Best Car Insurance Companies: 2018

Here are what some policyholders had to say when asked to make a comment about their experience (you can see all comments for each company by clicking on the logo in the table above):

1. USAA

Note that USAA serves only to active and retired military personnel and their immediate family members.

• They treat you like family. Everyone I've spoken to there has been extremely kind and obviously focused on helping me with whatever I needed. They were especially wonderful for the first few years they were insuring me because I was driving a very old car that didn't always do very well.  I paid just two dollars per six month policy for roadside assistance and they were fantastic. No matter when I called for help they sent someone who arrived promptly and was able to help me with whatever the car needed. I can't imagine switching to another insurance company.
• They actually care about you as a person and not just a client. Not only do they have the best rates, but they give you a lot of benefits with a really low rate.
• They are great at walking through scenarios and what would have the best or worst impact our situation.

Good to know:

  USAA caters to military personnel, so you get a discount for garaging your car on base, and it also offers coverage if you have a side-hustle as an Uber or Lyft driver.

Bottom line:

USAA not only ranks No. 1 overall, but also on the individual metrics of customer service satisfaction, claims processing and value. Its limited membership, however, means it’s not available to everyone.  

2. American Family (tie)

• They look out for you to make sure you have the correct amount of insurance and work with you to make sure you can afford it.
• They are good and friendly, always quick to respond via e-mail or phone call.
• All my questions, even if odd -- like are my cats covered if we are in car traveling to vet or moving-- have been answered and met with thoughtful responses not laughter.

Good to know:

American Family is a mutual company, meaning its customers are its owners, so any profits earned are returned to the policyholders in the form or dividends or reduced premiums. Young volunteer. It also offers a “young volunteer” discount to drivers under age 25 who complete  40 hours of volunteer work per year for a non-profit organization.

Bottom line:

American Family tied for second overall, but in the top spot for most serviceable website and apps. For price it landed in the middle of the pack, in ninth place. But policyholders had positive experiences with customer service, which is likely why American Family was among those with the highest precentage of customers who said they were likely to renew their policies with the company.

2. Allstate (tie)

• They have great customer service and proactively make sure I get the coverage I need and any discounts I am entitled to receive.
• Allstate makes it very easy and convenient for you to handle any of your insurance needs all from your Allstate App that is easily available for download from any App Store.
• This company treats you like family, keeps up to date with changes to your situation without being intrusive and even remembers you family members with a birthday card each year.

Good to know:

  Safe drivers can earn points redeemable for savings on gift cards, merchandise and travel, whether an Allstate customer or not, by using the Allstate Rewards feature of the company’s mobile Drivewise app.  Allstate also offers affordable coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers.

Bottom line:

  Allstate, tied for second, was well liked by its surveyed policyholders, ranking in the top four for claims, customer service and for how easy and useful its website and apps were.  Feedback showed it to be a well-balanced company, but not cheap.  “Overall good coverage, but a bit pricey,” was a sentiment some shared and shows in the ranking with Allstate’s price to be average and coming in eighth in value for price.

Here is how insurance companies ranked when data were analyzed by age and region.

Best auto insurance companies by age

• Best car insurance companies for millennials:

1. American Family
2. USAA
3. Mercury

• Best car insurance companies for Gen X:

1. CSAA
2. USAA
3. Auto Club of Southern California

• Best car insurance companies for Baby Boomers:

1. USAA
2. Allstate
3. Mercury

Best car insurance companies by region

• Best car insurance companies for Northeast region:

1. USAA
2. Mercury
3. CSAA

• Best car insurance companies for Midwest region:

1. CSAA
2. USAA
3. Allstate

• Best car insurance companies for South region:

1. American Family
2. CSAA
3. Farmers

• Best car insurance companies for West region:

1. Allstate
2. Liberty Mutual
3. USAA

Agree with our findings? Disagree? Join the conversation by sharing your own experience with your car insurance provider in the commenting forum below.
 
Note that this is an independent editorial analysis devoid of affiliations or partnerships of any kind– companies did not pay to be included. Finally, the A.M. Best financial ratings represent an assessment of an insurer's ability to meet its financial obligations to policyholders, and are separate from the editorial ranking.