Best car insurance companies for claims in 2026

Best auto insurance companies for claims in 2026 according to real customers

Our annual survey of auto insurance customers ranked USAA first for claims service, tied with Auto Club Enterprises, a regional carrier. Travelers earned the top spot among national carriers open to all drivers.

While some carriers showed vast improvement over last year's scores, others saw big drops.

American Family jumped from 67% to 82%
Amica dropped from 89% to 66%
Progressive dropped to 62% from 81%

The table below compares the scores of national car insurance companies in our survey for 2026 compared to the 2025 rankings.

Company	2026 claims satisfaction	2025 claims satisfaction
Allstate	78%	77%
American Family	82%	67%
Amica	66%	89%
Auto-Owners	80%	83%
Erie	84%	80%
Farmers	74%	94%
GEICO	76%	80%
Liberty Mutual	77%	81%
Nationwide	81%	83%
Progressive	62%	81%
Safeco	77%	74%
State Farm	80%	88%
The Hartford	80%	85%
Travelers	82%	78%
USAA*	87%	91%

Read our methodology

*USAA only provides car insurance to military members and their families.

The best regional carriers for claims satisfaction in 2026

Auto Club Enterprises tied with USAA for the top score in our survey. Erie and Auto Club Group both outscored all national carriers. We don't rank regional carriers against national companies, but many of them scored very well.

Compare scores for top regional carriers year over year below (note that not all carriers were ranked for 2025 due to survey limitations).

Company	2026 claims satisfaction	2025 claims satisfaction
American Family	80%	67%
Auto Club Enterprises	87%	NR
Auto Club Group	84%	NR
Auto-Owners	80%	83%
Erie	84%	80%
Mercury	80%	NR

Read our methodology

The top national car insurance companies for claims service

Our survey shows that USAA, Travelers and Nationwide ranked the best in claims satisfaction among national carriers. These companies, known for their reliability, are some of the top insurers in the country and have a history of good customer experiences with claims.

Here's a little more about each of the top three carriers

USAA

USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families. So, while it's our top-scoring company in the survey at a score of 87%, it's not open to everyone.

If you qualify for USAA coverage, you'll have access to its top-rated claims service, which includes:

24-hour claims reporting via phone, web or mobile app
Online tracking of claims status
Access to easier claims processing STARS approved network shops that provide access to rental cars as well

Travelers

Travelers earned a score of 82% on the claims satisfaction portion of the survey, placing second among national carriers (first if USAA is excluded) and fifth overall when regional carriers are included. This score helped it earn the first place spot overall in our 2026 Best Car Insurance Companies ranking.

Travelers claims service offers:

24-hour claims reporting over the phone, online or using the mobile app
An easy to access claims center online
Online claims tracking, document uploads and assistance

Nationwide

Nationwide is the third-best-rated national car insurance company for claims service, with a score of 81%, only one point behind Travelers.

Nationwide's claims service includes:

24-hour claims reporting by phone, web or mobile app
Claim tracking via text message
Access to approved repair network for faster processing

What makes a car insurance carrier good for claims?

Factors that make an insurer good for car insurance claims include:

Convenient filing options: Look for an insurer with 24/7 support by phone, online and mobile app filing
Communication and tracking: Choose an insurer that makes tracking your claim easy and provides regular communications on its status.
Technology: Access to online claims support and real-time updates as well as the ability to upload photos and documentation instantly makes the process seamless.
Turnaround time: A good insurer offers quick claims approval and gets your settlement to you fast.
Solid financial standing. An insurance company with a high rating from AM Best has the financial stability to pay claims, even in times of a widespread disaster.

“The insurers that do well in the [J.D. Power] study differentiate their experience in a few areas,” says Mark Garrett, director of insurance intelligence at J.D. Power. He goes on to list the following areas that reflect good claims service:

Setting up the claim well on the front end: Being empathetic and setting expectations for the customer in terms of the process and general timing of initial next steps.
Ensuring communicating with the insurer is easy: More and more insurers rely on proactive updates through digital channels such as apps and text messages to keep customers informed on milestones of the claim; additionally being responsive to customer questions in general.
Limiting problems and delays in the process: This can go hand-in-hand with good communication as it [minimizes] periods of uncertainty with how the claim is evolving, so good communication and expectation setting can cut down on perceived delays.
Consistent service: Often there are several insurer reps involved in a claim and the insurers that perform well have good consistency between different people—so sharing info, having consistent soft skills (empathy, concern) as well as knowledge can be a key satisfier.

How to find a car insurance company with a great claims reputation

There are several things you can do to find the best car insurance company for claims.

First, check customer surveys to see how drivers feel about a company. Ratings from our survey and J.D. Power help narrow down insurers with high claims satisfaction.

Next, read company reviews to learn about real-world experiences from other drivers. These reviews, part of a thorough research process, will give you a good idea of how the claims process would go for you.

Finally, talk to friends and family. Ask them for personal experiences when dealing with a car insurance claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing..

Methodology

Insurance.com survey. Based on responses from real insurance customers who were asked to grade their insurance company for claims handling and shown as a percentage of customer who said they were satisfied or highly satisfied. See the full survey methodology here.

FAQ: Best car insurance companies for claims

How long does the average car insurance claim take to process?

Typically, a car insurance claim is completed within a few weeks. However, the timeline can be longer if documentation is missing or deadlines aren’t met. Each state has laws regarding how long insurance companies have to complete a claim, although some don’t have an exact timeframe. Check with your state’s insurance office to determine how long your insurer has to settle your claim.

What can I do if I am having trouble with my car insurance claim?

If your claim isn’t going smoothly or has been denied, you can appeal to your insurance company. Read the denial letter thoroughly to determine if your claim should be approved. Resubmit the claim with supporting documentation to try to get your claim approved. You may need to hire a public adjusterAn adjuster handles claims for the insurance company. They assess the damage and determine how your coverage applies to damages and injuries. or a lawyer to expedite the process.

Can I switch car insurance companies with an open claim?

You can switch car insurance companies anytime, including with an open claim. However, your new insurance company won’t handle the claim; the claim stays with the company that insured you when the incident happened. The new company could raise your rates once the claim is settled if you’re found at fault for the accident. It’s best to let your new insurance company know there is an open claim so you know what to expect.

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