Best Auto Insurance Companies That Don’t Charge Late Fees in 2024 (Our Top 10 Picks)
Amica, USAA, and Geico are the best auto insurance companies that don't charge late fees for missed payments. Avoid auto insurance late fees with automatic bill pay. USAA has one of the biggest auto-pay car insurance discount of 3%.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 25, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 25, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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768 reviewsCompany Facts
Full Coverage for Companies That Dont Charge Late Fees
A.M. Best Rating
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Full Coverage for Companies That Dont Charge Late Fees
A.M. Best Rating
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6,435 reviews
19,116 reviewsCompany Facts
Full Coverage for Companies That Dont Charge Late Fees
A.M. Best Rating
Complaint Level
Pros & Cons
19,116 reviewsAmica, USAA, and Geico are the best auto insurance companies that don’t charge late fees. They even offer small discounts if you sign up for automatic payments, reducing your risk of having late payments.
Other auto insurance companies that don’t penalize for a lapse in coverage are below.
Our Top 10 Picks: Best Auto Insurance Companies That Don't Charge Late Fees
| Company | Rank | Low Mileage Discount | Safe Driver Discount | Best For | Jump to Pros/Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | #1 | 15% | 25% | Customer Service | Amica |
 | #2 | 20% | 15% | Military Families | USAA |
 | #3 | 25% | 25% | Online Services | Geico |
 | #4 | 10% | 10-20% | Financial Stability | Auto-Owners |
 | #5 | 10% | 10-30% | Personalized Service | Erie |
 | #6 | 20% | 25% | AARP Members | The Hartford |
 | #7 | 40% | 10% | Coverage Options | Nationwide |
 | #8 | 30% | 30% | Innovative Solutions | Progressive |
 | #9 | 30% | 30% | Agent Network | State Farm |
 | #10 | 30% | 25% | Various Options | Liberty Mutual |
If you had a late payment and lapse in coverage, try our comparison tool to find the cheapest auto insurance after a lapse in coverage.
- Amica is the best company that doesn’t charge late fees
- USAA and Geico also don’t penalize with late fees
- Frequent late payments may result in being dropped
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#1 – Amica: Top Pick Overall
Pros
- Customer Service: Amica has decent customer service ratings. Learn more in our Amica auto insurance review.
- Discounts: Amica has a good selection of discounts, which you can learn about in our article on Amica auto insurance discounts.
- Add-On Coverages: Amica offers rideshare insurance, gap insurance, and other add-on coverage.
Cons
- Not Available in Hawaii: Amica sells auto insurance in all states except Hawaii.
- Annual Policy Availability: Amica doesn’t sell 12-month policies in most states.
#2 – USAA: Best for Military Families
Pros
- Military Families: USAA has the best coverage and rates for military families who are shopping for insurance. Learn more in our USAA review.
- Non-Auto Discounts: USAA members can get discounts on shopping and traveling.
- Coverage Options: USAA offers plenty of auto insurance coverages for well-rounded policies.
Cons
- Eligibility: Most drivers won’t qualify for coverage because USAA is exclusively for military and veterans.
- Mainly Virtual Communication: USAA has few buildings with in-person agents.
#3 – Geico: Best for Online Services
Pros
- Online Services: Geico’s app allows customers to file claims, make policy changes, and more.
- Financial Stability: Geico is one of the market’s largest and most financially stable companies. Learn about its financial ratings in our Geico review.
- Discount Options: Geico has a good selection of discounts that benefit drivers.
Cons
- UBI Availability: Geico doesn’t offer its UBI discount in every state.
- Virtual Communication: Geico’s local agents aren’t as numerous as other companies.
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#4 – Auto-Owners: Best for Financial Stability
Pros
- Financial Stability: Auto-Owners has good financial stability ratings. Read more about these ratings in our Auto-Owners review.
- Local Agents: Most customers will be able to find a local agent nearby.
- Accident Forgiveness: Good drivers are rewarded with accident forgiveness at Auto-Owners.
Cons
- Agent-Only Quotes: Auto-Owners doesn’t offer online auto insurance quotes.
- Availability: Auto-Owners’ auto insurance is not sold in every state.
#5 – Erie: Best for Personalized Service
Pros
- Personalized Service: Erie’s agents can help customers create personalized policies, make policy changes, and more.
- Rate Lock: Erie’s rate lock is a huge plus for customers. Learn more about it in our Erie review.
- Discount Options: Erie offers good student discounts, diminishing deductibles, and more.
Cons
- Availability: Erie isn’t sold in all states.
- UBI Availability: Erie’s UBI program isn’t available in every state where it sells auto insurance.
#6 – The Hartford: Best for AARP Members
Pros
- AARP Members: The Hartford is a great choice of provider for AARP members. Read our review of The Hartford to find out more.
- Accident Forgiveness: Safe drivers can benefit from The Hartford’s accident forgiveness.
- Coverage Options: Customers can tailor policies to meet their needs.
Cons
- Best for Older Drivers: Younger drivers won’t get the cheapest rates at The Hartford.
- Customer Ratings: The Hartford has some negative customer satisfaction ratings.
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#7 – Nationwide: Best for Coverage Options
Pros
- Coverage Options: Nationwide offers a variety of auto coverages, which you can read more about in our Nationwide review.
- Vanishing Deductibles: Nationwide reduces deductibles for safe drivers.
- Discount Options: Nationwide has good driver discounts, good student discounts, and many more.
Cons
- Availability: A few states don’t have Nationwide auto insurance.
- DUI Drivers: Nationwide’s rates for DUI drivers aren’t as competitive as other companies.
#8 – Progressive: Best for Innovative Solutions
Pros
- Innovative Solutions: Progressive has some great innovative solutions for customers, like its Name Your Price Tool. Learn more in our Progressive review.
- Add-On Coverages: Progressive has options like pet coverage to round out a policy.
- Availability: Progressive auto insurance is sold in every state.
Cons
- UBI Rate Increases: Progressive’s UBI program may raise rates for drivers who score poorly.
- Mixed Reviews: Progressive’s customer satisfaction ratings are only average.
#9 – State Farm: Best for Agent Network
Pros
- Agent Network: State Farm has one of the best local agent networks. You can learn more about it in our review of State Farm.
- Financial Stability: The company has high financial stability ratings.
- Coverage Options: You can customize a policy with different add-ons and deductible options.
Cons
- Agent-Only Purchases: You can’t buy State Farm insurance online.
- UBI Availability: The discount from State Farm’s UBI program isn’t available in a few states.
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#10 – Liberty Mutual: Best for Various Options
Pros
- Various Options: Liberty Mutual’s various insurance options make it easy to personalize and bundle policies.
- Discount Options: Liberty Mutual offers bundling discounts, good driver discounts, and many more.
- Financial Stability: Liberty Mutual has high ratings for financial strength. Read more about its ratings in our review of Liberty Mutual.
Cons
- UBI Availability: Liberty Mutual’s discount for safe driving is not available in all states.
- Customer Ratings: The company has some negative customer ratings.
What to Do When You Miss an Auto Insurance Payment
If you miss an auto insurance payment, correcting the issue as soon as possible is important. If you don’t make a payment before the company’s grace period ends, it will drop you as a customer. This will result in a lapse of coverage, raising your future auto insurance rates.
Make sure to contact your auto insurance company immediately if you miss a payment so that it doesn't lead to coverage lapse. Lapses in auto insurance are serious, as driving without insurance is illegal.Brandon Frady Licensed Insurance Producer
If you are considering missing an auto insurance payment because you can’t afford to pay it, speak to your auto insurance company as soon as possible. An agent may be able to help you adjust coverages to make payments more affordable (read more: What to do if You Can’t Pay Your Auto Insurance).
Pay Premiums on Time to Save Money on Auto Insurance
There are quite a few discounts offered that center around payments. Paying online, paying in full, and other payment methods can earn you a discount.
Autopay is a great way to avoid late payments and earn discounts. Read more in our article on how to get an electronic automatic billing auto insurance discount. Paying automatically each month is often the best choice for most drivers.
If you aren’t sure how much your monthly automatic payments should be, below are the average month-by-month car insurance rates at the best companies that don’t charge late fees.
Auto Insurance Monthly Rates for Companies That Don’t Charge Late Fees by Coverage Level
| Insurance Company | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Amica | $46 | $151 |
| Auto-Owners | $33 | $87 |
| Erie | $22 | $58 |
| Geico | $30 | $80 |
| Liberty Mutual | $68 | $174 |
| Nationwide | $44 | $115 |
| Progressive | $44 | $105 |
| State Farm | $33 | $86 |
| The Hartford | $43 | $113 |
| USAA | $22 | $59 |
Most companies, such as Geico auto bill pay, make it easy to set up auto-pay no matter which coverage you purchase. They also offer plenty of discounts besides payment discounts that will help lower your rates.
Safe driving discounts are often among the biggest discounts possible at auto insurance companies. You can also look for auto insurance with no down payment to save further.
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How to Avoid Auto Insurance Late Fees
Knowing how to avoid late fees is important. There are a few ways to avoid late fees.
- Auto-Payments: When you set up auto-pay, you are charged automatically monthly for insurance (read more about payment frequency: how often is auto insurance paid?).
- Payment-in-Full: You pay for the entire coverage period, often six months, so you don’t have to worry about monthly payments (learn more: Should I pay my auto insurance in full?).
You can often easily set up auto-payments or pay in full on a company’s app, such as Geico’s mobile app. Company apps make it easy to make payments instantly from your phone and avoid late payments. You can also pay online from your desktop or laptop (learn about online payments: Can I pay my auto insurance online?).
Negotiating Auto Insurance Company Late Fees
If you are charged a late fee, there is often little you can do unless the company made an error. However, if you are unable to pay the late fee, it doesn’t hurt to call the auto insurance company and try to negotiate the fee. The company may be able to drop the fee or work with you on a better payment plan.
Late fees aren’t as serious as a lapse in car insurance penalty, in which case you will need to get temporary auto insurance immediately to avoid driving illegally, so it may be easier to work something out with your auto insurance company.
Find the Best Auto Insurance Companies With No Late Fees
Amica, USAA, Geico, and many more companies don’t charge late fees. However, you still need to be careful in avoiding late payments, which can result in an auto insurance lapse. Auto insurance for lapsed coverage is much more expensive, so making payments on time is important.
For more information, check out our article: What You Should Do If Your Auto Insurance Expired Yesterday
If you want to find the best auto insurance after a lapse in coverage, check out our free quote comparison tool.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you miss an auto insurance payment?
If you miss an auto insurance payment, most companies offer a short grace period for you to make the payment without penalty. If you don’t pay within that grace period, you could be charged a late fee or have your insurance dropped. Learn more about payments in our guide: How do auto insurance payments work?
Does Progressive charge a late fee?
Progressive doesn’t charge a late fee if you pay within its grace period. You can avoid fees by signing up for Progressive auto bill pay.
Does Allstate have an auto insurance grace period for late fees?
Yes, Allstate has an auto insurance grace period where you won’t be charged late fees. However, it is easier to avoid fees on month-by-month auto insurance if you sign up for autopay.
Do auto insurance companies charge late fees?
Yes, some auto insurance companies charge late fees, and if you still don’t pay, they will cancel for nonpayment. If your insurance was canceled, make sure to read up on what to do if your auto insurance company canceled for nonpayment.
How much is a USAA auto insurance late fee?
It depends on how late the payment is. USAA doesn’t charge a late fee if you are within the grace period. Make sure to look at your auto insurance billing options to avoid late fees.
Does Nationwide have an insurance late payment policy?
Yes, Nationwide offers a car insurance grace period, and it will keep you covered under temporary car insurance for a certain period of time before it drops you as a customer.
Can you dispute an auto insurance late fee?
If the late payment was an error on the company’s part, such as its auto-payment not working, you may be able to dispute the fee.
Does paying auto insurance late affect credit?
If auto insurance companies send your unpaid bills to debt collection, it can affect your credit score. Learn more in our guide: Does not paying for auto insurance affect credit?
How do you negotiate auto insurance late fees?
The only way you can negotiate auto insurance late fees is if the company makes an error.
Can I cancel my auto insurance at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your auto insurance at any time if you want to switch to a better company. If you want to look for the best auto insurance with no deposit, try our comparison tool.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
