Updated: May 20, 2024
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Texas Farm Bureau is the cheapest option for a minimum coverage policy. It’s also ideal for young adults and senior drivers. Chubb is a solid choice if you prioritize customer service, whereas Allstate is best for drivers with new vehicles. We selected State Farm as the best option for teens and drivers with offenses.
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly options, MoneyGeek listed the cheapest car insurance companies in Houston.
BestCar InsuranceHoustonTable of Contents (Jump to Your Best Fit)
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We examined the top car insurance companies based on available add-on coverages, affordability and more. Our analysis used data from the Texas Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services.
MoneyGeek analyzed the top auto insurance providers in Houston and found that the top two picks are:
Texas Farm Bureau ranked second in both affordability and customer satisfaction, making it our top pick for Houston. This means it delivers excellent customer service at an affordable rate. Our research revealed that Texas Farm Bureau is also the best car insurance provider in Texas.
Meanwhile, USAA earned a MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 and is an excellent option for those with a military background.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the overall best car insurance was calculated with the following weights:
Ranked second for affordability and customer satisfaction
Offers roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement coverage
Claims processing score is below average
Lacks accident forgiveness and gap insurance coverage
Texas Farm Bureau strikes a good balance between affordability and top-notch customer satisfaction, earning second place in both categories. It also offers certain essential coverages that most drivers can use, but its overall add-on coverage options are limited.
With Texas Farm Bureau, you can purchase rental car and/or travel reimbursement coverage if you have a full coverage policy. This ensures that your daily routine isn’t interrupted if your car is undergoing repairs after an accident or breakdown.
You can also add roadside assistance to your policy, which covers non-collision incidents. If you experience a mechanical breakdown and need assistance, you can easily access a dispatch service and receive coverage of up to $120 to pay for services like fuel delivery, tire changes, towing and locksmith labor.
We ranked 12 auto insurance companies in Houston and found that Texas Farm Bureau is the best overall provider. It has the second most affordable rates at $904 per year paired with the second-highest customer satisfaction ratings. State Farm is the cheapest carrier, but it lags behind Texas Farm Bureau in terms of customer service. Foremost leads in customer satisfaction and Chubb wins for claims management, but both are much more expensive than our category winner.
Rates mentioned here are for full coverage policies, and we only assigned MoneyGeek scores to companies that offered enough data for each scoring component like affordability, service quality, financial stability and coverage options.
| Texas Farm Bureau | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)80 | Annual Premium$904 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)5 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)3 |
| State Farm | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)76 | Annual Premium$840 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)4 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)5 |
| Chubb | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)76 | Annual Premium$1,619 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)5 | Claims Score (out of 5)4 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)5 |
| GEICO | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)68 | Annual Premium$1,272 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)4 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)5 |
| Allstate | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)68 | Annual Premium$1,086 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)3 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)4 | Stability Score (out of 5)4 |
| Mercury | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)66 | Annual Premium$1,154 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)3 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)3 |
| Nationwide | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)66 | Annual Premium$1,273 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)3 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)4 | Stability Score (out of 5)4 |
| AAA Texas | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)65 | Annual Premium$1,203 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)4 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)3 | Stability Score (out of 5)3 |
| Foremost | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)65 | Annual Premium$1,943 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)5 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)4 | Stability Score (out of 5)3 |
| Progressive | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)57 | Annual Premium$1,898 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)3 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)4 | Stability Score (out of 5)4 |
| National General | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)55 | Annual Premium$1,635 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)3 | Claims Score (out of 5)2 | Coverages Score (out of 5)1 | Stability Score (out of 5)4 |
| Dairyland | MoneyGeek Score (out of 100)No Data | Annual Premium$2,636 | Satisfaction Score (out of 5)4 | Claims Score (out of 5)No Data | Coverages Score (out of 5)4 | Stability Score (out of 5)4 |
When disregarding cost, the best car insurance carriers for customer service in Houston are:
Chubb was the clear winner in this category, earning the third-highest score for customer satisfaction and ranking first for claims management. Compared to quotes from similar providers, Chubb has relatively expensive rates.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Customer Service was calculated with the following weights:
Ranked first for claims management
Has a high customer satisfaction rating
Offers original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage
No roadside assistance or accident forgiveness coverage
Has few coverage options available
Chubb sets the bar for exceptional customer service in Houston — it received strong marks in both customer satisfaction and claims management. The provider also offers unique coverage options like OEM coverage, which is less common among insurers.
OEM coverage helps ensure that your car will continue to perform the way it was intended to. If your vehicle is damaged in a covered incident, Chubb will pay to have it repaired using original parts. The company also offers rental car reimbursement coverage, which will pay for the cost of a rental car if your vehicle is temporarily out of commission.
In addition, Chubb's Agreed Value Coverage establishes an agreed-upon value for your car when you purchase your policy, and in case of a total loss, Chubb will reimburse you for the set amount. This can potentially save you thousands of dollars in the event of a covered loss.
Filing claims after an accident or breakdown can be stressful, and companies with good customer service will promptly address customers' concerns and claims. We found that Chubb outshines its competitors in this category because of its top-notch claims management and high customer satisfaction rating. Foremost has a slightly higher rating for customer satisfaction but fell behind in claims handling and financial stability.
We analyzed car insurance companies based on their affordability and service quality for minimum coverage policies. Here are the top auto insurance companies that meet the baseline coverage requirements in Texas:
The minimum car insurance requirements in Texas apply to every city in the state. Minimum coverage policies are usually more affordable but offer the least amount of liability coverage and don't cover any damages to your own vehicle.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the Best Cheap company was calculated with the following weights:
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs $424 per year
Provides a discount if you maintain a clean record or bundle policies
Ranked second in affordability and customer satisfaction
No paperless discount
Has a below-average claims management rating
Drivers looking for the best car insurance provider for minimum coverage policies in Houston should consider Texas Farm Bureau. The provider received high scores for both affordability and customer satisfaction, meaning that policyholders get great service at a reasonable rate.
Texas Farm Bureau also offers several opportunities for drivers to further reduce rates through discounts. For example, policyholders can get lower rates if they install a safety device in their vehicle, such as an anti-theft system. You can also get lower rates if you remain claims-free for a certain period of time or if you bundle your car insurance with home or renters insurance. Drivers under 25 years may qualify for a discount if they complete an accredited driver’s education course.
The best insurer for a minimum coverage policy should provide both affordable rates and excellent customer service. Sometimes, cheap premiums come with worse customer service, but that's not true with Texas Farm Bureau since the company offers both. State Farm offers slightly more affordable rates but received a lower customer satisfaction rating.
In Houston, drivers in their 20s will likely get the best auto insurance policies with the following companies:
With Texas Farm Bureau, young adults don't need to worry about trading service quality for cost — the company ranked second-highest for affordability and customer satisfaction. MoneyGeek also compiled the top auto insurance companies for young adult drivers to help you pick an ideal provider.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Young Adults was calculated with the following weights:
Ranked second for affordability, with an average premium of $1,113 per year
Has driver’s education and good student discounts
Earned the second-best score for customer satisfaction
Lacks certain essential coverages
Has a below-average claims processing
For young drivers in Houston, Texas Farm Bureau is the best auto insurance option as it balances affordable rates with high-quality customer service.
The company also offers two discounts that certain young adults may be eligible for. The driver's education discount, for example, is available to those under 25 who have completed an accredited driver training course. In addition, students who maintain good grades can get a good student discount.
Texas Farm Bureau provides common but useful add-ons like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. These optional coverages are beneficial for young drivers if they experience an accident or mechanical breakdown. Roadside assistance provides round-the-clock help, covering drivers for expenses up to $120 if they get locked out of their car or need a tire change, towing or similar services. In addition, rental reimbursement coverage can help pay for the cost of a rental car if yours is undergoing repairs.
Young drivers looking for a reliable auto insurance provider should focus on factors like service quality, affordability and relevant discounts. Texas Farm Bureau is our top pick because it provides cheap rates, top-notch customer service and discounts for young drivers. State Farm, our runner-up, is slightly more affordable, but it has lower customer satisfaction and claims management ratings.
The best car insurance companies for teens on a family policy in Houston are:
Out of the six auto insurance we compared for this category, State Farm is the second-cheapest option for family policies. It also ranked second for customer satisfaction, offering teens and their families a balance of quality service and reasonable rates.
Adding a teen to a family plan is a great way to save money as it's much cheaper than a teen purchasing an individual policy. It's also important to note that in most cases, teens under 18 cannot legally purchase an individual policy without a parent or guardian as a cosigner. In Houston, teens can save an average of $3,267 per year by joining their family's plan.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Teens was calculated with the following weights:
Offers the second-cheapest rates at $2,673 per year
Has good student, driver’s education and distant student discounts
Received the second-highest rating for customer service
Has a poor claims processing score
Provides limited optional coverages
State Farm is the top choice for teen drivers in Houston due to its relatively low rates and excellent customer satisfaction scores. Teens can also take advantage of multiple discount opportunities to save even more on premiums.
For example, teens who finish an approved driver's education course or maintain a B average or 3.0 GPA may qualify for discounts. In addition, a distant student discount is available to students under 25 who move away for school and only drive the car while at home.
Most drivers, including teens, can also benefit from State Farm's useful coverages, such as roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. If you get into an accident and your car needs repairs, rental reimbursement coverage helps pay for the cost of a rental car so your schedule isn’t interrupted. With roadside assistance, you can easily access gas delivery, tire changes and towing services if your car breaks down on the road.
When it comes to finding the best car insurance for teen drivers, you should consider affordability, customer satisfaction and discounts that are tailored to teens. Among the providers in our study, State Farm stands out as the best option for teen drivers because it provides affordable rates, good customer service and useful discounts. Foremost is our second choice and has better overall customer service than State Farm, but it is significantly more expensive.
The following companies offer the best car insurance for senior drivers in Houston:
Our study revealed that Texas Farm Bureau is the best option for senior drivers as it received the best and second-best scores for affordability and customer satisfaction, respectively. Car insurance rates for seniors are generally around the same as rates for drivers in their 30s to 50s. However, premiums tend to be more expensive for drivers in their 70s.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Seniors was calculated with the following weights:
Has the cheapest premium at $749 per year
Offers roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement coverage
Earned high affordability and customer satisfaction ratings
Provides very few add-on coverages
Received a below-average claims processing score
Older drivers in Houston should consider Texas Farm Bureau for car insurance. It delivers excellent customer service at an affordable price and offers essential add-on coverages like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement, which can be particularly helpful for senior drivers.
Texas Farm Bureau offers 24/7 roadside assistance and covers up to $120 in services, including towing, tire changes and fuel delivery. If your car is undergoing repairs due to a covered accident, rental car reimbursement coverage helps pay for a rental vehicle to ensure that you're never without a means of transportation.
We encourage older drivers to select providers with affordable policies and coverages such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage. These options offer extra financial protection and can help cover your medical expenses after an accident. While Texas Farm Bureau doesn't offer discounts for seniors, it came out on top thanks to its cheap premiums and high-quality customer service. Chubb ranked higher for claims management, but its high cost brought down its overall score.
The best auto insurance companies in Houston following a driving violation are:
State Farm ranked first for affordability and received a high customer satisfaction score. Auto insurance rates tend to increase depending on the severity of an offense. Drivers who get a speeding ticket in Houston pay, on average, $295 more per year than drivers with a clean record. Meanwhile, drivers with a DUI pay $653 more. MoneyGeek rounded up the best car insurance providers for drivers with poor records to help you find a suitable option.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Drivers With Offenses was calculated with the following weights:
Offers the cheapest rate at $1,525 per year
Offers roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement coverages
Has high affordability and customer satisfaction scores
Has a low claims management score
No accident forgiveness available
Doesn’t offer many add-on coverages
State Farm is a standout insurance provider, offering solid customer service and reasonable rates to drivers with prior offenses, who tend to pay more for car insurance. The company has limited add-on coverage options, but it does offer roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement, which can be beneficial for drivers with poor records.
If you're involved in an accident, rental car and/or travel reimbursement can cover the cost of a rental car up to the policy's limits as well as up to $500 for meals, lodging and transportation. This coverage from State Farm also includes up to $500 repayment of deductible if you're responsible for an accident in your rental car.
Emergency roadside assistance is another essential coverage, which helps cover the cost of locksmith labor, towing services and mechanical repairs if you experience a breakdown.
When searching for car insurance for drivers with a poor record, it's important to find an insurer with affordable rates, discounts and add-ons like accident forgiveness and roadside assistance. State Farm is our pick for this category because of its competitive pricing and strong customer satisfaction ratings. Texas Farm Bureau, our runner-up, ranked slightly higher for customer service but is more expensive and doesn't offer any additional coverage options compared to State Farm.
If you have a new car in Houston, the top auto insurance company is Allstate. Here are the best options:
To determine the rankings for this category, we evaluated affordability and service quality for Texas drivers with a 2022 model car, and we only included insurers that offered better or new car replacement coverage. This add-on covers the cost of a brand-new car of the same make and model if yours is totaled in a covered incident. Allstate emerged as our top choice because it balances it was the most affordable in our comparison group and earned a high coverage score.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for New Cars was calculated based on insurers offering new or better car replacement coverage and the following weights:
Charges the least expensive average rate at $1,718 per year
Has new car replacement coverage
Received high scores for affordability and coverages
Has an average customer satisfaction score
We highly recommend Allstate to Houston drivers with new vehicles since it offers affordable premiums and multiple add-on coverage options, including new car replacement coverage. This coverage is particularly important for drivers of new cars who want additional financial protection — if your car is two model years or less and is totaled in a covered incident, Allstate will cover the cost of a brand-new car.
Meanwhile, Allstate's accident forgiveness coverage ensures that your premium will not increase following an accident, even if it was your fault. The company also offers custom parts coverage, which is a less common option and financially protects modifications to your vehicle like height-extending roofs or custom murals.
Drivers with a new vehicle should choose an auto insurance company that provides new or better car replacement coverage. This add-on coverage helps financially protect your new purchase and can save you a lot of money if your car is deemed a total loss. Allstate is an excellent choice in Houston thanks to its affordable premiums and availability of new car replacement coverage. While other companies may have received higher overall MoneyGeek scores, they did not qualify for this category because they lacked new car replacement coverage.
Consider factors like claims management, cost, customer satisfaction and financial stability when you’re comparing different auto insurance providers. We've shared a lot of information about insurers in Houston in this guide, but you can also do your own research by following the steps below.
We used J.D. Power studies and NAIC complaint ratio data to evaluate providers' customer service quality and crafted this guide for your convenience, but you can also use these resources to look up the insurers you're considering. If you want more information on insurance providers in Texas, the Texas Department of Insurance is another great source to consult.
When searching for the right car insurance policy for you, we recommend collecting quotes from a minimum of three companies. This will help you get an idea of how much you can expect to pay. Factors such as age, location and driving history will influence your rates, so expect your quotes to vary from the rates included here, which are averages based on sample driver profiles.
Auto insurance providers may advertise coverages and discounts that are not available in all markets, so if you want a specific discount or add-on coverage, make sure to double-check whether it's available in Houston. You may need to contact a representative to confirm
Check an insurer’s financial strength ratings to get an idea of how likely they are to be able to pay out claims. Bigger insurance companies usually have better financial stability ratings, whereas smaller regional providers may have lower ratings.
Consider your driver profile and needs when shopping for the best auto insurance in Houston. To help your decision-making process, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions.
Texas Farm Bureau received a MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100, making it the best overall auto insurance provider in Houston. A full coverage policy from this company costs an average of $904 per year. Texas Farm Bureau also ranked second for customer satisfaction in our study. It's our top pick for best cheap insurance as well as for young adults and seniors.
The best cheap car insurance company in Houston is Texas Farm Bureau, whose average rate for a minimum coverage policy is $424 per year. This insurer earned a MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 due to its combination of great service and reasonable premiums. Drivers also have the opportunity to lower their premiums with safe driver and bundling discounts. Texas Farm Bureau is also the best option for young adult and senior drivers in Houston.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
