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Within the next 20 years, 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65. More Americans are healthier and living longer, which also means more drivers on our nation’s roadways. As baby boomers, in particular, get older they’ll need affordable car insurance that meets their needs.
However, with so many insurance companies on the market, finding the right coverage can be a challenge. To help consumers find the best car insurance companies for 2020, we surveyed baby boomer policyholders to get their views on their insurer’s claims process, pricing, customer service and website and app experience. We asked them several questions, including why they chose their insurer, how much they spend on auto insurance and what it would take to get them to switch insurers.
Based on their insights, here’s an overview of the best car insurance companies for baby boomers and why these companies stand out.
Top 20 Car Insurance Companies for Baby Boomers
| Overall Ranking | Auto Insurance Company | Baby Boomers Auto Overall Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) | 91.06 |
| 2 | USAA | 90.20 |
| 3 | CSAA Insurance Group | 89.23 |
| 4 | Allstate | 88.15 |
| 5 | The Auto Club Group (ACG) – AAA | 87.00 |
| 6 | State Farm | 85.98 |
| 7 | Progressive | 85.52 |
| 8 | Esurance | 85.35 |
| 9 | Metlife | 84.71 |
| 10 | Erie | 84.02 |
| 11 | Hartford | 83.80 |
| 12 | Liberty Mutual | 83.29 |
| 13 | Travelers | 83.05 |
| 14 | Nationwide | 83.02 |
| 15 | American Family | 81.28 |
| 16 | Safeco | 81.18 |
| 17 | Geico | 80.90 |
| 18 | Mercury | 80.45 |
| 19 | Farmers | 80.12 |
| 20 | The General | 71.89 |
Best car insurance companies for boomers based on price
The three top companies in this category were Auto Club of Southern California, USAA and Progressive. Each of these insurers offers various discounts, including multi-vehicle and driver discounts. On its website, USAA even says that its members save an average of $707 on auto insurance.
Price is an important consideration for baby boomers. The majority (19%) spend between $1,000 -$1,249 a year on auto insurance, while 16% spend between $750-$999 annually. However, 35% of baby boomers surveyed said they would switch insurers if a competitor paid $250 less than their current company. For 20% of baby boomers, annual savings of $500 could be enough for them to switch.
| Ranking | Auto Insurance Company | Baby Boomers Auto Overall Price Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) | 88.00 |
| 2 | USAA | 83.58 |
| 3 | Progressive | 82.22 |
| 4 | CSAA Insurance Group | 82.11 |
| 5 | Metlife | 80.00 |
| 6 | Allstate | 80.00 |
| 7 | State Farm | 79.01 |
| 8 | Esurance | 77.65 |
| 9 | Erie | 77.21 |
| 10 | Mercury | 76.52 |
| 11 | Nationwide | 75.33 |
| 12 | The General | 73.85 |
| 13 | Hartford | 73.55 |
| 14 | Travelers | 73.08 |
| 15 | Liberty Mutual | 72.68 |
| 16 | Safeco | 72.14 |
| 17 | American Family | 72.00 |
| 18 | Geico | 71.35 |
| 19 | The Auto Club Group (ACG) – AAA | 68.57 |
| 20 | Farmers | 68.26 |
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Car insurance companies with the best claims process for boomers
Our research indicates most baby boomers (49%) prefer to deal with their insurer via phone. Another 30% prefer in-person interaction, while 12% prefer their insurer’s website.
Whether you want to initiate the claims process in-person or via phone, CSAA Insurance Group offers its customers a variety of options. In 2019, the company announced a new partnership with Owlcam, a video security and safety service, to streamline the claims process. Using Owlcam’s Video First Notice of Loss (vFNOL) feature, CSAA customers can report and start their claim directly from Owlcam’s mobile app. This anytime-anywhere capability may be one of the many reasons CSAA ranked number one for its claims process.
| Ranking | Auto Insurance Company | Baby Boomers Auto Overall Claim Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSAA Insurance Group | 100 |
| 2 | The Auto Club Group (ACG) – AAA | 100 |
| 3 | Esurance | 100 |
| 4 | Liberty Mutual | 98.00 |
| 5 | Travelers | 96.67 |
| 6 | USAA | 95.20 |
| 6 | Metlife | 95.00 |
| 7 | Allstate | 93.33 |
| 7 | Progressive | 93.33 |
| 10 | Nationwide | 92.73 |
| 11 | State Farm | 92.00 |
| 12 | Farmers | 91.11 |
| 13 | Hartford | 90.91 |
| 14 | Mercury | 90.00 |
| 15 | American Family | 88.89 |
| 16 | Erie | 88.00 |
| 16 | Geico | 86.67 |
| 18 | Safeco | 84.00 |
| 19 | The General | 60.00 |
| 19 | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) | 60.00 |
QuickTake
Car insurance companies with the best customer service for boomers
the auto club group and Auto Club of Southern California were the top ranked companies for customer service. Some online reviews for The Auto Club Group indicate that friendly employees add to the amazing service customers receive. Baby boomers we surveyed touted great service and pricing for Auto Club of Southern California. Some even said they’d recommend the company to friends and family — a tell-tale sign of great customer service.
| Ranking | Auto Insurance Company | Baby Boomers Auto Overall Customer Service Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Auto Club Group (ACG) – AAA | 97.14 |
| 2 | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) | 94.67 |
| 3 | USAA | 92.84 |
| 4 | Allstate | 92.43 |
| 5 | CSAA Insurance Group | 90.53 |
| 6 | State Farm | 89.60 |
| 7 | Hartford | 89.35 |
| 8 | Erie | 89.30 |
| 8 | Safeco | 86.43 |
| 10 | Liberty Mutual | 85.85 |
| 11 | Farmers | 85.65 |
| 12 | Metlife | 85.45 |
| 13 | Nationwide | 85.00 |
| 14 | American Family | 85.00 |
| 15 | Esurance | 84.71 |
| 16 | Geico | 84.32 |
| 17 | Travelers | 83.08 |
| 18 | Progressive | 82.22 |
| 19 | Mercury | 79.13 |
| 20 | The General | 73.85 |
Car insurance companies with the best website & apps for boomers
Though baby boomers prefer to interact with their insurers in-person and via phone, many are satisfied with their insurance company’s digital experience. For the top two companies in this category — USAA and The Auto Club Group — 52% and 53% of baby boomers, respectively, said they were completely satisfied with the companies’ website and mobile app, saying both digital solutions more than met their needs.
| Ranking | Auto Insurance Company | Baby Boomers Auto Overall Website & App Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | 91.00 |
| 2 | The Auto Club Group (ACG) – AAA | 90.00 |
| 3 | Allstate | 88.39 |
| 4 | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) | 87.14 |
| 5 | Progressive | 87.10 |
| 5 | Safeco | 86.25 |
| 7 | Geico | 85.63 |
| 8 | Travelers | 85.26 |
| 9 | Esurance | 84.71 |
| 10 | Hartford | 84.53 |
| 11 | American Family | 83.03 |
| 12 | CSAA Insurance Group | 82.86 |
| 13 | State Farm | 82.73 |
| 14 | Nationwide | 81.70 |
| 15 | Liberty Mutual | 81.25 |
| 16 | Erie | 80.91 |
| 17 | Farmers | 80.53 |
| 18 | Metlife | 77.14 |
| 19 | Mercury | 75.79 |
| 20 | The General | 66.67 |
Tips for comparing car insurance companies
Our survey is a good starting point to compare insurers, but you also should consider taking these steps when shopping around for car insurance:
- Identify your needs: Learn how the different types of car insurance work to protect you, then decide how much car insurance you need. Insure.com Senior Consumer Analyst Penny Gusner recommends buying more liability insurance than what your state requires to drive legally to ensure you are sufficiently covered. You also need to know whether you need comprehensive or collision coverage. It’s wise to buy these optional coverages unless your car is worth less than $3,000 and you have no assets or savings.
- Check company performance and complaints: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and your state’s department of insurance both track company performance, which includes details on an insurer’s financial rating and complaint ratios. Pay close attention to each insurer’s complaint ratio. You can see the complaint ratio of companies you are considering by visiting the NAIC website, and eliminate the companies that don’t have a good reputation.
- Do your digital due diligence: Customer experience is a top priority for many millennials, so visit the websites of some of the companies you’re considering to see if they offer a user-friendly and seamless digital experience. If their website and apps are easy to use, it might be a good indication of the quality of customer service you’ll receive as a policyholder.
- Research discounts for which you qualify: Check each company’s website for information on discount programs. Discounts that are a good fit for boomer drivers include those for senior drivers, loyalty discounts and discounts found through affiliate programs such as your alma mater or professional group. You may also qualify for a low-mileage discount if you’re retired, or if you have a short commute or use public transportation and don’t drive much. There are also many discounts for electronic billing and buying a policy online. And, you can save on your policy if you buy your auto insurance and condo or home insurance from the same company.
- Compare car insurance quotes: Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, compare car insurance rates from each of your top companies. You should compare quotes from at least three companies. Car insurance companies each use their own unique formula to set rates, so the price of a policy can vary significantly among carriers, which is why comparing costs is one of the most effective ways to save money.
