Zeritu Kebede was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 19, 1984. Her father Kebede Woldegiorgis was an architect and her mother Engida Mitiku was a housewife, who was thirty years younger than her husband.

Zeritu grew up in Gulele Area in northern Addis Ababa. She was brought up in a strict manner and isolated from the other children of the neighborhood. However, Zeritu spent most of her summers at her maternal grandparents who were very liberal and very close to their neighbors. There, Zeritu got the opportunity to meet and play with kids from families with different social statuses.

The Hartford: Best Car Insurance Company for Policy Options

The Hartford is only the nation’s 11th largest insurer, but it still packs a punch. In fact, it had the highest score in our 12-category feature evaluation (92 out of 100).

It also offers a wide range of policy options and benefits, including rates based on how much you actually drive your car and a new car replacement program for cars totaled shortly after purchase. The Hartford was also the only insurer to score a perfect 100 in our vehicle-discount evaluation.

Pros

• Mechanical breakdown coverage: Mechanical breakdown insurance helps cover the cost of repairs that aren’t covered by your car’s warranty. The Hartford is the only one of our top picks that includes this coverage.

• Useful policy benefits: The company provides not only a solid set of coverage but also a great selection of policy benefits. For instance, frequent travelers will appreciate The Hartford’s towing and roadside assistance programs.

• Excellent purchase experience: The Hartford is one of two national providers to receive a perfect “Overall Purchase Experience” score from J.D. Power.

Cons

• Merely average claims satisfaction: The Hartford received a perfect score in our claims management evaluation, but according to J.D. Power, customers are less impressed — it received a middle-of-the-pack 3-star rating for service interaction.

• Fewest online educational resources: The Hartford offers the fewest online learning materials among this field of competitors.

USAA: Best Car Insurance Company for Members of the Military

Throughout our research, we found that USAA’s stellar reputation holds true. If you’re a member of the U.S. armed forces or are related to one, there is no better option.

USAA is one of the three highest-rated automotive insurers in the country. The only downside is its limited availability: Only active service members, veterans, and their families are eligible. Given those restrictions, the quote process is a bit more intense compared to its competitors, but that’s a small price to pay for its exemplary service.

Pros

• Flawless purchase experience: USAA received a perfect score in J.D. Power’s 2018 report, giving it the top rank nationally.

• Solid financial stability: A.M. Best gives USAA the highest possible stability rating of “Superior.”

Cons

• Membership restrictions: USAA is only available to members of the military and their immediate family.

• Missing three key vehicle coverages: USAA doesn’t offer GAP insurance, interior vehicle coverage, or new car replacement coverage.

Other Car Insurance Companies to Consider

Not all of our top picks for the best car insurance companies are available in all areas of the country, so here are some other good insurers worth checking out.

Progressive

Progressive is worth noting due to its variety of discounts and special coverages that could shave your monthly bill down quite a bit. For example, the Snapshot tool allows Progressive to reward you based upon your driving habits.

If you have an anti-theft device, Progressive offers a discount for that too. The company also offers pet injury coverage — which is included with collision and comes standard in most states. However, Progressive’s scores across the board were only average, and we couldn’t justify recommending it over our top picks. Also, its mobile app ratings average out to just under 3 out of 5 stars.

Erie Insurance

If you live in the South, Midwest, or Mid-Atlantic regions, Erie Insurance is worth your consideration. Erie has consistently received high marks from J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

The reason it didn’t make it into our top four recommendations is due to limited availability — it only serves residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and certain parts of the District of Columbia.

Outside of that, Erie is one of the best commercial auto insurers, offering policies that come standard with coverage for road service, lawyer fees, and loss of earnings. It also has particularly comprehensive coverage options that include extras such as money toward rental cars after a crash — this is usually an add-on policy with most insurers.

Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners Insurance is available in 26 states located primarily in the South and Midwest. It uses an agent-only model that promotes customer relationships, so it’s a great choice if you prefer talking to a human being. The company also scored a nearly perfect score in J.D. Power’s 2018 satisfaction report, falling short only in the realm of its rental car experience.

Here are the states where Auto-Owners Insurance operates: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

What Car Insurance Is Required by Law?

In virtually all states, drivers are required by law to have mandatory liability insurance coverage. Some states also require uninsured motorist and personal injury protection coverage.

This is done as a way to ensure that the driver can cover the cost of damages to other people or property in the unfortunate event of an accident. New Hampshire doesn’t require insurance coverage, but has a “proof of financial responsibility” requirement. Check the minimum requirements for your state to ensure you have sufficient protection.

Choosing the Right Amount of Coverage

While having your state’s minimum coverage requirement ensures you don’t break the law, it may not be enough to keep you from financial ruin if you cause an accident.

For example, let’s say you live in Florida and cause an accident that injures another person to the tune of $40,000. If you only have the state’s minimum bodily injury protection — $10,000 per person, $20,000 per accident — you’d be responsible for the remaining $30,000.

If, however, you had purchased more than Florida’s minimum — say $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident — you would have no out-of-pocket costs beyond your premium.

While upgraded coverage means a higher monthly premium, it’s much cheaper than what you might be on the hook for if a claim exceeds your coverage. That’s why it’s incredibly important to understand which and how much coverage you need before you start shopping for a policy.

It’s also crucial to compare rates that include more than your state’s minimum required coverages. You don’t want to get in a serious accident only to find out after the fact that you’re underinsured.