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Scoreboard · Car insurance
Car Insurance Scoreboard: Six Carriers, Same Five Criteria
Car insurance rankings are usually built on national average premiums, which predict almost nothing about your quote. This scoreboard scores six carriers on published criteria and labels the one that pays us. Our partner Farmers wins the bundling-and-agent slot; it does not win the cheapest-online slot, and no single carrier wins for every driver.
Our take in 10 seconds
No carrier is cheapest for everyone, which is why this page ends with get two quotes rather than a winner. Farmers is strongest for homeowners who bundle and want an agent. Progressive handles high-risk and SR-22 drivers best. USAA wins outright if you qualify. The rest is your record, your car, and your state.
Paid partner link. Scored on the same rubric as every other option below.
The scoreboard
Every option, scored 1–10 on the same five criteria
Scores and facts last verified September 5, 2026. Sorted by overall score. Rows marked Partner pay us a commission if you apply through them and are scored on exactly the same rubric. Non-partners are here because they belong here; we don't link to them.
Your situation · tap to highlight what fits
ProgressiveFits you
Best for: High-risk drivers, SR-22
8.2/10
SR-22 filingYes, routinely
AgentsOnline + agents
TelematicsSnapshot
BundlingAvailable
Cost7
Access10
Speed9
Transparency7
Fit8
Why this score: Top access score for writing high-risk and SR-22 drivers routinely; fast quoting.
Writes SR-22 routinely, Snapshot telematics can cut rates for careful drivers, fast online quoting. Rates for clean records vary by state.
Not a partner · pays us $0 · no link by policy
GEICOFits you
Best for: Cheapest online for clean records
8.0/10
SR-22 filingYes
AgentsDirect only
TelematicsDriveEasy
BundlingLimited
Cost9
Access8
Speed9
Transparency8
Fit6
Why this score: Consistently low pricing for clean records; fewer coverage options and no local agents cap fit.
Consistently low rates for good drivers with direct online service. Fewer coverage add-ons and no local agents.
Not a partner · pays us $0 · no link by policy
Farmers PartnerFits you
Best for: Bundling home + auto, agent support
7.8/10
SR-22 filingYes
AgentsLocal agents
TelematicsSignal app
BundlingStrong home + auto discounts
Cost7
Access8
Speed7
Transparency8
Fit9
Why this score: Best-in-group fit and bundling; cost reflects that it is rarely cheapest for minimum-coverage shoppers.
Broad coverage options, strong multi-policy discounts, local agents. Pricing is competitive for bundlers and clean records; rarely the cheapest for minimum-coverage shoppers.
Paid partner link · WiseIQ earns a commission if you request a quote. Rates and availability vary by state and driver profile.
How we score
The five criteria
CostRates and fees relative to the credit tier served. Origination and admin fees weigh heavily.
AccessHow far down the credit ladder the product actually approves, and how it treats thin files.
SpeedTime from application to money, quote, or first reported payment.
TransparencyClear pricing before a hard pull, plain disclosures, no bait terms.
FitHow many real situations it serves well, not just the ideal customer.
Scores use published terms, our own application tests, and reader reports. Facts are re-checked quarterly and after any partner change. Full method on our how we rank page.
Who gets paid on this page
Farmers Insurance — if you request a quote through our linkpays us a commission
Every other company discussedpays us $0
If that changes, this box changes the same day. How we rank →
Questions
FAQ
Which car insurance company is cheapest?
None of them for everyone. Rates depend on your state, record, car, and credit tier, and carriers weigh each differently. GEICO and USAA are cheapest most often for clean records; the only way to know for you is two or three quotes.
Why does Farmers score high on fit but not on cost?
Because its strength is coverage breadth, bundling discounts, and agent support, not rock-bottom minimum-coverage pricing. For homeowners who bundle it is often competitive; for a single minimum policy it usually is not the cheapest.
Who is best for high-risk drivers?
Progressive, which writes SR-22 filings routinely and prices telematics aggressively. After a DUI or serious accident, start there and compare against one specialist carrier.
Does credit affect car insurance?
In most states, yes: carriers use a credit-based insurance score to set your tier. A few states ban the practice. See our guide on credit and car insurance for the details.
How often should I re-quote car insurance?
Every renewal, and immediately after any life change: moving, a new car, a milestone birthday, a surcharge aging off, or a credit tier improvement. Carriers rarely lower your rate unprompted.