According to our data and customer survey results, USAA is the best overall car insurance company. However, USAA insurance products are only available to active and veteran military members and their families. State Farm ranks No. 2 in our survey, making it the best car insurance company for drivers who aren’t eligible for USAA membership.
Even though USAA and State Farm top the ratings, it’s a good idea to consider and compare multiple insurers that made our Best Car Insurance Companies of 2022 ratings. Doing so can help you find coverage that suits your needs.
USAA also swept all five of our sub rankings based on customer feedback. However, not all policyholders will meet USAA’s membership requirements. For that reason, we’ve identified the runner-up in each category so that all consumers can learn about the best option in each of these areas.
If rates play a primary role in your decision, it’s also important to get and compare car insurance quotes. Though our study includes average rates data, your personal car insurance rate will depend on your age, location, driving record, credit score, and the preferred type and amount of coverage, among other things, so it’s important to look into your options based on present demographic features. A quote can help you accurately estimate costs and determine which insurers offer the best deal.
Best for Customer Service: USAA and State Farm
USAA and State Farm rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Sixty-five percent of USAA customers who haven’t filed a claim say they are extremely satisfied with their customer service experience. That number dips only slightly among those who have filed a claim, with nearly 64% of USAA customers reporting that they are extremely satisfied with the insurer’s customer service.
If you’re not eligible for USAA coverage, you may want to consider State Farm. Nearly 60% of State Farm customers who haven’t filed a claim report being extremely satisfied with their customer service experience. Like USAA, State Farm’s customer satisfaction scores are slightly lower among customers who have filed a claim. Fifty-six percent of survey respondents report being completely satisfied with their customer service experience.
Best for Claims Handling: Travelers
Claims handling is an important aspect of any insurance policy, and Travelers takes the No. 1 spot in this category. It scores a 4.3 out of 5 and is the only insurer to unseat USAA, which leads the pack in every other subrating category we analyzed. Nearly 62% of Travelers customers report being completely satisfied with the ease of filing a claim, and 65% of them express complete satisfaction with their claims resolution.
Most Likely to be Recommended: USAA and Nationwide
With low rates and strong scores across all categories we reviewed, it’s no surprise that USAA customers are most likely to recommend their insurer to other drivers shopping for coverage.
Fifty-three percent of USAA customers who have not filed a claim say they are very likely to recommend USAA car insurance, with an additional 18% saying they are likely to recommend the insurer. After filing a claim, USAA customers are even more likely to recommend their insurer. Sixty-one percent of those we surveyed say they are very likely to recommend the insurer, and an additional 8% say they are likely to recommend it.
If USAA membership isn’t available to you, consider Nationwide. Thirty-one percent of customers who have not filed a claim say they would recommend Nationwide to other drivers, with another 41% saying they are likely to do so. Nationwide’s scores improve among customers who have filed a claim. Forty-two of them say they are very likely to recommend their insurer, with 32% saying they are likely to do so.
Most Likely to be Renewed: USAA and State Farm
A policyholder’s willingness to renew their policy can say a lot about their experience with an insurer. USAA has the highest customer loyalty score, beating State Farm by less than one point.
On average, 78% of USAA customers who haven’t filed a claim say they are likely or very likely to renew their policy. Nearly 70% of survey respondents who have filed a claim say they would recommend USAA to other drivers.
As indicated above, access to USAA insurance products is limited. If you don’t qualify for membership, you may want to consider State Farm, which claims the No. 2 spot in our Most Likely to be Renewed subrating.
According to our survey, 76% of State Farm customers who have not filed a claim say they are likely or very likely to stay with their current insurer when it’s time to renew their policy. That number drops to 69% among respondents who have filed a claim.
Best for Customer Loyalty: USAA and Nationwide
Customer loyalty is a reflection of a policyholder’s willingness to recommend their insurer and renew their policy. With strong renewal and recommendation score, it’s no surprise that USAA takes first place in this subrating as well. If you’re not eligible for USAA, consider Nationwide. It places second in our Most Likely to be Recommended category and receives above-average scores in our Most Likely to be Renewed category.