Best Car Insurance Companies of 2016

The best auto insurers offer more than just a low price.

The best car insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage, superior customer service, financial strength, and painless shopping experiences to get you the best car insurance quotes. The barrage of TV ads underscores that there’s no shortage of competition in the industry, either. Whether you’re staring at Progressive’s Flo or Allstate’s “Mayhem,” it’s hard to escape any commercial break without hearing from an auto insurer.
Fortunately, that’s good news for you. Competition usually translates into lower rates and better perks as companies battle for your business. In fact, my husband and I recently switched insurers and cut our car insurance costs by about 35%, all without reducing our coverage levels. All it took was a little time, and now we have a few hundred dollars back in our pockets each year.
The best way to start searching for the best auto insurance companies is to find the best deals in your area. You can do that by entering your ZIP code in the quote tool below.
Whether you’re new to car insurance or are simply shopping around for a better deal, here are the best car insurance companies, according to my research:

• Best for Customer Service: State Farm
• Best for Military Members and Their Families: USAA
• Best for Claims Handling: Amica
• Best for Policy Options: The Hartford

Read on to discover why these companies stand out from the competition. Further down, I’ll explain how I made my picks and discuss the pros and cons of using insurance agents or skipping them entirely.
You can also learn about how to save on car insurance by reading our guide How to Get Cheap Car Insurance.

The Four Best Car Insurance Companies

Best Car Insurance Company for Customer Service: State Farm

State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the nation, according to Insurance Journal. Fortunately, they’re also one of the best. Customers give State Farm consistently high marks for their handling of claims — in other words, they don’t feel like they get the runaround when they need help.
That could be because State Farm makes it very easy to get in touch: You can call one of the company’s 18,000 agents, go online, or even send a picture of your damaged car with your smartphone using the Pocket Agent mobile app. State Farm also gets top marks for a pain-free shopping experience that lets prospective customers call their local agent or chat with a representative online if they have any questions.
Pros

• Highly rated for superior claims handling
• Highest financial stability rating
• Wide range of coverage options
• 18,000 agents nationwide
• Easy-to-use website and mobile app
• Excellent customer support

Cons

• Mixed reviews for pricing/value
• Missing a few discounts, including pay-in-full and automatic pay

Best Car Insurance Company for Military: USAA

USAA is the only company that consistently either matches or bests State Farm in customer satisfaction surveys. Indeed, USAA customers are very happy with their claims experiences and customer service. They also give the company top-notch marks for value, which seems to be State Farm’s weak spot.
USAA’s website has plenty of educational materials for drivers, but the quote process is a bit more involved than it is with many competitors.
The major downside to USAA is their limited availability: You or a close family member must be a member or former member of the armed forces to get coverage from USAA.
Pros

• Highly rated for superior claims handling
• Highly rated for pricing/value
• Highest financial stability rating
• Solid online educational resources

Cons

• Only available to U.S. military members and their families, and certain affiliates
• Quote process is more time-consuming

Best Car Insurance Company for Claims Handling: Amica

Amica may keep a lower profile than the car-insurance giants, but their claim to fame is customer claims satisfaction. Amica is J.D. Power’s top-ranked company for customer claims satisfaction in 2014, and they take the runner-up spot in Consumer Reports’ rankings.
Amica does not have agents, which means they deal with all their customers without a middleman. This could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. Another of Amica’s high points is that they allow you to work with your own repair shop after you’re in a crash. This often isn’t the case with car insurance companies.
On the downside, customers are less satisfied with pricing — certainly a major consideration for customers looking for a deal.
Pros

• Highly rated for superior claims handling
• Highest financial stability rating
• Customers can choose their own car repair shops
• Easy-to-use website and mobile app

Cons

• Lower ratings for pricing/value
• Fewer online educational resources

Best Car Insurance Company for Policy Options: The Hartford

Though not as much of a household name as State Farm or Progressive, The Hartford is the nation’s 11th largest insurer. They are highly ranked for value — customers are satisfied with the price of their policies relative to the competition. They also offer 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 online quote process is quick and easy, but the website lacks some of the educational material that larger companies often feature. The Hartford is also in the middle of the pack for claims satisfaction.
Pros

• Highly rated for pricing/value
• Wide range of coverage options
• Very strong financial stability rating
• Easy-to-use website and mobile app

Cons

• Average ratings for claims handling
• Fewer online educational resources

Other contenders

Progressive is worth noting because of their wider-than-standard range of discounts that could save you a lot of money. Their Snapshot tool will even monitor your driving habits to see if you can get a bigger break. But, like many of the big insurers, they’re in the middle of the pack for customer satisfaction with pricing and claims.
Allstate shines with comprehensive online tools and resources that help you manage your policy and learn more about car insurance in general. They also have a comprehensive agent network that’s second only to State Farm, so they could be a good pick if you want personal service. Allstate fares a bit better than Progressive in claims reviews, but still nabs average customer-satisfaction scores overall.
Two companies with more limited service areas that fare very well in customer satisfaction areAuto-Owners Insurance and Erie Insurance. Auto-Owners is available in 26 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, while Erie serves parts of the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic.
Both companies are highly rated for claims. Erie 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 uses an agent-only model that promotes customer relationships, so they might be a good pick if you value personal service.

Buying Car Insurance: Should You Use an Agent or Go Online?

Depending on who you choose in your search for the top auto insurance companies, you may face yet another decision: Should you do business with an insurance agent or should you deal with the company directly online?
If you value face-to-face relationships and personal service, it’s hard to beat going with an agent. But all agents aren’t created equal. Some are “captive,” meaning they sell car insurance for only one company. Others are “independent,” meaning they can sell car insurance for multiple companies.

Captive agents

Going with a captive agent makes sense if you already know you’re committed to a particular company. A captive agent will know that company’s car insurance options top to bottom and will be able to help you build the exact coverage package you need.
A captive agent probably doesn’t work on as much of a commission model as an independent agent, so they may take more time to answer your questions and really get to know you and your needs.

Independent agents

Independent agents can help you shop around with several companies, potentially nabbing you a better rate for car insurance. Because they aren’t directly employed by any one company, they won’t have as much of an incentive to push one particular product.
If your rates go up after committing to a policy, they can help you find a lower price when it’s time to shop again. However, because commission figures into their pay more heavily, they may be under more pressure to make a deal as quickly as possible.

Online

Of course, there’s a third option. You may be able to skip agents entirely and do your business directly with the company online, depending on which one you select. Most companies that have agents don’t require you to work with them, and some companies don’t have agents at all. This is undoubtedly the most convenient option, and probably the best if you’re in a time crunch. It may also be the cheapest option.
However, if you’re not sure what your needs are, buying your policy without an agent could leave you buying too much insurance, too little, or even the wrong kind.

How I Picked the Best Car Insurance Companies

Most people consider the top auto insurance companies the ones that will give them the lowest rate. Of course, that will vary according to each driver’s unique circumstances, including age, location, driving habits, and even credit score.
For that reason, I took a broader look at the factors that separate the best auto insurance companies from the rest, including whether customers are satisfied once they plunk down their money. Here are the factors I considered:

• Ease of shopping: I evaluated insurers’ websites to determine how easy it was to get a quote, determine my coverage needs, and receive customer service help if I needed it. I also considered J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, which asked customers about their experiences with insurers’ local agents, call-center representatives, and websites.
• Range of coverage options: Does the insurer provide a wide range of coverage options for its customers? Do customers feel the policies meet their needs? I looked at insurers’ websites,Insure.com’s Best Car Insurance Companies for 2014, J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, andReviews.com’s auto insurance company reviews to find the best auto insurance companies for coverage.
• Satisfaction with claims: How happy are customers who have dealt with their insurers after a crash or other incident? I looked at J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Insure.com’s Best Car Insurance Companies for 2014, and Consumer Reports’ 2014 Car Insurance Ratings to find the top auto insurance companies for claims.
• Satisfaction with price: Do customers feel like they’re getting a good deal? I looked at J.D. Power’s 2014 Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Ratings, J.D. Power’s 2014 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, and Consumer Reports’ 2014 Car Insurance Ratings to find the best car insurance companies for value.
• Financial strength ratings: I looked at each company’s A.M. Best rating to gauge stability. Ratings range from A++ (superior/most stable) to D (poor/least stable). A few special ratings below “D” denote companies that are under regulatory supervision, are being liquidated, or have had their ratings suspended. A.M. Best considers any company with a “B” grade or below vulnerable.

Finding the Best Car Insurance Companies

Sure, you want the best possible rate on car insurance, and there are several ways to keep yourself from overpaying. One of them is to figure out what type of coverage you really need and brush up on other rate-lowering strategies using our guide on How to Get Cheap Car Insurance. But you also want to do business with a company that offers financial stability, a wide range of coverage, and the fair, attentive service you want after a crash. We think State Farm, USAA, Amica, and The Hartford are all good bets.
You can also begin your search by finding the top car insurance companies in your area by using our online comparison tool. Looking for car insurance online will make comparison shopping easy and save you the time and hassle of calling around to get quotes. Source:/thesimpledollar.com/

Tips for Donating a Car to Charity

A charity that uses a donated vehicle for transportation or hauling goods obviously benefits directly from such a donation. However, in many cases donated cars will be sold en masse, either by the charity itself or by a dealer to raise funds for the charity. In the case of a dealer, the charity generally receives a flat fee per car, sometimes as little as $45 per car.

Listed below are tips for donors who would like to donate a car to charity. Beware that the donor's tax deductions for car donations may be limited to the price at which the charity sold the car.

• To receive the maximum tax deduction on your car donation, and to receive the satisfaction that the full value of the car benefits a charitable purpose, give it to a charity that will use the vehicle in its operations or will give it to a person in need. Otherwise, your tax deduction will not be based on the fair market value, but will be limited to the amount of money the charity receives from the sale of your car. If the charity you are donating to does sell the vehicle, ask what percentage of the proceeds they receive. See Car Donations: Taking Taxpayers for a Ride for more.
   
• Ask if the charity accepts car donations directly, without involving a third party. If possible, drive the vehicle to the charity instead of using a towing or pickup service. This will allow the charity to keep the full amount of any proceeds from selling the car.
   
• Make sure the charity is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. Ask for a copy for your records of the organization’s IRS letter of determination which verifies its tax exempt status.
   
• Be sure that you get a receipt from the charity for your car donation.
   
• Be aware that non-cash donations are one of the most common triggers to an audit by the IRS, so you’ll want to document the value of the car and keep records of it.
   
• If the car is worth more than $500, the donor must complete Section A of IRS Form 8283 and attach it to their tax return. Donors are required to file with his/her tax return a written acknowledgement from the charity. If the charity sells the car, the charity must provide the donor with a certification that the car was sold at "arms length" between unrelated parties and the sale price of the car within 30 days. In this case, the donor's tax deductions will be limited to the total amount the charity sold the car for. If the charity does not sell the car, it must provide the donor with a receipt within 30 days of the contribution. The charity may also be required to provide certification to the donor stating how it plans to use or improve the car and stating that it promises not to sell or transfer the car. Penalties are imposed on charities that provide fraudulent acknowledgements to donors.
   
• If the car is worth $5,000 or more, an independent appraisal is necessary. The donor must also fill out Section B of IRS Form 8283. For cars worth less than $5,000, use the Kelley Blue Book, the Hearst Black Book, or a guide from the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) to determine the market value. Make sure you use the correct figure for the date, mileage, and condition of your car. Picking the highest figure for your car model and year without taking into account other factors may not pass muster with the IRS.
   
• Take pictures of the car and save receipts for new tires or other upgrades to verify its value.
   
• Remember, it is the donor, not the charity, who is obligated to value the car and who will pay the penalties if an IRS challenge finds your figure inaccurate.  Source:/charitywatch.org/charitywatch-articles/

Flower Tattoos and Their Meaning

Tattoos come in all shapes and sizes and the most popular among all designs is the flower. Contrary to popular notion, a flower tattoo is not strictly done on women alone. People wear tattoos to highlight an important event, person, or illustrate one’s belief. The pattern is just a part of the significance of the tattoo, regardless if it is associated with femininity or masculinity.

That said, flower tattoos represent different meaning too. Some flower patterns symbolize bravery while others represent passion or love. In today’s post, we are exploring some of the hidden meaning of different flower tattoos:

Rose

The rose is one oldest tattoo design and is still popular even today. The rose tattoo is very versatile because it is suitable for both men and women. In mythology, the rose is the symbol of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Ancient Greeks believe that the first rose was white that became red when the goddess of love poked her finger in the thorn.

Different colors of rose tattoo symbolize different meaning. For instance, red rose symbolizes passion while white rose symbolizes purity. The purple rose symbolizes love at first sight while black rose is the symbol of darkness and death.

Lotus

The lotus flower is another old tattoo design that’s well-loved even today. Lotus is popular in Asia much like how the rose is popular in the west. Lotus represents the rise from hardships and struggle. It represents beauty, strength, and transformation. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolizes spiritual awakening.

Lily

Lily represents strong, lasting relationship and partnership. This is why lily tattoos are common among new mothers. In Egypt and Greece, the lily flower represents sexuality and fertility. In China, this flower symbolizes innocence, abundance, and purity. In the bible, the lily is the symbol of the Virgin Mary so Christians associate this bloom to purity, chastity, faith and love to the Lord.

Daisy

Daisy tattoos are very popular among women, particularly younger women who getting tattoos for the first time. The color of the flower represents a certain meaning. White daisies represent innocence and purity. Red daisies represent boldness and youthful energy while blue daisies represent tenderness.

Sunflower

One of the most easily recognizable flowers in the world is a sunflower. Although it is an unconventional flower design, sunflower remains popular among younger men and women. Sunflower signifies the sun. It represents life, energy, and exuberance. Because it is such a unique design, sunflower tattoos are very striking.

Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossom tattoos are very popular in Asia, particularly in Japan. In fact, the cherry blossom is a common design in traditional Japanese tattooing. Usually, the blossoms are depicted as falling petals being carried by the wind.

Cherry blossom represents the uniqueness of the Japanese culture. In Japan, this tattoo design symbolizes empathy towards things, sensitivity towards ephemera. It also signifies mortality and life.

Peony

Peony is not a conventional tattoo design in the west but it is also popular in the east. In Japan, this flower is regarded as “The King of Flowers.” It symbolizes wealth, abundance, and elegance.

Source:/healthydietbase.com/

The Weight Loss Benefits of Wu Yi Tea

Wu Yi tea is a type of tea grown in the Wu Yi Mountains. Studies show that drinking Wu Yi tea helps improve health and even trigger faster weight loss. The tea is packed with a host of nutrients that improves mental alertness, boosts energy, and facilitates fat burning. In today’s post, we are exploring the amazing weight loss benefits of Wu Yi tea:

Packed with Antioxidants

Wu Yi tea is an effective weight loss tonic. It is loaded with polyphenol, which activates an enzyme that dissolves triglycerides. Triglycerides are fat that cause a range of heart disease. Studies show that Wu Yi tea, along with black and green tea contains the highest amount of polyphenols among all types of tea. Drinking Wu Yi tea regularly will have a dramatic impact on your weight and health!

Improves Energy

Wu Yi tea is a proven effective metabolism booster. A study published in the Journal of Medical reports that Wu Yi tea improves the metabolic rate of test subjects. A group of Japanese women was divided into two different groups. One group was given Wu Yi tea and the other was given water. Their eating habits were observed and monitored by scientists for six weeks. Researchers found that the women who drank Wu Yi tea after every meal experienced 10% more energy as opposed to those who did not drink Wu Yi tea at all.

Boosts the Metabolic Rate

Studies show that drinking two cups of Wu Yi tea every day can reduce obesity by triggering a faster metabolic rate. Dozens of studies confirm that Wu Yi tea plays a critical role in the decline of body weight and fat index among participants. The tea contains nutrients that promote the burning of fat deposits in the body. It is also loaded with antioxidants that enhance metabolism by up to 10%. Wu Yi tea also keeps the metabolic up and running 2 hours or more after drinking the tea.

Raises Fat Oxidation

Did you know that Wu Yi tea helps increase fat oxidation and this leads to effective weight loss? Wu Yi tea contains caffeine, which works hand in hand with ECGCs to increase fat oxidation. Oxidation within fat cells causes a chemical reaction that triggers the breakdown of fat. The breakdown of fat makes it easier for the body to convert it into energy.

Blocks the Absorption of Cholesterol

Wu Yi tea is clinically proven to block the absorption of bad cholesterol and dietary fat in the body by up to 50%. To maximize the cholesterol-blocking abilities of Wu Yi tea, you have to drink at least 3 cups of tea daily. The polyphenols in Wu Yi tea also boosts energy to metabolize stored fat. All these processes work hand in hand to trigger weight loss.

Shrinks Belly Fat

Wu Yi tea shrinks down the fat around the belly and the upper arms. The tea is especially effective if you combine it with a high-fat diet. The tea eliminates harmful cholesterol in the body and raises the fat oxidation in problems areas. Wu Yi tea helps flatten the belly and slim the arms down without any side effects.

Regulate Blood Sugar

An unstable blood sugar level is one of the main causes of weight gain. Consuming high sugar foods causes the blood sugar level to surge and then plummet. And once the blood sugar level plummets, you experience intense cravings and incessant eating.

Drinking Wu Yi tea eases cravings and boosts satiety by regulating the blood sugar level. When the blood sugar level is stable, you are less likely to give into cravings and/or “graze” throughout the day.

Source:/healthydietbase.com/

How to Decide Between an M.D. and a D.O.

Many premed students are unlikely to even understand the osteopathic philosophy.

A question many medical school applicants ask themselves—or are asked by premedical advisers—is whether to apply to allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) schools, or to both. The few premeds who are even aware of D.O. schools may struggle when they try to tailor their applications to the two different types of curricula and career paths.
To help decide which degree program to pursue, applicants should ask themselves two questions:
1. What are the main differences between M.D.'s and D.O.'s?
Allopathic and osteopathic schools both teach the same basic science curricula necessary to becoming a fully qualified doctor, but they have two very different approaches and different admissions statistics.
When most people think of medical school, they tend to think of allopathic schools. When we hear "Dr. John Doe," for example, we usually assume Doe to be an M.D. Allopathic schools approach their curricula differently; some have a traditional model of two years of basic sciences and another two years of clinical clerkships. Others require between one and one and a half years of science, as well as more time for electives.
Some schools, such as Harvard Medical School and the Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University, have a problem-based learning approach, while others take a more traditional approach.
While osteopathic students learn overlapping subjects and concepts as allopathic students, they also learn other techniques in line with the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, which espouses therapeutic techniques that emphasize prevention.
The American Association of Osteopathic Colleges of Medicine describes osteopathic medicine as a different approach to medical education, which brings "the additional benefits of osteopathic manipulative techniques to diagnose and treat patients." Osteopathic physicians, according to the AACOM, "work in partnership with patients to help them achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health education, injury prevention, and disease prevention."
2. If I'm applying, what are some of the differences that I'll see?
If you feel that you may be in the lower tier of applicants (typically below a 3.4 GPA and 30 MCAT, based on the Swarthmore College premedical website), it may be to your advantage to consider D.O. schools, which typically have less stringent admissions requirements.
How you strategize or market yourself to either an M.D. or D.O. school depends on your background, personal statement, and other personal characteristics.
Gigi Simeone, health sciences adviser at Swarthmore College, says her school sends a "good number" of students to D.O. schools every year. "The ones that do [go to D.O. schools] are very happy with the holistic experience and the physical manipulation tools they learn as a means for diagnosis and treatment," she says.
And with new osteopathic schools opening at a much higher rate than allopathic schools, applicants might find more opportunities in D.O. programs.
Whichever choice you make, you will be able to apply to almost any residency program in any specialty and have all the privileges of what the public considers to be a traditional physician. Considering the differing philosophical backgrounds of the different schools might help direct you toward a school that is the best fit for you.
Ibrahim Busnaina, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and coauthor of "Examkrackers' How to Get Into Medical School." He has been consulting with prospective medical school applicants, with a special focus on minority and other nontraditional candidates, since 2006.
Source:/usnews.com/education/