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Best New Hampshire Car Insurance: Top 5 Providers

Overall State Farm offers the best car insurance in New Hampshire considering factors like cost, discounts, customer service, and reputation.

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Written by:
Dash Lewis , Writer
Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer
02/29/2024 02:35 PM

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Key Points:

  • You can get the best car insurance policy in New Hampshire from State Farm, The Hanover, Geico, USAA, and Progressive.
  • The Hanover Insurance Group offers the best auto insurance rates on full-coverage and minimum-coverage plans in the state.
  • USAA is the best insurance in New Hampshire for military members and their families.

In this article, we’ll talk about what car insurance looks like in the Granite State and why you want to have it. We’ll also look at the five best New Hampshire car insurance providers. Some of these providers are featured on our rankings of the best car insurance companies in the U.S., while some are local to New Hampshire. In either case, we only recommend companies that perform well across multiple categories.

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What Is The Best Car Insurance Company In New Hampshire?

Considering categories of reliability, availability, coverage, cost, service, and technology, State Farm rises to the top as the best car insurance company in New Hampshire. The company offers a wide range of coverage options and discounts that can help drivers lower their premiums with extra programs like Drive Safe and Save™.

New Hampshire Car Insurance Company Comparison

Besides State Farm, we recommend The Hanover Insurance Group, Geico, USAA, and Progressive for New Hampshire drivers. You can compare our ratings and awards for these companies below.

Best New Hampshire
Car Insurance
Overall Rating
(Out of 5.0)
Award
1. State Farm4.7Best Overall Provider
2. The Hanover4.0Best Rates in New Hampshire
3. Geico4.5Best for Basic Coverage
4. USAA4.5Best for Military Members
5. Progressive4.5Best for Usage-Based Insurance

*Not all companies were included in our rate estimates for each state. You may also notice that some car insurance companies are listed above those with higher star ratings. This is because our ratings take into account nationwide factors, while our ranking for this article looks specifically at what insurance providers are best for New Hampshire car insurance.


5 Best Car Insurance Companies In New Hampshire

Below, we’ll cover the details of our top five picks for car insurance in New Hampshire. We’ll review average costs, satisfaction ratings, pros and cons, and more.

#1 State Farm: Best Overall Provider

Full-Coverage Auto Insurance Cost: $1,116 per year or $93 per month
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Cost: $430 per year or $36 per month
New Hampshire Customer Service Rating: 829/1,000
Claims Satisfaction Rating: 891/1,000

State Farm offers minimum-coverage and full-coverage plans with extras like roadside assistance and rental car coverage. It has a good combination of reliable service and affordable rates in New Hampshire. Drivers can also make use of programs like Drive Safe and Save™ along with Steer Clear℠ to save money.

Pros Largest auto insurer in the country Many discounts for teens and students AM Best Superior financial strength rating Positive customer reviews Easy online car insurance quotes process
Cons Not taking new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island Higher rates than some competitors Low Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating with no accreditation

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of State Farm Auto Insurance.

#2 The Hanover: Best Rates In New Hampshire

Full-Coverage Auto Insurance Cost: $711 per year or $59 per month
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Cost: $228 per year or $19 per month
New Hampshire Customer Service Rating: N/A
Claims Satisfaction Rating: N/A

The Hanover stands out for offering the best rates for full-coverage and minimum-coverage insurance in New Hampshire. While it isn’t large enough to rank on J.D. Power customer service or claims surveys, it maintains an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB. You can get insurance from The Hanover through local agents in the state.

Pros Best rates in New Hampshire A+ BBB rating Several discounts
Cons Insurance sold only through agents Little data on customer and claims service

#3 Geico: Best For Basic Coverage

Full-Coverage Auto Insurance Cost: $1,138 per year or $95 per month
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Cost: $582 per year or $49 per month
New Hampshire Customer Service Rating: 836/1,000
Claims Satisfaction Rating: 871/1,000

As a national provider, Geico offers all types of coverage with add-ons like mechanical breakdown insurance. It offers decent rates in New Hampshire, as well. You can also take advantage of the company’s 16 discounts for things like bundling coverage, having a good driving record, having good grades, or being a military veteran.

Pros AM Best Superior financial strength rating and A+ rating from the BBB Many choices for coverage High customer satisfaction level
Cons Average quotes experience Missing some perks like trip interruption or new car replacement

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of Geico.

#4 USAA: Best For Military Members

Full-Coverage Auto Insurance Cost: $924 per year or $77 per month
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Cost: $319 per year or $27 per month
New Hampshire Customer Service Rating: 896/1,000
Claims Satisfaction Rating: 900/1,000

USAA consistently maintains high customer satisfaction scores across J.D. Power surveys year after year. It also offers some of the most affordable rates in New Hampshire for minimum-coverage and full-coverage plans. The only drawback is that USAA insurance is only available to active, retired, and separated veterans with an “Honorable” discharge and their eligible family members.

Pros Affordable rates and numerous discounts Good option for military members and young drivers AM Best Superior financial strength rating
Cons Only available for military and their families

#5 Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance

Full-Coverage Auto Insurance Cost: $1,193 per year or $99 per month
Minimum Liability Auto Insurance Cost: $670 per year or $56 per month
New Hampshire Customer Service Rating: 802/1,000
Claims Satisfaction Rating: 870/1,000

We also recommend Progressive when it comes to covering car insurance in New Hampshire. Progressive stands out for its usage-based program, Snapshot, which awards discounts based on current driving habits. The company’s Name Your Price tool makes it easy to find coverage in your budget, as well.

Pros One of the top auto insurers in the United States AM Best Superior financial strength rating Great choice for high-risk drivers Several money-saving features and easy quotes process
Cons Average claims process Mixed customer service reviews Higher rates than some competitors

To learn more about the car insurance provider, check out our review of Progressive car insurance.


New Hampshire Car Insurance Requirements

Every state has financial responsibility laws that govern how people take accountability for accident damages. However, each state allows drivers to fulfill these laws in different ways. Some states require a low level of basic car insurance coverage, while others require multiple types of coverage with higher limits.

New Hampshire doesn’t require drivers to carry insurance. But when a driver causes an accident, they have to pay for the damages. If they can’t, their license and registration can be suspended until they compensate the accident victims.

The driver would also have to pay fines to reinstate their license and registration. And they would be required to file an SR-22 form, which would increase their car insurance cost in the future. In the end, it’s probably a good idea to carry liability or full-coverage car insurance in New Hampshire.

What Is The Cost Of Causing An Accident Without Car Insurance?

Even though New Hampshire doesn’t require drivers to carry car insurance, drivers are still liable for damages that they cause. According to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, here’s what can happen if you can’t pay for the damage coverage after an accident:

PenaltyDetails
License/registration suspensionThe Bureau of Financial Responsibility could suspend your driving privileges until you pay for at-fault accident damage.
Fee to restore licenseYou will pay $100 to restore your license after you’ve paid for damages.
Fee to restore registrationYou will pay $25 after paying for damages.
SR-22 filingAfter an uninsured, at-fault accident, you’ll file this form which will require you to carry insurance for the next three years.

At first glance, paying an extra $125 to restore your license and registration isn’t too much of a hassle. But remember, you have to pay for the repairs and medical bills of the other people in the accident. You might have to pay $10,000 or more after a serious crash.

Because of the SR-22 requirement, your rates for car insurance in New Hampshire will also go up. Filing an SR-22 form only costs a few dollars, but that form makes you a high-risk driver. Insurance companies can charge two or three times the normal rate to cover high-risk drivers. Over the next three years, you could pay an extra $3,000 or more in insurance.

Can you drive without car insurance in New Hampshire? Yes. Should you? Probably not. If you can afford minimum-coverage insurance, you should probably carry it.

What Is The Minimum New Hampshire Auto Insurance Coverage?

While you aren’t required to buy car insurance in New Hampshire, providers are required to offer a minimum amount of coverage. The minimum liability limits are 25/50/25, along with MedPay and uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage. Here’s what that means:

  • $25,000 bodily injury per person: Covers other people’s medical bills up to that amount per person after you cause an accident.
  • $50,000 bodily injury per accident: This is the maximum coverage for other people’s medical bills, per accident.
  • $25,000 property damage liability: Covers car repairs for other drivers in accidents you cause.
  • $1,000 in medical payments coverage (MedPay): Covers your own medical bills no matter who caused the accident.
  • $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage (bodily injury only): Covers your medical expenses if someone without insurance causes an accident, however, you can reject this coverage in writing.

What To Know About Driving In New Hampshire

On the 27th Annual Highway Report by the Reason Foundation, New Hampshire got sixth place for its rural interstate pavement conditions. However, it didn’t perform as well in other areas like traffic congestion and deficient bridges, so it ranked 14th overall compared to other states.


Best Car Insurance In New Hampshire: Our Take

While there are several great providers in New Hampshire, we think State Farm is the best car insurance for the state’s residents due to its combination of technology, customer service, and low prices. If you prefer to work with local agents, you may find the best coverage with The Hanover Insurance Group.

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Best New Hampshire Car Insurance: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about finding the best car insurance in New Hampshire:

Who has the best car insurance in New Hampshire?

State Farm is our pick for the best car insurance in New Hampshire. It offers affordable rates, reliable customer service, good coverage, and useful technology features.

How much does car insurance cost in New Hampshire?

Our rate data shows it costs about $1,262 per year for full-coverage insurance in New Hampshire. If you choose minimum-coverage insurance, the average cost is $564 for the state.

Who has the most reasonable car insurance rates?

Considering average rates across states, we found Geico has cheap car insurance rates for full-coverage insurance. USAA has the cheapest car insurance rates, on average, but it’s only available for military members and their families.


How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
  • Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.