Auto Insurance: Who Offers The Best Nationwide Coverage?

Auto insurance rates vary across the United States, with the average cost of car insurance being $2,026 per year. However, the cheapest car insurance starts at $30 a month, according to NerdWallet's rate analysis.

Nationwide, USAA, and Erie are some of the companies that offer the lowest rates for car insurance. For instance, Nationwide's average cost is $120 per month, based on an analysis of good driver rates. It is also one of the few companies that offer pay-per-mile insurance.

USAA, on the other hand, is exclusive to military personnel and their families. It has an average rate of $1,335 per year, which is $733 lower than the national average.

Erie has the lowest rates for teen drivers among the companies reviewed, with an average rate of $1,532 per year.

Other companies that offer competitive rates include Geico, Auto-Owners, and American Family.

Best for military members and veterans: USAA

If you are a military member, veteran, or a member of their family, USAA is a great option for auto insurance. USAA is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and offers highly competitive rates, high customer satisfaction, and military-specific perks.

USAA offers a discount of up to 60% if you store your car while you're deployed and up to 15% for drivers who garage their cars on a base. USAA also has a discount for those who have a clean driving record for five years or if your vehicle is 3 years old or less.

USAA also offers a one-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.

Best for bundling: State Farm

State Farm is a popular insurer with high customer satisfaction ratings and fewer complaints compared to other large competitors. It is the largest personal auto insurance company in the country and ranked No. 1 among eight large insurers in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. State Farm also ranked No. 5 out of 24 companies in J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and first for overall satisfaction in the Southwest.

State Farm offers numerous discounts and extras, including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers. Some of the discounts available include:

• Drive Safe & Save discount
• Steer Clear discount
• Accident-free driving discount
• Defensive driving course discount
• Good driver discount
• Vehicle safety discount
• Passive restraint discount
• Multiple auto discount (multivehicle)
• Multiple line discount (multipolicy)

State Farm also offers bundling options for customers who want to combine their home, auto, or life insurance policies. Bundling can lead to significant savings, with an average savings of $1,273 a year (around $106 a month). Discounts like Drive Safe & Save could save you even more – up to 30%.

State Farm insurance agents specialize in personal service, getting to know you and your situation so they can understand your needs. You’ll also have access to the nation’s largest claims service.

State Farm has a robust website and mobile app, making it easy to manage your policies online. You can view all your policies in one place by simply logging in to your online account or downloading the mobile app.

Best for discounts: American Family

American Family Insurance offers a wide range of discounts to its customers. The company encourages its customers to reach out to their agents to learn about their eligibility for various discounts. Here is a list of some of the discounts offered by American Family Insurance:

• Multi-product discount: Customers with multiple policies with American Family Insurance can bundle them to save up to 23% on their auto insurance.
• Multi-vehicle discount: Customers who insure more than one vehicle with American Family Insurance may qualify for a reduced auto insurance premium.
• Pay-How-You-Drive Safe Driving Program: Customers who enrol in this program can save 10% on their auto insurance.
• Good driving discount: Customers without accidents, violations, or claims may be eligible for a reduced premium.
• Young driver discounts: American Family Insurance offers various discounts for families with teen drivers or young adults purchasing insurance on their own. For example, students with good grades or those who are under 25 and complete 40 hours of volunteer work per year for a non-profit may be eligible for discounts.
• Customer full pay discount: Customers who pay their policy in full at the time of purchase can save money.
• Paperless discount: Customers who enrol in online billing and e-delivery of policy documents can save on their auto insurance.
• Loyalty discount: Long-term customers of American Family Insurance may be eligible for a discount based on their tenure with the company.
• Early bird discount: Customers who request a quote at least one week and up to 60 days before their new auto policy goes into effect can receive a special discount.
• Steer Into Savings discount: Customers who switch to American Family Insurance from another carrier and maintain at least $250,000 in bodily injury coverage can receive a discount.
• Auto safety equipment discount: Vehicles equipped with factory-installed airbags can help customers save on their auto insurance.
• Defensive driving course discount: Customers aged 55 or above who complete an approved defensive driving course may be eligible for a discount in certain states.
• Low mileage discount: Customers who drive less than 7,500 miles per year can qualify for additional savings.

Best for high-risk drivers: Progressive

Progressive is a good option for high-risk drivers, offering some of the best rates for older drivers and those with DUIs, speeding tickets, or at-fault accidents. While Progressive may charge higher premiums for inexperienced drivers or drivers prone to accidents, it does not use the term "high-risk auto insurance policy".

Progressive is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The company offers numerous discounts, including for continuous insurance, distant students, good students, homeowners, multi-car policies, and more. Progressive also offers non-owner car insurance and SR-22 certificates.

Progressive has received more than twice the number of complaints compared to other insurers of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Its customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power are also below average. However, Progressive ranked first in J.D. Power's 2023 digital consumer experience survey, and the Better Business Bureau gave the company an A rating.

Best for availability: Geico

GEICO is a popular choice for auto insurance due to its wide availability and range of discounts. It is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and has a robust website and mobile app.

GEICO offers a host of discounts, including for good students with a B+ grade average, federal employees, and safe drivers. You can also save money by combining property insurance with your auto insurance policy.

In addition, GEICO has been in the insurance business for 85 years and has a 97% customer satisfaction rating. It also offers Accident Forgiveness in most states, which can be earned or purchased. This means that, if eligible, you may be able to get Accident Forgiveness for free or buy it as an upgrade to your policy.

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