Best Auto Insurance Companies and Some of the Worst (2026)

If auto insurance companies some is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• Shopping for car insurance can feel overwhelming.
• But here at Team Clark, we’ve got lots of resources to make things easier.
• Whether you’re re-shopping your car insurance to find the best rates or you’re getting car insurance for the first time, comparing quotes fr...

Shopping for car insurance can feel overwhelming. But here at Team Clark, we’ve got lots of resources to make things easier.

Whether you’re re-shopping your car insurance to find the best rates or you’re getting car insurance for the first time, comparing quotes from multiple companies is a must. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best car insurance companies to consider, including:

• Clark Howard’s Top Picks for Car Insurance
• Top 10 Best Car Insurance Companies
• Car Insurance Companies To Avoid
• Clark’s Advice When Shopping for Car Insurance

Clark Howard’s Top Picks for Car Insurance

When it comes to being amongst the best, money expert Clark Howard looks at how car insurance companies treat their shoppers.

There are so numerous car insurance companies to consider when shopping around. Most companies advertise features (like accident forgiveness, vanishing deductibles and more) as selling points in hopes of standing out in the market.

But those features are just a side-show to the main act, which is a company’s reputation with both customer complaints and customer satisfaction after a claim is made.

With this in mind, Clark has long sung the praises of Amica, NJM Insurance Company (NJM) and USAA. He says:

“Historically, these companies offer the best claims experience. The whole thing about insurance is not necessarily to have the lowest premiums, but to have the coverage you need if something goes wrong , and these companies all excel in that respect.”

You can read more about each of these companies on our list below!

Top 10 Best Car Insurance Companies

Here at Team Clark, when it comes to what companies are best, we focus on the consumer experience. That means , even if they don’t always have the cheapest premiums , companies must have a good track record for customer service, support and satisfaction with how claims are handled.

These factors are also weighed heavily by Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, which is why we use data from both sources to create our list.

To develop the Team Clark grades, we’ve taken the top companies from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and averaged their scores. Here’s our top ten list:

Advertisement #CompanyTeam Clark Score (out of 100) 1Erie Insurance73.2 2NJM Insurance71.1 *USAA71.1 3Amica70.4 4Auto-Owners Insurance63.1 5CSAA Insurance Group (AAA)62.0 6Nationwide61.0 7State Farm60.3 8The Hartford58.3 9American Family57.1 10Auto Club Group (AAA)56.4

* Because J.D. Power doesn’t technically rank USAA coverage, we’ve included it as an honorable mention but haven’t included it in the rankings.

Consumer Reports generates its ratings by reviewing companies in seven key areas, including premiums, claims, coverage, policy clarity, policy review, service, and help/advice. Companies receive scores in each area based on their shoppers’ satisfaction with things like the cost of their premiums, the coverage available and how claims and non-claims related issues are handled.

J.D. Power ratings are based on “shoppers’ perceptions of their insurer’s performance throughout the entire claims experience.” This experience includes the time period, “from first notice of loss through the repair and delivery of their vehicle or settlement of a total loss.”

Please note that this list isn’t exhaustive. For example, several companies on the Consumer Reports list aren’t rated by J.D. Power. We recommend reviewing the individual lists from J.D. Power (free) and Consumer Reports (subscription required) for more options.

Top 10 Car Insurance Companies: More Details

Want to know more about the top 10 companies on our list? We’ve got you covered! In addition to the Team Clark grade, you can find the AM Best Financial Strength Rating (FSR) for each company on our list below.

The FSR isn’t factored into the Team Clark grades, but every company on our list has an A, A+ or A++ rating. This means , when it comes to their financial security and ability to pay claims , every company below has excellent to superior financial strength.

1. Erie

Team Clark GradeAM Best FSR73.2A

Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie Insurance was founded in 1925 and offers insurance policies for auto, home, business, and life. For auto insurance, Erie offers base policies for standard auto coverages.

But they also offer several optional add-ons (also called endorsements) that you can choose from to get extra coverage. For example, Erie says they offer personal item coverage to “cover loss to clothing, luggage and personal belongings that are inside a car that we insure (up to $350).”

Erie also offers an “Auto Plus” policy that can be added to a base policy. The company says that Erie “Auto Plus” adds perks to your policy for “$35 (or less) per year.”

Like with most insurers, there are also several ways to save with discounts and incentives.

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2. NJM Insurance Group

Team Clark GradeAM Best FSR71.1A+

New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM) Insurance Company was founded in New Jersey in 1913. Initially, the company was “established to provide workers’ compensation to New Jersey’s growing business community.” Today, NJM also offers auto insurance, home insurance, umbrella insurance and more.

When it comes to auto insurance, NJM offers numerous coverage options. You can get your standard coverages (like liability, comprehensive, and/or collision). But NJM also offers numerous endorsements, or extra coverages, to customize your policy. The company also offers numerous discounts to help you save.

Currently, NJM only offers insurance to residents of New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

* USAA

Team Clark GradeAM Best FSR71.1A++

USAA was founded in 1922 and is based in San Antonio, Texas. The company offers multiple lines of insurance (including auto, homeowners, life and more) for military members, veterans and family members.

In addition to the standard liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages, USAA offers “pay as you drive” options to policyholders. With “pay as you drive” , or usage-based insurance (UBI) , your premiums are “based on how much and how safely you drive.” This is a excellent way to save for people who don’t drive frequently. But there are lots of other ways to save, as USAA offers numerous discounts on car insurance.

It’s key to note that we’ve seen a surge in complaints from our readers about USAA’s customer service. Numerous of you reached out and said USAA wasn’t living up to its high reputation. When we contacted USAA with your feedback, they said:

“USAA is well known for providing outstanding member service, which has defined our association for over 100 years. We certainly appreciate the feedback and would ask for an opportunity to resolve any concerns from our members. Members can reach us by using their USAA mobile app, by logging into their profile at usaa.com or by calling us at 800-531-USAA.”

If you’re seriously considering enrolling with them, be sure to check out our guide on USAA before you get a policy.

3. Amica Mutual

Team Clark GradeAM Best FSR70.4A+

Amica Mutual Insurance was founded in 1907 and is based in Rhode Island. As a Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on auto insurance companies some goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at clark.com.