Our car insurance ratings methodology

How we rate car insurance 

To help consumers find the best car insurance for their needs, we evaluated 389 companies across the United States. Each rating considered two or more of the following key car insurance factors. 

Cost

We analyzed over 3,500 car insurance rates, including those for the following:

• Good drivers, or those with no infractions on their record. 
• Drivers with an at-fault accident that resulted in bodily injury or property damage.
• Drivers with a speeding ticket on their record.
• Drivers with a DUI on their record. 
• Teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on a parent’s policy.
• Teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on their own policy.
• Young drivers (ages 19 to 25).
• Senior drivers (ages 60 to 80).

As part of our analysis, we reviewed the average national rate for each driver profile at the national and state levels. 

Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female with a clean driving record shopping for full coverage on a 2023 Toyota Rav4. 

For our analysis, full coverage includes: 

• $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance coverage per person. 
• $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance coverage per accident. 
• $100,000 in property damage liability insurance per accident. 
• Collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible. 
• Any additional coverage (and associated limits) required by state car insurance mandates. This can include personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage (MedPay) and uninsured motorist coverage. 

Note that key factors, such as age and driving record, may change for some ratings to best reflect the cost of coverage for a specific driver profile. For instance, the rates used in our best teen car insurance rating are based on teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on a parent’s policy, while those used in our best car insurance for seniors rating are for ages 65, 70, 75 and 80. 

A methodology section that outlines the factors used is available on each rating page. 

>> Why this is important: Nearly every state mandates that drivers carry at least some level of liability car insurance, with many other states mandating additional coverages, such as uninsured motorist insurance. These laws make car insurance an obligatory budget item for most drivers and car insurance rates a significant factor when shopping for coverage. 

Coverages and features

Car insurance companies generally offer the same basic coverage, such as liability car insurance, but many offer additional coverages and features that may benefit some drivers. Companies that offered the following coverage options may receive a higher score, depending on the rating and/or driver profile examined:

• Accident forgiveness.
• New car replacement.
• Vanishing deductible.
• Usage-based car insurance. 
• Pay-per-mile car insurance. 

>> Why this is important: Customizing your coverage with additional coverages or features can create a robust car insurance policy that meets your specific needs, budget and desired level of protection. For instance, if you finance a vehicle, you may want or need to purchase gap insurance, which helps bridge the “gap” between the market value of your vehicle and your loan balance if your vehicle is totaled. Some coverage options may even save you money. For example, a usage-based car insurance or pay-per-mile car insurance policy may help you reduce your premium if you don’t drive often.

Customer complaints

We looked at data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which shows the volume of consumer complaints made to state insurance departments across the nation. Car insurance complaints vary but can include issues with an insurance company’s claims process, such as delays, denials or settlements. 

The NAIC lodges and tracks complaints, issuing a complaint ratio for each insurer. The average complaint ratio is 1.0. Insurers that receive fewer complaints receive a higher score. 

>> Why this is important: A car insurance company is only as good as the service it provides. A trend of claim denials, delays or unsatisfactory settlements can indicate a less-than-satisfactory customer experience. NAIC complaint data helps us evaluate an insurer based on their individual complaint level and how that complaint level compares to insurers nationwide.

Collision repair score

We looked at the CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card, an annual survey of over 1,000 collision repair professionals about their experience dealing with insurers. The survey focuses on how professionals view an insurer’s claims handling policies, payment practices, quality of repairs and overall attitude.

Based on survey results, each car insurance company receives a grade ranging from A+ to F. The national average is a C+. The insurers we evaluate are only eligible for points if they receive a C or higher on the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card.

>> Why this is important: Collision repairs can be costly, time-consuming and confusing for policyholders, and collision repair professionals can provide significant insight into how an insurer meets (or doesn’t) their obligation to policyholders. A high collision repair score can indicate an efficient collision repair process with fewer delays and issues along the way. 

Our star ratings explained

We determine our best car insurance star ratings by assigning a weight to the key factors listed above. Each car insurance company can score up to 100 points, and its total score determines its star rating, ranging from 5.0 to 1.0. The top scores earn 5.0 stars. 

Methodologies

• Best car insurance companies
• Best car insurance for teens
• Best car insurance for seniors
• Best car insurance for high-risk drivers
• Best auto and home insurance bundles

Best car insurance methodology

The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates, low customer complaint levels, a strong collision repair process and a range of coverages and features that make it easy to customize your car insurance policy. We rate car insurance companies based on rates, customer complaints, collision repair scores, and available coverages and features. 

Bonus points: Car insurance companies with low rates for teen and senior drivers, two demographics that typically have high rates, were eligible for up to 10 bonus points. 

Best car insurance rating factors

• Rates: 50 points. 
• Customer complaints: 20 points.
• Coverage and features: 20 points.
• Collision repair score: 10 points.
• Available bonus for teen and senior rates: 10 points. 

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance companies.

Best car insurance companies for teens methodology

Teens have some of the highest car insurance rates, making the cost of coverage one of the critical factors in our analysis of the best car insurance for teens. We also looked at customer complaints, collision repair scores and coverage features, such as accident forgiveness and vanishing deductibles, which can help keep rates low after a claim. 

Some teen drivers may benefit from user-based car insurance (UBI) programs, which monitor a driver’s behind-the-wheel habits, such as speed, acceleration, hard braking and mileage. 

UBI programs can provide parents and teens with insights about potentially dangerous driving habits and ways to become safer drivers. However, some insurers increase car insurance rates if the UBI program data reveals risky driving habits. As such, we allotted 5 bonus points to insurers that offer UBI programs but don’t increase rates based on the data collected. 

Best car insurance for teens rating factors

• Rates: 60 points.
• Customer complaints: 20 points.
• Coverage and features: 10 points.
• Collision repair score: 10 points.
• Available bonus: 5 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance for teens.

Best car insurance for seniors methodology

Seniors, like teens, often have higher car insurance rates. The best car insurance company for seniors is one that offers competitive rates, a low number of customer complaints to state insurance departments, a high collision repair score and features, like usage-based car insurance, vanishing deductibles and new car replacement coverage. 

Best car insurance for seniors rating factors

• Cost: 50 points.
• Coverage and features: 20 points.
• Customer complaints: 20 points.
• Collision repair score: 10 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance company for seniors.

Best car insurance for high-risk drivers methodology

Car insurance companies often see DUIs, at-fault accidents and poor credit scores as indicative of increased risk, and high-risk drivers typically pay more for coverage. We reviewed rates, coverage features and options, customer complaints and collision repair scores to find the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers. 

Best car insurance for high-risk drivers rating factors

• Rates: 60 points.
• Coverage and features: 20 points.
• Customer complaints: 10 points.
• Collision repair score: 10 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance for high-risk drivers.

Best auto and home insurance bundles

Bundling or multi-policy discounts are common, but not all discounts or insurers are created equal. To find the best auto and home insurance bundles, we evaluated each insurer’s average bundling discount and home and auto rates and consumer complaints. 

Best auto and home insurance bundles rating factors

• Bundling discount: 20 points.
• Auto insurance rates: 30 points.
• Home insurance rates: 30 points.
• Auto insurance complaints: 10 points.
• Home insurance complaints: 10 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best auto and home insurance bundles.

How we collect data

Our insurance editors collect car insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. We look at rates for a variety of driver profiles and coverage types, as indicated in our explanation of cost data above. We then collect data from the insurer website and S&P Global Inc. to determine other key factors, such as the type of coverages available.

Our analysis of customer complaints is based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Collision repair scores are collected from CRASH Network, using their annual Insurer Report Card. 

Our data is subject to three levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy. Data is collected annually and ratings are updated each year.

USA TODAY Blueprint’s editorial standards

Our goal as insurance editors is to provide readers with an unbiased analysis of insurance products on the market and break down the pros and cons of each. 

For insurance ratings, we collect thousands of data points to evaluate by assigning weights to the most important factors. These weights determine each product’s score out of 100, which translates to a star rating. Top-scoring insurance products get 5 stars. 

Our ratings are designed to let rigorous methodology determine the winners so all star ratings are data-based. Advertisers never influence our editorial content.