Best Car Insurance Companies of 2026

Key takeawaysProgressive is the best car insurance company in our analysis and offers the lowest rates for multiple driver profiles. Other top-scoring options are Travelers, Geico, Auto-Owners, Erie and USAA.We conducted an extensive analysis of costs, coverage and quality indicators to find the best car insurance companies. Best car insurance company comparisonCompanyBest forAverage monthly cost for a good driverBuy Side ratingProgressiveOverall$1685 starsTravelersLow complaints$1764.8 starsGeicoWays to save$1464.7 starsAuto-OwnersFinancial recovery after a claim$1814.5 starsErieValuable extras$1934.2 starsUSAAMilitary members & veterans$1534 starsRates source: Quadrant Information Services. See methodology section for rate details.Who is the best car insurance company?Progressive is the best car insurance company in our analysis, earning 5 out of 5 stars. Other top companies from our evaluation are Travelers, Geico, Auto-Owners, Erie and USAA.Finding the best auto insurance companies with competitive rates requires collecting quotes and analyzing coverage. We performed an extensive analysis of costs, coverage and quality indicators for 10 large car insurance companies to find the options. We also looked at complaint and collision-repair data over recent years to pinpoint which companies are improving and which are on a downward trend.Best car insurance company detailsProgressiveAvg. Min Coverage Cost $79/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $168/mo.Discounts Available12Rates. Progressive has excellent car insurance rates for many driver types. Its full-coverage car insurance rates for good drivers were 14% lower than the average in our analysis, although its average rates for minimum coverage are slightly above average.Coverage options. The company offers a wide range of accident-forgiveness options, including small-accident and large-accident forgiveness. These are provided free to customers in most states. You can buy additional accident forgiveness to cover a second accident. Drivers who rack up the miles could benefit by adding Progressive’s trip-interruption insurance to roadside-assistance coverage. It covers up to $500 for certain costs like alternative transportation, a hotel and food if your car breaks down more than 100 miles from home.And Progressive’s Vehicle Protection Plan pays for noncrash repairs to major systems and minor dents, plus lost or damaged keys.Pet-injury coverage. Progressive’s collision coverage provides up to $1,000 for veterinary bills if your pet is injured in an auto accident. TravelersAvg. Min Coverage Cost $89/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $176/mo.Discounts Available12Rates. Travelers’ car insurance rates are low for many types of drivers in our analysis, making it worth getting a quote. Rates for good drivers were 10% lower than average among the companies we evaluated. Plus, hybrid/electric, new-car and safe-driver discounts are available.Coverage options. Travelers provides plans that package multiple useful coverage types. For example, Travelers’ Responsible Driver Plan and Premier Responsible Driver Plan include minor-violation forgiveness. Travelers’ Premier Responsible Driver Plan features a total-loss deductible waiver, so you don’t pay a deductible if your car is totaled.GeicoAvg. Min Coverage Cost $53/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $146/mo.Discounts Available23Rates. Geico offers low auto insurance rates, especially if you’re a good driver. Its average rates are 25% less than the industry average in our analysis. You can lower your car insurance costs even more if you qualify for some of Geico’s many discounts. Additionally, senior drivers are likely to find low rates, at 22% less than the average among the insurers we evaluated.However, we found rate increases after certain events to be high: 42% after a speeding ticket (vs. an average of 32%) and 78% after causing an accident (vs. an average of 59%).Coverage options. Geico doesn’t have as many coverage options as some competitors. For example, Geico doesn’t sell gap insurance or new-car replacement coverage and it doesn’t offer a diminishing deductible. Mechanical-breakdown insurance, similar to a car warranty, is available for new or leased vehicles with less than 15,000 miles and that are less than 15 months old.Geico offers a usage-based insurance program called DriveEasy. The program tracks your driving by analyzing factors such as speeding and hard braking. Though you receive a discount for signing up for DriveEasy, a poor driving score can lead to a higher rate.Auto-OwnersAvg. Min Coverage Cost $55/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $181/mo.Discounts Available10Rates. Auto-Owners’ average rates for full coverage are better than the national average in our study—good drivers pay $14 per month less. It also has the cheapest average rates for adding a 16-year-old to a policy and excellent rates for 18-year-olds buying their own policies.Deductible options. Auto-Owners has attractive options for financially recovering after a claim, including a common-loss deductible that reduces or waives your deductible if your home and auto are damaged by the same incident. Also of note:With the Collision Coverage Advantage, your deductible is waived if you are in an accident with another vehicle insured by Auto-Owners.Auto-Owners’ diminished-value coverage compensates you for a reduction in your vehicle’s value after an accident, even when repairs have been properly made.Coverage. Auto-Owners provides new-car replacement and roadside-assistance coverage, but doesn’t offer free accident forgiveness or a diminishing deductible. The company also doesn’t have a usage-based insurance program. Complaints. Auto-Owners’ car insurance complaint level is well below the industry average, based on NAIC data. Plus, complaints have gone down in recent years. Collision repair. Auto-Owners received an excellent B grade from the Crash Network on its 2026 Insurer Report Card. The survey asks collision-repair specialists about their experience with car insurance companies. ErieAvg. Min Coverage Cost $62/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $193/mo.Discounts Available7Rates. Erie has good rates for a variety of drivers and coverage levels, including low rates for state-minimum coverage (20% lower than average) and adding a 16-year-old teen driver to a policy (49% lower than average). It also had the lowest increase (17%) in our analysis for drivers who get a speeding ticket.A notable feature with Erie car insurance is its unique Rate Lock, which can be purchased in most states: Even if you file a claim, your rates won’t change year to year unless you make a policy change, such as adding a new driver.Coverage perks. You’ll receive accident forgiveness for the first accident if you’ve been with Erie for three or more years.Erie also pays up to $350 for personal belongings damaged in an accident. And your collision deductible is waived if you’re in an accident with another Erie customer.Collision repair. Erie has the top collision-repair process grade from The Crash Network in our analysis. The 2026 report gave Erie an A-, which is an indication of good claims processing, which is important if you need to file a collision or comprehensive claim to get your vehicle repaired.Complaints. Erie’s car insurance has a below-average complaint level, according to the NAIC.USAAUSAA auto insurance is only available to members of the military, veterans, employees of certain federal agencies and their immediate family members.Avg. Min Coverage Cost $47/mo.Avg. full-coverage cost $153/mo.Discounts Available15Rates. USAA has the best rates for multiple driver profiles, so if you’re eligible for USAA, it’s a clear contender for comparing car insurance quotes. If your parents had USAA, you could also take advantage of the Legacy Discount for up to 10% off.Coverage. USAA offers roadside-assistance coverage and free accident forgiveness, but it doesn’t provide a diminishing deductible or new-car-replacement coverage. Usage-based insurance. USAA has both SafePilot and SafePilot Miles. SafePilot tracks your driving behavior, which can lead to reduced rates if your driving scores well. Another plus is that USAA won’t increase rates if it finds problematic driving habits, unlike some competitors. Its SafePilot Miles is a pay-per-mile program, which can save you money if you don’t drive much, but is not available in every state. Perks. Features for military members include up to 60% off rates if you’re storing your vehicle while deployed and up to 15% off if you garage your car on a military base. There’s also overseas coverage in some areas if you’re deployed.USAA’s Car-Replacement Assistance gives you 20% over what your vehicle is worth if it’s totaled, providing an extra financial cushion when you need to replace a vehicle.The deductible is waived for collision claims if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.Complaints. USAA has a poor track record for auto insurance complaints, with above-average levels in recent years.Collision repair. USAA received a C- on the Crash Network’s 2026 Insurer Report Card, which is lower than the national average of C+. How to buy the best car insuranceRates and car insurance discounts are generally the most important factors for car insurance buyers. Navigating other factors can point you to the best car insurance options for your situation, priorities and budget.1. Compare quotesComparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies is the best way to zero in on the insurers to consider. Because rates vary significantly across companies and can change frequently, comparing quotes regularly ensures you have the right insurance companies on your radar. In our survey of Wall Street Journal readers, 53% felt they were overpaying for car insurance.If you’re bundling auto and homeowners insurance, look at the total price tag, as homeowners insurance tends to be the bigger bill of the two. Make sure the total price includes all the discounts you’re entitled to.When shopping for the best car insurance, look beyond cost. Choosing the cheapest car insurance can cost you in the long term if you encounter poor customer service and claims hassles.2. Decide what coverage features are importantAll car insurance companies offer essential coverage types such as liability, comprehensive and collision insurance. But other coverage features set insurers apart. For example, maybe you want free accident forgiveness that prevents a rate increase after an at-fault accident. Some insurers only offer accident forgiveness for an extra charge, while others don’t offer it at all. Or, maybe you want new-car replacement coverage that pays for you to buy a newer model if yours is totaled. These types of coverage aren’t available from every insurance company. Identifying your coverage preferences will help you narrow down your options.3. Check quality metricsA variety of quality indicators can steer you away from companies struggling with customer service or poor claims handling. In our analysis, we looked at complaint levels from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Insurer Report Cards from the CRASH Network, which grades collision-repair processes by surveying body shops nationwide. 4. Ask friends and family about their experiencesIf friends and family members have made recent car insurance claims, find out about their experiences. Was it easy to submit and track the claim? Was it clear what documentation was needed to expedite the claim? Did the insurance company help guide them through their claims processes and offer a fair settlement?Any car insurance company can seem good when you’re simply paying the bill and renewing every year. Claims reveal the true quality of a company.Car insurance standard coverageUnderstanding the standard coverage types will help you identify coverages that are special or unique.Liability insuranceCollision coverageComprehensive coveragePersonal injury protectionMedPayUninsured/underinsured motorist coverageHow much car insurance costsAverage annual costs for a good driverCost factorsCar insurance rates by stateBest car insurance in your stateNortheastSoutheastMidwestWestSouthwestWhat our star ratings meanWe compare car insurance companies closely against their peers to develop ratings that reflect a range of metrics important to our readers.5 stars: The gold standardReserved for companies demonstrating superior performance across multiple categories, consistently outperforming industry benchmarks.4.5 stars: Excellent choiceThese companies deliver top results in nearly all metrics, showing high reliability and top-tier standards.4 stars: Solid strengthsRobust performers that exceed the industry average in key areas, though some secondary metrics may show room for improvement.3 to 3.5 stars: Market standardThese companies maintain a stable baseline and might perform well in certain niches but display inconsistent results in certain categories we evaluated.Below 3 stars: Compare closelyOur data indicates significant performance gaps for these companies. Potential policyholders should evaluate these specific weaknesses against their individual needs.MethodologyWe evaluated 10 large car insurance companies, focusing on cost, coverage options and quality metrics related to complaints and collision repair. Advertisers and partners don't influence our ratings, as our research and editorial team maintains independence in using data-driven methodologies. We evaluated these factors:Cost (45%). We evaluated average rates for all ZIP codes in the U.S. with a population of at least 50. Rates are based on a 35-year-old driver with no moving violations, accidents or claims and good credit, insuring a 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE. Rates reflect liability coverage of 50/100/50 ($50,000 for injuries per person, $100,000 for injuries per accident, $50,000 for property damage), comprehensive and collision coverage with a $500 deductible, and any other insurance required in the states. Our rate evaluation also encompassed a driver with a speeding ticket, a driver with a DUI and a driver who has an at-fault accident on their record. We also examined average rates for each company for higher limits of 100/300/100. Source: Quadrant Information Services.Rates trajectory (10%). We looked at recent rate increases for the auto insurers in our analysis.Collision repair grade (5%) and collision repair trajectory (5%). We used scores from the Crash Network that measure the quality of each insurer’s collision repair processes in relation to repair quality and customer service. Scores are based on the Crash Network’s annual survey of collision repair professionals nationwide. We also looked at how much each insurer’s score improved or dropped in recent years.Number of discounts (5%). We evaluated the number of car insurance discounts listed on each insurance company’s website as a measure of savings opportunities.Complaints (15%) and complaint trajectories (5%). We analyzed each car insurance company’s complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The NAIC’s database contains official, upheld complaints, ensuring that only legitimate complaints are included. We also looked at whether each company’s complaint level improved in recent years.Accident forgiveness (2%). We gave points only to companies that offer accident forgiveness to customers for free. New car replacement (2%). Insurers earned points for offering this coverage feature.Usage-based insurance (2%). Insurers earned points for offering usage-based insurance programs that won’t lead to a rate increase. Pay-per-mile insurance (2%). Insurers earned points for offering pay-per-mile insurance, which can benefit customers who don’t drive much. Diminishing deductible (2%). Companies earned points for lowering deductibles for every year a customer does not have a claim. We use a curved-rating system, meaning that scores are assigned relative to the top performing product or company; providers that score the most points are assigned 5 stars and other star ratings are assigned based on performance relative to the top performer. Sources: Buy Side research, Crash Network, Quadrant Information Services and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.Learn more about how Buy Side rates car insurance companies.FAQWhat’s the biggest car insurance company in the U.S.?What company generally offers the lowest rates?​How quickly can I get car insurance?Is it easy to switch car insurance companies?Meet the writerLes MastersonLes Masterson is a staff Deputy Insurance Editor at Buy Side and has over 10 years of insurance experience.Amy DaniseAmy Danise is the staff Senior Insurance Editor for Buy Side. She has helped consumers understand insurance for more than two decades.