.
When it comes to auto coverage, Progressive offers:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Personal injury protection and medical payments
- GAP coverage
- Umbrella insurance policies
What’s more, Progressive offers some unique items, such as rideshare coverage for Lyft and Uber drivers, classic car coverage for antique autos, Mexican travel insurance for those who drive across the border, and custom parts coverage for aftermarket equipment. For those who want to switch their insurance policies over to Progressive, the company also offers homeowner’s and other property coverage, plus life insurance and other personal policies.
Progressive’s Snapshot program personalizes your rate based on your actual driving habits, which can not only help good drivers save money, but can help drivers with a record lower their premiums over time. Progressive offers an average discount of nearly $37 off your first policy period just for signing up for the Snapshot program, and most drivers save an average of $146 a year with the Snapshot program.
If you’re looking for more ways to save money, Progressive also offers:
- Online discounts for those who obtain quotes and enroll in policies online
- Multi-car and multiple-policy discounts for customers who bundle policies
- Teen driver discounts for drivers under 18, as well as student discounts for high school and college students with good grades
- Automatic payment discounts for policyholders who use automatic payments
- Paperless discounts for policyholders who go paperless
- Paid-in-full discount for customers who pay their full premium instead of monthly installments
- Loyalty discounts for those who renew policies or add additional policies down the line
Progressive actually offers one of the best digital experiences out of all the major insurance companies across the nation, with a variety of features like the Name Your Price Tool and Comparison Tool, which lets you compare rates side by side when shopping for a policy.
What’s more, Progressive’s app (available both through the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store) allows you to manage your policy from anywhere. With the app, you can obtain 24/7 roadside assistance, file a claim, make payments or policy changes, and even obtain a digital ID card to provide proof of insurance.
Unfortunately, you currently cannot manage your homeowner’s policy through the app, so those with multiple policies may also want to use the online portal through Progressive’s website when making policy changes.
While the perks of Progressive seem endless, not all customers feel the same way. In its 2020 Claims Satisfaction Survey, J.D. Power rated Progressive in the bottom half (21st out of 24) of insurers, which implies policyholders are less than thrilled with the payouts on their claims.8
BEST FOR YOUNG DRIVERSErie Insurance
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- Average Premiums: $2,345 per year
- Purchasing Options: Online, phone, local agent
- Available Discounts: 12
Erie Insurance has an excellent reputation in the insurance industry and a longstanding history of continued stability. Additionally, Erie offers some of the best premiums in the nation, especially for young drivers under 21. This, along with their generous discounts, makes them an obvious choice for teen and college drivers.
- Many discounts available
- RateLock could keep your premiums stable
- Not available in every state
- Policy management may require a phone call
Founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie Insurance has provided car, homeowners, and other types insurance since 1925. With specific discounts geared towards the 21 and under crowd and some of the lowest rates in the industry for new drivers, it’s a great pick for teens and college students looking for affordable car insurance.
Like most other companies on this list, Erie offers:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability
- Collision and comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Personal injury protection and medical payments
- Umbrella insurance policies
However, where Erie really shines is in the extras that it offers to its insurance customers. These extras include: roadside assistance with towing coverage, pet and personal item coverage, waived deductible on auto glass repairs, and new car protection. Erie also offers rideshare insurance, extended coverage for non-owned vehicles like moving vans, and several other perks. And, of course, Erie also provides homeowners and renters insurance, life insurance policies, and recreational vehicle coverage policies for motorcycles, boats, and RVs.
Erie offers a full package with coverage, but the company also offers a wide array of discounts to its customers. These savings include:
- Youthful Driver Discounts of up to 20% for unmarried drivers under 21 who live with their parents
- Driving Training Discounts for drivers under 21 who complete an accredited training course
- Erie Rate Lock, which keeps premiums the same every year regardless of accidents
- Multi-car and multi-policy discounts of up to 25%
- Save Driver discounts for those who maintain a clean driving record
- Safety Savings Discounts for vehicles with features like airbags, anti-theft devices and anti-lock brakes
- Reduced usage discount for drivers who store their vehicle for at least 90 days
Erie Insurance isn’t the best out there in terms of a digital experience for customers, but the company is working on it. Currently, Erie offers website features that allow customers to obtain a car insurance quote, track down local Erie Insurance agents, pay bills online, and file a claim.
Erie now has an app, available in iOS and Android. Customers can read policy information, pay their bills and track the status of their claims on the app.
Erie maintains a mostly positive rating when it comes to customer satisfaction. In fact, Erie Insurance ranked seventh of 24 companies in the country on J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study8 and second of 12 companies in the 2020 Insurance Shopping Study.2
Final Verdict
As you explore your car insurance options, it is important to consider the type of experience you want to access with the car insurance company. Do you want a streamlined digital experience? Or would you prefer the touch of an in-person agent? Additionally, consider the costs of your chosen car insurance policy. Seek out a policy that combines savings with the experience you are searching for.
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies
| Company | Average Premiums | Available Discounts | Purchasing Options | Claims Processing | Other Available Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO Best Rates & Discounts | $1,100 per year | 16 | Online, phone, local agent | Online, mobile app, or phone call | Homeowners, renters, flood, motorcycle, pet, jewelry, business, RV, etc. |
| State Farm Best Personalized Experience | $1,168 per year | 11 | Online, phone, local agent | Online, mobile app, or phone call | Boat, off-road vehicle, motor home, homeowners, farm, life, motorcycle, pet, rents, etc. |
| Amica Mutual Best Claims Satisfaction | $1,071 per year | 18 | Online or phone | Online or phone call | Homeowners, condo, renters, umbrella, marine, boat, motorcycle, life, pet, wedding, etc. |
| USAA Best For Military Families | $875 per year | 13 | Online or phone | Online | Homeowners, travel, life, flood, motorcycle, pet, renters, RV, boat, etc. |
| Progressive Best For High-Risk Drivers | $1,334 per year | 13 | Online, phone, local agent | Online, mobile app, or phone call | Boat, homeowners, life, flood, motorcycle, pet, renters, RV, travel, snowmobile, umbrella, etc. |
| Erie Insurance Best for Young Drivers | $2,345 | 12 | Online, phone, local agent | Phone call | Homeowners, renters, ATC, boat, motorcycle, life, etc. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Coverage Options Are Available?
With some exceptions, most car insurance companies offer the following types of coverage:
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, which pays for the other party’s medical care and property damage if you’re found at fault in an auto accident.
- Collision Coverage, which pays for damage to your own car regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive Coverage, which pays for damage to your car in the event of weather damage or theft.
- Personal Injury Protection/Medical Payments, which covers your own medical expenses regardless of fault.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage, which pays for your own medical and car repair bills if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver.
- Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) Coverage, which covers the gap between what is owed on your car’s lease or loan and its current value if the accident caused a total loss.
What Coverage Do I Even Need?
Many drivers go by the minimum coverage amounts set by their state’s regulations because it seems like the most affordable option. However, it’s important to understand precisely what is included in each policy before selecting which coverages to add and which to leave off.
In a recent interview with Douglas Heller, an auto insurance expert and consumer advocate, he explained that, “There’s one additional type of coverage that is required—not by the government, but by your car lender. It’s called comprehensive and collision coverage. If you don’t own your car outright, say you have a loan, or are leasing your vehicle, the company financing the car, whether it’s a bank, finance company, or lease company, will require comprehensive and collision.”
What Should I Do When Comparing Car Insurance Companies?
When comparing insurance rates between multiple insurance companies, it’s important to keep several considerations in mind, including the actual coverage you’re receiving (including dollar amounts for each coverage), available discounts, the company’s financial strength rating, and the company’s customer service ratings. Make sure you understand everything about how car insurance works before making your final decision.
When choosing a car insurance company, consider your needs and prioritize your choice based on what is most important to you. While GEICO offers the lowest rates across the board, other companies like Amica offer the best claims satisfaction, Progressive offers great coverage for high-risk drivers, State Farm offers the most personalized experience, and USAA gives amazing discounts to military personnel.
Methodology
When determining our top car insurance choices, we evaluated each insurance company based on several categories, including: financial strength via A.M. Best, claims satisfaction ratings based on J.D. Power’s latest Claims Satisfaction Survey, and customer reviews from websites such as Consumer Reports, and more. We also complied comparison data from multiple consumer review websites. Our analysis is an excellent guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare quotes before committing to a single car insurance provider.