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The Insurance Desk
Coverage basics explained simply, so you know what you're buying before you buy it.
Compare insurers
Insurance prices depend on where you live, what you insure and your history — so we compare insurers on what's consistent: financial strength, coverage options and availability. Last reviewed October 23, 2026.
Get quotes
Prices for the same coverage can vary a lot between insurers. A few minutes of comparison shopping is usually worth it.
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9 insurers
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Best for: Working with a local agent
The largest US auto insurer, with a network of local agents and the full range of personal coverage. A strong choice if you want one agent handling car, home and life.
AM Best rating
A++
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
Government Employees Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway)
Best for: Quick online auto quotes
A direct-to-consumer auto insurer known for fast online quotes and a highly rated app. Home and renters policies are offered through partner insurers.
AM Best rating
A++
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
The Progressive Corporation
Best for: Comparing prices and drivers with past claims
A major auto insurer with online and agent channels, a usage-based Snapshot program and tools that show rates from other insurers alongside its own.
AM Best rating
A+
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
United Services Automobile Association
Best for: Military members, veterans and their families
Insurance and banking for the military community, with top-tier financial strength and a full lineup of personal coverage. Eligibility is limited to service members, veterans and eligible family members.
AM Best rating
A++
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
The Travelers Companies
Best for: Home and auto through independent agents
A long-established insurer with top-tier financial strength, sold mainly through independent agents. Particularly strong on home insurance and bundling.
AM Best rating
A++
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
The Allstate Corporation
Best for: Bundling with lots of discounts
A household name with local agents across the country, a long list of available discounts and the Drivewise program for safe drivers.
AM Best rating
A+
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
Amica Mutual Insurance Company
Best for: Customer service and dividend policies
A mutual insurer known for customer service. Some policies are eligible for annual dividends, returning part of your premium.
AM Best rating
A+
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
Erie Indemnity Company
Best for: Drivers in its regional footprint
A regional insurer sold through local independent agents, with a reputation for competitive pricing in the states it serves.
AM Best rating
A+
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Best for: Usage-based and pay-per-mile options
A large mutual insurer offering a full range of coverage, with SmartRide for safe drivers and a pay-per-mile option for people who drive less.
AM Best rating
A
Official site · not a sponsored link
Reviewed Oct 23, 2026
AM Best ratings measure an insurer's financial strength and ability to pay claims — not price or customer service. Coverage, discounts and availability vary by state. Get quotes from several insurers for the same coverage to compare prices.
Our top picks
6 picks
The best car insurance companies, compared on financial strength, coverage, availability and ways to save.
5 picks
Top homeowners and renters insurance companies, compared on financial strength, coverage and bundling.
How we compare insurers
We review each provider's published terms and compare them on what matters most. Rankings are editorial: partners can't pay for a better position, and any sponsored link is labelled. Terms change, so every entry shows the date it was last reviewed.
AM Best ratings show an insurer's ability to pay claims.
Which lines of insurance you can buy and bundle in one place.
Where each insurer sells policies and any eligibility rules.
Bundling, safe-driving programs and other common discounts.
The essentials
Insurance is a way of transferring financial risk: you pay a recurring premium, and the insurer agrees to cover specific losses up to a coverage limit, after you pay a deductible. The details in a policy's exclusions section are often just as important as what's covered.
This section covers the core vocabulary behind most policies, how to think about life insurance coverage amounts, and what a standard homeowners policy does and doesn't include.
Insurance guides
In-depth explainers from our editors, newest first.
Premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, exclusions — the vocabulary in an insurance policy decides what you'll actually pay. Here are the terms that matter most, with examples.
TheMoneyCraze Editors
Quick answers
The questions readers ask us most about insurance.
The premium is what you pay, usually monthly or annually, to keep a policy active. The deductible is what you pay out of pocket toward a covered claim before the insurance starts paying its share. The two generally move in opposite directions.
It depends on outstanding debts, dependents' future costs, and how many years of income you'd want replaced, minus existing savings and coverage. A flat multiple of salary is a reasonable starting point, but a more personalized estimate accounts for your specific situation.
Generally, no. Flood damage is excluded from most standard homeowners policies regardless of cause, and typically requires a separate flood insurance policy — a common source of surprise for homeowners outside high-risk flood zones.
Related desks
A closer look at a few connected topics.