Top 10 Florida Car Insurance Companies

When comparing the top 10 Florida car insurance companies, priorities must be established. What exactly makes one car insurance company better than another? It really depends on the circumstances, needs, and preferences of the insured driver and family.

To compare car insurance companies, each person must first consider their own situation. Those with a perfect driving record have different options than high-risk drivers.

Each company has its own method for calculating premiums, based on your age, driving record and the number of cars being insured.

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1. AMICA

AMICA is great insurance for those who have a good driving record. Others may be turned down for coverage. AMICA is extremely selective but offers very low rates for those who qualify.

— Specialties

AMICA specializes in offering low-cost car insurance to responsible drivers. They are very selective of their clientele and turn down motorists they don’t care to insure.

The original corporate strategy, set forth in 1907, was to seek responsible policyholders and treat them with dignity and fairness. AMICA is very selective of their clientele, but for those who qualify, AMICA offers excellent car insurance at a low cost.

— Service

According to J.D. Power and Associates, AMICA’s Customer Satisfaction is ranked highest of all national auto insurers and has held that rank for 12 years in a row.

They are rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau, and A++ by A.M. Best.

AMICA does not employ local agents, but their telephone service is above reproach. They guarantee that customers will always be able to speak with a live representative.

They have 2 regional offices in Florida, one in Tampa and the other in Orlando.

By using many regional offices throughout the United States they can offer personalized and efficient services, without the confusion of dealing with a huge corporate office

— Cost

AMICA premiums are among the lowest in the industry. By eliminating higher risks, they can give the best rates to low-risk drivers.

They offer several discounts including:

• Accident forgiveness
• Safe driver discounts
• Multi-driver discounts
• Multi-policy discounts
• Deductible options

— Corporate Information

AMICA is the oldest car insurance company in the United States. The company was founded in 1907 by A.T. Vigneron of Rhode Island. Their headquarters remains in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

AMICA is very stable financially and has proven to be fiscally responsible for over 100 years.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

According to Consumer Reports, AMICA always pays claims promptly. They settle claims fairly and award money for repairs without making a dispute. Customer surveys show that the process of filing a claim is simple and stress-free.

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2. State Farm

State Farm is the largest insurance company in the United States. It is also among the highest rated car insurance companies.

For the average insurance buyer, with an average driving history, State Farm is usually a good choice for car insurance.

— Specialties

State Farm’s specialty is providing the best car insurance quotes designed to serve most people’s needs.

State Farm continually strives for excellence in their coverage and service. Their number one goal is to be responsive to customer needs.

— Discounts Offered by State Farm

• Multiple vehicle discounts
• Accident-free discount
• New vehicle safety discount
• Multiple line discount
• Anti-theft device discount
• Defensive driving discount
• Good driving discount
• Steer Clear safe driver discount

— Service

State Farm service is among the highest rated of all insurance companies. Their customer satisfaction rating seems to be at about 85 percent which is very high for a car insurance company.

State farm uses a system of local agents providing neighborly service.

There are State Farm agents in virtually every city and small town in Florida and 50 in Tampa alone. State Farm makes it easy to report claims, manage policies, and pay premiums online.

—Cost

State Farm insurance is low in cost when comparing their rates to other car insurance companies. Due to their company structure as a mutual company, they can offer much lower car insurance premiums, while sharing more benefits with their clients.

— Corporate Information

State Farm was founded in 1922 by George Jacob Mecherle, a retired farmer and insurance salesman.

Mecherle’s vision was to operate fairly and to always “do the right thing” for the customers. This philosophy has served State Farm well.

Today, State Farm is ranked number 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

State Farm is a mutual company which means that it is owned by its policyholders, not stockholders.

Mutual companies are an old idea, but one with rising popularity in today’s market, because of the simplicity involved and the lower cost.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

State Farm pays its claims promptly in most cases. Unfortunately, State Farm sometimes cancels policies with no notice if multiple claims are filed within a five year period, or if an unusually large claim is filed.

Florida State law is extremely strict on uninsured drivers, so Florida State Farm clients should always check their policy status frequently online with State Farm insurance.

3. Mercury

Mercury car insurance is for people who want low rates, custom policies and the personalized care of local agents. Mercury offers deluxe service, at a lower cost.

When compared to most car insurance companies, Mercury offers more service at a lower premium.

— Specialties

• Mercury pairs low rates and personalized service by agents.
• Mercury does not believe one should have to choose between low rates and the highest standards of personalized care.
• Mercury puts together custom packages based on the individual needs of each client.
• Mercury offers a wide range of choices; from extra low-cost bare-bones policies to comprehensive coverage with all the bells and whistles.
• Each feature can be hand-picked without conforming to any standard package or format.

— Service

Mercury incorporates a system of agents and a minimum corporate base. Customer care is very personalized.

At Mercury, clients are treated as individuals; services and claims are administered on a one on one personal basis.

Each customer must speak directly with a Mercury agent when building a customized policy.

— Cost

Mercury offers some of the lowest costs on a variety of custom built packages. The low end packages are unbelievably affordable, and more extensive coverage is still quite reasonable for what is included.

When comparing car insurance rates, most people find that they save hundreds and some save over a thousand dollars on car insurance.

— Discounts for Added Savings:

• Good driver discount
• Multiple car bonuses
• Discount for membership in professional associations
• Anti-theft device discount
• Discount for good grades in school

— Corporate Information

Mercury was founded by George Joseph in 1961. For 30 years, they only offered insurance in California. Since then Mercury has spread quickly into 12 more states.

George Joseph’s vision has proven sound and his revolutionary policy of low cost and personalized care has made for a loyal client base. Mercury is a stable and lucrative corporation with a typical corporate structure involving a board of directors and stockholders.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Claims are handled on a personal basis. Each claim is inspected before and after to insure quality repair. Due to the careful and individualized attention that each claim merits, sometimes Mercury takes a little longer in processing claims than other companies.

The time required by Mercury to process a claim varies considerably, but the quality of service is always thorough.

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4. Travelers

One of the most unique and protective insurance companies, Travelers insures a lot more than just your car. Travelers car insurance is the first company to offer a significantly reduced rate for Hybrid cars.

Travelers insurance is also the best insurance company for people who travel a lot.

They are not just a car insurance company, and in fact, have riders and add-on features to cover clients wherever they may go, and no matter how they travel.

Travelers also insures boats and yachts.

— Specialties

Travelers pride themselves on innovative policies for unusual means of travel. They are both the company of the past, with a 150-year history, and the company of the future with an eye towards the latest modes of transportation.

They have been insuring all means of transportation since 1864.

Travelers offer a wide selection of additional coverage to protect clients when they travel from various misfortunes which may occur when traveling, not just collisions, but breakdowns that leave travelers stranded.

Travelers additional types of coverage:

• Extended transportation expense coverage
• Replacement or repair collision coverage
• Labor and towing costs coverage
• Accidental death by auto coverage
• Car lease and loan protection

— Service

Travelers offers a lot of benefits that other insurance companies do not. While Travelers endeavors to serve all their clients in a timely fashion, dealing with a large company isn’t for everyone.

Making a point of dealing with local agents as well as online and call center services makes a huge difference in customer satisfaction.

— Cost

Travelers insurance is medium priced and the price varies with the amount of coverage. Travelers’ main selling point is not price, but rather the offerings of unique features most insurance companies do not offer at all. Some of these features could save motorists a lot of money.

Travelers is perfect for people who frequently travel out of state and are on the road a lot.

— Corporate Information

Travelers insurance is a 150-year-old company, representing years of cutting-edge business innovation. The only car insurance company that far predates the car, Travelers was founded in 1864 by J.G. Batterson to insure railroad and steamboat passengers.

Always innovative they were the first company to ever insure an automobile, back in 1897.

They were also the first company to ever insure an astronaut. Today, Travelers provides work for 30,000 employees with 13,000 independent agents. Travelers ranks 106th on the Fortune 500 and has come to symbolize financial strength, as well as innovation.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Customer reports vary in satisfaction with Travelers, some report there is a lack of communication between the insurance company and their clients. Most problems with large corporate insurance companies can be circumvented by meeting with local agents.

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5. The General

The General is the absolute best insurance for people who have trouble getting conventional insurance. Blemishes on the driving record, credit history or even criminal record do not matter to The General.

— Specialties

The General insurance company specializes in high-risk car insurance. They will insure anyone, no matter what their circumstances.

They offer fair premiums and easy payment plans to people who otherwise would pay more or be unable to get insurance at all.

People who have poor driving records, or have been caught without insurance, may be able to find premium relief with The General.

Additionally, for those currently driving without insurance, The General offers instant proof of insurance if you purchase insurance online.

Even drivers with a history of DUI convictions can be insured through the General at a reasonable price.

— Service

The General does not have a vast network of local agents, but instead operates online, and can be reached by phone. Phone service is courteous, and they do take credit card payments by phone.

When comparing insurance companies, kind service and a nonjudgmental attitude towards those with a rough history set The General apart.

— Cost

While most of the policies issued by The General are at a higher than average premium, they are generally less costly than other insurance companies on the drivers they carry.

— Corporate Information

The General is a subsidiary of the PGC (Permanent General Assurance Corporation.) PCG was founded in 1963 and has been rated excellent in terms of financial stability and fiscal responsibility by A.M Best.

The General was founded in 1987 as a subsidiary and offers non-standard car insurance in 20 States. The main office for The General is in Nashville, TN, with regional call centers in Ohio, Arizona, and Louisiana.

— Paying Claims and Filing Necessary Paperwork

According to a report filed by the Department of Insurance, in a random sample of cases, The General was late in filing paperwork or issuing checks in approximately 0.3 percent of its cases.

There have been few or no complaints about failure to pay claims, and only a three out of one thousand chance that the General will be late enough with paperwork or checks to cause an inconvenience, or violate state regulations.

These are exemplary statistics for the car insurance industry.

6. Nationwide

Nationwide is a good all-around insurance company, especially for those who prefer local agents and personalized care. Nationwide agents go the extra mile and can provide added support and seek payment of claims for clients.

— Specialties

Nationwide’s reputation is that of a friendly and helpful company. Personalized service is their main selling point. They also offer low premiums to good or average drivers.

Their agents are excellent client advocates with a lot of personalized services. With Nationwide, clients can always talk to a real person and meet with friendly agents in their own community.

— Service

Teams of local agents in nearly every city in the US offer excellent personalized service. Customers can request reminder calls if their payments are late, or just about any other helpful accommodation from a Nationwide agent, whether it is standard policy or not.

Nationwide agents are there for their clients in all circumstances.

Clients usually prefer to call their local agents to report an accident, rather than the national office. Nationwide agents are not just representatives of the company.

They are friends who help clients file car claims and even act as intermediaries with the main office if there is a question or discrepancy. Inversely though, Nationwide service and coverage seems totally dependent on your local agent.

Customers should develop a working relationship with agents.

— Cost

Nationwide’s payments are usually lower than average, especially for experienced drivers, with a good driving history. They keep very accurate count of various milestones that lead to rate reduction.

A Nationwide agent knows, for example, when a client’s teenager is about to come of age and get a lower rate on insurance. The company posts a notice to the agent, to inform the client that their rates will drop in the next cycle.

— Discounts

• Multi-car insurance saves up to 20 percent when insuring more than one car.
• No accident in 5 years or more? Save up to 10 percent on Nationwide car insurance
• Good Student discount save 15 percent if teens earns an A or B aLong-term
• Long-term customers save up to 15 percent

— Corporate Information

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is a rapidly growing corporation, based in Columbus, Ohio. They have regional offices in Des Moines IO, San Antonio TX, Gainesville FL, and Lynchburg VA. Nationwide’s history begins in 1925, as the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

The company expanded rapidly through the 1920’s and 1930’s offering auto insurance.

In 1955 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation changed their name to Nationwide Insurance. (For more information, read our “Nationwide Insurance Company of Florida Car Insurance Review“).

On a corporate level as well, Nationwide has a shining reputation for kindness and community spirit. They give amply to charities, and community projects, including a recent $50 million dollar donation to the Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Most complaints against Nationwide seem to involve miscommunication between corporate staff, and individuals.

Those who reported their accident to a local Nationwide agent, as well as the corporate call center, reported no problems with Nationwide.

7. Allstate

Allstate is good insurance for those with a good driving record. They offer simple, common sense insurance at a reasonable price. Allstate is the second largest insurance company in the United States.

— Specialties

Allstate provides a no-nonsense approach to car insurance, with simple, easy to understand policies and an easy claims procedure. Their policies and ideas are very straightforward and basic.

They offer good coverage, but charge more for accident-prone drivers, and may also deny coverage if the driving record appears to be high risk.

Allstate insurance has several options for additional coverage, including a bodily injury liability option which will pay up $100K up to $300K in liability.

This is a very valuable option that protects drivers from catastrophic liability.

— Special Features

• New Car Replacement – If a new car is totaled, in three model years or less, Allstate will replace it with a brand new car.
• Deductible Rewards – $100 off collision deductible as a sign-up bonus. Each year drivers go without an accident, the bonus goes up $100, to an eventual $500 off the collision deductible.
• Accident Forgiveness – Keeps rates from going up after an accident
• Safe Driving Bonus – five percent off of premiums for every six months of accident-free driving.

— Service

Customer service is excellent. Allstate employs local agents in most cities and town throughout the United States and Canada. Online service and service through the main offices are not bad either.

Allstate is an efficient, one size fits all company. A.M. Best gives Allstate a ranking of A+.

— Cost

J.D Power and associates advise that the cost of Allstate insurance is average to high compared to other insurance companies. Overall Allstate insurance costs are fairly mainstream but certainly not cheaper than most.

Still, auto insurance quotes are highly individual and it is possible that some individuals with really good driving records might find very affordable car insurance coverage with Allstate.

— Discounts

• Loyalty Benefits
• Multiple car Insurance
• Savings for bundling auto, property, and or life insurance packages
• No accident rewards

— Corporate Information

In 1931 General Wood, President and CEO of Sears and Roebuck, decided to market mail order car insurance in the Sears and Roebuck catalog. He named his car insurance Allstate after the popular brand of car tire also sold in the Sears and Roebuck catalog.

By 1944 Allstate auto insurance had over $45 million in car insurance policies. During the 1950s, Allstate began to expand their insurance offerings to include homeowners and life insurance.

Through a gradual process between 1985 and 1995, Allstate eventually gained full independence from Sears. Today Allstate is the second largest car personal insurance company in the United States, with total annual revenues of $32 billion.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Allstate clients enjoy an extremely simple claims process. Most people find Allstate easy to deal with and they do pay claims.

They offer additional services to be considered when comparing car insurance costs. A well-organized claims filing process may well be worth a slightly higher premium.

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8. Esurance

The two main selling points for Esurance are cheap car insurance, and a completely online service unless clients prefer to speak by phone. Virtually all transactions can be performed easily online with no need to ever talk to a human being.

This is the perfect insurance for those who prefer online services to human interaction.

— Specialties

• Cheap insurance to satisfy the legal necessity, and simple, no fuss, internet access 24/7. Esurance feels that they are the insurance company of the future.
• They offer many high-tech online services which circumvent the need for interaction.
• Esurance offers an iPhone application.
• Low-cost online service at a low premium.
• E-star Direct Repair Program – Esurance has repair shops.

— Service

The website works exceptionally well, and the customer service phone specialists are polite. There are, however, no local agents, and most clients never meet anyone from Esurance in person.

Esurance is not for people who enjoy or require personal interaction from agents. J.D. Power ranks them below Average. A.M. Best however rates them as excellent.

— Cost

The cost of Esurance is relatively low, but Esurance prefers to draft premiums from client’s bank accounts. They often neglect to inform clients of rate increases so the extra cost can go unnoticed for months. There is also a $50 policy cancellation fee.

— Corporate Information

Esurance is a subsidiary of Allstate and was launched in 1999, making it barely 12 years old. Esurance is a rapidly growing company, with a broad client base and a huge parent company. Esurance is very much a high tech version of Allstate.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Satisfaction with claims services is very controversial with Esurance. Some people are completely satisfied, but others are left confused. Many of the Esurance strategies and policies are relatively new, and occasionally there are problems.

One way to facilitate auto repairs and claims is to use their E-star Direct Repair Program.

By using their shop, you’ll be able to get updates on your repairs online, and there is a lifetime guarantee on all work done at an E-star repair facility. E-star provides good service and helps facilitate the claims process.

9. Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is a great insurance company, especially in the event of an accident. They take all the stress out of filing a claim, because the insurance agent takes care of everything, for the client.

— Specialties

Auto-Owners is a full-service traditional insurance company. Their “No Problem” motto really means the client need not worry; this is because the agent will take care of everything for them.

Agents take all the worries away from their clients and handle the claims process. Auto-Owners considers the needs of the client first, and offer a level of service that is rare.

— Service

Auto-Owners is a full service, old-fashioned insurance company. Simply report the accident to your local agent and you are done.

They have an A++ rating, the highest possible from A.M. Best Company, Auto-Owners is too small to be considered by J.P. Powers, but customer satisfaction is high.

Auto-Owners clients can receive service from local independent agents, or the corporate office if it is an emergency after business hours.

— Cost

Auto-Owners keep their costs very low. Premiums are lower than the competition in most cases. Auto-Owners offers many payment options.

— Corporate Information

Vern V. Moulton founded Auto-Owners insurance in 1916. The company began in a one-room bank building in Mt. Pleasant Michigan, with no capital.

In 1917, Vern Moulton moved his company to Lansing, Michigan.

By that time his business consisted of one book containing policyholder’s names, and $174.25 in assets. Interestingly this company weathered the depression and came out ahead.

In 1933 their claims were guaranteed paid in cash and grossing $2.5 million per year in insurance premiums.

Today Auto-Owners Corporation occupies a 404,616 square foot building, in Lansing, Mi. and has numerous offices throughout 26 states. Auto Owners is represented by over 37,000 agents. Claims are processed in one of 80 different claims offices.

Auto-Owners boasts of five subsidiaries, Auto-Owners Life, Home-Owners, Owners Insurance, Property-Owners, and Southern-Owners. Southern-Owners is based in Florida and also offers car insurance with similar features.

Auto-Owners is an economically stable company with old-fashioned charm, business ethics and ease of use.

— Paying Claims and Filing Paperwork

Auto-Owners offers one of the most logical claims reporting options for most people. Clients are to report accidents and other claims to their local agent.

The insurance agent handles the entire process. Occasionally claims may take longer than usual to process. Also since the weight of settling the claim rests on the agent, the overall quality of the insurance can be either negatively or positively impacted by the competency of the agent.

10. MetLife

MetLife offers full-service auto insurance, friendly agents and they pay their claims promptly.

— Specialties

MetLife offers packages including dental insurance which can be ordered when you have any other policy with MetLife.

Their bundling of various types of insurance with your car insurance could save money on more costly forms of insurance.

MetLife also offers a lot of special features which would make their collision car coverage worth more compared to companies that do not offer them.

MetLife offers:

• New Car Replacement
• Replacement Cost for Special Parts
• Enhanced Rental Car Damage Coverage
• Identical Protection Services

— Service

MetLife service is exemplary. Their agents and staff are professional and procedures are carefully planned by the corporation. Service is amazingly uniform throughout their worldwide program. Efficient service and a kind and polite staff are a major selling point of MetLife.

— Cost

Premiums are moderate to high for most people, but the benefits may outweigh the cost. The added premium cost will pay off in savings if a claim is filed.

The new car replacement feature is an amazing offer, and for those looking for comprehensive coverage on a new car, this feature is a must-have.

When comparing car insurance companies it is vital to consider money-saving, superior coverage as well as the bottom line price.

— Corporate Information

In 1863 MetLife was organized in by a group of New York City businessmen. The company has been offering various types of insurance for over 140 years.

It is a global corporation offering services in 50 countries and serving 90 million customers worldwide. Their stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and the corporate structure is typical of most multi-national corporations.

MetLife has a good record for paying claims. They are generally ranked average or above average when compared to other car insurance companies. Their response is rapid, and their claims process simple and efficient.

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Florida State Law Requires Car Insurance Coverage

In the state of Florida, it is absolutely crucial to maintain continuous coverage because of the unique car insurance laws in Florida. Laws requiring coverage are very strict.

Those found without insurance will lose their driver’s license and their registration and be fined up to $500 for a lapse in insurance.

In addition, premiums will increase on the new insurance policy to an absolutely shocking amount after filing the necessary SR-22 Financial Responsibility insurance form for return of driving privileges.

To compare car insurance accurately, be sure to consider the features, and the amount of coverage.

The purpose of car insurance is not to simply fulfill a legal obligation, it is to protect the policyholder from liability and reimburse injured parties.

Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have. Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you guys offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you guys offer?”

Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest!

When comparing car insurance companies, consider the cost balanced with the amount of coverage. Enter your zip code below and start comparing quotes for FREE!

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