ALBANY, N.Y. – A relatively small insurer in the New York market, Amica Mutual Insurance Company, ranks best in the state Insurance Department’s annual list based on automobile insurance complaints.

The state’s largest auto insurer, Allstate, ranked 32nd among the 49 companies rated.

The department considers the list a tool for consumers interested in measuring customer service when they are selecting an automobile insurer.

“When buying insurance, price, of course, is important, but the service an auto insurer provides should not be overlooked,” said state Insurance Superintendent Gregory Serio as he released the 2004 rankings.

The rankings are based on complaints to the department by consumers that were upheld in 2003.

The number of complaints upheld is measured against the total premiums charged by the company to produce a complaint ratio – the lower it is, the better.

Mr. Serio noted that New Yorkers spent more than $10 billion on auto insurance in 2003. He said the average complaint ratio for all companies was 0.27 per $1 million in premiums.

Amica, which had premiums in New York of just $99 million for 2003, had a complaint ratio of 0.01, according to Mr. Serio. Lowest rated was Leucadia with an 18.78 ratio.

Allstate, with $1.7 billion in premiums, had a 0.22 complaint ratio.

Among the 10 largest auto insurers in the state, New York Central Mutual (ninth largest) came out the best, ranked at 12th. The second largest firm operating in New York, Geico, ranked 38th while the third largest firm, State Farm, ranked 15th.

The complete list of rankings are available at the department’s Web site: http://www.ins.state.ny.us or consumers can have it mailed to them by calling the department’s toll-free line at 1-800-342-3736 and asking for publication No. 6.