How I Picked the Best Car Insurance Companies

Most people consider the top auto insurance companies the ones that will give them the lowest rate. Of course, that will vary according to each driver’s unique circumstances, including age, location, driving habits, and even credit score.

For that reason, I took a broader look at the factors that separate the best auto insurance companies from the rest, including whether customers are satisfied once they plunk down their money. Here are the factors I considered:

• Ease of shopping: I evaluated insurers’ websites to determine how easy it was to get a quote, determine my coverage needs, and receive customer service help if I needed it. I also considered J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, which asked customers about their experiences with insurers’ local agents, call-center representatives, and websites.

• Range of coverage options: Does the insurer provide a wide range of coverage options for its customers? Do customers feel the policies meet their needs? I looked at insurers’ websites,Insure.com’s Best Car Insurance Companies for 2014, J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, andReviews.com’s auto insurance company reviews to find the best auto insurance companies for coverage.

• Satisfaction with claims: How happy are customers who have dealt with their insurers after a crash or other incident? I looked at J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Insure.com’s Best Car Insurance Companies for 2014, and Consumer Reports’ 2014 Car Insurance Ratings to find the top auto insurance companies for claims.

• Satisfaction with price: Do customers feel like they’re getting a good deal? I looked at J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, and Consumer Reports’ 2014 Car Insurance Ratings to find the best car insurance companies for value.

• Financial strength ratings: I looked at each company’s A.M. Best rating to gauge stability. Ratings range from A++ (superior/most stable) to D (poor/least stable). A few special ratings below “D” denote companies that are under regulatory supervision, are being liquidated, or have had their ratings suspended. A.M. Best considers any company with a “B” grade or below vulnerable