The Best Car Insurance Companies (2026)
- Acuity earned the highest overall score in our survey.
- Amica and Erie are also highly recommended.
The Zebra makes it easy to find the best insurer. Enter your ZIP to compare quotes from top companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies (2026)
- Acuity earned the highest overall score in our survey.
- Amica and Erie are also highly recommended.
The Zebra makes it easy to find the best insurer. Enter your ZIP to compare quotes from top companies.
Which car insurance company is best?
When you're looking for a car insurance policy that fits your budget, it's important to remember that the cheapest option may not be the best. That's why we've created a helpful resource to help you determine which car insurance companies are considered the best by customers and independent reviewers.
Our experts at The Zebra have compiled the top-rated car insurance companies based on a rigorous methodology. We looked at a number of factors, including customer satisfaction, price, and our own survey data to help you find the best car insurance carrier for your needs.
Best car insurance overall
Acuity takes the top spot with the highest Zebra score, rated 4.4/5 stars.
Best company for most drivers
Amica received the highest score among insurance companies available nationwide, with a review score of 4.2/5 stars
Best regional carrier
While not available nationwide, Erie (4.1/5 stars) is a great option for those who live in states where it's offered.
The most important factors when choosing an auto insurance company are going to be tailored to each person, but price, of course, is going to be on everyone's radar. You definitely want to look at the company as a whole: what is their reputation like? What has word of mouth been like with reviews and customer satisfaction?
Johnny Hawkins — Licensed insurance agent and sales manager at The Zebra
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The Zebra Review Categories
Our survey looked at six customer experience categories:
How The Zebra evaluates insurance companies
| Rating | Explanation | Star rating equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Subpar | Lowest ranking, suggesting instability or high risk | 0-1.9 |
| Fair | Somewhat stable but not consistently reliable | 2-2.9 |
| Good | Generally dependable with moderate stability | 3-3.9 |
| Solid | Strong, reliable and dependable with minor risks | 4-4.4 |
| Exceptional | Highest rating, indicating outstanding stability and reliability | 4.5-5 |
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra evaluates companies by focusing on customer experience first, with an emphasis on service quality, reliability, and ease of interaction. Unlike previous models, pricing is not scored but is instead presented separately as context for comparison.
Each category has been scored using a combination of our internal customer satisfaction survey results and published scores from reputable organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power.
- Service Accessibility & Support Quality (25%): This category measures how easy it is to get help when needed, evaluating factors such as support channel availability (phone, chat, in-person, app), response times, agent knowledge, service hours, and language accessibility.
- Claims Experience (25%): This category assesses how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
- Digital Experience & Policy Management (25%): This category evaluates the convenience of managing your policy: this includes mobile app usability, website experience, account management, digital document access, self-service options, and platform integrations
- Trust & Reliability (25%): This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.
Price context: Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and risk factors. Customers can evaluate cost-effectiveness based on their specific situation and the service quality scores provided.
No one wants to have to use their insurance. Still, you want the process to be as seamless as possible when you must. For this section, we assessed how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
Several companies scored a 4/5 for claims experience— see our list below for the top performers.
One of the biggest differentiators for some of the top-rated companies compared to the smaller ones will be their claims process, which really affects a customer’s overall experience with a company.
Johnny Hawkins — Licensed insurance agent and sales manager at The Zebra
The way you are treated by customer service can leave a lasting impression. This section focused on how satisfied customers were with the customer service received from their insurance company. This involved interactions including renewing a policy, paying a bill, or simply asking a question. Amica came out on top with the best customer service score overall. See who rounded out the top five below.
| Rank | Company | Service accessibility & support quality score (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Amica | 4.5 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.25 |
| 3rd | Acuity | 4.25 |
| 4th | American Family | 4.25 |
| 5th | USAA | 4.25 |
This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.The following companies were deemed the most trustworthy based on this criteria.
| Rank | Company | Trust & reliability score (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Chubb | 5 |
| 2nd | Metlife | 5 |
| 3rd | Cincinnati | 5 |
| 4th | Acuity | 4.75 |
| 5th | USAA | 4.75 |
Moreso than ever, a company's online presence is a major part of the customer experience. The following companies have made an impression by providing good online experiences, whether through apps or company websites.
| Rank | Company | Digital experience score (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Acuity | 4.75 |
| 2nd | USAA | 4.75 |
| 3rd | Progressive | 4.75 |
| 4th | GEICO | 4.75 |
| 5th | Hanover | 4.75 |
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Best companies by region
Some car insurance companies only serve a small portion of the country. However, this does not mean that they are inferior. In fact, there are a number of smaller carriers that offer top-of-the-line coverage options and exceptional customer service. We've put together a list of some of the best car insurance companies by region, highlighting regional and mid-sized carriers that offer great coverage options.
This list was created using the same methodology as The Zebra's carrier reviews, incorporating ratings from J.D. Power and the NAIC with coverage options offered. Reference the list below to find the best regional carriers in your part of the country.[2]
Northeast:
Including the following states:Â CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Southeast:
Including the following states:Â AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
Midwest
Including the following states:Â IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
- COUNTRY Financial
- American Family
- Shelter Insurance
- Cincinnati Insurance
- Erie Insurance
West
Including the following states:Â AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY
Southwest
Including the following states:Â AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT
In-house experts, on your side.
How to choose the best car insurance company
While our survey can give you a broad idea of what to expect from car insurance companies, your experiences and driver profile may differ from our survey respondents. Because of this, it's hugely important to do your own research on how to find the best car insurance company for your needs.
Get quotes from several companies to see who offers the best price and coverage.
Not all car insurance companies offer the same coverage options. Going for state-minimum, liability-only coverage will certainly be cheaper, but will also leave you less protected.
Third-party reviews (including those of The Zebra) can give you another lens through which to view a car insurance company. Consult review sites such as the Better Business Bureau, NAIC, and J.D. Power to see how others have rated them.
If you're still unsure about what coverage you need, speak to a licensed professional. The Zebra has an entire agency full of independent insurance agents who can help you find the right balance of affordability and customer service in a policy specially tailored to your needs.
Compare rates from the best car insurance companies!
Customer Satisfaction Survey. The Zebra
J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.