Best Car Insurance

Choosing the best car insurance is a comparison and selection problem: the right company depends on your price target, coverage fit, discount eligibility, claims experience, and driver profile. If you compare insurers using the same limits and deductibles, you can evaluate where Geico, Travelers, Progressive, USAA, and Nationwide line up for your budget and risk level, then choose the best match for your state and vehicle.

Quick Rankings: Best Car Insurance Companies

These picks use widely cited pricing benchmarks plus program features and eligibility constraints, so you can quickly narrow your shortlist before requesting quotes. Pricing varies by state, ZIP code, vehicle, coverage level, driving history, and (in many states) credit-based insurance score. (NerdWallet)

Best-fit rankings (2026 shopping)

Category	Best pick	Why it fits
Best overall value for many drivers	Travelers	Low median full-coverage benchmark among large insurers for a clean-record driver profile. (NerdWallet)
Lowest cost tendency for minimum required coverage	Geico	Often among the lowest-priced large insurers for minimum coverage benchmarks. (NerdWallet)
Best for drivers with a recent DUI (price resilience)	Progressive	Median benchmark stays comparatively lower after a recent DUI vs several peers. (NerdWallet)
Best for military families (eligibility-based)	USAA	Membership-limited insurer with strong price benchmarks in NerdWallet’s analysis tables. (NerdWallet)
Best for low-mileage drivers (program fit)	Nationwide	Pay-per-mile option (SmartMiles) and telematics discount program (SmartRide). (Nationwide)

How these rankings were evaluated (after rankings, per your rules)

• Price benchmarks: Median rates by insurer for multiple driver scenarios (clean record, DUI, poor credit, ages) to show how prices shift by profile. (NerdWallet)
• Discount and pricing levers: Telemetry/usage-based programs and common discount categories that can reduce premium for qualifying drivers. (State Farm)
• Claims and service signal: Industry satisfaction studies plus regulator complaint-index resources you can use to validate service patterns. (J.D. Power)

How These Rankings Could Be Wrong

These rankings rely on third-party benchmark tables and insurer program descriptions. They are not immutable. You should treat them as provisional signals that can fail under certain conditions.

The rankings would no longer hold if any of the following occurred:

• If an insurer’s median benchmark rate rises above peers for the same driver profile across two consecutive annual benchmark updates, its “best fit” classification should be reconsidered.
• If a usage-based or pay-per-mile program materially changes its pricing algorithm, enrollment rules, or renewal penalties, prior assumptions about savings potential may no longer apply.
• If state regulatory changes alter credit-based insurance scoring, telematics legality, or minimum coverage rules, insurer price relationships can flip.
• If an insurer exits or restricts underwriting in certain ZIP codes or vehicle classes, benchmark comparisons may no longer reflect actual availability.

Because pricing models change, these rankings should be re-validated against fresh quotes before purchase.

Best Car Insurance Companies in Detail

Geico

Typical price positioning (benchmarks): For a 35-year-old driver with a clean record, Geico’s median full-coverage benchmark is $2,058/year ($171/month) in NerdWallet’s tables. (NerdWallet)
Best for: Minimum-coverage shoppers, drivers who qualify for multiple discounts, and drivers who want a large direct-to-consumer insurer with broad reach. (NerdWallet)

Discounts and programs to compare

• DriveEasy (telematics app): Optional and state-dependent; participation can change premium based on recorded driving behavior. (GEICO)
• Geico publishes examples of discount categories and potential savings ranges (varies by state and situation). (GEICO)

Coverage flexibility

• Strong baseline menu (liability, collision, comprehensive, UM/UIM where applicable), with quote outcomes driven by deductibles and limits you select.

Eligibility and availability constraints

• Program and discount availability varies by state and situation, especially telematics enrollment rules. (GEICO)

Travelers

Typical price positioning (benchmarks): Travelers shows a $1,656/year ($138/month) median full-coverage benchmark for a 35-year-old clean-record profile in NerdWallet’s insurer table. (NerdWallet)
Best for: Full-coverage buyers who prioritize a lower baseline premium benchmark and who can benefit from telematics savings.

Discounts and programs to compare

• IntelliDrive: Travelers describes potential savings up to 30% for safe driving behavior, with renewal premium affected by recorded habits. (Travelers)

Coverage flexibility

• Travelers typically fits drivers comparing full coverage vs minimum coverage, plus optional features (accident forgiveness and other endorsements vary by state and policy form).

Eligibility and availability constraints

• State and program eligibility varies; confirm IntelliDrive terms and enrollment rules for your state. (Travelers)

Progressive

Typical price positioning (benchmarks): Progressive’s median full-coverage benchmark for a 35-year-old clean-record profile is $2,120/year ($177/month) in NerdWallet’s table. (NerdWallet)
Best for: Drivers whose price changes sharply with record complexity (recent DUI, at-fault accident, speeding ticket) and drivers who want a major carrier with strong segmentation.

Why Progressive often fits a DUI profile

• NerdWallet’s table shows Progressive’s median full-coverage benchmark with a recent DUI lower than several peers in the same scenario set. (NerdWallet)

Discounts and programs to compare

• Snapshot: Progressive explains that driving behavior can change the renewal rate; program rules vary by state and timing. (Progressive)

Coverage flexibility

• Progressive commonly competes well when you compare consistent limits across multiple companies, especially for drivers who need SR-22 filings or rate-sensitive tiers (state rules vary).

Why DUI Pricing Differs by Insurer

Insurers do not price DUI risk uniformly. Differences typically arise from:

• Risk tier segmentation: Some insurers separate DUI drivers into narrower risk pools, limiting cross-subsidization and preventing extreme premium spikes.
• Loss modeling emphasis: Insurers weigh frequency vs. severity differently; a company more tolerant of higher frequency but controlled severity may price DUI risk lower.
• Re-rating cadence: Some insurers adjust premiums more aggressively at renewal, while others spread increases across multiple terms.
• State filing strategies: Rate filings and allowed surcharges vary by state, meaning the same DUI can produce different outcomes depending on insurer regulatory posture.

Progressive’s relatively lower median benchmark after a DUI reflects modeling and tiering differences, not leniency or guaranteed affordability. Individual outcomes still depend on state rules, time since conviction, and prior loss history.

USAA

Typical price positioning (benchmarks): USAA’s median full-coverage benchmark for a 35-year-old clean-record profile is $1,501/year ($125/month) in NerdWallet’s table, with the key constraint being eligibility. (NerdWallet)
Best for: Military members, veterans, and eligible family members who can access membership-based pricing and service.

Eligibility constraints

• USAA membership is limited to eligible military-affiliated members and eligible family members (details and edge cases vary). (USAA)

Discounts and coverage

• USAA competes as a full-featured insurer; your best comparison comes from matching limits and deductibles against Travelers, Geico, Progressive, and Nationwide for your exact driver and vehicle data.

Nationwide

Typical price positioning (benchmarks): Nationwide’s median full-coverage benchmark for a 35-year-old clean-record profile is $2,867/year ($239/month) in NerdWallet’s table, with meaningful upside for low-mileage and telematics-eligible drivers. (NerdWallet)
Best for: Low-mileage drivers, drivers who want usage-based pricing options, and households that can stack multiple discount categories.

Discounts and programs to compare

• SmartRide: Nationwide describes discounts up to 40% based on safe-driving behavior. (Nationwide)
• SmartMiles (pay-per-mile): Designed for low-mileage drivers with a flexible monthly rate tied to miles driven. (Nationwide)

Coverage flexibility

• Nationwide can fit drivers who evaluate premium reduction opportunities via mileage-based programs alongside standard coverage decisions.

Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies

Median full-coverage benchmarks below reflect a 35-year-old driver with a clean record in NerdWallet’s insurer table. Use this as a starting point, then compare quotes with identical limits/deductibles. (NerdWallet)

Company	Median full coverage (annual / monthly)	Strength to evaluate	Key constraint to confirm
Travelers	$1,656 / $138	Low baseline benchmark; IntelliDrive savings lever	IntelliDrive terms vary by state (Travelers)
USAA	$1,501 / $125	Strong benchmark pricing for eligible members	Membership eligibility limits access (USAA)
Geico	$2,058 / $171	Competitive minimum coverage tendency; discount mix	DriveEasy and discounts vary by state/situation (GEICO)
Progressive	$2,120 / $177	Often resilient pricing across higher-risk scenarios	Snapshot rules and renewal impacts vary (Progressive)
Nationwide	$2,867 / $239	Low-mileage fit via SmartMiles; SmartRide discount	Program availability and terms vary (Nationwide)

Example Quote Comparison

To illustrate how benchmarks translate into real quotes, consider the following hypothetical but realistic scenario:

• Driver: 35-year-old, clean record
• Vehicle: 2021 Toyota Camry
• Location: Suburban ZIP code
• Coverage: 100/300/100 liability, $500 collision & comprehensive deductibles

When quoted with identical limits:

• One insurer may price lowest due to baseline underwriting.
• Another may overtake the lowest price if telematics enrollment is added.
• A third may appear expensive at baseline but become competitive with bundled discounts.

This is why benchmarks should be treated as starting points, not purchase decisions. Only side-by-side quotes with matching limits reveal the true best price for a specific driver.

How to Find the Best Car Insurance for You

Use your driver profile and coverage tier to narrow choices, then compare quotes using identical liability limits and deductibles.

If you buy minimum coverage to satisfy state requirements

• Start comparisons with Geico and Travelers because they tend to price competitively in large-insurer benchmark tables, then include Progressive if your record adds pricing pressure. (NerdWallet)

If you finance or lease your vehicle and need full coverage

• Compare Travelers first for baseline full-coverage pricing, then compare Geico and Progressive to test whether your ZIP code, vehicle, and history flip the ranking. (NerdWallet)

If you have a recent DUI

• Include Progressive early; its median benchmark in NerdWallet’s DUI table stays comparatively lower than several peers. (NerdWallet)

If you have poor credit in states where credit-based insurance scoring applies

• Expect large spreads across insurers; compare Geico, Travelers, Progressive, and Nationwide because the “best price” outcome shifts by insurer in the poor-credit table. (NerdWallet)
• Some states restrict or prohibit credit use in auto pricing; treat this as a state-specific constraint. (NerdWallet)

If you drive low annual miles

• Compare Nationwide because SmartMiles is built for low mileage pricing mechanics, and compare a traditional quote alongside it to see which structure wins. (Nationwide)

If you are eligible through military affiliation

• Start with USAA, then compare at least one large non-membership insurer as a pricing check for your exact ZIP code and vehicle. (USAA)

If you are adding a teen driver

• Expect premiums to spike; the 20-year-old benchmark table illustrates how strongly age shifts pricing across companies. (NerdWallet)
• Add Auto-Owners to your quote set via an independent agent, since regional insurers can price differently than national carriers.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?

A realistic national baseline helps you judge whether a quote looks below average or above average.

• Full coverage: national averages cluster around roughly $2,339–$2,697 per year depending on source methodology and time window. (Bankrate)
• Minimum coverage: one Bankrate estimate places it around $820 per year on average. (Bankrate)
• Profile swings are large: NerdWallet’s scenario tables show major jumps after a DUI, at-fault accident, or poor credit. (NerdWallet)

Use those ranges as a “sanity band,” then judge each insurer based on the same coverage tier:

• Minimum coverage quote comparisons only make sense against other minimum coverage quotes.
• Full coverage comparisons only make sense when collision/comprehensive deductibles and limits match.

How Pricing Benchmarks Are Constructed (And Their Limits)

Third-party benchmark tables aggregate insurer quotes across standardized driver profiles to show relative price tendencies, not guaranteed rates.

Important limitations:

• Benchmarks reflect modeled profiles, not live underwriting outcomes.
• Median values smooth extremes but can hide large ZIP-level variance.
• Insurers may price aggressively in some states and conservatively in others.
• Discount eligibility, telematics participation, and bundling are usually not fully reflected.

Benchmarks are best used to prioritize which insurers to quote first, not to predict final premiums.

What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates

Rates vary because insurers price risk differently and state regulation affects underwriting variables.

• Driver age and experience: younger drivers carry higher median benchmarks than mid-life drivers in the same insurer table. (NerdWallet)
• Driving record: tables show strong jumps after at-fault accidents, DUIs, and speeding tickets, and the “cheapest insurer” frequently changes by scenario. (NerdWallet)
• Credit-based insurance score (state-dependent): the poor-credit table shows large spreads; state rules can restrict the factor. (NerdWallet)
• Location and traffic density: state-by-state premium differences can be large in national reporting. (Bankrate)
• Vehicle value and repair cost: higher repair severity raises collision and comprehensive premiums; this shows up sharply for higher-cost vehicles in general reporting. (Progressive)
• Coverage tier, limits, and deductibles: higher liability limits and lower deductibles increase premium; higher deductibles often reduce premium. (NerdWallet)

Car Insurance Coverage Types Explained

You only need enough coverage explanation to compare policies correctly.

Liability coverage (required in most states)

• Written in shorthand like 25/50/15, meaning $25,000 per person bodily injury, $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $15,000 property damage. (NerdWallet)

Collision and comprehensive (commonly bundled as “full coverage”)

• Collision covers your vehicle damage from crashes (subject to deductible).
• Comprehensive covers theft, vandalism, weather, animal strikes, and other non-collision losses (subject to deductible). (Progressive)

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

• Often required or strongly recommended depending on your state’s uninsured driver rates and legal structure; compare UM/UIM limits the same way you compare liability limits.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay)

• PIP is required in some no-fault states; Florida’s registration rules focus on PIP and property damage liability. (FL Highway Safety)

Optional Add-Ons and Endorsements

These features often decide “best fit” when base coverage looks similar.

Usage-based insurance (telematics)

• **State Farm offers Drive Safe & Save with potential savings up to 30% based on driving. (State Farm)
• Travelers IntelliDrive describes potential savings up to 30%. (Travelers)
• Nationwide SmartRide describes potential savings up to 40%. (Nationwide)
• Progressive Snapshot can change renewal pricing based on driving data; rules vary by state and participation timing. (Progressive)
• Geico DriveEasy is optional and state-dependent. (GEICO)

Rideshare gap coverage

• **Farmers markets a rideshare add-on intended to cover the “app on, ride not accepted” gap. (Farmers Insurance)

New car replacement

• Farmers describes new-car replacement style coverage in its auto product materials (eligibility depends on model year/mileage and policy form). (Farmers Insurance)

Common add-ons worth comparing across all insurers

• Rental reimbursement
• Roadside assistance / towing
• Gap coverage (if financed)
• Accident forgiveness (varies by insurer/state)

Car Insurance by State

State rules change what “minimum coverage” means and can change which insurer wins on price.

Use a state minimum table as your starting point

The **Insurance Information Institute publishes a state-by-state financial responsibility table you can use to confirm minimum liability structures and required coverages. (III)

Examples of high-impact state differences

• California: the DMV lists minimum liability as 30/60/15. (California DMV)
• Florida: vehicle registration rules require PIP and property damage liability coverage. (FL Highway Safety)
• Texas: the Texas Department of Insurance describes minimum liability as 30/60/25. (Texas Department of Insurance)

Decision impact: If your state minimums are low, minimum-coverage quotes can look very cheap while leaving large out-of-pocket exposure in severe accidents. If your state minimums are higher, the price gap between minimum coverage and a “standard” liability limit often narrows, changing the best value choice.

Best Car Insurance FAQs

How to Personally Verify These Claims

To independently test whether these rankings apply to you:

1. Request at least three quotes with identical limits and deductibles.
2. Compare both baseline quotes and post-discount scenarios (telematics on/off).
3. Confirm state-specific rules affecting credit, PIP, or UM/UIM.
4. Re-quote annually or after major life events (move, new vehicle, record change).

If the same insurer repeatedly prices lowest across re-quotes, the benchmark signal is confirmed for your profile. If rankings flip, your local or personal factors dominate.

Conclusion: Pick the Best Fit, Then Confirm With Matching Quotes

A decision-ready way to choose the best car insurance is:

1. Select your coverage tier (minimum vs full coverage) and set your limits/deductibles.
2. Shortlist by driver profile: Travelers for low baseline full coverage, Geico for minimum-coverage price pressure, Progressive for DUI resilience, USAA if eligible, Nationwide if low-mileage pricing fits.
3. Compare quotes with identical coverage settings and confirm state-specific requirements before you choose.