When looking for affordable car insurance, remember that the best auto insurance policy isn’t always the cheapest. This is why we've compiled a resource to help you determine which car insurance companies are considered the best by both customers and third-party reviewers.
In this guide, you'll find the results of The Zebra Customers Satisfaction Survey, ranking the top fifteen insurers based on feedback from actual customers. You'll also find information about both major and regional car insurance carriers alike.
- Key takeaways
- USAA tops the list of best car insurance companies
- Smaller, regional carriers could be a great option
- Getting quotes from multiple companies is recommended
The Zebra’s Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Zebra commissioned a survey of the top car insurance companies in America to see who came out on top for customer satisfaction. The companies chosen were based on market share and overall availability to a wide selection of customers. While customers were also asked about homeowners coverage, this section will focus purely on each company's car insurance offerings.
The highest rated car insurance companies
USAA took first place, winning in nearly every category. Rounding out the top three were Erie and State Farm. Both companies received great marks overall, coming in only slightly behind USAA.
- USAA
USAA came out on top of the Zebra’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, topping five of the six categories.
- Erie
Erie Insurance came in second place overall with a score of 4.5
- State Farm
State Farm insurance rounded out the top three insurance companies with an overall score of 4.5.
Best carriers ranked
Below are the overall results for The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey of the top auto insurance carriers. All companies received a rating of at least 4 on a scale of 5. Have a look at how each company did below.
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.6 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.5 |
| 3rd | State Farm | 4.5 |
| 4th | GEICO | 4.4 |
| 5th | Progressive | 4.3 |
| 6th | Travelers | 4.3 |
| 7th | American Family | 4.3 |
| 8th | Allstate | 4.3 |
| 9th | Nationwide | 4.3 |
| 10th | Farmers | 4.3 |
| 11th | Auto-Owners | 4.2 |
| 12th | National General | 4.2 |
| 13th | Auto Club (AAA) | 4.2 |
| 14th | Liberty Mutual | 4.2 |
| 15th | Kemper | 4.1 |
Survey topics
The survey looked at six customer experience categories:
- Claims satisfaction
- Ease of interaction
- Customer service
- Willingness to recommend
- Trust
- Online satisfaction
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey methodology
Findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2021.
Claims satisfaction
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 asked respondents about their overall satisfaction with how their car insurance claims were handled by their company. Respondents who had not filed a claim with their current insurer did not answer this question.
The company that came out on top was USAA. State Farm came in a close second, while Erie rounded out the top three. Here is a list of the top five best insurance companies with the highest claims satisfaction scores:
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.7 |
| 2nd | State Farm | 4.7 |
| 3rd | Erie | 4.5 |
| 4th | GEICO | 4.4 |
| 5th | Travelers | 4.4 |
Ease of interaction
Communication is a hugely important part of the overall customer experience. This section of the survey asked respondents to rate how easy it was to communicate with their auto insurer. This involved many different types of interactions, including renewing a policy, paying a bill, or simply asking a question.
Here are the five best car insurance companies for ease of interaction:
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.6 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.6 |
| 3rd | State Farm | 4.5 |
| 4th | GEICO | 4.5 |
| 5th | Progressive | 4.4 |
Customer service satisfaction
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. USAA again came out on top with the best customer service score overall. See who rounded out the top five below.
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.6 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.5 |
| 3rd | State Farm | 4.5 |
| 4th | Travelers | 4.4 |
| 5th | GEICO | 4.4 |
Most likely to recommend
One of the best indicators of satisfaction with your coverage is whether you would recommend it to friends or family. The following companies were considered the most likely to be recommended to others by current customers.
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.6 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.5 |
| 3rd | State Farm | 4.4 |
| 4th | GEICO | 4.3 |
| 5th | Progressive | 4.3 |
Most trustworthy
This part of the survey asked if customers perceive their insurance company as trustworthy. The following companies were deemed the most trustworthy among our survey respondents.
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | USAA | 4.6 |
| 2nd | Erie | 4.5 |
| 3rd | State Farm | 4.4 |
| 4th | American Family | 4.4 |
| 5th | Auto Club (AAA) | 4.3 |
Online satisfaction
Moreso than ever, a company's online presence is a major part of the customer experience. The insurance sector has, on the whole, been slower to embrace technological shifts. However, the following companies have made an impression on customers by providing good online experiences, whether through apps or company websites.
| Rank | Company | Customer Satisfaction Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | GEICO | 4.5 |
| 2nd | USAA | 4.5 |
| 3rd | Progressive | 4.4 |
| 4th | State Farm | 4.4 |
| 5th | Travelers | 4.4 |
Find the right policy today!
Best car insurance bundles
Our customer satisfaction survey included questions regarding home insurance. For the respondents who carried multiple policy types, these are the top carriers for bundling home and auto insurance.
Other ratings
The Zebra has reviewed both national and regional auto insurance carriers in an effort to aid in your car insurance shopping. We evaluate insurance companies based on a number of factors, including customer complaints, fiscal strength, and reputable third-party reviews. Take a look at the overall scores of the most popular car insurance companies in the country below, and check out a similar ranking for the best home insurance companies.
Best regional and mid-sized car insurance companies
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.
Northeast
Including the following states: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Southeast
Including the following states: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
- Farm Bureau Insurance - Tennessee
- Erie Insurance
- Alfa
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- North Carolina Farm Bureau
Midwest
Including the following states: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- Shelter Insurance
- Indiana Farm Bureau
- Westfield Insurance
- Erie Insurance
Southwest
Including the following states: AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Auto Club of Southern California
- CSAA Insurance Group
- Country Financial
- Auto-Owners Insurance
West
Including the following states: AL, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY
- Wawanesa
- PEMCO
- Grange Insurance
- CSAA Insurance Group
- Country Financial
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.
Shop around and compare quotes
Get quotes from several companies to see who offers the best price and coverage.
Explore coverage options
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.
Read reviews
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.
Talk to a professional
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 policy for your needs at a fair price.
Getting the best car insurance: considerations
It's important to remember that the best car insurance company for some may not be the best for all. Similarly, going for the absolute cheapest option can also mean giving up a good amount of customers satisfaction in exchange. Your own experiences with a company are likely to be vastly different than they are for other customers. For this reason, it's hugely important to do your research and compare rates.
The Zebra can help you find the right balance of affordability and customer service in a policy specially tailored to your needs. Enter your ZIP below to get started.
Compare quotes from the best car insurance companies.
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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.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
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The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
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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.