The 5 best car insurance
Having good auto insurance in the United States is very important, so purchasing a policy is not a decision to be taken lightly.
To make a good choice you must take into account several factors such as coverage, prices and discounts. Below you will find a list of the 5 best car insurances that will guide you when making your choice.
To make our selection of the best car insurance we have taken into account five important factors. We evaluate coverage options, discounts, customer service and digital accessibility.
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The 5 best car insurance
This is our ranking of insurance companies in the United States:
1. Amica Mutual : Best Overall Auto Insurance
2. State Farm : Best Auto Insurance for Customer Service
3. Progressive : Best auto insurance with discounts
4. The Hartford : Best insurance for auto policy options
5. Geico : Best Car Insurance for Online Experience
Are you thinking of buying insurance for your vehicle? We have narrowed down your options to help you make your choice.
There are several factors to consider when looking for insurance providers.
Although price is important because you want to save money, choosing a new insurance provider isn’t just about rates, there are other aspects like customer service that are just as important.
Keep reading: How long do I have to report a car accident?
Best car insurance: our review
1. Amica: Best Car Insurance Overall
This provider offers your standard auto coverage rate, including comprehensive, collision, and uninsured motorist coverage.
Amica also offers extra features you won’t find at any other insurer, including free lock replacement, free broken glass repair, and free airbag repair.
Customers can get a free quote online and customize coverage options to meet their driving and coverage needs. With Amica it’s also easy to report and track claims online.
You can get various discounts and save money when you are accident free for at least three years and when you take a driver safety class.
Since 1999, their award-winning service has received Consumer Reports’ highest rating among auto insurance providers.
2. State Farm: Best Auto Insurance for Customer Service
State Farm makes it easy to contact its 19,000 agents, you can easily call them to file a claim, for example.
But if you don’t have time for a phone call, the State Farm mobile app lets you speak with a representative or submit a photo of the damage.
An easy-to-use app is something we often take for granted, but not all companies offer this benefit. Amica, for example, doesn’t allow you to contact an agent or file a claim through an app.
Beyond comprehensive, collision, and liability insurance, State Farm offers Uber or Lyft drivers rideshare driver coverage. Another helpful coverage is State Farm Emergency Roadside coverage.
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You’ll have access to on-site repairs (up to an hour), towing, locksmith, or free delivery of gas, a tire, or battery.
State Farm has the best online quoting tool, though it lacks some common driver discounts and important coverage options.
However, it is also one of the best when it comes to customer service experience.
Receiving high praise from JD Power for its service interaction and claims handling, State Farm has the most positive feedback compared to its competitors.
3. Progressive: Best auto insurance with discounts
In addition to typical insurance coverages like liability, collision, and comprehensive, Progressive offers coverage options that other companies lack.
Progressive gap insurance covers 125% of the cost of the car if it is totaled while you are still making payments.
An even less common type of coverage, free pet injury coverage pays for veterinary bills if your pet is injured in a car accident.
With a strong customer experience and plenty of discount options, Progressive has a lot to offer.
But it can still improve in some aspects, for example, its rate guarantee has the same duration as a six-month policy.
This insurer offers customers a variety of discounts and special coverage with which you can significantly reduce your monthly bill.
Exclusive to Progressive, the Snapshot tool bases the rate on your driving habits, such as how often you drive, whether you stop suddenly or use your phone while driving.
You will get an automatic discount for using the Snapshot app.
Progressive earned an “A+ Superior” stability rating from AM Best, demonstrating its strong financial foundation to cover any claims.
4. The Hartford: Best Insurance for Auto Policy Options
Hartford is great auto insurance for retirees, you just need to be over 50 and an AARP member to enjoy the low rates and exceptional customer service The Hartford provides its customers.
What Hartford offers is what you’d expect from most auto insurance companies, but it also adds perks for AARP members.
Benefits include lifetime warranties on repairs done at approved shops and the RecoverCare program that reimburses you for the cost of in-home services while you recover from a collision.
Some of the reimbursable services include house cleaning, snow removal, dog walking, lawn mowing, and transportation.
Hartford offers a wide range of policy options and benefits, including rates based on how much you actually drive and a car replacement program for vehicles that total up soon after you buy them.
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5. Geico: Best Car Insurance for Online Experience
Geico is the second largest auto insurance provider in the United States. It is aimed at the tech-savvy consumer.
For those who don’t want to talk to an agent or listen to endless background music while on hold, the Geico mobile app comes in handy.
Due to its ability to customize alerts and access all important information, Geico Mobile makes it much easier for users to manage.
Geico’s range of coverage includes the standard rate: collision, comprehensive and liability insurance. Unlike many other companies, rideshare insurance for Lyft and Uber drivers is also available.
Geico does offer mechanical breakdown coverage, though it’s only for new cars less than 15 months old and with less than 15,000 miles.
Although it is not applicable to all customers, if you belong to this category, you can renew the mechanical breakdown coverage for up to seven years or 100,000 miles.
Geico has many advantages. Attract customers with a superior mobile app and a variety of discounts. Rideshare coverage is a major plus, but Geico lacks gap coverage.
Best car insurance: Comparison of rates
In general, Amica and Geico offer the lowest rates. However, even the providers with the second lowest rates have a high rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) among competitors.
State Farm also ranks highly for customer service, but has more expensive premiums for auto coverage.
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Comparison of rates of the best car insurance
Insurance carrier Average minimum premium Average Full Coverage Premium
Amica Mutual $559 $1510
StateFarm $764 $1778
progressive $869 $2068
The Hartford – –
Geico $577 $1367
Note: Rates/prices included in the table are based on the national average (across all 50 states) for a 26-year-old driving a Honda Civic. Remember that your rates will be different.
Pricing for The Hartford is not available.
What is taken into account in car policies and rates?
The premium that applies to your policy will depend on a few factors. It will also determine whether or not an insurer is right for your auto coverage needs. Most policies consider the following:
- Condition
- Age
- Year, make and model of the car
- driving history
- credit score
Depending on these and other factors, you could pay more or less for your car insurance.
For example: If you plan to buy a new, high-end car when you turn 21, you’ll likely pay more for the year, make, and model of the car.
You may also pay more for being a young driver with a less established driving record.
Also, if you live in California you will probably pay more than your friends in South Carolina.
Keep in mind that your policy and your premium will be related to your needs, your driving record and other personal factors.
How does the automotive industry work?
Auto sales and servicing generate nearly $953 billion annually nationwide, and in 2018 alone, 17.2 million cars were sold.
When you buy a new car, its value depreciates the moment you take it out of the dealership because it goes back to used right away.
Your car also loses value when you drive, when you have an accident or with daily wear and tear.
Auto insurance helps cover car repairs and personal costs when things go wrong. Whether it’s an accident, pothole or car trouble, your coverage can help cover these costs after the deductible.
The lower the value of your car, the less likely you are to pay a lot in premiums, although it will largely depend on your coverage, condition, age, and other factors.
It’s helpful to think of the auto industry as a never-ending cycle. We spend money on cars and maintenance, but car insurance helps cover the cost if something goes wrong.
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Guide to find the best car insurance for you
To fully understand how auto insurance works, it is necessary to have a lot of knowledge about this sector.
However, we do not want to bore you with excess information, concepts or history. Below you will find some aspects that you should know to make a good decision when choosing your auto insurance.
coverage options
Start by discussing the provider’s coverage options. You ‘ll likely want an insurer with multiple policies and coverage options to meet your needs.
Ask the agent what types of auto insurance they offer and if any add-ons are available, including rental car coverage and roadside assistance.
Many insurers will offer a few options including collision, personal injury, and gap coverage.
Customer service
Choosing a good insurance provider is not just about rates, the service is also very important. After all, you’ll be working closely with an agent to handle your policy, claims, and any concerns you may have.
Check out your agent’s BBB or JD Power rating to see what other customers think and weigh the pros and cons.
You can also call your agent to get your own first-hand customer service experience and ask about claims, coverage, fees and more.
Rates
Your auto insurance shouldn’t be too heavy a burden. Find the most affordable rates by talking to agents and getting free quotes online.
However, be careful when aiming for the lowest rates, the cheapest coverage may not always be the best. You may pay a low monthly price, but the policy may lack the coverage options you really need.
Make a list with the coverage you require and find the most affordable rate for your needs.
Once you’ve found a premium you’re comfortable with, call the agent for more information on discounts and other ways to lower your cost.
You can save money on your rate by combining home insurance, driving safely, or taking a driver safety course.
