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 and collision repair grades from auto body professionals.
Auto insurance rates (50% of score): We used data from Quadrant Information Services to find 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, drivers caught without insurance, adding a teen driver, senior drivers and young drivers.
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.
Car insurance coverage options (25% 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, new car replacement, vanishing deductibles, usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance and SR-22s.
Complaints (20% of score): We used complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Each state’s department of insurance is in charge of logging and monitoring complaints against companies operating in their states. Most auto insurance complaints center on claims, including unsatisfactory settlements, delays, and denials.
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. CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card used grades from more than 1,100 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Auto Insurance Collision Repair Grades
Source: Courtesy of CRASH Network
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates car insurance companies
Methodology for Our Digital Experience Ratings
Our Digital Experience ratings reflect the quality of a company’s mobile app and website. Ratings are based on:
Car insurance quotes online (40% of score): Companies with car insurance quotes available on their websites earned points.
Website has live helpful chat (20% of score): We gave points to companies that have live chat (whether from a person or a chatbot) that is helpful. To measure helpfulness, we asked, “How do I get a copy of my car insurance policy?” and gave points for a direct and helpful answer.
Average mobile app rating (20% of score): We averaged mobile app ratings from Android and iOS users when there were 200 or more reviews.
Website has helpful search function (15% of score): Companies earned points for having a site search and for showing a helpful page within the first two results for a search for “comprehensive insurance.”
Website Spanish version (5% of score): Companies earned points for having a link to a Spanish version on their home pages.