In a perfect world, every insurance company would be equal and it wouldn’t matter which one you selected. However, this is the real world and you have some choices to make. Granted, most car insurance companies offer the same basic coverage, but it’s the little extras such as customer service and discount options that make the difference. Here is a ranking of the top five cars insurance companies for traditional on-road vehicles based on affordability, responsiveness and overall value and quality of service.
1. Progressive
Progressive is consistently ranked among the top insurance companies in terms of customer service. The company also provides a wide selection of auto insurance options. You’ve probably seen the commercials for this company – and yes, they do have many attractive discounts. The most appealing is accident forgiveness, but beware that it only applies to the first accident within a certain amount of time. If you can afford to, Progressive offers a substantial discount for paying your policy upfront. The company also throws in a bunch of safe driver discounts and other discounts for newer vehicles, cars with added safety features and multi-vehicle discounts for covering all your vehicles under a single policy. Progressive has a high customer satisfaction rate with customer complaints under 1%. Flo would approve. Call (800) 776-4737 for additional information.
2. GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company)
Based on customer reviews and industry ratings, GEICO offers substantial discounts for qualified drivers while maintaining solid customer service. You can get an online quote or call 1-800-861-8380 for that “human touch,” as their website proclaims – a nice touch in today’s automated world. Like most companies offering auto insurance, you’ll get better discounts for maintaining a good driving record. GEICO offers discounts for having airbags, an anti-lock break system, having daytime running lights, using a seat belt for the driver and all passengers, taking a driver’s education course and being a good student for drivers between the ages of 16 and 25. Agent response time for GEICO ranks higher than most companies, a plus for anyone who has been frustrated when trying to reach an agent. Call (800) 861-8380 for more details.
3. Esurance
Despite the name, Esurance offers covered online and over the phone. Once considered a novel insurance company that couldn’t really compete with the big guys, Esurance has earned a solid rep with good customer service and attractive discounts, especially for auto insurance coverage. Some of the more attractive perks offered by Esurance include claim-free discounts for drivers who don’t file a claim for at least five years, multi-vehicle discounts, a 5% discount for signing up online, vehicle safety discounts and a discount for being a homeowner. According to customer reviews, overall service rates high. Couple that with the discounts available and you should be satisfied with coverage from Esurance. Call (800) 378-7262 for a quote by phone.
4. Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual ranks high for all vehicle coverage options, on or off-road. If you work for a company that is part of Liberty Mutual’s affinity program, you automatically earn a discount. This special group discount is available in every state except Texas. The other discounts are pretty much standard, including discounts for newer cars, adding more safety features to your car and a discount for keeping your yearly mileage under 7500. Add to these exceptional customer service ratings, and Liberty Mutual should serve you well. Call (800) 451-7065 for additional information.
5. Allstate
Allstate has consistently ranked among the top rated insurance companies. This holds true for auto insurance coverage too. Each plan offered by Allstate includes 40 different options. The most popular of Allstate’s option is the auto forgiveness plan. It has the same stipulations of the Progressive version. Other popular auto discounts from Allstate include a $100 savings for every year you go without an accident, new car replacement in the event of an accident that takes your car out of commission and a safe driver bonus. Perks for multi-vehicle coverage and decent coverage for off-road vehicles make Allstate a solid choice for your car insurance needs. Call (877) 834-0398 to speak to an agent.
Combining On-road and Off-road Coverage
If you have off-road vehicles as well as traditional on-road vehicles, you may want to consider auto insurance companies that offer coverage for both types of vehicles. Insurance isn’t required for all off-road vehicles, but insuring these vehicles could save you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses should an accident happen. State Farm, Progressive and Allstate are highly rated for both types of coverage, but most auto insurance companies offer some type of off-road coverage. Off-road coverage tends to be more expensive because laws concerning off-road vehicles vary widely by state. However, you’ll save some money by combining coverage for all vehicles you own – off-road or on-road.
Look at the type of coverage you get. Consider what type of vehicles you have that need insurance. You’ll save more money by combining coverage when possible, but make sure you are still getting the coverage you need. Remember, car insurance isn’t set in stone. You can evaluate your coverage annually and make adjustments. Saving money without sacrificing service is always a good thing. Your mom would approve.
Greg Carter is a commercial driver and when he isn’t on the road blogs for usedsemitrailers.com, a site where you can find all kinds of Used Trailers – even a lowboy trailer!
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