There are hundreds of insurance companies, but which ones sell auto insurance? And out of those insurers, which companies should you consider buying a policy from?

Below is a list of NerdWallet's auto insurance reviews. You can use our reviews to compare car insurance companies and find the best one for you. NerdWallet has researched policy options, consumer complaint data, customer satisfaction ratings, financial stability and more for all of the country's top auto insurance companies plus many smaller, regional insurers.

Car insurance companies list

What are the largest auto insurance companies?

Chances are you can’t name all the auto insurance companies out there, but you’ve likely heard of some of the larger insurers such as Allstate, Geico, Progressive and State Farm. Together, these four companies make up over half of the personal auto insurance market in the U.S.

» MORE: Comparing Allstate, Geico, Progressive and State Farm car insurance

You’ve probably heard of the other companies rounding out the top 10 list too.

List of largest auto insurance companies by market share

What to know about the largest auto insurance companies

Larger insurers can have advantages over smaller car insurance companies, such as greater financial strength and stability, a wider network of agents and claims adjusters, 24-hour customer service, and better apps and websites.

But there’s more to an insurer than size. Here’s additional information about each of the largest auto insurance companies on our list, including the latest available consumer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and consumer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. All average rates are for yearly full coverage insurance premiums for a good driver with good credit.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every ZIP code in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.

1. State Farm

At a glance:

• J.D. Power claims satisfaction: No. 6 out of 18 companies.

• J.D. Power shopping satisfaction: No. 2 out of 8 companies.

• Complaints as reported to the NAIC: Fewer than expected.

• Average rate: $1,381.

State Farm, the country’s largest car insurance company, offers policies nationwide except in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Coverage is sold exclusively by captive agents, meaning they sell only State Farm products. If you don’t want to work with an agent, though, you can get a quote online. There’s also a mobile app that lets you contact roadside assistance, submit claims and view your insurance card.

State Farm offers many other types of policies, including renters, business, home, boat, off-road vehicle and commercial auto insurance. In some cases, discounts are available for drivers who buy more than one type of policy.

Read the full review: State Farm auto insurance

2. Geico

At a glance:

• J.D. Power claims satisfaction: No. 8 out of 18 companies.

• J.D. Power shopping satisfaction: No. 4 out of 8 companies.

• Complaints as reported to the NAIC: Close to the expected number.

• Average rate: $1,233.

Geico sells auto insurance nationwide. Some customers in certain states may not be able to get a quote over the phone, but drivers in all states can get a quote through the company's website, app or a local Geico agent.

You can manage policies and pay bills through the insurer’s website or mobile app, and voice assistance is available through the app or via Amazon’s Alexa.

In addition to auto insurance, Geico offers umbrella liability coverage and insures motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Auto insurance discounts are available to customers who buy other policies, such as home insurance, from companies that have partnerships with Geico.