Top 5 Car Insurance Companies

Car insurance provides much-needed coverage for your automobile, and not only after an accident—for things like mechanical repairs and body work—but also by paying for the medical care of people injured during the accident.

When making shopping comparisons between insurance companies, keep an eye on key metrics like deductible, coverage options, and co-pay amount along with other terms and conditions that depend on your car’s make and model, driving history, and residence area. The top five car insurance companies reviewed here have shown over the years a penchant for quickness in processing claims, have excellent customer service, and provide an auto insurance value proposition
that is qualitative yet affordable.

MetLife

MetLife is a major player in the car insurance industry, which provides a complete suite of insurance products and services to fit your budget and personal situation. What I like about the company is that it has a very informative website that nicely complements its top-notch customer service. I spent some time diving deep into the company’s car insurance policy, and here is what I found:

Pros

• The company has an excellent financial rating
• It offers other insurance products, so you can save on reduced premiums if you buy other coverage options like life, property, or health
• Impeccable customer service; very responsive help desk reps
• Its website is stuffed with information about car insurance—there is an expansive FAQ section worth checking out
• Customer service is available 24/7
• You get rewarded for being a good driver and having a claim-free record
• You get Identity Protection Services at no additional cost
• You can manage your account online
• Application process is quick and easy; you can do it online, via phone or by fax
• You can get a quote via the company’s website

Cons

• None

MetLife clearly has mastered the art of covering automobiles as diverse as premiums cars and low-priced vehicles. I’m ascribing a 5-star rating to the company because, in my view, it has so many positives and no negative that it almost is a bargain to get such good coverage at such an affordable premium. Plus, the company is financially strong, which means you always will be covered should the unthinkable happen. I suggest you check out MetLife’s car insurance policy and see if it can suit your situation.

Auto-Owners Insurance

Don’t be confused by the company’s name; it provides more than car insurance and also can cover you on life, home, and business. I like how Auto-Owners Insuranceover the years has improved its customer service and claims processing unit, giving policyholders more bang for their premium buck. After poring over Auto-Owners Insurance’s value proposition, here is my complete insight:

Pros

• The company is economically sound
• Online account management possible
• You can enroll online, via fax, or over the phone
• Premiums are affordable
• A breadth and depth of coverage options—including comprehensive, collision, bodily injury liability, full glass and loan/lease gap
• You get a quote before applying for a specific policy
• All types of cars are insured, be they are all-terrain vehicles, mopeds, utility trailers, motorcycles, and converted or modified vehicles
• Several discounts available, including multiple policies, student discounts, mature drivers, green discounts, and paid-in-full rebates

Cons

• The company’s website is fine but could be more informative
• Car insurance is not available in certain states—such as California, Texas, and Arizona
• Customer service is not available 24/7—only Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (but there’s an after-hour hotline to call if you have an accident, say, around midnight)

Auto-Owners Insurance is here to stay, and I think it can only improve going forward. The company has an impressive array of products and services—I love its multitude of discounts—but I think it must up its competitive game a bit by providing an informative website and connecting more with existing and potential policyholders via its portal and social networks. Another reason why I’m rating the company 4 stars is that it doesn’t operate in all 50 states yet, something that its major competitors have been doing for years.

State Farm

State Farm says that choosing the right auto insurance can be tough, hinting that it will make that choice easier for you. Should we believe the company? I would say yes, given that it has been providing impeccable car insurance to millions of customers for so many years. The company breaks down its auto insurance value proposition around four main pillars: coverage, discounts, agents, and claims. Read below a comprehensive assessment of State Farm’s car insurance policy:

Pros

• The company has a website that is sleek and easy to navigate
• It is informative and tells you everything you need to know about auto coverage
• You can get an auto quote by entering your ZIP code and car model
• You can file a claim online
• Web-based account management and premium payment are possible
• Agents are ready to answer any questions you have, depending on your ZIP code—that trusted, local advice you would want
• Impeccable customer service
• Diverse coverage options
• Discounts available if you buy multiple policies
• The company is financially strong and one of the best car insurance providers in the world

Cons

• Premiums can be high at times
• Claims processing often can be slow

I am assigning a 5-star rating to State Farm because the company has everything you would need from a car insurance provider. Not only does it give you the right level of protection at a price you can afford—subject to certain restrictions, of course—it also provides you constant advice via its legion of agents spread across the country. Excellent customer service and quality coverage: that’s a combo you cannot ignore, so I invite you to check out the company’s auto insurance value proposition.

GEICO

Needless to say, auto insurance is GEICO’s strongest suit—its bread and butter. The company may be best known for its funny, British-accented gecko, but it certainly does a good job by providing excellent car insurance to millions of consumers in the United States. Read further below to see what I think of auto coverage options provided by the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO):

Pros

• The company has a strong brand name plus a flawless reputation
• Its economic standing is sturdy, and has been so for many years
• The website is as informative as you can get in the industry
• Glossy and ergonomic portal
• You get auto insurance quotes right from the website, usually in 15 minutes (so the company says)
• You can manage your policy online—pay premiums, modify coverage options, track claims
• Claims processing is quick, and agents typically keep you informed
• Affordable premiums, which many consumer groups have indicated were among the lowest in the industry
• Customer service is available 24/7
• You can contact the Help Desk via phone, email, fax, and regular mail
• You can get discounts by purchasing other policies with GEICO
• Premium rebates also available if you buy things like anti-theft devices or show an impeccable driving pattern during the previous 12 months
• Auto insurance calculator available on the website

Cons

• None

When it comes to car insurance, GEICO certainly knows what it is doing, and it has been doing it well for the past several years. It presents one of the best combos of affordable premiums, quality service, and coverage options out there in the market.

The Hartford

The Hartford Insurance Group provides you with car insurance that’s fully loaded. Don’t take my word for it; that’s what the company actually says. Whether it is true depends on each policyholder, but suffice it to say that the company overall has a strong operating model that has served policyholders well in the past several years. Plus, The Hartford provides other insurance products, such as renter’s insurance, condo coverage, flood insurance, and identify theft insurance. After familiarizing myself with The Hartford’s car insurance products and services, here is my take:

Pros

• The company possesses one of the most informative websites out there, replete with FAQ about car insurance
• You can even read well-written, competently researched articles about everything related to auto insurance, such as Take a Defensive Driving Class, Be Prepared with a Car Emergency Kit, and The Dangers of Night Driving
• The insurance provider is financially sound
• You can manage your account online
• Very easy and quick to sign up for the company’s insurance product
• You can qualify for lower premiums by buying and installing anti-theft products or purchasing multiple policies with The Hartford
• Car insurance calculator available on the site to help you get the right coverage
• You get innovative features like Disappearing Deductible, No-Drop Promise, and RecoverCare
• Excellent customer service

Cons

• Claims processing can be slow at times

The Hartford provides you with auto insurance that is affordable yet has a lot of options. Plus—and this is my favorite element—the company’s sleek website is informative and even features articles about everything from the dangers of nightly driving to the importance of a car emergency kit. Way to go, The Hartford!

Recap

When shopping for auto insurance, read online reviews like this one, but also contact insurers that operate in your residence area. Don’t forget, if you have time, to call your state’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner to ascertain the reputation of an insurance company you want to sign up with. This is particularly important if the provider is not a major player on the national car insurance stage. The top five car insurance companies in 2013 include GEICO, The Hartford, State Farm, Auto-Owners Insurance, and MetLife.