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An MBA is a graduate-level business degree designed to give professionals the critical knowledge they need to step into management and leadership roles in companies. It’s a prestigious symbol to an employer that you are steeped in the art and science of business management and can apply your expertise to a wide range of industries, from accounting and finance to marketing, international business and many more.

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration. At its core, it’s a degree that can help you learn to solve complex business problems, give you the expertise to lead across departments and industries and offer the skills you need to succeed in a fast-paced, evolving job market.

"The Master in Business Administration prepares professionals with foundational and core knowledge to develop the know-how to manage, lead and solve problems in complex global business environments," said Dr. Katie Carpen, an associate dean of business administration at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

What Are MBA Courses All About?
Unlike many other degree programs that often focus on knowledge and skills specific to a particular industry, you can apply the learning you do in an MBA program to management roles across an almost impossibly diverse group of fields, said Carpen.

"The MBA remains the premier degree for business students and provides learners with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and abilities that employers seek in generalists, specialists, strategists or entrepreneurs," she said. "The MBA curriculum shows the interconnectedness of business functions, processes and people."

The coursework of MBA programs — which generally includes readings, lessons, projects and internships–often “integrates cross-cultural, geopolitical and systems knowledge,” Carpen said. Courses are designed to help learners:

Identify and assess problems to find or create solutions
Make ethical, legal, sustainable and data-driven decisions
Operate and lead in complex business environments
“In a program like ours, (students) can build their confidence as researchers and develop their academic voice, which in turn supports their professional or consultative voice,” said Dr. Kimberly Blanchette, academic associate vice president of STEM and business programs at SNHU.

Is Getting an MBA Hard?
Like all types of graduate degrees, earning an MBA is intended to challenge you so you can advance as a professional. You’ll likely encounter new concepts and situations that can help you develop your skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making and people management, among others.

Some MBA programs approach course material with practical applications in mind. At SNHU, for example, MBA courses use scenario-based learning, allowing students to consider their approach to realistic business problems and decisions. This means you’ll be better prepared to apply learning outcomes to situations that arise in your professional life.

It’s important to note: You won’t be going through the program alone, even if you’re earning your MBA online. Your instructors are there to provide clarity and support as you work through subject material — and they can answer questions you might have along the way. Some schools also offer free tutoring services available to you no matter what day or time you’re completing coursework.

Should I Get an MBA?
As a business professional, you can benefit from an MBA in many ways, including increasing your knowledge of advanced business concepts and strategies and gaining greater flexibility in your career options. The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) conducts an annual survey of hiring managers and recruiters. The group’s 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey shows 92% of the U.S. companies that responded planned to hire people with MBAs (GMAC 2022 PDF Source).*

[Image: A blue infographic with the text GMAC survey shows 92% of U.S. companies plan to hire MBA grads in 2022]

An MBA can be a tool to advance your career in nearly any industry, from business to finance and in disciplines such as engineering, information technology and healthcare.

"Everything is business as you progress up the ranks of leadership," said Kate Noor, an academic advisor and adjunct faculty at SNHU. "An MBA is great for those in a 'traditional' business setting, but every industry has room for an MBA in some capacity. What you learn is beyond just crunching numbers. You’re also learning how to motivate your workforce and how to be an ethical and effective leader."

[Image: Terrell Wong with the text Terrell Wong]

Terrell Wong ’19MBA, a director on Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy partnership activation team, earned his MBA online at SNHU. He said it improved his understanding of business in general, but also some of the projects the Galaxy and its parent company, AEG, are involved in. In addition to having the credential under his belt — and on his resume — he said the program deepened his knowledge and skills, preparing him for new career opportunities.
“For me, to get the MBA in Marketing… has really given me an opportunity to open up and jump at any opportunity that comes,” he said.

What Does an MBA Do for You?
Earning an MBA is ideal if you’re interested in advancing on the corporate ladder. While it depends on the size and type of company you work for and your professional experience, most MBA holders are qualified for middle or senior-level management positions, Carpen said.

[Image: Kelly Charest with the text Kelly Charest]

“When it comes to the professional value of earning an MBA, the driving factors usually include enhanced marketability, earning potential, transferability, domain knowledge and skill sets that are essential to the business environment,” she said. “An MBA program develops a person’s critical, creative and strategic thinking all within the scope of starting, running or growing an organization.”
For Kelly Charest ’21, an MBA unlocked new possibilities for her. She started her MBA program hoping to advance her career, and upon completing her degree, she did just that.

“Within a few months of graduating, I received a job offer for a position that offered me a great deal of advancement and promotion,” said Charest.

An MBA Gives You a Recognized Credential
[Image: Dr Kimberly Blanchette with the text Dr Kimberly Blanchette]

An MBA from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) or another major accrediting body carries a certain prestige and reputation — one that is recognized around the globe. That’s because graduates with an MBA are generally considered masters in understanding business, especially from a strategic leadership perspective.
“It’s a respected credential that signals to employers a person’s ability to look at business administration in a holistic, strategic manner while also understanding how the specific functional units work separately together,” Blanchette said.

More companies than ever are planning to hire new MBA graduates, and recruiters are increasingly trusting of the training and education a business degree provides, according to GMAC. Since more recruiters think business degrees successfully prepare workers for the field, these degrees now have more real-world value.

An MBA Can Improve Your Versatility and Stability
[Image: A blue infographic with the text An MBA can: Give you a recognized credential; Improve your versatility and stability; Help you network; Increase your earning potential]

Technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, is changing or even disrupting entire industries.
“In the long term, MBA graduates are much more versatile employees with regard to where and how organizations can make the best use of their talents,” Blanchette said. “As technology takes care of the more basic types of tasks or services, employers want people who can critically think and reason, who can analyze and leverage data, which is what an MBA prepares a person to do."

The knowledge and skills of MBA graduates prove advantageous across various disciplines, industries and organizations, especially relative to other master’s degrees.

For example, when comparing an MBA to a master’s degree in a related field (such as information technology, accounting or data analytics), the MBA offers a cohesive, well-rounded curriculum, which can benefit a range of professionals, whether they’re in strategic, operational, generalist or specialist positions.

“That’s really the driving force behind the ‘MBA preferred’ language you often see included in position descriptions,” Carpen said.

An MBA Can Help You Network
Another benefit to being enrolled in an MBA program is the networking and connections learners make with the faculty, classmates (who are often fellow professionals or entrepreneurs), alumni, guest speakers and more.

Upon graduation, you’ll also enter into your institution’s alumni network — and at a university like SNHU, that’s over 200,000 alumni. This is a valuable resource that allows you to connect with and learn from a growing number of MBAs for years to come.

In addition, both before and after graduating, MBA students and degree holders can often join professional associations, such as the:

Association of MBAs
National Black MBA Association
Reaching Out MBA
An MBA Can Increase Your Earning Potential
There are also salary considerations when thinking about earning your MBA. According to GMAC, median starting salaries for MBAs at U.S. companies were estimated at $115,000 in 2022.* That’s almost double the average salary for workers in the United States, as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

An MBA also might help you land a higher-paying role at your current place of work. BLS noted some of the best-paying business positions and their average salaries in 2022:

Chief executives: $246,440 per year*
Financial managers: $166,050 per year*
Marketing managers: $158,280 per year*
Sales managers: $150,530 per year*
What Can I Do With an MBA?
[Image: Dr. Katie Carpen with text Dr. Katie Carpen]

One of the most critical steps to finding success with your MBA degree is applying your learning to the real world, whether that’s in your current job, embarking on a new career path or even launching your own entrepreneurial endeavor.
As a business generalist, you can fill a variety of functions at a company. Carpen recommended identifying where there are frequent job openings and your career goals. If you notice any overlap, that could be a perfect focus for your studies. In many MBA programs, you will have the opportunity to personalize your degree and advance your expertise in a specific area of business with elective courses or degree concentrations. Be sure to research concentration options at your university; there may be many you aren’t aware of — at SNHU, for example, there are 17 different concentrations to consider.

"For instance, an MBA with a concentration in business intelligence, operations management or project management may provide more career opportunities within the respective fields," Carpen said.

The types of MBA concentrations can include both general business fields and industry-specific subjects, such as:

MBA in Business Analytics
MBA in Finance
MBA in Healthcare Management
MBA in Human Resources
MBA in Project Management
[Image: Cristina Velez and the text "Cristina Velez"]

You can also begin your program, see what types of courses best grab your attention, and then decide how to focus your degree.
“Our advice to students that are unsure of MBA concentrations is to work on core classes first and decide at the end of the program which area they were more attracted to or enjoyed the most," said Cristina Velez, an assistant director of academic advising at SNHU. "We also advise students to go talk to their career advisor and navigate the different careers in different business areas, to make sure they choose a concentration where they will see themselves succeed."

Dr. Thomas Scott ’15MBA had already completed his undergraduate degree, medical school and a 4-year residency and was leading a series of urgent care centers when he decided he needed to learn the language of business. It was an MBA degree that helped him develop the skills he needed.

[Image: Dr. Thomas Scott with the text Dr. Thomas Scott]

“As I got further along in my professional career, I realized the need for more education,” Scott said. “I didn’t think about it until I was far into the administrative part, thinking the people sitting in front of me were speaking a language I didn’t. That’s when I realized I needed to go back (to school) and learn it. I need to understand what these people were saying if I wanted to work forward.”
Scott chose a concentration in healthcare informatics, which paid dividends in his role leading a small team of administrators.

“A lot of my MBA comes into play because we have a lot of decisions to make, and we’re not a giant corporation with people telling us what to do,” he said.

Adding a specialization within your MBA program can also help make you uniquely qualified for specific roles within a company. The GMAC 2022 Corporate Recruiter’s Survey found that hiring demand was highest in healthcare, consulting, technology and energy/utility industries.

A 2019 version of the report goes on to identify the top jobs by industry (GMAC 2019 PDF source):

Consulting: Information technology, engineering management and economics
Energy: Engineering management, information technology, economics
Finance/Accounting: Economics, information technology, risk management
Healthcare: Health administration, marketing, supply chain management
Technology: Information technology, engineering management, supply chain management
Manufacturing: Supply chain management, engineering management, information technology
Nonprofit/Government: Public administration, health administration, educational leadership
Products/Services: Marketing, supply chain management, information technology
MBA Degree Requirements and Preparation
While MBA admission rules often vary among programs and institutions, a bachelor’s degree is a standard requirement to enroll in any master’s level program.

Prerequisites for an MBA: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
While having prior business education experience can be beneficial when enrolling in an MBA program, most programs do not require that an applicant hold a business degree to apply.

"Earning an MBA is an option for any learner with a bachelor’s degree," Carpen said. "Most MBA programs require students without a bachelor’s degree in business to complete prerequisite foundational courses in core business content, such as business math, statistics, finance, accounting and economics."

You may also be able to use approved prior learning assessments or testing tools to prove your knowledge in these content areas and meet program requirements while saving time and money on foundational courses, Carpen said.

Find the Right Program: Consider Goals, Do Research
Once you’ve decided to go back to school, it’s important to consider your reasons for getting an MBA. With so many programs available, knowing what you want will help you find the right one.

For example, going to school might be your full-time job right now, and you prefer to learn in person. Attending a traditional brick-and-mortar college could work for you. Or, maybe you’re working and supporting a family, and going to school online is the best option.

Some online programs offer rolling admission and terms year-round, meaning you can start and finish faster. At SNHU, for example, you can earn your MBA online in just over one year if you take two classes at a time.

Know what’s important to you when it comes to earning an MBA and do your research.

The Application Process: Gather Necessary Materials
Most universities require a graduate application and undergraduate transcripts from the college or university where you completed your bachelor’s degree, according to the Princeton Review.

Some programs might also have other requirements, such as sitting for an admission interview or submitting an essay, resumé or letters of recommendation. You might also be asked to take an entrance exam.

Many schools require the Graduate Management Admission Test — or GMAT — to assess analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative and verbal skills, and some use GMAT results to determine admission eligibility. But like many standardized tests, the GMAT’s effectiveness has long been debated. Does it accurately measure subject knowledge or how well a person prepares for a specific test?

Some schools, including SNHU, have designed MBAs that don’t require GMAT scores. This saves you time and money. By not having to shell out a few hundred dollars per test, you could put those savings toward books for your first few classes. While costs are a concern, the other big place that people like to save comes in the form of time. Preparing for the exam can be time-consuming, especially for adult learners who are already carving out time to further their education.

Consider Costs: How to Pay for Your Degree
Another essential step toward enrolling in an MBA program is determining how you’ll pay for your degree. Luckily, there are several approaches you can consider.

Financial aid may be available for those who apply and qualify through the Federal Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). Private student loans may also be an option to finance your degree, and there are many types of scholarships that might be of interest to you.

If you’re earning your MBA while working full-time and hoping to advance your career within your current organization, you may also qualify for tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit. Be sure to check with your human resources department about any educational benefits your company offers.

[Image: Kate Noor with text Kate Noor]

While there are not as many MBA scholarships available as undergraduate scholarships, there are some opportunities if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to apply for them, Noor said.

"Every school has different options, so always do your research, as you should with any large investment of your time and money," she said. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your college or university’s Student Financial Services office to speak with a counselor about your options.

Charest earned her bachelor’s in communication at SNHU and thought it was a no-brainer to continue on to her MBA. She knew the cost was reasonable, and the online courses were worth it for the education and support she would receive.

“The price was comparable if not better than other options, but being an alumnus, it allowed me to just step right back in with a lot of ease,” said Charest. “I also enjoyed how responsive, helpful and proactive the academic advisers were.”

And be aware that there are big differences in tuition costs between the MBA programs at different universities. By doing your homework, you can determine which school offers the MBA program that is the best value for achieving your goals.

Is it Worth Getting an MBA?
An MBA can be beneficial to business professionals for many reasons. Some of the main benefits Carpen cited included:

Developing an authoritative voice through critical and strategic thinking
Enhancing your knowledge, skill set and ability to make evidence-based decisions
Strengthening your professional communication skills
Increasing your marketability by earning a degree that mixes the hard and soft skills employers are looking for
Before embarking on her career in higher education, Carpen was a recruiter for Fortune 500 companies and found that those employers were interested in hiring MBA holders because they are known for their "critical, creative and strategic thinking to start, run or grow an organization."

Especially if you are like so many professionals interested in an MBA who already have a full-time career as well as family responsibilities to balance, an online program may give you the flexibility you need. Studying online can allow you to fit your learning into your daily life, taking as many courses each term as you can handle and accessing course materials at the times that work best for your schedule.

"It’s all about finding the balance that works for you," Noor said. "At the end of the day, take the time you need to do well. And make sure you take some time in your week to do something for you. … Make sure you are prioritizing what is important, whatever that looks like for you. Without these things, you cannot learn properly."

Discover more about SNHU’s MBA program: Find out what courses you’ll take, skills you’ll learn and how to request information about the program.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Joe Cote is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Follow him on Twitter @JoeCo2323.

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Edited by:
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Edited by: Rashawn Mitchner Managing Editor
Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.

Senior Editor
For the most part, getting new car insurance is pretty similar to buying coverage for any other vehicle. There are some particulars, however, and you may have different needs when it comes to insuring a new car than if you were protecting a used one.

We at the MarketWatch Guides Team take an in-depth look at how to get auto insurance for a new car, from the essential types of coverage to how much it might cost you. We also share a few recommended providers from our 2023 list of the best car insurance and cheapest car insurance companies to help you get started.

Key Takeaways:

Most dealers and dealerships require you to have car insurance before you purchase a new vehicle.
Some insurance companies offer a grace period, which allows you to purchase and drive a new vehicle for a set amount of time without starting a new insurance policy.
The best way to get new car insurance is to shop around and get car insurance quotes to find the right provider for you.
Related Resources Cheapest Car Insurance 10 Largest Car Insurance Companies in the U.S. Best Car Insurance Companies Average Cost of Car Insurance
In this review:
When To Buy Insurance for a New Car
How Much Does Insurance Cost for a New Car?
How To Get Insurance for a New Car
New Car Insurance Coverage
New Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line
New Car Insurance: FAQ
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When To Buy Insurance for a New Car
You should get insurance for a new car as soon as possible since most vehicle dealerships require proof of insurance before you drive off with a new vehicle. However, when you need to get the insurance depends on whether the dealer offers a grace period, which gives you time after purchase to get a car insurance policy. Even with this in mind, we recommend that you compare policies from multiple car insurance providers before purchasing a new car.

New Car Insurance Grace Period
If a company offers a grace period, it typically lasts seven to 30 days from the date of purchase. This grace period is a set amount of time in which you’re allowed to drive your vehicle without starting a new insurance policy. Whether you have a grace period depends on a few factors, including:

Insured status: One reason you may have a grace period is that you are rolling over your previous insurance policy into a new one. In this situation, your old coverage types and limits may apply until a new car insurance policy starts.
Insurance company: Grace period rules can vary significantly by insurer. For example, Progressive allows for a 30-day grace period, while some providers have none at all.
Since grace periods vary from company to company, it’s best to figure out exactly what your policy will allow for. You can find this information in the fine print of your contract, but it may be easier to ask an insurance agent.

When Does a New Car Insurance Policy Start?
If you buy insurance before taking ownership of a new car, the policy will begin the moment you drive your vehicle off the lot. This is often required by dealerships because it’s illegal for anyone to drive without auto insurance.

You’ll need the following information on hand to start a new car insurance policy before buying the vehicle:

Purchase price
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Your contact information
Most car insurance providers will be able to start your policy within 24 hours. You can even find same-day insurance from many auto insurance companies.

How Much Does Insurance Cost for a New Car?
According to our research, the national average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $1,730 per year. Your premium, however, is likely to vary based on personal and car-specific factors.

Technically speaking, whether a car is new or used doesn’t factor into your premiums. However, you’ll see rates go up for a new car if it’s more expensive overall than your previous car.

Best Insurance for New Car
In our research, we found that State Farm tends to be the best overall car insurance provider due to its affordable rates, coverage options and customer service. However, there are several other providers worth considering as well, if you’re looking for the best insurance for your new car.

Car Insurance Provider Overall Rating Annual Cost Estimate
State Farm 9.3 $1,481
USAA 9.2 $1,054
Geico 9.1 $1,308
Erie Insurance 9.0 $1,238
Travelers 9.0 $1,669
Liberty Mutual 9.0 N/A
Auto-Owners Insurance 8.8 $1,337
Progressive 8.7 $1,611
Nationwide 8.7 $1,281
Country Financial 8.6 $1,295
What Factors Affect New Car Insurance Costs?
The value of your vehicle is just one of many factors that insurers use to determine premiums. When you insure any vehicle, new or used, several things are taken into account, like your age, driving history and credit score.

[Image: Icons showing the factors that influence the cost of car insurance]

Here are additional factors that affect the cost of car insurance:

Age: Younger drivers and especially teen drivers typically pay higher premiums than drivers in other age groups. How long you’ve had a driver’s license can also be a factor, as experience usually leads to responsible driving behaviors.
Driving history: A clean driving record gives you access to the lowest rates. Any at-fault accidents, speeding tickets or driving under the influence (DUI) violations could greatly boost your premiums.
Credit score: In states where it’s legal, insurance companies typically charge drivers with poor credit scores more for coverage than those with average or good scores.
Location: Car insurance rates vary from state to state, but they also vary within states. Those in New York City or in one of California’s urban areas will often pay far more for coverage than drivers in rural regions nearby.
Marital status: Some insurance companies charge married drivers less for coverage than drivers who are single.
Types of coverage: The types of insurance that you include on your policy make a big difference in what you’ll end up paying. Minimum coverage policies will usually be the cheapest, with additional coverages increasing your cost.
Coverage limits: The limits you set for insurance coverage play a major role in your premiums. Generally speaking, your monthly premiums will be less if you have lower coverage limits.
Deductible: Your deductible, which is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket for repairs or a total loss claim, can also affect your insurance premium. In most cases, your premium will be less if you have a high deductible on your new car insurance policy.
Discounts: Most insurance companies offer discounts on their coverage. One of the most common is a bundling discount for combining your auto insurance policy with other insurance products such as homeowners, renters or life insurance.

How To Get Insurance for a New Car
Buying a new car insurance policy is mostly the same as getting insurance for any other car. With most insurers, you should be able to find coverage, purchase it and start your policy while you wait at the dealership.

Getting New Car Insurance
The process for getting new car insurance coverage is relatively simple. You’ll just need to follow these steps:

Prepare the information needed to start getting quotes. This includes the car’s VIN number, purchase price and your contact information.
Start shopping for free quotes. You can compare car insurance quotes online quickly and easily with most providers. We recommend getting estimates from at least three providers before making a decision.
Choose your insurance provider and plan. Pick the quote that offers you the best combination of cost and peace of mind. You should be able to start your auto coverage policy almost immediately.
Give the dealership your new insurance card. Most companies now offer a mobile app that allows you to pull up your insurance card whenever you need it. You’ll be able to send this to the dealership to get your keys, usually through an emailed PDF copy.

New Car Insurance Coverage
For the most part, new cars don’t require any different types of insurance coverage than other vehicles. The kinds and amounts of coverage you need depend on other factors, such as where you live and whether your lender has extra requirements if you take out a new car loan.

[Image: A table that shows what the six standard types of insurance do and don’t cover and where they’re required]

State Minimum New Car Coverage Requirements
Each state has its own minimum insurance requirements. Usually established by the state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) or a similar agency, these standards often vary widely.

You can find your state’s requirements and our recommendations for providers with cheap rates by clicking your state on the map below:

Click a state to learn more about the cheapest providers in that state.

COMPARE RATES
Standard Types of Required New Car Insurance
State minimum requirements are almost always made up of some variation of the auto insurance coverage options listed below.

Bodily injury liability insurance: Covers lost wages and medical bills for other parties in an accident for which you’re found at fault.
Property damage liability coverage: Covers the cost of damages to other vehicles and property involved in an accident that you caused.
Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and other members of your party, no matter who caused an accident.
Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical bills but not lost wages for you and your party, regardless of who is found at fault for a collision.
Underinsured motorist/uninsured motorist coverage: Covers your property and injury claims if an at-fault driver doesn’t have sufficient coverage to pay for them.
New Car Insurance Requirements
Some lenders require borrowers to carry new car insurance add-ons that cover damages to the vehicle in every circumstance. This is meant to protect the lender’s financial interest. That’s why you may be required to carry additional coverage options like these if you take out a loan to buy a new car:

Collision coverage: Covers damages to your vehicle regardless of who is found at fault for an accident.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers damages to your vehicle from sources other than accidents such as fires, theft or vandalism.
Gap insurance: This type of insurance covers the difference between what you owe on a vehicle and what it’s worth in the event of a total loss.
Loan or lease payoff: Covers the remaining balance on an auto loan or lease in the event of a total loss.
New Car Insurance Additional Coverage Options
While standard options are mostly the same from one provider to the next, many insurance companies differentiate themselves through additional choices. Many of these add-ons help to manage other aspects of new car ownership, such as breakdowns and emergencies.

Some of the most common optional coverages you’ll find are:

Roadside assistance: Covers the cost of emergency roadside services such as towing, fuel delivery and flat-tire repair or replacement.
Rental reimbursement: Covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced.
Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI): Covers repairs to certain car components following a breakdown, similar to an extended car warranty.
Rideshare insurance: Covers you during downtime if you drive for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber.
Travel expenses: Covers food, lodging and other travel costs if you can’t use your car following a covered loss away from home.
Most auto insurers offer unique lineups of optional new car insurance coverages. You can learn about all available options as well as what each plan covers by speaking with an agent.

[Image: List of common services found with roadside assistance programs at insurance companies]

New Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line
It’s best to get auto insurance for a new car before you buy it — and in many cases you’ll be required to. Thankfully, you have the ability to quickly get car insurance quotes online or over the phone with policies that can start the same day, if needed. We recommend that you compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers before purchasing a new vehicle.

New Car Insurance: Recommended Providers
It’s so easy to shop around for car insurance that you can probably do it while you wait for the financing department or another delay that’s involved in buying a car. Our team recommends State Farm and Travelers as good places to start your search.

State Farm: Editor’s Choice
State Farm is the nation’s largest insurer and it earned the highest score of all providers in our 2022 insurance study. Drivers can often find inexpensive new car insurance through State Farm, and the company also offers an extensive selection of additional coverage options. With a large number of insurance discounts to choose from, State Farm policyholders can get the coverage they want at affordable rates.

Keep reading: State Farm insurance review

Travelers: Most Coverage Options
People looking to cover as many parts of their new cars or motorcycles as possible may want to look at Travelers. In our 2022 insurance study, we found that the company has an ample coverage portfolio, with many of Travelers’ choices appealing to owners of new vehicles. For example, Premier New Car Replacement® will cover the cost of a brand-new replacement of the same make and model in the event of a total loss.

Keep reading: Travelers insurance review

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New Car Insurance: FAQ
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Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:

800 hours researched
45 companies reviewed
8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.

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