The Wise Insurance Shopper

The best information about US auto & home insurance companies on the Web!



   Louisiana Auto & Home Insurance Shopping Guide 2023    

Updated: January 2023


Here are three reasons why most people pay too much for their auto or home insurance and fail to find the company that can save them a lot of money:

1. Many people never shop their auto or home insurance, sticking with the same company and paying their renewal year after year.

2. If people do shop their insurance coverage, they do not check with enough companies, failing to find the company or companies with the best combination of coverage, service, and rates for them.

3. People only get quotes online, instead of speaking with an insurance professional trained to quote them the coverage they need at the best price, with all the discounts they deserve. It is always best to buy insurance from an agent. A good agent can make the difference between loving or hating your insurance company.

How this guide can help you find the best company for you:

Many auto or home insurance customers do not know all the companies available in their state or their recent complaint records, making it unlikely they will find the company with the best rates, coverage & service for them. Some of the best companies are not very well known because they do little advertising. The objective of this guide is to show you all the major companies offering auto and/or home insurance coverage in Louisiana and the three-year auto & home insurance complaint record for each company. Links are provided to the website for each company so you can contact an agent near you or get a price quote online if available. None of the hyperlinks on my website are affiliate links and I receive no financial compensation from any insurance company.

Will you be eligible for all these auto and home insurance companies?

Insurance companies have different eligibility criteria, so not everyone may qualify for all the companies shown in this guide. However, everyone can benefit by shopping, even if they have recent claims or other factors making them ineligible for some companies. If you do not qualify for many of the companies in this guide due to recent claims, property condition/location, driving record, or other factors, there should still be agents representing companies listed in this guide who can help you. Please email me at help@smartshopyourcarinsurance.com to let me know if none of the agents or companies listed in this guide can help you or if there is any incorrect information in this guide.

A note about Louisiana home insurance:

As Louisiana residents know, property insurance in the state is not only expensive, but hard to obtain for many homes in areas at greater risk for hurricane damage. In the last two years, over 20 property insurance companies in Louisiana have gone insolvent due to recent storms or have stopped doing business in the state, by nonrenewing all their existing policies or no longer selling new policies. Recent news reports United Property & Casualty Insurance Company, the fifth largest home insurer in Louisiana for 2021, is pulling out of the state and nonrenewing all its property insurance policies by the end of 2023.

If your homeowners insurance is being nonrenewed or you are having a hard time finding coverage for your home, check with all the companies linked in this guide, so you can be sure of what options you do have.

If you are lucky enough to remain insured by a financially strong company, it is still important to have your home insurance coverage reviewed by different agents to see if you are still adequately insured. Each time your policy renews, your company may change the terms or limit your coverage. The market is constantly changing and new legislation is being passed. Louisiana homeowners need to keep informed by insurance professionals on how their coverage will work and what they can do to limit how much they may have to pay on their own if they have a claim. Use this guide to contact competing agents and make sure you have the best combination of coverage, service, and price available to you.

The Major Auto and Home Insurance Companies in Louisiana

If you are looking for a company available in Louisiana with a much better than average auto and home insurance complaint record, scroll down to check out these companies:

Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company

Shelter Insurance

Here are the biggest & best auto and home insurance brands in Louisiana you may or may not know, listed in alphabetical order:

1. Allstate Insurance

Allstate is a well-known, heavily advertised insurance company and is one of the largest auto & home insurance companies in almost all US states. Founded in 1931, Its corporate office is in Northfield Township, IL. Allstate offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

Allstate owns these additional brands, also selling auto and/or home insurance: Encompass, Esurance, and National General. Esurance is no longer selling new policies in Louisiana.

2021 market share for Allstate Insurance:

Allstate is the fourth largest auto insurer and the second largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Allstate Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Allstate Insurance is not consistently better than the industry average. If Allstate has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from Allstate Insurance:

Allstate sells its insurance through its own network of Allstate agents with offices located in communities throughout Louisiana. Allstate insurance may also be available from select independent insurance agencies appointed to represent the company. There may be a discount for buying online from Allstate, but it may be worth it to pay a little more to have a personal agent to help if you have a claims or service problem. Get a price quote from an agent first, then check to see if you can get a lower rate for the same coverage online.

Check out the Allstate Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.allstate.com/


2. American National Property & Casualty Insurance

Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Galveston, Texas, American National operates in most US states but may be unknown to many people as it does little advertising. American National offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

2021 market share for American National Property & Casualty Insurance:

American National is not among the ten largest auto insurers or ten largest home insurers in Louisiana.

Complaint record for American National Property & Casualty Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for American National Insurance is not consistently better than the industry average. If American National has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from American National Property & Casualty Insurance:

American National sells its insurance through its own network of agents with offices located in communities throughout Louisiana. There is no discount or lower rate for buying direct or online from the American National Property & Casualty Insurance website or any other website.

Check out the American National Property & Casualty Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.americannational.com/wps/portal/


3. Farmers Insurance

Farmers Insurance Group is a heavily advertised group of insurance companies, fairly well-known for auto and home insurance, available in many US states. Founded in 1928, Farmers home office is in Los Angeles, CA. Farmers offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

In recent years, Farmers Insurance Group has acquired additional insurance companies, still operating as separate brands, such as Foremost (the tenth largest home insurer in Louisiana), 21st Century, and Bristol West. Farmers Insurance Group itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group.

In 2020, Farmers purchased Metlife Auto & Home and renamed these former Metropolitan companies as Farmers companies, some now available direct from the company under the brand name of Farmers GroupSelect, marketed as a group benefit through employers. Former Metlife Auto & Home agents may now be Farmers agents and independent agents formerly representing Metlife Auto & Home may now represent Farmers. Metlife Auto & Home insurance policyholders by now should be aware of the rebranding and how Farmers new ownership impacts them.

2021 market share for Farmers Insurance:

The main Farmers Insurance brand is not among the ten largest auto insurers or ten largest home insurers in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Farmers Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Farmers Insurance is not consistently better than the industry average. If Farmers has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from Farmers Insurance:

Farmers does not have agents in Louisiana but may sell auto & home insurance direct from its website to Louisiana residents. You can request price quotes and see if you are eligible for Farmers at the Farmers website linked here:

https://www.farmers.com/


4. GEICO Insurance

GEICO, a very heavily advertised group of insurance companies, best known for selling insurance direct to the public, operates in almost all US states, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Established in 1936, GEICO is headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD. GEICO underwrites auto insurance only, but sells other types of personal insurance, such as homeowners insurance, acting as an agent for other companies. So, for example, if you buy homeowners insurance from GEICO, your home is not insured by GEICO, but by another company GEICO represents as an agent.

Since April 2022, GEICO ceased doing walk-in and phone sales in these states: AK, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, KS, LA, MA, NJ, NM, NY, WI, WV. Residents of these states can still get a price quote and buy a policy online from GEICO.

2021 market share for GEICO Insurance:

GEICO is the third largest auto insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for GEICO Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto insurance complaint record for GEICO is not consistently better than the industry average. Since most GEICO customers do not have an agent to help them if they have a service problem, you should consider other companies instead of GEICO (if you do not have a good GEICO agent available to you), unless the price savings with GEICO is so much, it is worth it to you to chance service or claims problems you will need to handle on your own.

How to buy a policy from GEICO Insurance:

In Louisiana, GEICO at this time is only quoting and selling policies online through its website linked here:

https://www.geico.com


5. Hartford Insurance

Hartford Insurance is a group of insurance companies available in most US states, but may not be as well-known, as it does not advertise as much as other major competitors selling auto and home insurance. Founded in 1810, Hartford Insurance is headquartered in Hartford, CT. Hartford offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market. However, Hartford offers only auto insurance in Louisiana.

Hartford has a popular insurance program for drivers 55 years old or older, in partnership with AARP. AARP membership is required to be eligible for the Hartford/ AARP auto and home insurance program.

2021 market share for Hartford Insurance:

Hartford is not among the ten largest auto insurers in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Hartford Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Hartford is not consistently better than the industry average.

Since Hartford sells auto insurance direct in Louisiana and does not seem to work with any agents in the state, Louisiana Hartford customers do not have an agent to help them if they have a service problem. You should consider other companies instead of Hartford, unless the price savings with Hartford is so much, it is worth it to you to chance service or claims problems you will need to handle on your own.

How to buy a policy from Hartford Insurance:

Hartford has no agents in Louisiana and sells auto insurance only direct from the company in the state. You can request price quotes and see if you are eligible for Hartford auto insurance at the Hartford website here:

https://www.thehartford.com


6. Liberty Mutual Insurance

Liberty Mutual Insurance Group is a heavily advertised group of insurance companies, best known for auto and home insurance, available in most US states. Founded in 1912, the Liberty Mutual home office is in Boston, MA. Liberty Mutual offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

Liberty Mutual also owns Safeco Insurance, which operates as a separate brand, and is sold through independent insurance agencies. In 2022, Liberty Mutual acquired State Auto Insurance, which is also available through independent agents.

2021 market share for Liberty Mutual Insurance (including Safeco policyholders):

Liberty Mutual Group is the eighth largest auto insurer and the fourth largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Liberty Mutual Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Liberty Mutual is not consistently better than the industry average. If Liberty Mutual has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from Liberty Mutual Insurance:

Liberty Mutual sells its insurance direct from the company and through its own group of Liberty Mutual agents operating from sales offices in one or more Louisiana communities. Liberty Mutual agents also represent other auto & home insurance companies through Comparion Insurance Agency, a national agency owned by Liberty Mutual. There may be a discount for buying online from Liberty Mutual, but it may be worth it to pay a little more to have a personal agent to help if you have a claims or service problem. Get a price quote from an agent first, then check to see if you can get a lower rate for the same coverage online.

Check out the Liberty Mutual website to learn more about the company and get a price quote online:

https://www.libertymutual.com/

But a Liberty Mutual agent may be able to get you the lowest rate!

Find a Liberty Mutual agent in Louisiana at the Comparion Insurance website:

https://www.comparioninsurance.com/


7. Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation started an insurance program back in the 1950s to meet the needs of farmers in the state. Today, Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance is available to qualifying residents living in the state, with agents located in offices in every LA parish. Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market. Becoming a member of the Louisiana Farm Bureau may be required for eligibility, with membership offering additional benefits besides insurance.

2021 market share for Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance:

Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance is the sixth largest auto insurer and the sixth largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance is consistently much better than the industry average. If you choose a good agent, you are likely to be happy with its customer and claims service.

How to buy a policy from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance:

Louisiana Farm Bureau sells its insurance through a network of Farm Bureau insurance agents with offices located in each parish of Louisiana. There is no discount or lower rate for buying online from Louisiana Farm Bureau.

Check out the Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.lafarmbureau.com/


8. Progressive Insurance

Progressive, a very heavily advertised group of insurance companies, best known for selling insurance direct to the public, but is also available from most independent insurance agencies, operates in almost all US states. Established in 1937, Progressive is headquartered in Mayfield, OH.

Like GEICO, Progressive underwrites primarily auto insurance, but sells other types of personal insurance, acting as an agent for other companies. However, in 2015, Progressive bought controlling interest in American Strategic Insurance (ASI), which it now uses as its primary home insurer in many states. In Louisiana, Progressive does insure many homes in the state under its brand name, through Progressive Property Insurance Company. If Progressive sells you a policy not underwritten by Progressive or ASI, they are acting as an agent and not as your insurance company. For example, Progressive represents Homesite Insurance and sells its homeowners insurance. If Progressive sells you a Homesite homeowners insurance policy, Progressive is your agent and Homesite is the insurance company insuring your home.

2021 market share for Progressive Insurance:

Progressive is the second largest auto insurer and the fifth largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for ASI & Progressive Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for ASI & Progressive is not consistently better than the industry average. If Progressive has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue. If you choose to buy direct from Progressive, your price savings needs to be significant, for it to be worth you having to fix claims or service problems on your own. Check out recent Progressive customers reviews online to see what problems may come up when you buy direct. Click this link to see Progressive Insurance customer reviews at the Yelp website.

How to buy a policy from Progressive Insurance:

If you want to find the best price with Progressive, you want to get a price quote direct from the company and from a local independent insurance agent representing Progressive. It may be counter-intuitive, but an agent may have the best rates for you. Also, the agent represents other companies that may have better rates for you than Progressive. Always check with an agent first, then check to see if there is a lower rate for buying direct saving you enough money to be worth not having an agent.

Check out the Progressive Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.progressive.com/


9. Safeco Insurance

Safeco Insurance is a group of insurance companies available across the USA, but it is best known in western states. Safeco is not available in Hawaii, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and D.C. Safeco has been owned by Liberty Mutual since 2008 yet continues to operate as a separate entity and brand. Founded in 1923, Safeco Insurance is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Safeco offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

2021 market share for Safeco Insurance:

Safeco contributes greatly to Liberty Mutual Group being the eighth largest auto insurer and the fourth largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for Safeco Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Safeco is not consistently better than the industry average. If Safeco has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from Safeco Insurance:

Safeco sells its insurance through a network of select independent insurance agencies located in communities throughout Louisiana. There is no discount or lower rate for buying direct or online from the Safeco website or any other website.

Check out the Safeco Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.safeco.com/


10. Shelter Insurance

Shelter Insurance is a group of insurance companies offering insurance products in these 15 US states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Established in 1946, Shelter is headquartered in Columbia, MO. Shelter offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

Shelter created a subsidiary in 2014 called AmShield Insurance Company, to sell auto and home insurance through independent insurance agencies in the states of Arizona and Oregon. Shelter had a separate subsidiary selling auto insurance online in the states of Illinois, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, and Kansas, from a website called Say Insurance, but it is no longer selling new policies.

2021 market share for Shelter Insurance:

Shelter is the ninth largest auto insurer in Louisiana but is not among the ten largest home insurers in the state.

Complaint record for Shelter Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for Shelter Insurance is consistently much better than the industry average. If you choose a good agent, you are likely to be happy with its customer and claims service.

How to buy a policy from Shelter Insurance:

Shelter sells its insurance through its own group of Shelter agents with offices located across Louisiana. There is no discount or lower rate for getting a quote from the Shelter website or buying online from any other website.

Check out the Shelter Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.shelterinsurance.com/


11. State Farm Insurance

State Farm is a well-known, heavily advertised insurance company and is the largest auto & home insurer in many US states. Founded in 1922, the headquarters for State Farm is in Bloomington, IL. State Farm offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market.

In 2021, State Farm purchased GAINSCO, a nonstandard auto insurance company operating in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. GAINSCO continues to operate as a separate brand and is available through independent insurance agencies appointed to represent GAINSCO. State Farm agents may not yet offer GAINSCO nonstandard auto insurance. State Farm itself does not offer nonstandard auto insurance, which insures drivers with a poor driving record, too many claims, or other circumstances making them ineligible for standard auto insurance.

2021 market share for State Farm Insurance:

State Farm is the largest auto insurer and the largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for State Farm Insurance:

The 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for State Farm is not consistently better than the industry average. If State Farm has the coverage you need at a competitive price, be sure to choose a good agent willing & able to help if you have a problem with a claim or other service issue.

How to buy a policy from State Farm Insurance:

State Farm sells its insurance through its own network of State Farm agents with offices located throughout Louisiana. There is no discount or lower rate for buying direct or online from the State Farm website or any other website.

Check out the State Farm Insurance website to learn more about the company and find an agent near you:

https://www.statefarm.com/


12. USAA Insurance

USAA is a group of insurance companies providing financial services to active US military & veterans. Established in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio, TX. USAA insurance and banking products are not available if you do not meet its membership requirements.

To be considered for USAA insurance, you must be eligible for membership in USAA, most commonly by being a current military member or honorably discharged veteran, immediate family member of someone in the military, or a former policyholder. .

USAA offers auto insurance, residential property (homeowners, condominium, renters) insurance, and other types of policies usually available from companies in the personal insurance market. For some common types of personal insurance, USAA partners with other companies. For example, USAA partners with Progressive for motorcycle insurance. Be sure to know which company is actually insuring you before buying insurance from USAA.

2021 market share for USAA Insurance:

Despite its restricted membership, USAA is the fifth largest auto insurer and the third largest home insurer in Louisiana.

Complaint record for USAA Insurance:

Contrary to its long reputation for superior service, the 2019-2021 auto and home insurance complaint record for USAA is not consistently better than the industry average. Since you will not have an agent to help you if you have a problem, be sure to see what USAA customers are saying about the company online before choosing USAA. You can click this link to see USAA Insurance customer reviews at the Yelp website.

How to buy a policy from USAA Insurance:

The only way to buy a policy or get a price quote is from the USAA website or calling the company. USAA sells direct and does not use agents. Learn more about USAA and its eligibility requirements at their website linked here:

https://www.usaa.com/?wa_ref=pub_global_home


GoAuto Insurance is the seventh largest auto insurer in Louisiana, but it provides nonstandard car insurance with limited coverage for higher risk drivers, who do not qualify for standard auto insurance rates due to their driving record or other factors. You should consider GoAuto only if other companies will not insure you or will insure you at a much higher cost for similar coverage. If this sounds like you, GoAuto sells direct from the company and you can get a price quote at its website linked here:

https://get.goautoinsurance.com/


Do not make this mistake when shopping for auto or home insurance:

Most insurance shoppers do not check with enough companies and do not contact any independent agents. There are more auto and home insurance companies available in Louisiana. Some companies, not among the companies with the largest auto or home insurance market share in the state, were not included in this shopping guide. The agents you find through the Comparion (Liberty Mutual), Progressive & Safeco websites are independent agents representing other companies. Make sure you check with agents representing each of the companies listed in this shopping guide to help you find the insurance agent with the best combination of coverage, service, and price for you.

There are a few more important auto and home insurance companies, not available through most independent agents, you can find out about here in my supplemental auto & home insurance guide.

Why can you rely on my guides to help you find the best insurance companies for you? Check out my webpage explaining the sources of the information I use in my auto & home insurance guides, how I use the information, and what it should mean to you, to help you best use this guide.