Car insurance companies are a blessing to motorists since however careful one is, they can never really know what may happen on the road. A car insurance policy safeguards the vehicle, its driver, and passenger from a variety of unpleasant situations. If you are looking to purchase a policy for your vehicle, there are some of the common traits of the best auto insurance companies you should consider. These are:

• Straightforward shopping experiences
• Care and concern towards policyholders after an accident
• Good treatment of customers
• Transparent policy terms

Car insurance companies that have consistently high customer satisfaction scores and low complaint rates work their way to the top. The top insurance companies in the country make up as much as two-thirds of the market revenue. Apart from customer satisfaction and claim handling scores, these companies also offer multiple policy bundles and discounts for safe drivers.

Here is a list of the top 5 car insurance companies in the country:

• New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM): One of the oldest car insurance companies, NJM is the top in the ranking by Nerd Wallet with a 5-star rating.
• Auto-Owners Insurance: This company ranks number 2 in the list with a 4.5 rating.
• Amica Mutual: The customer satisfaction ratings are high and consumer complaints are also much lesser than the industry median for this company. They also offer several perks and free airbag replacement service. They receive 4.5 stars as per Nerd Wallet.
• Erie Insurance: With a rating of 4 stars on Nerd Wallet, Erie Insurance ranks high on customer satisfaction ratings. They also lock your car insurance rate so that the premium does not change.
• Automobile Club Group: The rating is 4 stars for this company from the Nerd Wallet and it is one of the better car insurance companies out there.

Aside from this, the other companies who have also built a name for themselves by ensuring good service and customer satisfaction are The Hanover, Auto Club of SoCal, Nationwide, State Farm, and American Family Insurance.

If you do not intend to spend a huge amount on car insurance, but still want to invest in the best insurance provider, here are a few pointers that will help you:

• Visit the insurance commissioner’s website of your state to check out complaints lodged and the detailed information on the companies.
• Discuss the coverage of the policies with the agent to ensure you are getting exactly what you require, nothing more or less.
• Include small insurance companies while evaluating the choices.
• In case you have received any tickets or any traffic violations, then shopping for insurance should be done 3-5 years after the incident.

To help in choosing the right car insurance policy, there are a number of online tools available. Car insurance comparison tools provide a comparison of the policy rates provided by companies. You can also ask for quotes from multiple companies to ensure that you are getting competitive rates for your car.