The Best Nevada Auto Insurance Companies
Auto insurance is one of those expenses that is all too easy to grumble about — that is, of course, until you’re in a fender bender and need to file a claim. At that point, you don’t want a battle-born solution in the Battle Born state — you want a secure policy riding shotgun. In a state with Nevada’s dramatic climate and population variation, you need that policy to be tailored to your location and driving habits. No matter if you’re shopping for your first auto insurer or hoping to compare top picks, you’ll find something worthwhile in our comprehensive review of the top five auto insurers in Nevada.
How We Found the Best Nevada Auto Insurance
In order to find the best auto insurance providers in Nevada we tackled the challenge much like we did when searching for the best nationwide auto insurance providers. We started at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to identify the top five auto insurance carriers in Nevada by market share. Then, we evaluated each company based on a wide range of criteria, including website user experience, educational offerings, and customer service. We looked up each company’s reputation using J.D. Power scores and Consumer Reports ratings, and searched to see how each business was ranked by major financial institutions including A.M. Best and Moody’s. Finally, we obtained sample insurance quotes for a 2012 Subaru Outback with 65,000 miles for a 30-year-old female driver to see how insurers stacked up in premiums.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Nevada
Nevada Auto Insurance Reviews
Progressive
Progressive provides auto insurance for almost 5% of Nevada’s drivers and is our favorite company, hands-down. Both the quote process and overall website experience are simple and intuitive. If you have an insurance question, you’ll likely find the answer on Progressive, thanks to its robust FAQ section, “Progressive Answers.” It is also one of two of the top auto insurance providers we looked at to offer a live chat option.
Progressive offers a wide array of supplement coverages, ranging from having multiple cars on one policy to having teen drivers in the household. As far as discounts, the website also mentions giving an average discount of 7% for just starting your quote online — an enticing promotion none of our other providers offer. Progressive received only 2/5 from J.D. Power for both its overall customer satisfaction and its claims process. Still, Consumer Reports ranked it as “Very Good” in regards to its simplicity of process and “Excellent” for its timely payouts; the latter rankings felt more consistent with the vibes we got from the website.
State Farm
The largest auto insurance provider in Nevada is State Farm, covering just over 11% of the market share. We found the website very comprehensive, almost to the point of being overwhelming, with huge blocks of small-print text. Still, we appreciate that it lays out all of the discounts we may be eligible for, like usage discounts for students away at school and safety discounts for having airbags, as well as all the supplemental coverages offered, such as rental reimbursement and collision coverage.
We found State Farm’s quote process a bit irksome. In order to obtain a free quote, the company requires either a Driver’s License Number or Social Security Number, and a detailed account of any at-fault accidents, tickets, major violations, or license suspensions in the past six years. That’s a lot of information if you’re simply shopping for an initial quote.
State Farm received an evaluation from two main financial institutions, Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best, and earned a “very strong” and “superior” respectively for financial stability. Its marks were lower from J.D. Power — 2/5 stars in both the overall and claims process categories.
Farmers
Farmers is responsible for insuring 7.5% of the market share in Nevada. Its website is straightforward and simple to navigate, with a detailed FAQ section that delves deep into available discounts and types of coverage, as well as more niche topics about insuring collectible cars and the safest cars to drive.
Farmers offers a suite of supplemental coverages in 13 arenas, including accident forgiveness, towing, roadside assistance, and even glass repair services. Farmers racked up impressive stats from all three major financial institutions, earning a “good” to “very strong” financial outlook from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and A.M. Best.
In the southwest, J.D. Power rated Farmers’ overall satisfaction and claim satisfaction ratings as 2/5, translating to “below average.” The brand fared better with Consumer Reports; its readers ranked it as “very good” for both timely payouts and simplicity of process.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is responsible for 6.5% of Nevada’s auto insurance market share. We quite like the website; it’s well-designed and feels very intuitive and simple to use. However, if you’re just shopping around, know going in that Liberty Mutual’s online quote estimator requires you to enter your Social Security Number — there’s no workaround, either. You’ll hit a dead-end if you don’t enter it. Of our other top picks for auto insurance, only State Farm also required this sensitive information before you’re even a customer.
Liberty Mutual garnered positive reviews from all three financial institutions — Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and A.M. Best — varying from “good” to “very strong.” J.D. Power rated its overall satisfaction 3/5, translating to “about average.” Its claim satisfaction ratings were a bit lower at 2/5.
Allstate
Allstate covers roughly 6% of Nevada’s auto insurance market. Allstate’s website was a nice resource, with a friendly glossary of clearly defined insurance terms; the website takes into account that most of us don’t encounter these terms often. The brand clearly lists out its supplemental coverage options (for things like new car replacement and personal injury) and discounts (including ones for having anti-lock brakes or a new car). Allstate offers the most supplemental coverages of all of our top picks (14 to State Farm’s eight, for example) and the quote process was fairly seamless and straightforward.
Users gave Allstate 3/5 (“about average”) for overall customer satisfaction and 3/5 for timely payouts on J.D. Power. Allstate also received high marks from financial institutions like Moody’s, which granted Allstate its highest rating for having “exceptional financial security.”
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Nevada
Average Annual Premium by Company
| Car Insurance Companies | Average Annual Premium |
| Farmers Insurance | $643 |
| GEICO | $648 |
| State Farm | $662 |
| USAA | $738 |
| American Family Insurance | $959 |
| Progressive | $985 |
| Nationwide | $1,386 |
| Allstate | $1,671 |
Quadrant car insurance rate data as of 07/01/2019.
Average Annual Premium by Credit Tier
| Credit Rating Tier | Average Annual Premium |
| Poor | $1,289 |
| Below Fair | $1,059 |
| Fair | $887 |
| Average | $814 |
| Good | $761 |
| Excellent | $636 |
| Average Across Credit Rating Tiers | $908 |
Quadrant car insurance rate data as of 07/01/2019.
Top 3 Cheapest Companies
- Farmers Insurance: $643
- GEICO: $648
- State Farm: $662
Top 3 Most Expensive Companies
- Allstate: $1,671
- Nationwide: $1,386
- Progressive: $985
The cheapest auto insurance companies in Nevada are Farmers Insurance, GEICO, and State Farm. The most expensive companies in Nevada are Allstate, Nationwide, and Progressive. You would think that with a widespread population and few large cities that Nevada would have cheaper rates. Unfortunately, Nevada experiences some higher than average rates for a state with so much desert land. One reason could be the Sin City itself, with its dense, tourism-populated streets. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas, since more claims there means a rise in rates statewide.
Guide to Nevada Auto Insurance Companies
Nevada minimum liability
In the insurance world, liability refers to “responsibility.” With auto insurance, there are two primary types of liability: bodily injury and property damage. If you cause an accident, your auto liability insurance will pay the other driver’s medical and vehicle repair costs. Minimum liability refers to the minimum amount of insurance coverage the state of Nevada requires you to purchase before you can legally drive a car. Sometimes, liability coverage is shown in the following shorthand: 25/50/20. Nevada’s minimum liability coverage breaks down in the following manner:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $20,000 property damage coverage per accident
So can you purchase the minimum liability coverage and call it a day? Not so fast. You want to purchase the highest amount of auto insurance you can afford. That’s because if you’re in an accident with a luxury vehicle and you’re at-fault, the crash could very well exceed the minimum liability of $20,000 in property damage coverage per accident. Then, you’d be left paying the rest out-of-pocket.
There are many factors that determine auto insurance premiums (how long you’ve been a licensed driver, where you live, how many miles you drive per year, and so on). That’s why we recommend shopping around for auto insurance and gathering plenty of sample quotes before you commit to an auto insurer. You never know who will provide you the most bang for your buck. This review on the top auto providers in Nevada is a great place to start.
Minimum liability increases impact premiums
Effective July 1, 2018, Nevada raised its minimum liability coverage requirements from 15/30/10 minimum liability to 25/50/20. This increase is expected to result in higher premiums for many Nevadan policyholders. Nevada drivers are already paying the twelfth-highest premiums in the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute. This may be partly because Nevada is known for being a round-the-clock hotspot with more than its fair share of casinos and bars.
Overall, many feel the increase in minimum liability coverage is ultimately good thing, as it will help make sure drivers are adequately covered in the event of an accident. Also, insurance rates tend to go up as a sign that the economy is doing well overall, with more people buying cars and driving for leisure.
Driver’s authorization cards
On January 1, 2014, Nevada rolled out a new law regarding driver’s authorization cards (DAC), also known as driver’s privilege cards. After the passing of Senate Bill 303 into law, undocumented immigrants in Nevada can go to the DMV, use a birth certificate or a passport issued by a foreign country as proof of identity, and take a driving test. Then, if the driver passes the test, he or she will be issued a DAC which allows them to legally drive in the state of Nevada — even if he or she doesn’t have the proper paperwork necessary to obtain a Nevada driver’s license. Currently, 12 states and Washington, D.C. have a system in place that allows undocumented immigrants to legally obtain a driver’s authorization card without the need to have a license.
You also need proof of car insurance in order to actually obtain a DAC. That’s why some insurance experts believe that the introduction of this law will eventually decrease auto insurance rates statewide for all drivers; after all, the more insured drivers on the road, the cheaper the premiums everyone has to pay.
Nevada Auto Insurance Companies FAQ
What are average auto insurance rates in Nevada?
Nevada’s auto insurance rates slightly top the national average. Across the country, $1,009 a year for auto insurance is the most standard payment; Nevadans pay $1,103. While you can expect higher rates in Nevada than other states, shopping around for multiple quotes is the best way to make sure you are securing a competitive rate.
How much auto insurance do you need?
The price of your insurance premium fluctuates based on how extensive your coverage is. For this reason, it can be tempting to opt for a bare bones policy with a smaller price tag. Resist. Car accidents, even minor ones, can wrack up large bills and you want to be insured for the total cost to avoid being stuck paying out-of-pocket. Generally, you want to secure as much auto insurance as you can afford. Our advice is again to gather quotes. Consider the price, available discounts, and policy inclusions of a wide range of companies to find the best one for you.
The Best Nevada Auto Insurance: Summed Up
Methodology
We worked with Quadrant Information Services to provide data on auto insurance rates by company and credit score. Quadrant makes this information available using rate data insurers are required to file with state Departments of Insurance. Rates are based on sample profiles created by Reviews.com for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Brett Benningfield is a staff writer for Reviews.com. He has spent countless hours researching and writing about insurance and financial services. Joining in November of 2018 Brett has helped Reviews by delivering research and expertise on a variety of topics like insurance, finance, and more.
