An exceptional mobile app from your car insurance company can make all the difference when you need it most. If you get pulled over, you may want to show your auto insurance ID card from an app, rather than digging for it in your glove compartment. If you have an insurance claim, you want the ease of submitting it digitally.
There are many potential conveniences with a good mobile app. We evaluated the features of mobile apps from top auto insurance companies to find the best ones.
The Best Car Insurance Company Mobile Apps
Mobile Apps with 5 stars
Allstate: Allstate’s mobile app provides important functions for going paperless and making claims. It also has helpful functions such as Allstate’s Digital Locker for making a home inventory—an essential list if you ever have a disaster such as a home fire or tornado. Allstate’s Escape Route helps you create a virtual escape route to use during a fire, so your family can practice and have a plan handy. A gas finder helps you locate the cheapest gas nearby.
Geico: Geico’s mobile app covers all the bases for going paperless and making claims. It also has a variety of features to help keep you happy on the road, such as a gas finder, parking locator and notifications for vehicle recalls and service reminders. Geico Explore uses augmented reality to help you discover your surroundings by holding up your phone while the app pinpoints restaurants, attractions and where your car is parked.
The Ratings
| Company | Score out of 100 | Forbes Rating |
| Allstate | 95 |  |
| Geico | 95 |  |
| American Family | 90 |  |
| Nationwide | 90 | |
| Progressive | 90 | |
| State Farm | 90 | |
| USAA | 90 | |
| Liberty Mutual | 85 |  |
| Amica | 80 |  |
| Farmers | 80 | |
| The Hartford | 80 | |
| Shelter | 75 |  |
| COUNTRY | 70 |  |
| MetLife Auto | 45 |  |
| Erie Insurance | 0 |  |
| Mercury Insurance | 0 | |
| National General | 0 | |
| NJM | 0 | |
| Travelers | 0 | |
How We Evaluated Car Insurance Company Mobile Apps
Ability to access auto insurance ID cards from the app, 20% of score: Getting pulled over by the police can be stressful. You don’t need the hassle of trying to find an insurance ID card or, even worse, getting ticketed for not being able to produce your proof of insurance. Having an insurance ID accessible from your phone is crucial.
Ability to view your insurance policies from the app, 20% of score: You may desire to read your insurance policies only when you absolutely have to. But in those instances, like when you have a problem, you need easy access to your latest policy. A mobile app with access to policies is important in times of trouble.
Ability to file claims with the app, 15% of score: Mobile apps should offer chances to save time and go paperless. Being able to make a claim through an app is far better than having to call it in.
Track claim status, 10% of score: If you file a claim, you want to be able to know its status easily and any time. Being able to track a claim’s status can save you frustration during the claims process.
Upload photos and/or documents for claims, 10% of score: Insurance has historically been mired in paperwork. Accelerating your claim digitally is a time-saver, so being able to upload claim documents lets you move on to other things.
Summon roadside assistance, 5% of score: What’s the good of buying roadside assistance insurance if you can’t find help when you’re on the side of the road? A good mobile app can send you help right away.
Find auto repair shops, 5% of score: If you’ve been in a car accident, you don’t want to have to worry about finding a reputable mechanic or collision repair facility. A good mobile app will point you in the right direction.
Car accident checklist, 5% of score: It’s hard to keep your wits about you at the scene of a car accident, especially when you’re trying to determine injuries and damage. A car accident checklist will help you collect all the information you need at the scene, so you have a better chance of making a successful insurance claim later.
Extras, 10% of score: Some auto insurers have put extra thought into their mobile apps, providing additional helpful features even if they’re not directly related to your vehicle or auto insurance.
Methodology
We scored each company on nine metrics based on the availability of features in their main mobile apps: accessing auto insurance ID cards, viewing policies, filing claims, tracking the status of claims, uploading photos/documents for claims, getting roadside assistance, finding repair shops, accessing a car accident checklist, and extras (which varied by insurer). Insurance companies with a score of 0 had either no mobile app or an app that wrapped around their website. Some insurers have other mobile apps in addition to their main app.