Reddit’s Best Car Insurance Recommendations

Reddit can offer a different perspective on car insurance than traditional ratings and industry studies, with drivers sharing firsthand experiences with rates, customer service, claims, and coverage. However, it’s important to keep in mind that individual experiences don’t necessarily reflect how an insurer performs for every policyholder.

We reviewed Reddit discussions to identify recurring opinions about car insurance companies and compile this list of which insurers Reddit users tend to recommend, as well as some general insurance shopping tips.

Erie is discussed very positively on Reddit, coming up frequently as a recommendation. These users are a few of many who have nothing but good things to say about their experience with the company. Erie’s biggest downside is that it’s only available in 12 states, but it’s an excellent option for those who live within its service area.

These experiences reflect the company’s ratings on various industry studies: it earned the top spot in J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study and ranked fourth on the CRASH Network Report Card. It also ranked first for customer satisfaction in three regions in J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Study.^1,2

As another user noted, Erie also has some of the most affordable rates on average, so customers don’t have to sacrifice good service even if they’re on a budget.

AAA

AAA is another company that is frequently praised for having great service. While it’s best known for its roadside assistance, it also sells various personal insurance products. As noted by the first user, AAA works with local agents, making it a good choice for drivers who prefer to have a point of contact to manage their policy with.

AAA operates through regional auto clubs, and customer service ratings can vary by club and region. These Redditors don’t mention their location, so it can also be helpful to check AAA’s general ratings in your region to verify its customer service record.

Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners operates mostly in the Midwest and South and is frequently recommended for drivers in those regions. This user highlights affordable rates, and while premiums will vary depending on many factors, Auto-Owners has average full coverage rates around 20 percent below the national average.

Amica

Many Reddit users also share great experiences with Amica, which ranked first for customer satisfaction in New England in J.D. Power’s Study. (However, it operates in most of the country.) As these users mention, Amica is not usually the cheapest option, so it’s best for those willing to pay more for excellent service. Its average rates are particularly high for minimum coverage.

State Farm

By and large, Redditors are not quick to recommend large national insurers. However, for those who prefer to work with one, State Farm comes up frequently. It’s one of the only major insurance companies that relies exclusively on agents and doesn’t allow online purchasing, so it’s not for everyone. Its rates also vary by state, but this Redditor notes that it offers the cheapest rates for them.

Another user in Georgia also mentioned State Farm’s affordable rates, specifically for younger drivers. State Farm happens to be one of our top picks for new drivers as well.

Progressive

Progressive is another national insurance company that many Redditors recommend, particularly for its accident forgiveness perks, which are some of the best available. Progressive is notably the only company on this list whose user experiences and industry ratings are mismatched. It tends to rank quite low in J.D. Power’s studies, for example. However, it does rank higher in some regions than others — particularly California, where it scored above average in the latest study — so customers may have different experiences based on their location.

It’s also worth noting that both State Farm and Progressive had more negative comments than the other companies listed here. This makes sense, given that they are larger companies with more customers, but it also highlights that smaller companies tend to have stronger customer service records.

USAA

USAA is only available to members of the military community and their families, but it is strongly recommended for those eligible. This user mentions the strength of both its rates and its claims service, which lines up with third-party data. It has some of the most affordable average rates nationwide and consistently scores at the top or near the top of J.D. Power’s studies.

Regional Insurers

In general, regional insurers come more highly recommended than national carriers. These users both note that the best insurance companies tend to be local, lesser-known ones. In addition to some of the companies listed above, several users recommend looking into local Farm Bureau affiliates.

High Net Worth (HNW) Providers

Several insurance companies cater specifically to HNW individuals. Typically, you must have a certain amount in assets to purchase a policy from these providers. As this Reddit user explains, HNW insurance companies tend to have some of the best customer service if you’re in their target demographic.

Companies like Chubb, PURE, and AIG are examples of HNW insurance providers, and all three of these companies rank in the top 10 on the CRASH Network Report Card³ and have NAIC complaint indexes far below average.⁴