Consumer complaints
25%
Compare regulator-reported auto insurance complaints with insurer size. We review subsidiaries, relevant product lines, reporting periods, and limitations in the available data.
AUTOINSURENEWS · EDITORIAL STANDARDS
How AutoInsureNews Evaluates Insurance Companies
Our editorial assessment is separate from visitor-submitted customer ratings. Below we explain the factors we plan to score, how the weighted formula works, and how research and advertising are kept separate.
Methodology v1.0 (proposed): This framework is under development. We do not assign insurer-specific editorial scores until each required factor has been assessed and checked against documented evidence.
What goes into an AutoInsureNews rating?
Each category receives a score from 0 to 100, based on documented rules. Weights total 100%. A high rating is not a quote, a coverage guarantee, or a personalized recommendation.
Financial stability
20%
Evaluate documented evidence of a carrier’s capacity to meet financial obligations, using permitted ratings and public regulatory information.
Coverage options
20%
Check the availability and clarity of core coverages and relevant optional protection, with state availability noted.
Digital and claims experience
15%
Assess quote access, online account services, claims reporting and tracking, accessibility, and available service channels.
Pricing and discounts
10%
Where comparable quotes are available, review rates for standardized driver profiles; otherwise, evaluate verifiable discounts separately and do not claim a price advantage.
Transparency and accessibility
10%
Review clear explanations of coverage, deductibles, eligibility, billing, state restrictions, and contact information.
How we calculate the score
We calculate a weighted score on a 0–100 scale and convert it to five stars, rounded to one decimal place:
Overall score = 0.25C + 0.20F + 0.20V + 0.15D + 0.10P + 0.10T
Star rating = round(Overall score ÷ 20, 1)
Star rating = round(Overall score ÷ 20, 1)
Here, C is complaints, F financial stability, V coverage options, D digital and claims experience, P pricing and discounts, and T transparency.
Illustrative calculation only: A hypothetical score of 86 out of 100 converts to 4.3 out of 5 stars. This example does not represent a real insurer.
When we do not publish a rating
We display Not Rated if required inputs are unavailable, too old, not comparable, or cannot be used under the source’s licensing terms. We do not silently replace missing company-level data with an average.
Our research sources and usage rules
Our team documents the source, retrieval date, insurer legal entity, state, reporting year, rating scope, and permission status for each input. We do not reproduce third-party star ratings as our own.
Insurance regulators and NAIC
Regulator complaint and financial information can support analysis where access and intended commercial reuse are permitted. NAIC’s detailed Consumer Insurance Search reports contain commercial-use restrictions; authorization may be required.
Financial strength information
AM Best and other rating agencies may provide relevant information, but their rating content and marks are subject to licensing. We seek permission before republishing protected rating content.
Insurance company disclosures
We check company product pages, coverage descriptions, sample policies, eligibility requirements, and discount terms against the same checklist, with state-level differences recorded.
Customer experience research
We may cite survey findings for context with proper attribution and permitted use. We do not present another organization’s score as a customer rating collected by AutoInsureNews.
Editorial independence and review controls
AutoInsureNews may earn compensation from advertising partners. Advertising compensation, affiliate commissions, and paid placement do not increase an insurer’s editorial rating. Sponsored placements are labeled separately from the scoring system.
Before publishing a score, we require a source log, consistent scoring worksheet, second-person review, and publication date. We review the methodology at least annually and update insurer data as material changes become known. Corrections are documented and ratings are recalculated when warranted.
Important: Eligibility and pricing vary by driver, state, vehicle, and policy terms. A higher overall rating does not mean an insurer is available, affordable, or best for every person. USAA, for example, has membership eligibility restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
Are these customer review stars?
No. AutoInsureNews editorial stars, when published, are calculated from our research framework. They are not an average of verified customer reviews.
Does an advertiser pay to receive a higher rating?
No. Advertising placement and editorial scoring are handled separately. A featured advertiser is not necessarily the highest-rated insurer.
Why might a company be Not Rated?
We may lack comparable or adequately licensed data for one or more required categories. We will not create a score using guesswork.
How often are scores updated?
We plan an annual full review and additional updates when reliable new information materially affects an insurer’s rating. Each published rating should show its review date and methodology version.
About customer reviews: Visitor star ratings shown above are calculated separately from editorial scores and should include the number of published customer reviews. Email verification confirms control of an email address, not insurance policy ownership.
Editorial corrections: For questions about our research, please use the contact details on this website. AutoInsureNews may earn advertising commissions; partner placement does not determine editorial scores.