According to our analysis, American Family, Auto-Owners, Nationwide, and USAA are the best overall auto insurance companies, with a 5-star rating from us. USAA auto insurance is only available to military members, veterans, and their immediate family members.
The best car insurance company for you will depend on your driving history, state, and other personal factors. When you shop around to compare auto insurance quotes, you’ll know which company can offer you the best price for your situation.
Best for low-cost car insurance: Geico
Geico has the lowest rates in the nation available to the general public when looking at average rates across a variety of driving records and driver ages. (USAA is cheaper, but membership is limited to military-affiliated vehicle owners.)
Drivers with bad credit should compare quotes from Geico as rates are competitive. It’s worth getting a quote if you have bad credit, as many car insurance companies charge much higher rates based solely on poor credit.
Geico’s average annual car insurance cost
Best when there are few complaints: American families and travelers
Complaints about a company are a reflection of customer service. Most complaints against auto insurance companies involve claims issues. American Family and Travelers has a very low level of complaints about auto insurance, based on verified complaints filed with state insurance departments across the country.
Average annual car insurance cost for an American family
Average annual car insurance costs for travelers
Perfect for Collision Repair: Ellie
Ellie received the highest rating of B+ from collision repair experts among the companies we analyzed. Collision repair experts conduct internal investigations to determine which insurance companies are cutting corners and which ones have the smoothest claims process.
Average annual car insurance cost in Erie
Perfect for drivers with speeding tickets: Geico and Westfield
Drivers who receive a speeding ticket can expect to see their charges affected for three to five years, depending on the insurance company and state. Geico and Westfield have the lowest rates for these drivers among publicly available companies. Westfield is a regional insurance company that sells auto insurance in 10 states, primarily in the Midwest.
USAA also offers lower rates for military personnel and veterans who receive a speeding ticket.
Average annual car insurance costs in Westfield
Ideal for drivers who have been involved in an accident: car owners
A “payable” accident remains on your record and can affect your car insurance premiums for 3 to 5 years, depending on state law and your car insurance company. Auto-Owners has the best average rates for stranded drivers here, based on the companies we analyzed.
The severity of the accident, i.e. the amount of property damage and injuries, can affect the amount of the premium. Check with your auto insurance agent to find out how long the surcharge will affect your auto insurance premium.
Average annual car insurance costs for car owners
Perfect for DUI drivers: Progressive
Although rate increases are inevitable after a DUI, Progressive offers the most competitive pricing for drivers in this situation based on national averages for the companies we analyze.
Auto insurance companies typically obtain a motor vehicle report when you get a new quote or when your policy is up for renewal. This is your chance to adjust your rate based on your recent problem history, and a DUI conviction can be an expensive insurance issue.
Progressive average annual car insurance cost
Ideal for military personnel: USAA
USAA continues to be the best auto insurance option for military personnel with consistently great rates and a variety of coverage options. Complaint levels regarding USAA auto insurance have increased over the past few years, but current complaint levels are about average for the industry.
USAA average annual auto insurance costs