Best Auto Insurance Companies for 2026

The category average is $209 per month for full coverage. Still, several companies come in well below that: USAA is the cheapest at $131, followed by American Family and Erie at $159, Auto-Owners at $171, and Travelers and GEICO under $180.

Just under average sit Auto Club Group at $185 and Nationwide at $205, while Progressive, Amica, State Farm and Auto Club Enterprises land in the mid-to-high $200s.

At the top of the price range are CSAA ($251), Farmers ($257), Allstate ($267), and Mercury ($270), making them the most expensive options in this dataset.

The Hartford, Liberty Mutual and Safeco aren’t listed with public rates here, so they aren’t included in the averages but remain important contextually as national competitors.

Customer satisfaction scores in this dataset are generally strong, but there’s a clear group of standouts at the top and a noticeable drop-off at the bottom.

Erie and CSAA Insurance Group lead the pack at 92%, edging out USAA and Auto Club Enterprises at 90%, which confirms these regional and membership-based carriers are resonating strongly with their policyholders.

Close behind, Travelers, Auto Club Group, Mercury and Nationwide all score between 88% and 89%, comfortably above the category average of 85% and reinforcing their reputations as solid, dependable choices.

Well-known national brands like American Family, State Farm, Farmers, The Hartford, GEICO, Allstate and Liberty Mutual cluster in the low- to mid-80s – respectable, but not exceptional in this field.

At the bottom, Progressive (78%), Amica (77%) and Safeco (77%) fall significantly below average, suggesting they have more work to do in this category.

Ease of service scores indicate that most major auto insurers are doing a solid job of helping customers manage their policies, but a few stand out. Mercury leads the pack at 95%, followed closely by Erie and USAA at 94%, suggesting their customers find it especially easy to access documents, make changes and get help when needed.

Big national brands like GEICO, Allstate and Liberty Mutual cluster at 90%, just above the category average of 88%, alongside Travelers, Auto-Owners and Safeco at 89%, indicating consistently strong experiences across their apps, websites and service channels.

CSAA, State Farm, Auto Club Enterprises and Nationwide sit right around the average, while Progressive, American Family, Farmers, The Hartford and Amica dip slightly below but remain in the mid-80s. Auto Club Group trails the group at 81%, suggesting more friction for customers trying to manage their policies compared to the top performers.

When it comes to policy offerings, a few insurers clearly lead the pack while others lag behind with more limited choices or less satisfied customers. Erie, USAA and Travelers top the list at 92%, indicating that their customers feel they have a robust menu of coverage options, add-ons and customizations.

Just behind them, Mercury (89%) and Liberty Mutual (88%) also perform well above the category average of 84%. Auto-Owners and The Hartford (both 87%), along with Auto Club Enterprises, Nationwide, CSAA, American Family and Auto Club Group clustered around the mid-80s.

Major brands like GEICO and State Farm (83%) and Amica (82%) remain competitive, but Allstate (81%), Progressive (79%), Safeco (78%) and Farmers (77%) sit at the bottom of the list, signaling that customers at those companies may feel they have fewer coverage choices or less flexibility compared to the market leaders.

Claims handling is where the best auto insurance companies differentiate themselves, and this data makes that distinction quite clear. USAA and Auto Club Enterprises lead the pack at 87%, showing that their customers are pleased with how claims are managed – a big deal since claims are the “moment of truth” for any insurer.

Close behind, Erie and Auto Club Group scored 84%, while companies like Travelers (82%) and American Family (82%) also outperform the category average of 78%, indicating solid and reliable claims experiences. Major brands such as Mercury, State Farm, The Hartford and Auto-Owners (80%) sit just above average, while Allstate, Safeco, Liberty Mutual and GEICO cluster slightly below but still in a generally acceptable range.

For shoppers who prioritize being treated well after a crash, the top-tier claims performers stand out as safer options.

Customer recommendations show a clear hierarchy of trust and satisfaction across auto insurers. Erie leads the way with 92% of customers saying they’d recommend it, followed closely by USAA at 90%, underscoring both companies’ strong loyalty and word-of-mouth power.

Just below them is a big cluster of brands at 89% – Mercury, Auto Club Enterprises, Auto Club Group, State Farm and Allstate – all performing above or well in line with the category average of 87%. Nationwide and GEICO (88%) and Liberty Mutual and Farmers (87%) also sit comfortably in the recommended tier, while Travelers, Auto-Owners, The Hartford and American Family (all 86%) match the overall average.

Below that line, sentiment starts to soften: Progressive at 84% trails the pack modestly, while CSAA (80%), Amica (79%) and Safeco (77%) have noticeably fewer customers willing to recommend them, hinting at experience or value gaps that make policyholders more hesitant to tell friends and family to switch.

Trust scores reveal some of the most striking gaps in insurer perception across the industry. Mercury stands out dramatically with a perfect 100% trust rating, the only company in the dataset to earn universal confidence from its customers. Close behind, Auto Club Enterprises at 97% also commands strong trust, reflecting deep loyalty among its member base.

Several major insurers cluster just above the category average of 90%, including Nationwide (94%), Auto Club Group (93%), Travelers (93%), USAA and Auto-Owners (92%), along with Erie, State Farm and American Family at 91%, showing broad consumer confidence in these well-established brands.

Below the average, well-known national carriers like GEICO and Farmers (89%) and Liberty Mutual and CSAA (88%) still perform respectably but fall short of the leaders. Toward the bottom, The Hartford (87%), Amica (85%), Progressive (83%) and Safeco (81%) show more pronounced trust deficits, suggesting customers may have reservations tied to claims experiences, pricing trends or overall satisfaction.

Overall, trust tends to mirror long-term brand stability.

Renewal rates show just how “sticky” auto insurance relationships are – and this dataset makes that clear. Overall, customers tend to stay with their current provider, with a category average of 93% indicating that they plan to renew.

At the very top, USAA leads with a 97% renewal rate, followed closely by CSAA Insurance Group at 96%, and Mercury and Auto Club Enterprises at 95%, signaling deep loyalty and strong satisfaction among their policyholders.

Major national brands like Nationwide, Erie and Farmers (94%) and State Farm, Allstate and The Hartford (93%) also retain the vast majority of their customers, reinforcing their reputations as long-term “home base” insurers.

Even at the lower end, Liberty Mutual (90%) and GEICO (89%) still achieve a 9 out of 10 customer retention rate, which would be excellent in most industries. The narrow spread from 89% to 97% suggests that once drivers choose an insurer, they’re highly likely to stick with it unless something goes notably wrong with price, claims or service.