If you’re already insured, check your policy to see what you’re now paying, then follow these steps
1. Shop often. Check out several different insurance companies every two to three years. Maybe your situation has changed—say you’re driving fewer miles, which can lower your premium a little. Or maybe the carrier has adjusted its underwriting or rating in ways that help, or hurt, your bottom line. You get little benefit from sticking with the same insurer year in and year out; our research in the past has found that the “long-term customer discount” is mostly a myth.
2. Cast a wide net. Try shopping on TheZebra.com, which uses data from Quadrant, a private company that collects and analyzes rate filings supplied directly by insurers. (Quadrant is also the company we engaged for our price analyses.) The Zebra offers estimates from 18 to 35 insurers, depending on the state. That compares with just 3 to 10 quotes provided by other sites, including Insurance.com, NetQuote, and NerdWallet.
3. Consider raising collision and comprehensive deductibles. Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by impact with another car or object, regardless of who’s at fault. Comprehensive covers theft of your vehicle and damage from fire, flood, a falling branch, and the like. The average driver files a comprehensive or collision claim only once every 5 to 10 years, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The higher your deductible—the amount you pay before insurance kicks in—the lower your premium, especially for collision, as shown at right.
4. Protect yourself. Make sure you get enough liability coverage. We recommend 100/300/100 coverage, which pays for bodily injury up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, and property damage up to $100,000. And buy uninsured/underinsured coverage at the same limits, in case you’re hit by a hit-and-run driver or someone without enough insurance. Finally, for added liability protection, consider an umbrella policy. A $1 million policy typically costs about $200 to $400 per year.
5. Check our ratings. They show CR subscribers’ overall satisfaction with auto insurance companies over the past two decades. An affordable policy won’t help much if the carrier provides subpar service or gives you a hard time about paying a claim. See our most current car insurance ratings.
What Companies Have the Best Deals Where You Live
In most states, a few insurers tend to be cheaper than others. Here are the ones to start with.* But the best deal also depends on your age, car, and other factors—so shop around.
| STATE | SINGLES AND COUPLES | FAMILY WITH TEENS |
| Alabama | Geico | Nationwide |
| Alaska | State Farm | State Farm |
| Arizona | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| Arkansas | Liberty Mutual | Southern Farm Bureau or State Farm |
| California | Mercury or CSAA, singles; Allstate, couples | Liberty Mutual |
| Colorado | Geico | Geico |
| Connecticut | Geico | Geico or Nationwide |
| Delaware | State Farm | State Farm |
| DC | Geico | Geico |
| Florida | Geico | Geico |
| Georgia | Geico | Geico |
| Hawaii | Geico | State Farm |
| Idaho | Farm Bureau | Farm Bureau |
| Illinois | The Hartford, singles; Geico, couples | The Hartford |
| Indiana | Geico | Nationwide |
| Iowa | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Kansas | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Farm Bureau | Kentucky Farm Bureau |
| Louisiana | Geico | Southern Farm Bureau |
| Maine | Geico, singles; Hartford, couples | Geico |
| Maryland | Erie or Progressive | Geico or Liberty Mutual |
| Massachusetts | Geico |
Arabella or Geico
|
| Michigan | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| Minnesota | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Mississippi | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
| Missouri | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Montana | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| Nebraska | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| Nevada | Geico | Geico |
| New Hampshire | Geico | Geico |
| New Jersey | Farmers | Farmers or Geico |
| New Mexico | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| New York | Progressive | Geico or Travelers |
| North Carolina | Progressive | Progressive |
| North Dakota | Liberty Mutual | Liberty Mutual |
| Ohio | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Oklahoma | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Oregon | Geico | Nationwide or State Farm |
| Pennsylvania | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Rhode Island |
Progressive, singles; Allstate or Progressive, couples
|
Allstate
|
| South Carolina | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| South Dakota | Farmers | Farmers |
| Tennessee | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Texas | Farmers | State Farm |
| Utah | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Vermont | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Virginia | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Washington | Pemco, singles; The Hartford, couples | Pemco |
| West Virginia | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Wisconsin | The Hartford | The Hartford |
| Wyoming | Liberty Mutual | Geico |
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the March 2017 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
An earlier version of the table in this article showed State Farm as an insurer to start with for families with teens in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as for singles and couples in Rhode Island. To clarify, in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, new State Farm car insurance policies are sold only to existing State Farm customers.
