Best Car Insurance Companies in USA 2023

We’ve taken guesswork out of finding the best car insurance companies by analyzing important factors that will affect your customer experience.

We evaluated large auto insurance companies based on average rates for a variety of drivers, coverage features available, levels of complaints, grades for collision claims from auto body repair professionals and how understandable the insurers’ websites are. See our top picks below. (According to Forbes Advisor July 2022)

Best Car Insurance Companies

1. GEICO

Geico has very competitive car insurance rates for many types of drivers, which makes it worth a look if you want cheap auto insurance. Its low level of auto insurance complaints are another reason to consider Geico. 

Pros

Great auto insurance rates for good drivers and also folks who have a speeding ticket, poor credit or were caught driving without insurance.

Also offers great rates for seniors and young drivers, who can be very expensive to insure.

Offers accident forgiveness.

Offers a usage-based insurance program (DriveEasy) for good drivers who want to reduce their auto insurance rates based on driving habits.

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Low level of complaints made to state insurance departments about Geico’s auto insurance.

Cons

High average rates for drivers with a DUI.

Geico’s rates for adding a teen driver are only so-so.

You’ll have to look elsewhere if you want coverage features such as new car replacement, a vanishing deductible or rideshare insurance.

Geico’s average discount for bundling auto and home insurance is rather low at 8%. 

More details 

Collision repair grade: C-. Collision repair professionals surveyed by the CRASH Network gave Geico’s collision repair process only a so-so score.

Website readability: Geico’s website received a readability score of 28 out of 100, according to an analysis by VisibleThread, a language analysis platform. A score of at least 60 is preferred. Geico’s website is written at a 12th-grade reading level, making it difficult for the average reader to understand.

2. Nationwide 

Nationwide offers decent car insurance rates for some types of drivers and many helpful add-on coverages. The level of complaints against it for auto insurance is very low, making it a company to check out if you’re shopping for auto insurance. 

Notably, Nationwide offers both a usage-based insurance program and a pay-per-mile option for drivers who want to potentially lower their rates based on actual driving. 

Pros

Terrific car insurance rates when adding a teen driver to a policy, which is typically very expensive for parents.

Relatively affordable premiums for drivers with poor credit.

Offers accident forgiveness, new car replacement and vanishing deductible options to add to your policy.

Offers usage-based insurance program (SmartRide) for good drivers who want to lower their car insurance rates based on driving habits.

Also offers a pay-per-mile insurance program (SmartMiles) for low-mileage drivers who want to save. 

Cons

High auto insurance rates for drivers who cause an accident with injuries.

High car insurance premiums for drivers with a DUI.

Rideshare insurance coverage is not offered. 

More details 

Collision repair grade: C. The CRASH Network’s surveyed collision repair specialists found Nationwide’s collision repair process to be just average.

Website readability: Nationwide’s website scored 41 out of 100 for readability, according to an analysis by VisibleThread, a language analysis platform. A score of at least 60 is preferable.

Nationwide’s website is written at a 10th-grade reading level, making it fairly difficult for the average reader to comprehend.

3. USAA 

USAA has pretty affordable rates for motorists with many types of driving records, making it a good company for various driver profiles. Note that you must be a military member, veteran or military family member to be eligible for USAA insurance. 

Pros

Low rates for not only good drivers but also ones with an accident, ticket or DUI on their records.

Also offers good rates for seniors and young drivers, two age groups that can be expensive to insure.

Offers accident forgiveness and new car replacement.

Offers a rideshare insurance coverage option.

Has a usage-based insurance program (SafePilot) good drivers can use to potentially lower their car insurance costs.

Cons

Not everyone is eligible for coverage. Only offers policies to veterans and active members of the military, plus their immediate families.

USAA’s average bundling discount is fairly low at only 6%.

Average USAA rates for adding a teen to a policy are only so-so.

Does not offer gap insurance.

More details 

Collision repair grade: C+. Collision repair experts surveyed by the CRASH Network scored USAA as average for collision claims.

Website readability: USAA’s website received a readability score of 49 out of 100, according to an analysis by VisibleThread, a language analysis platform. A score of at least 60 is preferred. Long sentences and passive voice brought down USAA’s website readability score.

4. Auto-Owners Insurance 

Auto-Owners Insurance shines with its optional coverage options, its claims process and low level of complaints, which helps it overcome only average rates.

Pros

Gives a pretty good discount of 14%, on average, for paying in full for an auto insurance policy.

Gap insurance is available.

Offers coverage add-ons of accident forgiveness and a diminishing deductible.

Also offers new car replacement coverage.

Good drivers can try out Auto-Owners’ usage-based insurance program (TrueRide) to possibly lower their car insurance rates.

Cons

High average rates for drivers with a DUI.

Highest auto insurance rates for drivers with poor credit among the companies we analyzed.

Very expensive average increase of almost $3,580 when adding a teen to a policy.

More details

Collision repair grade: B+. Collision repair professionals gave Auto-Owners a fairly high mark for its claims service in an annual survey by the CRASH Network.

Final Thoughts 

According to Forbes Advisor’s analysis, Geico, Nationwide, Travelers and USAA have the best car insurance.

These companies score the highest based on low rates, coverage selections, collision repair, complaints and website readability.