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Methodology SAT · JUN 27, 2026
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How we score insurance.

The Nerd Score is a single 0–100 number built from four weighted pillars. No proprietary black box — every weight is public and every input is sourced.

How we score

The Nerd Score, explained in four numbers.

Every carrier earns a single 0–100 score built from four weighted pillars. No pay-to-play. No affiliate gets a bump. The math is published.

01 / PRICE · 30%

Real quotes, real drivers

National average full-coverage rates from published 2026 rate studies — not the rosy "starting at" numbers carriers advertise.

02 / CLAIMS · 35%

What happens when it matters

Claims-satisfaction scores from the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study, weighted heaviest of all, alongside AM Best financial-strength ratings.

03 / COVERAGE · 20%

The fine print, read

We line up the endorsements each carrier offers — gap, accident forgiveness, new-car replacement and more — so a "cheap" policy with holes never out-scores real protection.

The four pillars

  • Price (30%) — National average full-coverage rates from published 2026 rate studies — not the rosy "starting at" numbers carriers advertise.
  • Claims (35%) — Claims-satisfaction scores from the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study, weighted heaviest of all, alongside AM Best financial-strength ratings.
  • Coverage (20%) — We line up the endorsements each carrier offers — gap, accident forgiveness, new-car replacement and more — so a "cheap" policy with holes never out-scores real protection.
  • Digital (15%) — App-store ratings and digital servicing tools, compared across iOS and Android — because filing a claim should not require a fax machine.

How we make money

The Insurance Nerd is reader-funded and editorially independent. No carrier pays for placement, and a carrier's Nerd Score never changes because of an affiliate relationship. When we do use affiliate links, they are disclosed and they do not influence rankings.

Editorial standards

We re-score the entire field as new rate and claims data lands. Every figure is sourced, corrections are made promptly and transparently, and we never publish invented numbers. If we can't stand behind a data point, it doesn't ship.

Where the numbers come from: carrier scores blend published third-party data — national average premiums from 2026 rate studies (NerdWallet, Insurance.com), claims-satisfaction scores from the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study, AM Best financial-strength ratings, and app-store ratings. Each carrier review lists its sources. Figures are national averages; your own rate and experience will vary by state and profile.