BestCar InsuranceUtahBest Car Insurance in Utah (May 2023)
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Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best insurer for customer service, young adults and seniors. Those with driving offenses may find American Family is their best option, while drivers with new cars may benefit from purchasing a policy from Farmers.
If you value affordability, regardless of service quality, we also rounded up the cheapest car insurance companies in Utah.
BestCar InsuranceUtahBest Car Insurance in Utah
Best Overall - Auto-Owners Insurance
Best for Service - Auto-Owners Insurance
Best for Minimum Coverage - Auto-Owners Insurance
Best for Young Adults - Auto-Owners Insurance
Best for Seniors - Auto-Owners Insurance
Best for Driving Offenses - American Family Insurance
Best for New Cars - Farmers
Best for Military - USAA
Best Overall for Car Insurance in Utah
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best car insurance company in Utah for full coverage. Based on our analysis, here are our top recommendations with their average cost:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 92 out of 100 ($726 per year)
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($899 per year)
Compared to its competitors, Auto-Owners Insurance Co provides a lower premium and is very financially stable (to handle claims). But if you’re on a tight budget, we found the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Utah.
MoneyGeek Top Pick
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Utah drivers may find Auto-Owners Insurance Co as the best option for car insurance because of its affordability and coverage options. Policyholders spend around $726 per year for a full coverage policy — the second-cheapest rate in Utah. They can also purchase diminished value coverage, which helps recover the original value of a vehicle after post-accident repairs.
With Auto-Owners Insurance Co, you have the option to purchase rare or common coverages to supplement your policy.
This insurer offers diminished value coverage, which ensures you are compensated for a reduction in your vehicle’s worth after an accident. It also offers gap insurance and deductible modification. The former covers the difference between the value of your car and the amount still owed on your lease or loan, while the latter waives your collision deductible if you get in an accident with another vehicle insured by Auto-Owners.
Aside from offering affordable policies, Auto-Owners also has good customer service. Based on studies conducted by J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), we found that this company provides quality customer service.
MoneyGeek Runner-Up
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
American Family provides essential coverages and affordable policies, making it the second-best option for car insurance in Utah. It’s the fifth cheapest provider, with an average rate of $899 per year for a full coverage policy. Policyholders may supplement their auto insurance with unique add-ons like original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage.
When it comes to coverage, American Family offers both unique and common add-ons that are essential for different types of drivers.
Policyholders can purchase original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage, which ensures aftermarket parts will not be used when repairs are made to their car. They may also get auto death indemnity coverage, which helps cover the cost of death or certain injuries due to an accident, regardless of who was at fault. American Family’s roadside assistance, meanwhile, helps you get back on the road if you are stranded due to car troubles.
Among the 11 Utah insurers in our comparison group, American Family was the fifth cheapest provider. It also scored well on customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index.
How the Best Insurers in Utah Rank: MoneyGeek Scores and Costs
After analyzing 11 insurance companies in Utah, we found that Auto-Owners Insurance Co ranks the highest for blending affordable rates and quality service.
Although American Family has the best coverage options in our comparison group, as well as affordable policies and great customer service, its overall score was brought down by its poor handling of claims. Nationwide may have the lowest full coverage rate, but its below-average customer service and claims management placed it lower in our ranking.
Farmers Union Insurance and Iowa Farm Bureau didn’t earn a MoneyGeek score in our analysis. An insurer only qualified for an overall MoneyGeek score if enough data could be found for all individual scoring components.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Customer Service
The best car insurance company in Utah for excellent customer service, regardless of average cost, is Auto-Owners Insurance Co. Consider these providers for service quality:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($726 per year)
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100 ($899 per year)
Although both insurers earned similar scores in our analysis, Auto-Owners outshined American Family in customer satisfaction and claims management, which guarantees a great customer experience. That said, American Family offers better coverage options than Auto-Owners.
pros
Ranked 1st out of 11 insurers in claims management
Ranked 5th out of 11 insurers in customer satisfaction
Offers lower rates than most insurers
Has roadside assistance, gap insurance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement
cons
Lacks original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is your best option for car insurance in Utah if you want quality customer service. This provider scored well on claims management and customer satisfaction based on our analysis of reports from J.D. Power surveys and the NAIC’s customer complaint index.
With Auto-Owners, you have various options for add-on coverages. These include roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. Roadside assistance provides emergency services if you are stranded on the side of the road due to vehicle issues such as a flat tire or a dead battery. Rental car and/or travel reimbursement helps pay for a rental car if you can’t use your vehicle due to an accident. It may also cover travel expenses, including meals and lodging, if you’re away from home.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Customer Service?
To ensure good customer service, insurance providers must check these boxes:
- Respond quickly to requests
- Solve problems as they arise
- Process claims in a timely manner
Being efficient and understanding can give policyholders peace of mind during an otherwise stressful situation.
We picked Auto-Owners Insurance Co as the best company for customer service over American Family because although American Family has a slightly higher score in customer satisfaction, Auto-Owners outshined it in managing claims.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Minimum Coverage
Based on cost and service quality for policies that meet Utah’s minimum coverage requirements, Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best provider for minimum coverage. The top choices and their average rates are as follows.
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100 ($399 per year)
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($427 per year)
Auto-Owners is our top pick for a minimum coverage policy because it offers competitively low rates and various coverage options. Note that it may have the cheapest premium, but a minimum coverage policy in Utah provides the least amount of protection against liability costs in a car accident.
pros
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs around $399 per year.
Offers discounts for bundling, insuring multiple cars and paying the premium on time.
Tied for 2nd in coverage options and ranked 2nd in affordability out of 11 insurers.
cons
No defensive driving discount.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Auto-Owners Insurance Co performed well across all individual scoring components, particularly in affordability and coverage options. That means policyholders can enjoy a cheap minimum coverage policy rate and purchase various add-ons based on their specific coverage needs.
Additionally, Auto-Owners offers plenty of discounts to reduce the cost of insurance. You may qualify for a discount if you bundle policies, insure multiple vehicles, have a favorable loss history, enroll in paperless billing or pay your annual premium in full. You may also get premium savings if your vehicle has safety features such as airbags, an anti-theft device or anti-lock brakes.
Auto-Owners also has unique discounts that aren’t offered by other insurers. These include a discount for paying your premium on time for the last 36 months.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Minimum Coverage?
If full coverage car insurance is out of your budget, your best option may be a minimum coverage policy. A good minimum coverage policy has a lower annual premium and discounts to reduce your insurance further. Auto-Owners Insurance Co is our top pick for minimum coverage in Utah because it provides all the elements of a good minimum coverage policy: affordability, various coverage options and excellent customer service and claims management.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Young Adults
In Utah, the best car insurance company for young adults is Auto-Owners Insurance Co. Looking at affordability and service quality, the best insurers for drivers in their 20s purchasing a full coverage policy and their average rates are:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100 ($1,008 per year)
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100 ($1,124 per year)
Drivers in their 20s may not pay as much as teens for auto insurance, but their premium is still higher than for middle-aged drivers. By shopping around, you can find the cheapest car insurance for young adults in Utah.
pros
Third cheapest provider for young adults at around $1,008 per year.
It offers a distant student and good student discount.
Tied for second in coverage options and ranked fifth in customer satisfaction out of 11 insurers.
cons
No driver’s education discount.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Utah drivers in their 20s may find Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best company for full coverage car insurance. This insurer provides competitive rates and a good customer service experience.
Policyholders can lower their premium by qualifying for certain discounts. For instance, college students may save if they are attending school more than 100 miles away from home without access to an insured car. They may also get a discount of up to 20% if they maintain a cumulative "B" or better grade point average (GPA).
For optional coverages, policyholders can add roadside assistance to their policy. That helps pay for certain services when you’re stranded on the road due to car issues like getting locked out of your car or running out of gas.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Young Adults?
As a young adult, you may have a higher car insurance rate than a middle-aged driver. We recommend looking for insurers that offer an affordable premium and discounts for young adults while providing a good customer experience. Auto-Owners Insurance Co, our top pick, offers the third cheapest rate for young adults and student-specific discounts, like distant student and good student.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Seniors
The best car insurance provider for seniors in Utah is Auto-Owners Insurance Co. Drivers in their 60s may consider these insurers for a balance of affordability and service quality:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100 (around $729 per year)
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 (roughly $892 per year)
Auto-Owners has the second-cheapest full coverage rate and second-highest score for coverages. Rates for drivers in their 60s are similar to those in their 30s through 50s but increase after reaching their 70s. Compare multiple quotes to find the most affordable car insurance for seniors in Utah.
pros
Second-cheapest insurer for seniors at about $729 per year for a full coverage policy.
Offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement and roadside assistance.
Above-average customer satisfaction and coverage options.
cons
No original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Auto-Owners Insurance Co has all the qualities of a good insurance provider for seniors: affordable rate, sufficient coverage and excellent customer service and claims management.
Among its optional coverages available for policyholders, Auto-Owners offers roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. By adding roadside assistance, you can get labor services if you’re stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire, dead battery, minor mechanical malfunction, running out of gas or locking your keys in the car. With rental car and/or travel reimbursement, your rental car costs and travel expenses — including meals and lodging — may be covered if you can’t use your vehicle due to an accident. These two add-ons are particularly useful for seniors who get into an accident and need assistance.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Seniors?
Because seniors are some of the safest drivers on the road, they tend to have a lower rate. But they are more susceptible to serious injury in a crash, so a full coverage policy with personal injury protection (PIP) may be ideal for them. Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the second-cheapest provider for seniors, and although it doesn’t offer senior-related discounts, it has other discounts that can help lower a premium.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Drivers With Offenses
For Utah drivers with a violation on their record, American Family is the best car insurance company. We looked at affordability and service quality to determine these top picks and uncovered their average rate:
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 92 out of 100 ($1,030 per year)
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100 ($1,035 per year)
Out of 11 insurers, American Family ranked first in affordability and coverage options. It’s critical to shop around for the cheapest car insurance after an accident or violation because average rates in Utah increase by $233 after a speeding ticket, $480 after an at-fault accident and $624 after a DUI.
pros
Cheapest full coverage rate at about $1,030 per year.
It offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement, accident forgiveness and roadside assistance.
Above-average coverage options and customer satisfaction.
cons
Poor claims management.
Lacks new car/better car replacement.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Utah drivers with a ticket, at-fault accident or a DUI on their record may fare best with American Family. This company offers the cheapest full coverage rate for those with a poor driving record while maintaining good customer satisfaction. That said, its claims management needs more work.
With American Family, you can purchase accident forgiveness (in some states), which manages rate increases after your first at-fault accident, or earn it after being claims-free for five years. American Family also offers roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. The former covers labor services if you’re stranded on the side of the road due to car issues, while the latter helps pay for a rental car if your vehicle is not drivable due to a covered accident. These typical coverages benefit various types of drivers.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Drivers With Offenses?
A good insurance company for drivers with offenses will offer an affordable full coverage rate, discount opportunities and coverages that provide assistance after an accident. American Family has the lowest rate for Utah drivers with a poor driving record, plenty of discounts to save on the premium and coverages like accident forgiveness and roadside assistance.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Drivers With New Cars
Farmers is the best car insurance company in Utah for drivers with a new car. These are our top recommendations for insurers with new or better car replacement coverage and their average rate:
- Farmers: MoneyGeek score of 71 out of 100 ($1,340 per year)
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score of 71 out of 100 ($1,396 per year)
Farmers scored well in affordability and coverage options, indicating that it provides low-cost policies and a wide range of options for add-on coverages. Drivers with new cars may benefit from adding new car replacement to their policy. This replaces your vehicle with a new one of the same make and model if it is totaled in an accident.
pros
Has the cheapest full coverage rate at $1,340 per year
Tied for first in coverage options out of three insurers
Offers new car replacement coverage
cons
Worse-than-average customer satisfaction and claims management
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
With Farmers, you can expect affordable premiums for auto insurance with a new car and a broad range of options for add-on coverages. If your insured car is two years old or less, you may benefit from purchasing Farmers’ new car replacement coverage. This helps cover the cost of replacing your car with a brand new one of the same make and model if yours is totaled within the first two model years and has 24,000 miles on the odometer.
Farmers also offers custom parts coverage and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage. Custom parts coverage covers the cost to repair or replace custom equipment in your vehicle, such as custom wheels or infotainment systems. OEM coverage covers the cost of factory-original parts for covered repairs of your vehicle.
What Makes an Insurer the Best for Drivers With New Cars?
To financially protect your investment in a new car, you need to find the right car insurance company. Some factors to consider are affordable premium, service quality and coverages like new or better car replacement. Farmers may be the best option for Utah drivers with new vehicles since it offers a lower rate and new car replacement to protect high-value investments throughout the first year of ownership.
Best Car Insurance in Utah for Military Drivers
For Utah drivers with a military background, USAA is the best company for car insurance, earning a MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100. It’s also the cheapest provider for a full coverage policy, costing an average of $645 per year. USAA has a limited customer base, so make sure you meet its eligibility requirements to purchase a policy.
pros
Ranked first in affordability, with the full coverage rate averaging $645 per year.
Ranked first in customer satisfaction out of 11 insurers.
It has accident forgiveness coverage (in some states).
cons
Poor ratings for claims management and coverage options.
It lacks gap insurance and OEM insurance coverage.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA is our pick for the best car insurance company in Utah for military drivers. You can expect an affordable premium and excellent customer service from this insurer but limited coverage options.
Policyholders in certain states may purchase USAA’s accident forgiveness coverage as an add-on. This will help prevent a premium increase after your first at-fault accident. USAA also has roadside assistance, which provides labor services to help you get back on the road. These include towing, unlocking your vehicle, jumpstarting your battery or changing a flat tire.
If you’re keen on saving, you may qualify for a military discount if you garage your insured vehicle on base. USAA also has typical discounts that can help you save on your auto policy.
How to Find the Best Car Insurance in Utah for You
The best car insurance company offers the best blend of affordability, service quality and financial stability. Our analysis considered these factors to determine the best insurance providers for different driver profiles in Utah. But if you want to do your own research, here are some important steps you need to take.
1
Research customer service reputations in Utah
Our analysis scored insurance providers in Utah based on reports from J.D. Power surveys and the NAIC’s customer complaint index. These agencies can give you an idea of a company’s customer service record, so you’ll know which options guarantee excellent customer experience. You may also check the Utah Insurance Department website to get more information about the insurer you’re researching.
2
Compare quotes
Our quotes represent the average cost for an auto insurance policy paid in full per year by sample drivers in Utah. Your actual rate may vary based on certain factors, such as your exact location, credit score and insurance provider. Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to get a rough estimate of how much you’ll pay for car insurance.
3
Find the coverages you want in Utah
Car insurance coverages provide additional financial protection in the event of an accident. Examples include gap insurance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. It’s worth noting that some insurance companies offer state-specific coverages, so it’s in your best interest to contact the insurer and confirm if your preferred coverage is available where you live.
4
Check financial stability ratings
An insurance provider with high financial stability ratings means it has a good record of meeting its financial obligations. Because large insurance companies are often financially strong, issues like a sudden bankruptcy or inability to pay claims are unlikely. However, smaller regional insurers may have lower financial stability ratings, so it’s good practice to check this out.
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FAQs About the Best Car Insurance in Utah
The best car insurance in Utah for you depends on your specific needs and situation. We answered some commonly asked questions to help you determine your best option.
What is the best way to figure out insurance for me in Utah?
Haydn Sessions:
The best way is to work with an independent insurance agent (someone who is contracted with multiple insurance companies). This way, they can ensure they are shopping around and fitting you with an insurance plan and company that fits your needs, not trying to fit you into one company just to get a sale.
Make sure you talk to your agent about what discounts you may be eligible for. For example, you may be eligible for a good student discount if you are under 24 and in school with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Some companies offer discounts for the type of work you do. If you are okay with a device tracking your driving habits, you can get a big discount with the new driving apps or devices.
What are the best coverages to add to your car insurance?
Haydn Sessions:
Car insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product, but some coverages you should inquire about with your agent include rental car reimbursement and the amount you can obtain. You can get $20 a day to $100 plus as reimbursement in the case of an accident, depending on your plan.
Roadside assistance can be very important; not only can you use it to tow your car, but some plans will help you with keys locked in your car, a flat tire change, or even delivering gas if you are stranded without it. The most important part of your car insurance will be the liability portion.
This is what makes it legal for you to drive. It comes in four main parts: bodily injury, which is split up into per-person coverage and total coverage per accident; property damage coverage; and then the last two, uninsured and underinsured, to protect you from people without enough insurance or who may be driving without insurance.
A good rule of thumb is to get enough liability coverage to protect your net worth but talk to your local independent insurance agent to find out how much you should have.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
