Auto-Owners insurance was founded in 1916, and it is headquartered in Lancing, Michigan. The company is among the middle-sized auto insurance providers in the US.
Similarly to another insurer we reviewed, Amica, there is nothing fancy about Auto-Owners Insurance. Its website is relatively plain, and no A-list celebrities were employed in its commercials.
In fact, Nascar driver Martin Truex Jr. is the only famous person that appears in its advertisements.
The similarities between Amica and Auto-Owners extend to the fantastic ratings that Auto-Owners insurance reviews assign to the company.
After studying in detail what Auto-Owners offers, we have to agree that these two insurance companies are extremely comparable.
Check the rest of this review to see why Auto-Owners might be the best choice for you.
Auto-Owners Car Insurance Review
Overall Product
Financial Strength
Services Offered
Customer Service
Insurance Rates
Carsurance Verdict:
Auto-Owners is an outstanding insurer. It’s affordable, and its customer service and financial strength ratings are pretty good. The only downside is the lack of online quotes. But despite that, we highly recommend checking this company out.
4.2
Pros
- Competitive prices
- Highly rated mobile app
- Above-average customer service
Cons
- Limited number of optional coverages
- Online quotes not available
Auto-Owners Insurance Company Product Reviews Overview
Auto-Owners sells its product in 26 US states; the full list is available on the company’s website. You can also use the website to file a claim and track its status. We should note that one thing you cannot do online is get a quote—sadly, the company does not offer this option. You will have to contact the nearest agent by phone or in-person to acquire an Auto-Owners Insurance quote.
However, those who prefer using the internet to manage their insurance will be compensated for the hassle by Auto-Owner’s fantastic mobile app. It lets you pay bills, organize documents, track claims, and view and download policy documents.
It has excellent ratings on the App Store and Google Play. Furthermore, the company is eager to reply to any review there by posting instructions or fixing the issue in question.
Auto-Owners car insurance reviews give them outstanding ratings in the customer service department, and the company offers prices that are among the best out there. The number of discounts is average, while there aren’t many coverage options.
However, those looking for basic car insurance will be pleased to know that Auto-Owners is among the best companies on the market. And those looking for extra coverage should check Auto-Owners’ excellent signature option.
Signature Feature: Personal Automobile Plus Package
As mentioned in a few Auto-Owners reviews, this coverage can be combined with several others, giving it a far better price than what you’d have if you bought them separately.
On top of that, it covers damages in case of identity theft, as well as the cost of rekeying locks, a lost cell phone, and much more. The total number of coverage additions is 10, meaning you will be protected from almost anything.
Join
341 Drivers
Who Got a Quote Today!
- Easy to Use
- Safe & Secure
- Best-Rated Car Insurance Companies
- Assisting Drivers Compare Rates & Save Since 2017
Financial Strength – Auto-Owners Reviews and Ratings
This parameter is typically not among the first buyers consider when searching for the right auto insurance. Low prices, excellent customer service, and great extra coverage options usually get the most attention.
However, a company’s financial strength is of utmost importance because if the company is not financially stable, it will not be able to pay claims in the event of an accident.
There should be no such worries here since the rating from A. M. Best is the best possible: A++, or “Superior.”
Additionally, the company is ranked as 375th in the Fortune 500 2018 list. This data indicates that an average shopper can rest assured that Auto-Owners is capable of paying their expenses if the unforeseen happens.
Types of Auto-Owners Car Insurance
It should be noted that this company does not offer as many options to choose from compared to the competition, meaning those looking for a specific add-on to their insurance policy should check other companies.
The basic coverage available includes collision, comprehensive, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, medical expenses, personal injury protection, and underinsured/uninsured motorist protection.
Additional Auto-Owners Insurance Auto Coverage Options
Gap Coverage – If you suffer a total loss, Auto-Owners will pay the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value and the amount left on your car loan.
Modified Vehicle/Classic Car Coverage – Auto-Owners also provides car insurance for classic, exotic, sports, and modified vehicles. Because every such vehicle is unique, the particular details of the coverage will have to be discussed with an agent.
Auto-Owners Insurance Roadside Assistance – If your car breaks down, this coverage helps immensely. It includes towing, battery jumps, tire replacement, locksmith assistance, oil and fuel delivery, and other similar services.
Customers who purchased this coverage can call 1-888-869-2642 at any time on any day of the year. The line is available in all 50 states and Canada.
Additional Expenses – This option covers all the expenses you may have while you are waiting for your damaged vehicle to be repaired. This includes rental car reimbursement, as well as food, lodging, and other incidental expenses in case your car is damaged far away from your residence.
Auto-Owners insurance reviews will remind you that it’s not often that a company bundles two already useful coverages with such a terrific option.
Diminished Value – If your vehicle suffers damage in an accident, its value will likely decrease, even after it gets repaired. If you buy this coverage, Auto-Owners will compensate you for the difference in cost. This is a perfect option for those on a tight budget.
Auto-Owners Insurance Customer Service
This company gets excellent results in the leading studies on customer satisfaction. In J.D. Power’s global ranking for 2020, the company is third from the top in the claims handling department, scoring 4.5 stars out of 5.
Auto-Owners ranks even better in the insurance shopping study, where it holds second place, behind Erie. Even in the regional J.D. Power study, Auto-Owners insurance customer satisfaction yields fantastic results. It is ranked first in the North Central region, second in the Central and the Southeast regions, and average in the Florida region.
Unfortunately, when we were writing this review, the company’s profile page on the Better Business Bureau was being updated, so we had no data to show. We will update this section as soon as the Auto-Owners insurance reviews with the BBB become available.
Its NAIC rating of 0.53 further confirms that Auto-Owners has outstanding customer service. This result is way below the average (which is exactly 1) for a company of Auto-Owners’ size.
To give some perspective, companies such as Geico, Progressive, and Farmers all have worse results, such as 0.62, 0.75, and 0.85. The lower the score is, the fewer complaints the company receives.
On websites like Yelp and Consumer Affairs, the reviews are strikingly negative. Drivers complained about how their Auto-Owners insurance claims were handled, especially if they were hit by Auto-Owners drivers.
However, this comes as no surprise since all of the major insurance providers get negative ratings on such sites. This is simply because a customer is more likely to leave a review online if the experience was overwhelmingly negative.
What we can take out of these negative comments is to take them with a grain of salt and look for some positive feedback to gauge and compare the validity of this issuer.
Auto-Owners Insurance Discounts
Auto-Owners offers a decent number of discounts that can significantly reduce premiums. None of these discounts make the company stand out from the competition.
However, every saved dollar counts.
If you think you are eligible for a significant number of discounts, American Family is worth checking out. If you are searching for the single highest discount, you will be pleased to know that MetLife offers up to 50% for the associated companies.
We have repeated ad nauseam how we dislike when a company does not show the exact reduction a discount brings. After all, everyone wants to know the exact Auto-Owners insurance payment they’d be billed after the discount is applied.
We have also mentioned numerous times that it is helpful both for the reviewers and the customers to know exactly how much a discount lowers the premium since everyone wants to choose a company where the discount they qualify for is the highest.
In this case, we can only plead once more with the company to update its site and advise a potential customer to call the Auto-Owners insurance phone number (1-800-288-8740) to inquire about the details.
Types of discounts:
Multi-Policy Discount – If you have purchased other policies from Auto-Owners, such as homeowners, condo, and life insurance, to name a few, you qualify for a discount.
Payment History – If you have paid your premium on time for the last 36 months, you can get a discount.
Paid in Full – If you pay the entire premium before the due date of your first bill, you will get a discount.
Green Discount – If you opt for paperless billing and if you pay your premiums online, you may get a discount. Reviews of Auto-Owners insurance agree that this is not just a significant discount, but a benefit for the environment as well.
Advance Quote – New applicants who request a quote before the policy’s effective date will get a discount.
Multi-Car – To qualify for this discount, you need to insure two or more private passenger vehicles on one policy at Auto-Owners.
Teen Driver Monitoring Discount – If the insured vehicle has a permanently installed Global Positioning System (GPS), a discount is available after a safe driving record is established.
Deductibles – Auto-Owners insurance reviews will highlight that the higher the deductible you choose, the lower your premium will be. Every insurance company in the US offers this option, and we would not call this a discount per se since you end up paying less for worse coverage. Still, it is something worth considering if your budget is tight.
Good Student Discount – Full-time students who have a good academic record (grade point average of “B” or higher) can get up to a 20% discount on their premium. Auto-Owners car insurance reviews and numerous ratings will remind you that keeping excellent grades pays off.
Favorable Loss History – If you have a favorable loss history (which in practice means no recent losses), you will get a lower premium. Based on our experience in the insurance industry, we can tell you that every company will offer a lower premium to a customer who is proven to be low risk.
Whatever your current car insurance company is if you did not get a discount after being loss-free for years, try shopping around, and you will see that there is an insurer that will offer you even lower rates.
Student Away at School Discount – An interesting addition noted in some Auto-Owners reviews is a discount that is applied if a teen driver on a policy is studying more than 100 miles away from home without a car.
Safety Feature Discounts – If your car is equipped with safety features such as an anti-lock brake system (ABS), airbags, or anti-theft devices, you may qualify for a discount.
TrueRide – This is a discount based on your driving habits. You will receive the initial discount just by enrolling in the program, and Auto-Owners will track how safely you drive by using a mobile app. At renewal, if your results pass the criteria, an even higher discount of up to 35% is available. The great news is that your premium will not increase no matter what the results are.
Auto-Owners Auto Insurance Rate Comparison
We were unable to conduct our research on the prices that the company offers since the online quote is not available. We did carefully compile and evaluate the data we had on hand to make the appropriate estimates.
However, this means that if you would like to get a quote, you will have to call the nearest insurance agent or visit the office in person.
For six-month Auto-Owners insurance car insurance quotes requested by ValuePenguin in Boulder, Colorado, the company offered prices that are on par with Geico for all age categories.
Given that Geico was the second cheapest option in our comprehensive analysis, this means that Auto-Owners is certainly among the least expensive options in the market.
It should be noted that this comparison is based on other reviews, meaning we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the data presented here. Additionally, the exact amount you will see on the final quote will always depend on several additional elements, such as your location, driving record, and many other factors.
Auto-Owners Auto Insurance Compared with Its Top Competitors
Auto-Owners vs Allstate
Auto-Owners is a significantly cheaper option than Allstate. It also scored better in J.D. Power’s 2020 claims satisfaction and shopping study. When it comes to discounts and optional coverages, neither of these two companies really excel.
Allstate offers guaranteed claims satisfaction, meaning you will get a refund if you are not pleased with the way your claim was processed, which is a great feature.
However, the overall metrics indicate that Auto-Owners is a better option for the average customer, mainly because of the lower prices and top-of-the-line customer service.
Auto-Owners Insurance vs State Farm
We were unable to find a direct comparison between the rates of these two companies.
However, given the fact that State Farm is among the most expensive insurers in our test, it is safe to assume that Auto-Owners is a cheaper option.
Additionally, you’ll see that it gets better results in the JD Power 2020 study in claims satisfaction and insurance shopping, according to many Auto-Owners insurance claims reviews.
The advantages of State Farm may be its willingness to take risky drivers and its bigger network of agents.
However, we would choose Auto-Owners in most cases because of the superb customer service, the excellent mobile app, and the great prices that the company offers.
Auto-Owners vs Travelers Insurance
Auto-Owners offers some of the best prices on the market. It’s no surprise that the Auto-Owners insurance cost for various products and services is cheaper than Travelers.
Travelers offer a few more options when it comes to discounts that can significantly reduce the premium. It is also an excellent choice for electric/hybrid car owners and new car owners, and it has a bigger network of local agents.
On the other hand, Auto-Owners has better scores when it comes to the customer satisfaction department. In the end, we think that competitive prices and excellent customer service are the two most important factors when choosing car insurance, meaning we have to give a slight edge to Auto-Owners.
Best Alternatives
The fact that Auto-Owners insurance rating is among the highest on the market should not mean that it’s not worth considering some other companies.
The overall insurance experience varies based on your location and your preferences. Thus, before making a final decision, it’s always smart to acquire a couple of quotes from different insurers to see which one fits your needs.
If you are looking for superb rates, Geico and Progressive are the top choices for all age demographics, while the latter company is also willing to accommodate riskier drivers.
Amica Mutual and Erie are worthy alternatives if you are looking for the finest customer service available, and they both offer reasonable rates. If you like to be spoiled with extra optional coverage choices, check Nationwide. If you are an older driver, The Hartford might be the right place for you.
Expert Thoughts
Auto-Owners insurance reviews hold the company in high regard. J.D. Power, a leading authority in the auto industry, ranks the company as third overall in the claims processing satisfaction and second overall in the insurance shopping study.
Other reviews praise the company too, placing it near the top in their rankings and citing fantastic rates and exceptional customer service as the most significant advantages while noting the lack of optional coverages and online tools as disadvantages. We fully agree with this assessment, and we recommend anybody looking for car insurance check Auto-Owners.
People Also Ask
Yes. Auto-Owners is good car insurance. With more than 3.2 billion in written premiums, it has a market share of 1.28%.
It offers excellent customer support, affordable prices for basic and comprehensive insurance, and considerable discounts.
Auto-Owners falls behind the industry leaders when it comes to the number of optional coverages, but it is not a significant drawback because it’s overshadowed by the benefits the company offers.
Auto-Owners has A++ Superior rating, which is the highest there is. Furthermore, the company holds that rating for 47 consecutive years. Besides that, it’s also featured in the Fortune 500 list.
This information indicates that Auto-Owners is a financially solid and reliable company that can cover any damage and expense.
When it comes to customer satisfaction, J.D.Power gave it 847 out of 1000 potential points.
Auto-Owners is a mutual-owned company, which means that its policyholders own it. The primary purpose is not making a profit but providing its members with insurance coverage at or near cost.
Members can also elect the management.
The company makes investments in different industries, and the profits are divided to the policyholders in the form of dividends or premium reductions. Mutual insurance companies are regulated by federal laws and can’t be listed on stock exchanges.
Accident forgiveness is an option that ensures your premium doesn’t go up if you had an accident in a previous insurance period. Many companies provide this option, and you mostly have to pay extra for it.
Auto-Owners doesn’t have an accident forgiveness option in general. But this might differ locally since the company relies on its extensive network of local agents. It’s best to consult with them.
Yes, Auto-Owners’ comprehensive insurance policy will cover the expenses of a windshield repair or replacement, but there will probably be a deductible unless it’s specified differently in the policy or regulated by state laws.
You can choose a body shop where your windshield will be repaired or replaced after calling the company’s Quest Claims Service.
If a crack is less than 6 inches long, it can probably be repaired. Cracks longer than that require windshield replacement.
Auto-Owners operates in the following 26 states:
– Alabama
– Arizona
– Arkansas
– Colorado
– Florida
– Georgia
– Idaho
– Illinois
– Indiana
– Iowa
– Kansas
– Kentucky
– Michigan
– Minnesota
– Missouri
– Nebraska
– North Carolina
– North Dakota
– Ohio
– Pennsylvania
– South Carolina
– South Dakota
– Tennessee
– Utah
– Virginia
– Wisconsin
The company provides the same high level of service in all regions we’ve mentioned above, and it’s confirmed by many positive Auto-Owners insurance reviews from these states.