To identify the best car insurance companies we evaluated each company based on its average rates for a variety of drivers, the coverage options offered, complaints against the company, digital experience, collision repair grades from auto body professionals and our surveys of customer service, pricing and claims satisfaction.
Auto insurance rates (40% of score): We analyzed average rates from each company for good drivers, drivers who have caused an accident, drivers with a speeding ticket, drivers with a DUI, drivers with poor credit and drivers caught without insurance.
Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
- $100,000 for injuries to one person, $300,000 for injuries per accident and $100,000 of property damage (known as 100/300/100).
- Uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300.
- Collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
Source: Quadrant Information Services.
Car insurance coverage options (20% of score): Any auto insurance company can provide the basics of liability insurance, collision and comprehensive coverage and other standard offerings. But it’s also important to have access to additional coverage types that can provide greater protection or cost savings. In this category, we gave points to companies that offer:
- Accident forgiveness
- Gap insurance
- New car replacement
- Nonowners policies
- Usage-based insurance
- Pay-per-mile insurance
- Rideshare insurance
- SR-22s
- Vanishing deductibles
Source: Forbes Advisor research.
Complaints (15% of score): We used complaint data from state departments of insurance across the country. Most auto insurance complaints center on claims, including unsatisfactory settlements, delays, and denials.
Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
The industry complaint average is 1.00, so companies with a ratio below 1.00 have lower levels of complaints.
Collision repair (5% of score): We incorporated insurance company grades from collision repair professionals. We used data provided by CRASH Network, a weekly newsletter covering the collision repair and auto insurance market segments.
Source: CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card provides grades from more than 1,100 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Digital experience (5% of score): We analyzed the quality of each company’s mobile app and website. We evaluated car insurers on:
- Mobile app ratings for Android and Apple.
- If there’s a useful website search function.
- If there’s a live chat that provides helpful information.
- If there’s a Spanish version of the website.
- If you can get a quote online.
Source: Forbes Advisor research.
Likelihood to recommend car insurers to others (5% of score) and satisfaction with customer service and price (5% of score): We surveyed 3,000 American drivers with car insurance who purchased a new policy or renewed their policy within the last 12 months, 200 per company.
Source: This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11-29, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.5 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Satisfaction with claims process (up to 5% of score): We surveyed 3,000 American drivers who have filed a car insurance claim within the past 12 months.
Source: This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11 to November 12, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.8 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates car insurance companies
