Jerry’s editorial team conducted a detailed analysis of over a dozen of the nation’s leading insurance companies and discovered that these are the best auto insurance companies for American drivers in 2023:

Nationwide

: 96/100

Erie

: 98/100

Travelers

: 93/100

Farmers

: 92/100

Allstate

: 91/100

Progressive

: 91/100

Safeco

: 90/100

Mercury

: 88/100

GEICO

: 84/100

State Farm

: 81/100

Why Nationwide earned the top spot: Nationwide has extensive coverage options and discounts, reasonable costs, and robust customer satisfaction ratings. Although Erie ranked a couple of points higher, we’ve put Nationwide in first because Erie is only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C., while Nationwide is available in all but four states (AK, HI, LA, and MA).

Honorable Mention: USAA earned a score of 89/100 in our analysis, but because USAA policies are only available to active duty military members, veterans, and their families, we haven’t included them in our main ranking. If you’re eligible for a USAA policy, check out our full

USAA insurance review

Best overall:
Nationwide

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 861/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 866/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A+ (Superior)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 1.23

CRASH network repair score: 543

Highlight: Nationwide has two usage-based insurance programs:
SmartRide®
, which rewards safe driving habits with premium discounts, and SmartMiles®, which offers low insurance premiums to low-mileage drivers.

Drawback: Drivers with a DUI pay higher-than-average rates with Nationwide.

Available in: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Nationwide hits the sweet spot for most drivers with good claims handling, strong customer service scores, and some of the best usage-based insurance programs on the road. Small accident forgiveness, total loss deductible waivers, pet injury protection, and vanishing deductibles allow drivers to customize their auto insurance coverage and rates—and the free annual On Your Side review program allows policyholders to take full advantage of Nationwide’s many discounts.

Best for: Drivers in lower credit brackets; families with teens; anyone looking for customizable coverage

Not for: Rideshare drivers; drivers with DUIs; drivers in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Massachusetts

Runner-up: Erie

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 878/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 893/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A+ (Superior)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 0.09

CRASH network repair score: 996

Highlight: Erie’s Rate Lock® allows drivers to lock in their car insurance rates until they make major policy changes, such as adding a new driver or vehicle.

Drawback: Digital policy management options are limited, and drivers with low credit pay higher-than-average rates.

Available in: DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WI

Erie is a great small regional insurer—in fact, it earned the highest overall score in our carrier comparison! The biggest factors that contributed to Erie’s high rating include one of the highest collision repair scores in the industry, phenomenal customer service ratings, and policy perks like Rate Lock and the Auto Plus® package, which adds vanishing and waived deductibles, death benefits, and increased coverage limits for a small annual fee.

The only problem? Erie is only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C., making it an inaccessible option for most drivers.

Best for: Drivers in the Midwest and Northeast, high-quality collision repair

Not for: Drivers with lower credit scores, anyone who prefers digital policy management

MORE:

Does Erie have good car insurance discounts?

Best for new car owners: Travelers

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 848/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 854/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A++ (Exceptional)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 1.09

CRASH network repair score: 556

Highlight: Travelers offers Premier New Car Replacement for totaled cars five years old or newer and a discount of up to 10% for new car owners.

Drawback: Travelers’ claims process gets a low grade for a company with its size and financial strength.

Available in: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI

With lower-than-average rates, more discounts than most insurers, and an NAIC customer complaint index close to the industry average, Travelers is a step ahead of the competition in many areas. It’s especially great for drivers who want to customize their policies with coverage like

gap insurance

or roadside assistance. In addition to

accident forgiveness

, Travelers offers minor violation forgiveness and deductible waivers with two tiers of its Responsible Driver Plan.

Best for: New car owners, safe drivers, anyone who wants to customize their coverage

Not for: Rideshare drivers outside of Illinois and Colorado

Best for rideshare drivers: Farmers

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 846/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 882/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A (Excellent)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 0.79

CRASH network repair score: 500

Highlight: Farmers Rideshare insurance covers policyholders who drive for Uber and Lyft in the gap when waiting for customers.

Drawback: Farmers’ rates are slightly higher than the national average for most customers.

Available in: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY

If you’re looking for rideshare insurance or for super-customizable coverage with tons of discounts and strong customer service, Farmers might be the right option for you—as long as you’re willing to pay a little extra. With average rates a little above the market average, Farmers isn’t the cheapest insurance company, but it offers more discounts than any other insurance company and tons of additional coverage options, from custom equipment coverage and $0 deductible glass coverage to personal umbrella insurance.

Best for: Rideshare drivers, custom vehicles

Not for: Shoppers prioritizing cost over customer service

MORE:

Is the Farmers Signal app worth it?

Easiest to use: Allstate

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 853/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 889/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A+ (Superior)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 2.42

Highlight: Allstate offers a Claim Satisfaction Guarantee: if you’re not happy with your claim, you’ll get a six-month credit on your car insurance policy.

Drawback: Out of all the companies we surveyed, Allstate received the lowest grade on the 2023 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card.

Available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Allstate has some of the highest average rates of any major insurer—along with the highest ratings for claims satisfaction, ease of use, and customer service. You’ll find all the standard types of car insurance you may need, along with usage-based programs for safe driving (Drivewise®) and low-mileage drivers (Milewise®), accident forgiveness, diminishing deductibles, roadside assistance, and the best mobile app in the business. They’ve also got the best

good student discount

in the industry—good news for young drivers!

Best for: Drivers who prefer digital policy management, good drivers, shoppers who prioritize customer service over cost

Not for: Anyone looking for the cheapest rates

Best for poor credit and DUIs: Progressive

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 853/100

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 861/100

AM Best financial strength rating: A+ (Superior)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 1.45

CRASH network repair score: 503

Highlights: Pet coverage is included as a standard part of any comprehensive plan and automatic small accident forgiveness is included in every policy.

Drawbacks: Customer service ratings for Progressive are mixed.

Available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Progressive may not have the cheapest rates overall, but they’re hands down the best insurer for most drivers with DUIs and low credit scores. Those rating factors count less against you in Progressive’s premium calculations—which is good news for anyone struggling to find affordable car insurance coverage. Progressive also offers a great spread of

car insurance discounts

and add-on coverage, but policyholders report mixed experiences with customer service.

Best for: High-risk drivers with poor driving history, shoppers with a low credit score

Not for: Teen drivers

MORE:

Allstate Drivewise vs. Progressive Snapshot: Which is better?

Best for young drivers: Safeco

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 840/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 865/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A (Excellent)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 1.6

CRASH network repair score: 364

Highlight: With Safeco’s Claims-Free Cash Back program, drivers who go six months without submitting a claim can get 2.5% of their premium back.

Drawback: Safeco gets below-average customer satisfaction and claims handling scores from J.D. Power.

Available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Safeco, a subsidiary of

Liberty Mutual

, offers excellent insurance options for young drivers, with plenty of ways to save, including the RightTrack telematics program. In addition to standard types of coverage, Safeco has a

robust emergency assistance package

, personal property coverage, custom equipment coverage, and rideshare endorsements for as little as $10 a month in most states. Customers who’ve had a policy with Safeco for a year or more get a 27% discount when adding a teen to their policy.

Best for: Young drivers looking for cheap coverage, rideshare drivers, minimum coverage

Not for: Shoppers who prioritize customer service over cost

Best for California drivers: Mercury

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 866/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 830/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A (Excellent)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 0.59

CRASH network repair score: 580

Highlight: Mercury earned the highest overall customer satisfaction score in our analysis.

Drawback: Mercury doesn’t have many extra coverage options, such as new car replacement and diminishing deductibles.

Available in: AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, NV, NJ, NY, OK, TX, VA

While it’s only available in 11 states, Mercury shines among smaller insurers with extremely affordable rates and high customer satisfaction ratings. Even drivers with accidents and violations report lower rates with Mercury—and the usage-based MercuryGo safe driving program offers an automatic 5% discount at sign-up.

As a smaller company, it doesn’t have many complex coverage options—which is great news for drivers who prefer to keep their policy simple and their costs low. Stick to the basics with liability coverage, collision and comprehensive, and standard add-ons like rental car reimbursement coverage.

Best for: Drivers in states where it’s available, low-mileage drivers, rideshare drivers

Not for: Drivers in most states, anyone looking for accident forgiveness

Best for cheap coverage: GEICO

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 857/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 874/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A++ (Exceptional)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 2.31

CRASH network repair score: 412

Highlight: GEICO’s Prime Time Contract guarantees

policy renewal

for drivers over age 50.

Drawback: GEICO does not offer rideshare insurance or gap coverage.

Available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

GEICO is best for drivers with low credit and anyone at either end of the age spectrum: i.e., young drivers and seniors. The company’s auto repair guarantee backs all repairs for as long as you own your vehicle, and GEICO’s high financial strength and claims satisfaction ratings tend to translate to solid claims handling.

But despite low prices and high expert scores, many policyholders report bad experiences with GEICO’s customer service—as reflected in its NAIC complaint index, which is over twice the industry average.

Best for: Shoppers who prioritize cost over customer service, senior drivers

Not for: Rideshare drivers, new car owners

MORE:

How GEICO’s accident forgiveness actually works

Best for local agents: State Farm

J.D. Power insurance shopping score (2023): 877/1000

J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (2022): 882/1000

AM Best financial strength rating: A++ (Exceptional)

NAIC complaint index (May 2023): 1.48

CRASH network repair score: 507

Highlight: State Farm earns some of the highest expert ratings for claims and customer satisfaction.

Drawback: You can’t get an online quote—the only way to buy a policy is through a local State Farm insurance agent.

Available in: All 50 states and Washington, D.C. (no new policies in MA and RI)

For drivers with low credit and a clean driving record who want a traditional car insurance experience, State Farm is a great option. With a vast network of local agents and no online quoting, State Farm keeps it old-school—and that means low rates, great customer service, and tons of customer loyalty.

But despite those advantages, State Farm misses the mark in several areas, with poor digital policy management options, high rates for drivers with low credit, and no gap insurance, diminishing deductible coverage, or accident forgiveness.

Best for: Old-school insurance shoppers, families with teens, drivers with good credit

Not for: Drivers with low credit, anyone who prefers digital policy management

MORE:

Why State Farm might not cover a DUI accident

The best car insurance company for you: Compare rates

While we’ve crunched the numbers to find the insurance providers with the best customer service, claims handling, and coverage options, the only way to find the best insurance company for you is to compare auto insurance rates from at least three companies.

Jerry

makes it easy with one of the best quote comparison tools in the business. Download the app, enter your information, and you’ll see the best rates from some of the best and cheapest car insurance companies in the industry—including Nationwide, our #1 car insurance company for 2023!

How much insurance do you need?

Car insurance comes in a lot of different forms, but the three types of coverage that are most important to know are liability insurance, personal injury protection (PIP), and collision and comprehensive insurance. We’ll go over each in turn.

Methodology: How we picked the best car insurance companies

To find the best car insurance companies—and not just the cheapest—we researched five key areas: (1) customer satisfaction (30% of final score), (2) claims handling (20% of final score), (3) cost (20% of final score), (4) coverage options (20% of final score), and (5) repair shop score (10% of final score).

Here’s what we looked at to assign scores in each area:

Customer satisfaction:

Jerry user ratings

, the

2023 J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Survey

, and the

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index

Claims handling: The

2022 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey

and

AM Best financial strength ratings

Cost: Publicly available data on the average cost of full coverage car insurance analyzed by Jerry’s editorial team, with consideration for the number of unique discounts offered.

Coverage: Availability of SR-22 coverage, accident forgiveness, diminishing deductible coverage, gap insurance (or a similar insurance product such as loan/lease or new car replacement coverage), and pay-per-mile auto insurance.

Repairs: Scores from the

CRASH Network’s 2023 Insurer Report Card.

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