GEICO was among the first to develop a non-agent model for customer service, claims filing and policy inquiries, making these available through phone and Internet and allowing GEICO to pass savings on to its customers. In addition to these savings-oriented operational practices that provide new policyholders with substantial discounts, GEICO has earned and maintained the loyalty of its customers through its professional, helpful customer service representatives, efficient claims process and continued dedication to getting its policyholders off the road and back on again as quickly as possible.
Standout Features
Infrastructural Savings Passed on to Policyholders
Instant Online Premium Quote
Online Policy Management
Progressive auto insurance has been a dominant force in the auto insurance market for more than 70 years, garnering a strong reputation for its customer service, emergency responsiveness, policy flexibility and overall commitment to the safety and security of its policyholders. With its "Concierge Level of Claims Service" and renowned Immediate Response Vehicles, Progressive has made the aftermath of car accidents and auto-related incidents less complicated, less time-consuming and most importantly, less-imposing on the workaday lives and busy schedules of its policyholders. Progressive's past may have been bright, but, if it continues to place the needs of its policyholders first, its future will only get brighter.
Standout Features
Multi-party Comparison Quotes
Pet Injury Coverage with Collision Coverage
Concierge Level of Claims Service
Esurance might not have the history of GEICO or Progressive, both which operate largely online. But, what it lacks in tradition, it makes up for in innovative operational practices, including speedy claims and policy-writing processes. As a green company, Esurance also features environmentally-sound strategies and programs to reduce paper consumption, plant trees in fire-damaged forests, and mitigate the damage caused by CO2 pollution. Not bad for a company that is still relatively new to the auto insurance (and other insurance protection product) game.
Esurance is lauded for its 3-step policy process. Drivers simply quote, buy and print their policy directly from their printer. No waiting for delivery by mail. No hassles. No agents pushing unnecessary policy features or additional insurance protection products. With Esurance, policyholders, both current and prospective, simply enter the necessary information, receive a quote, decide whether or not purchase policy or go with another car insurance agency.
With Esurance, motorists get a free 6-minute quote in addition to instant comparison rates from real companies. At that point, prospective policyholders can simply choose the policy that best suits their needs and buy it directly online.
Esurance policyholders also benefit from an online claims process that features the impressive, real-time repairs monitoring program, E-star
Standout Features
In-depth, informative website
E-Star Direct Repair Program
Savings-oriented operations
Expedited claims process
Like Farmers and State Farm, Nationwide auto insurance began with farmers and ranchers, limiting its risk pool to farmers and ranchers in order to save its policyholders money on premiums oftentimes inflated due to urban motorists who drove more frequently and in riskier conditions. The years have served Nationwide well. It has expanded its auto insurance to include other insurance protection products while expanding its coverage from Ohio farmers to all drivers across the nation.
Unlike many auto insurance agencies, whose storied past tends to cast a shadow into the future and whose growth, while beneficial to shareholders and can offer savings initially for policyholders, comes at the cost of the quality of its customer service and claims process, Nationwide has managed to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the collective.
Standout Features
Free Nationwide iPhone application
100% guarantees on repairs for life of car
Blue Ribbon Claims Services
Like GEICO, the United Services Automobile Association began as an insurance product for government employees, in this case, U.S. Army Officers that were unable to obtain auto insurance coverage due to their purported "high-risk" status. In the years that have followed, USAA has expanded from a group of self-insured U.S. Army officers and other U.S. military personnel to include additional insurance protection products and policies for other branches of the military, including reservists and non-officers, and other government agencies such as the FBI.
Standout Features
Savings-oriented business operations
Expansive discounts and benefits for eligible policyholders
Nearing 90 years of continual operation, Farmers Insurance began with the idea that some drivers (farmers and ranchers living in rural areas) deserved lower insurance premiums than their riskier counterparts (urban drivers). Though it initially only serviced the needs of the former group, it has expanded to include drivers of all backgrounds and geographic locations across the US, and has managed to expand its policy offerings to include home, life, fire and others. Though it has changed hands and ownership several times in its history, Farmers still remains true to its initial concept, making sure that good policyholders were pooling their risk with other good policyholders.
Standout Features
Good Driver discounts and rewards
Customized policies
Like Farmers Insurance, State Farm was founded on the notion that farmers and ranchers, who drove less and in safer environments, shouldn't have to pay as much as their urban motorist counterparts. Now, more than 80 years later, through careful expansion of insurance protection products and a continued dedication to customer service, State Farm has become the preeminent auto policy writer in both the United States and Canada.
Standout Features
Ubiquitous in the US and Canada
Customer Service
Liberty Mutual auto insurance is fairly typical in its customer perception among auto insurance policyholders. That is: those that go without an accident or car-related incident with little interaction with customer service representatives tend to like it, while policyholders that are involved in an accident or car-related incident don't. For its features and policy attributes, Liberty Mutual is among the best, offering a variety of services to address everything from the minor repair, such as a cracked windshield, to the major, which its Total Liberty Care Facilities program makes quick work of. However, while many car insurance companies would be wise to emulate its policy features and offerings, they should steer clear of imitating its customer service and claims tracking/reporting features, which are considered among the poorer offered by auto insurers.
Standout Features
12-Month Policies
Total Liberty Care Facilities
Multi-Policy Savings
Allstate has asked "are you in good hands?" for several years now. Unfortunately, the resounding answer from its policyholders has been "yes, but there are better hands out there." While its auto insurance policies and products aren't the worst, they aren't the best, either. Allstate, more or less, is the non-golden mean between great and terrible insurance companies, excelling in certain areas, such as area coverage and policy flexibility, while often performing well below standards for customer service and claims timeliness.
Standout Features
Deductible discounts for each accident-free year
Car replacement program
Policy flexibility
With more than a century of continuous operation under its belt, the American Auto Association, AAA, has been a driving force in the auto insurance industry, as well as longstanding advocate for traffic safety and a lobbyist at the national and local levels for improved roads and vehicle safety standards (not to be confused with emissions standards). Though primarily known for its towing and roadside assistance services, AAA has expanded its benefits to include "Go, not Tow" on-site battery diagnosis and replacement to reduce unnecessary tows. Its insurance functions might be limited to initial towing, roadside assistance and other automotive first aid, but AAA car insurance is likely to bring savings to any auto insurance policy, as well as access to travel guides, maps and resources. Also, AAA members can enjoy discounts at affiliated retailers, including LensCrafters, Payless ShoeSource and even Burger King and Pizza Hut in some areas.
Standout Features
Approved Auto Repair Facilities
Comprehensive roadside assistance benefits
Travel and retail discounts.
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