On a quest to make an Italian style meal last week, I found myself in the pasta aisle. “Whoa!” I thought, “How can there possibly be so many options? Spaghetti, rigatoni, angel hair, macaroni, linguini, lasagna…Where do I even begin?”
And just as there were so many kinds of pasta, there were just as many different brands to select from. Overwhelming!
Shopping for your personal auto insurance can be just like that! There are so many companies offering car insurance. And each company offers different features on their auto policies.
All auto insurance companies provide standard coverages like collision and liability on their policies. But each company also has unique offerings that may make them more appealing (or less appealing). It all depends on the needs of you – the consumer.
What you are looking for as a customer will have a big impact on the company that you select for your personal insurance needs.
As an independent insurance agent, I have helped customers navigate this issue time and again.
Some of my customers have teen drivers and want a company that offers good rates on policies with young drivers. Some of my drivers value coverage for roadside assistance. Others value working with a local agent who can help them with all of their personal insurance needs.
While pricing is a big factor in choosing your auto insurance company, it isn’t the only factor!
What do you want in an auto insurance company?
In this article, you will be introduced to the Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in the U.S. The list is not in any particular order but is designed to give you an overview of what each company offers along with some of its limitations.
Travelers Insurance
- Fantastic rates for customers who bundle multiple policies
- Fast, reliable claims service
- Excellent customer service
- Great rates for married couples with young families
- Offers additional coverages like new car replacement, roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and rental coverages
- Discounts policies for customers with clean driving records and owners of new vehicles or hybrid/electric vehicles
- Products available through independent agencies
Bottom line – Travelers is great for young families. They offer incredible discounts for customers who bundle their insurance. Their claims service is also top-notch!
Auto Owners Insurance
- Very competitive premium rates (at Baily Agency 9 out of 10 times the best rate!)
- Great discounts for customers who bundle other policies with their auto policy
- Offer incredible life insurance policies for their auto and homeowner clients
- Provide good coverage and rates for young drivers including teen drivers
- Gives discounts to good students, to students attending college away from home without a car, and to students enrolled in their teen monitoring program
- Products available through independent agencies
Bottom line – Auto Owners is one of the most competitive insurers in terms of rates. Their bundling offers can’t be beaten – especially the cost of their life insurance policies.
Progressive
- Many options for customer service – phone apps., email, phone, etc.
- Top-notch claims service – quick, thorough, responsive
- Offer many other insurance products – easy to place all of your insurance needs with them
- Will cover hard-to-insure clients – if you’ve had accidents, you may pay more, but Progressive will often help you
- Offers online insurance quoting or in-person quoting through independent agents
- Allows customers to lessen their rates through a telematic driving program called Snapshot
- Has an online “Name Your Price” tool to help you find a policy within your price range
Bottom line – Progressive is a great company to work with if you also need insurance for your “toys” – golf carts, classic cars, boats, etc. Their claims team is also at the top of the pack in terms of responsiveness.
Nationwide
- Well-recognized name and reputation
- Excellent claims service
- Offers bundling with other personal insurance products
- Gives good rates to young drivers and good student discounts for teens
- Provides online quoting for your policies as well as through insurance agents
- Offers accident forgiveness coverage for an additional cost but keeps your rates from going up after an accident
- Offers discounts to customers with a 5-year clean driving record
- Has a smart ride telematic program that helps customers improve their driving
Bottom line – Nationwide is a great company to choose if you are looking for a nationally recognizable brand. They also offer great discounts for responsible young drivers.
Safeco Insurance
- Part of Liberty Mutual, a nationally recognized brand
- Phenomenal with bundling insurance products
- Excellent claims service and customer service
- Offers a variety of specialty products including classic car insurance, boat insurance, motorcycle insurance, and more
- Best rates for married couples with younger children
- Hard to get lower rates if teens are on your policy
- Offers discounts for clean driving records, safety features on automobiles, and low yearly mileage
- Able to be quoted online or through insurance agents
Bottom line – Safeco Insurance offers phenomenal discounts when bundling. They write all kinds of insurance including classic cars, boats, RVs, ATVs, etc. They are a one-stop-shop.
Donegal
- Fantastic rates for clients who bundle their other insurance products
- Quick and reliable claims service
- Small offerings in specialty insurance products
- Not friendly to teen drivers
- Has a first accident forgiveness program
- Provides extra coverages like towing and labor coverage and rental reimbursement coverage
- Offers discounts to customers who insure more than one vehicle
- Offers discounts for safety features on automobiles, driver’s training classes, and carpooling
- Products available only through insurance agents
Bottom line – Donegal Insurance is top-notch in bundling products, claims service, and customer service. They don’t have as many specialty insurance offerings, but they are fantastic with all of the products they do offer.
Foremost/Bristol West
- Provides coverage for hard-to-place customers
- Excellent pricing for additional products like boats and bikes
- Helps with rental costs if your vehicle has been damaged in an accident
- Provides towing for your vehicle if it becomes disabled on the road
- Products available only through insurance agents
Bottom line – Foremost is a great option for individuals who are having a hard time finding auto insurance coverage due to a prior accident or a less than great driving record. They also offer great pricing on motorcycles and boats.
State Farm Insurance
- Only available through State Farm agents
- Well-known brand with a national presence
- Offers bundling for home and auto policies
- Provides discounts to teens and young adults for good driving record and rewards good students with lower rates
- Has rideshare coverage for drivers who use their vehicles as Uber or Lyft drivers
- Insurance quotes available online or through State Farm Insurance agents
Bottom line – You can find a State Farm representative in almost any community. State Farm offers bundling, good student discounts, and even has products for Lyft and Uber drivers.
Erie Insurance
- Only available through Erie Insurance representatives
- Discounts auto policies when bundled with homeowner insurance
- Offers discounts for safety features on vehicles, safe driving, and reduced usage
- Offers discounts to young unmarried drivers (under 21) who live with their parents
- Policies also include pet coverage, personal item coverage, and locksmith services
- Provide roadside assistance and rental car coverage to policyholders
- Policies can be quoted online or through Erie Insurance agents
Bottom line – Erie Insurance offers some unique extra coverages like pet coverage and personal item coverage.
Geico
- Well-known nationally
- Easy to get an insurance quote online
- Offers customers a mobile app and 24/7 customer service
- Discounts policies for military and federal employees
- Offers discounts for clean driving and good students
- Will not cover your car if you lend it and it is in an accident (coverage only pertains to those on the policy)
Bottom line – Many choose Geico because of brand recognition and ease of use. Geico also offers discounts for military and federal employees in addition to extra specialty coverages like RV insurance and motorcycle insurance.
Ready to take the next step in purchasing auto insurance?
Now that you have a sense of what the top insurance companies are offering in terms of coverages, are you ready to take the next step?
Like we’ve discussed, every company is different in what they provide for their customers. How they are similar, however, is in what they look at when writing insurance policies for their customers.
Before going online or calling your agent to get started on a quote, take a look at the 12 factors that will affect the cost of your auto insurance policy.
At Baily Insurance, we want to make sure you are well-informed before buying your insurance policies. These are big decisions! We want to help you clearly understand your options and exactly what you are purchasing.
