Remember buying your first car?
I do. Mine was a jalopy, but I didn’t care. It was my jalopy.
I think we all still experience that joy with a new car. And the next step is to insure it.
No matter what, make sure you’re getting coverage with one of the auto insurance industry’s “Top Ten.”
We’ve Spent More Than 2,000 Hours Researching Car Insurance.
These are the companies that are going to be best for you and your car. We’ll look at each what each of them is them is best for below.
Start Comparing Car Insurance Today
On average, Americans drive 10,900 miles per year and spend close to 300 hours on the road, whether for enjoyment or for work-related purposes. Those numbers vary by age group, with folks between 30 and 49 years old driving the most miles per year at a national average of 13,506 miles.
When you are clocking that many miles, peace of mind is important.
That’s why we care about getting you the best car insurance at the best price. We’ve done some of the homework for you by researching hundreds of auto insurance providers.
We take pride in the fact that we work with only reputable national insurance providers, brokerages, and insurance marketplaces.
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with these terms, let us briefly go over each one.
- Insurance Providers – are companies like Progressive or Liberty Mutual who underwrite their own policies with agents representing the company. These are well-known national brands that usually have strong financial ratings and long-term stability.
- Brokerages – represent you the buyer and work with multiple insurance companies to find the best policy for you. Think of it as a one-stop shopping experience.
The broker does the work for you based on the personal information you provide to them. Brokerages are not underwriters. Instead, they partner with underwriters who write their policies. - Marketplaces – are aggregator sites that search for the best insurance provider for you based on the information you provide them on their site, usually in the form of an online quote. Aggregator sites use algorithms to match you with the best companies based on your personal information, geographical location, and more.
This is kind of like a one-stop shopping model. You enter your information on the marketplace site then they send you a list of potential insurance companies who you call to find out more about their coverage.
There are four factors to keep in mind when reviewing auto insurance quotes.
- Financial Strength – You want to work with a company that has a solid financial reputation. You will want to verify the company’s (or underwriter’s) ratings with independent financial rating agencies.
- Pricing and Discounts – We all want the best coverage at the absolute best price. Make sure you ask each provider exactly what discounts are available to you. The auto insurance market is super competitive so you could get a cheaper rate by asking a company to match or beat a quote from a competing company.
- Customer Service – You want to work with a provider that is highly responsive, sincere and fast in dealing with any of your concerns but especially in processing your claim. You can check a national claims source for any complaints filed against the company. And you can verify the company’s Better Business Bureau rating and read customer reviews of the company on trustpilot.com.
- Licensed in Your State – Not all providers are licensed to do business in every state. Check with your state’s insurance department to make sure.
Comparing Car Insurance Could Save You Hundreds!
We can’t stress enough just how important shopping around for the best auto insurance policy can be, both for your budget and peace of mind.
You want to get a policy that provides you with the best coverage at the right price.
It can be difficult, though. Auto insurance coverage varies greatly between providers.
I recommend you contact at least three insurance providers to get a solid auto insurance quote comparison.
Now let’s go over the companies we recommend for your auto insurance needs.
Compare Top Car Insurance Companies Side-by-Side
#1: Progressive Insurance
Best For: Competitive Prices
Progressive is the third largest insurance company in the United States and a leader in the automobile insurance industry with over 18 million policyholders.
The company has been in operation for more than 80 years. They offer a wide range of coverage options with multiple discounts they automatically apply to your online quote.
Discounts include multi-car, safe driver, multi-policy, and more.
The company offers 24/7 customer support and is accredited by all major credit rating agencies, including AM Best, Moody’s, and Standards & Poors, all of which give Progressive superior financial ratings.
#2: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Best For: Range of Discounts and Benefits
Liberty Mutual Insurance is the fourth largest personal lines insurer in the nation.
The company is also expanding services across the globe, into Europe and Asia. Since 1912, Liberty has offered a broad range of discounts and benefits, more than most competitors.
Their prices are a bit higher than other companies, but their discounts and benefits balance out premium payments for their comprehensive coverage.
The company is known for its efficient claims processing and has also demonstrated outstanding long-term financial stability.
If you are interested in learning more about Liberty Mutual Insurance, click here to read our company profile.
#3: QuoteWizard
Best For: Finding The Best Quote From Hundreds of Local Agents
QuoteWizard is an online marketplace operating since 2006.
It partners with an extensive list of trustworthy insurance providers and is known for helping customers save money, sometimes up to 40%.
Not only is the company known for saving customers money on new policies, but also working for with clients to get them out of their existing contracts, even going as far as securing them a pro-rated refund.
That’s good stuff.
#4: Esurance
Best For: Mobile App Accessibility & Account Management
Esurance is a subsidiary of Allstate Insurance offering competitively-priced car insurance coverage that can save you money, big time.
They offer a long list of discounts that add up to more great savings for you.
If you have good driving habits, the company offers a DriveSense program that can save you even more on car insurance.
FYI: DriveSense is a monitoring app that keeps track of your driving habits.
With a company like Allstate backing Esurance, you also get the added bonus of superior creditworthiness and financial ratings.
Allstate was the third largest auto insurance provider in 2016 and has been in operation since 1931.
This company is a solid choice with great coverage options at the right price.
#5: USAA
Best For: Exceptional Customer Experience
Founded in 1922 to serve military members and their families, USAA offers standard auto insurance coverages, discounts, and benefits.
They have strong financial ratings, a good market share, and are highly rated in customer experience.
If you are an active military member, veteran or member of a military family, USAA is an excellent choice for you.
#6: Allstate Insurance
Best For: Broad Range of Optional Coverages
Allstate has been in operation since 1931 and is the largest publicly-held personal insurance company in the United States.
In addition to automobile insurance, it offers home, renters, motorcycle, business, life, pet insurance and more.
The company holds superior financial ratings including an A+ with Moody’s. JD Power also reported that Allstate is above average regarding customer satisfaction.
These are important factors to look for when choosing an insurance provider.
The company offers a broad range of policies including standard and comprehensive coverage at competitive prices.
They also offer discounts for students, safe drivers, those who own multiple policies and more.
#7: Gabi
Best For: Cutting Edge Technology Integration
Gabi is a relatively new online insurance marketplace that does the shopping for you.
They partner with best-in-class insurance companies offering a broad range of automobile, home, renters, condo, bundled or umbrella coverage.
Progressive, Allstate, and Travelers are some of the companies in their comprehensive network.
Integrating algorithms and technology, Gabi takes your current plan and searches for better deals that meet your needs, even looking at insurance providers that are not their partners.
Those who choose to work with this innovative young company are sure to get a competitively-priced plan and exceptional coverage.
#8: American Family Insurance
Best For: Wide Range of Customizable Policies
Founded in 1927, American Family Insurance offers vehicle, home, renters, life, business insurance, and more.
The company prides itself on offering customizable plans to meet your specific needs.
They have 24/7 claims processing and offer a multitude of discounts to help save you money.
Their discounts include multiple vehicle, safe driver, vehicle safety, student and multi-policy discounts. That’s a lot of options!
American Family is highly rated by the NAIC for its service interactions and holds a superior A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
#9: MetLife
Best For: Solid Financial Ratings and Longevity
MetLife was founded in New York City in 1868 and is currently one of the largest insurance providers in the United States and across the globe.
The company offers a full suite of insurance products including car insurance.
MetLife has received strong financial ratings from both AM Best and Standards & Poor’s.
They offer good coverage with some discounts. The company offers lease/loan gap coverage and towing and roadside assistance.
MetLife stands out from the competition because of their considerable history and consistent superior financial ratings.
#10: Travelers
Best For: Outstanding Corporate Citizenship
Travelers have been in the insurance business since 1868.
The company merged with Citicorp in 1998 and has continued its dedication to environmentally-friendly practices.
It offers a broad range of insurance products from home and life to vehicle insurance and more.
The company offers competitively-priced car insurance coverage with standard benefits and discounts.
They also offer an electric/hybrid car discount, which is unique in the industry and directly reflects one of the company’s core values.
Travelers also extend 24/7 claims reporting, roadside assistance, and loan gap coverage.
Being a household name, the company is consistently rated highly by financial rating agencies, making Travelers a good choice for consumers.
Final Recommendations
When looking for a new car insurance provider, keep in mind the importance of shopping around and comparing quotes before making a final decision.
Obtaining estimates from the right insurers offering the products and services you’re looking for may help you save big on auto insurance.
Remember, when companies compete, you save.
Don’t be mislead by ads and marketing materials emphasizing an insurance company’s superiority over another.
The coverage and policy you opt for should always reflect your needs and situation, and the best choice for you may not be the right one for somebody else.
Each insurance company offers benefits and coverage options that may be better suited for certain consumer segments than others.
Always do your homework and make informed decisions.
We hope this article has given you some useful information to help you obtain auto insurance quotes from the right providers.
*While we make every effort to keep our site updated, please be aware that “timely” information on this page, such as quote estimates, or pertinent details about companies, may only be accurate as of its last edit day. Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice. Please consult your own legal or tax adviser.
