If you’ve received a car insurance policy renewal lately, your new rate may have made you pause.
Across the U.S., car insurance premiums are going up, a trend driven by the rising cost of vehicle repairs and replacements, along with car thefts and risks from severe weather. In a 2024 CR national survey of U.S.-based auto insurance policyholders, 60 percent said their premiums had increased in the past year.
Whether because of rate hikes or other factors, drivers may want to shop around. That’s where CR’s ratings can help.
To identify the best and worst insurers, our national car insurance survey recorded responses from 40,566 policyholders. Our ratings reflect customers’ satisfaction with factors that include how well claims are handled, how easy it is to talk to agents, how clear their policies are, and whether the premium costs are fair. Our analysis of the results revealed the best insurance companies for most U.S. policyholders, which we’ve ranked by Overall Score.
To determine the rankings, we looked at whether people’s satisfaction with their insurer varied based on their income and age. We also tracked which companies recently raised premiums the most, which companies policyholders were likely to switch to, and which insurers’ customers were most likely to leave for a competitor—and why.
Our results include ratings for some of the best-known and biggest car insurance companies, such as Allstate, Farmers, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm, and USAA. But we also considered lesser-known, smaller, and regional companies.
Among the 36 companies we rated, six winners emerged, earning Consumer Reports’ recommendation.
Below, CR members can learn about those companies, including what states they serve, how their service excels, available discounts, and what actual policyholders say about their experience.
Whether you’re shopping for car insurance because your premium went up, because you’re adding a teen driver or turning 65, or because you’re just looking for the lowest-cost provider, our survey results can help you choose the company that works best for your needs.
CR members can also access our complete list of ratings for car insurance companies.
