Safeco’s motto is “Always clear. Never complicated.” Unfortunately, some Safeco insurance reviews are anything but clear and may only confuse you. We are here to correct that by giving you a detailed analysis of the company, its pros and cons, and a plan recommendation.
The company was founded in 1923 in Seattle, Washington. Its name is an acronym for Selective Auto and Fire Ensurance Company of America. In 2008, Safeco was acquired by Liberty Mutual; however, the company still sells personal insurance, such as life, homeowners, and auto, through its independent agents. Safeco takes pride in its network of agents and their professionalism, but you can also get a Safeco insurance quote online.
One of the greatest things about the company is its involvement in helping the community. Among other things, Safeco has established an Insurance Fund that supports nonprofit organizations within the state of Washington, which offers education to the unprivileged, helps the homeless, and empowers those with disabilities. Now that we’ve established that the company is great at helping people, let’s see how well it performs when it comes to insuring them.
Safeco Auto Insurance Review
Overall Product
Financial Strength
Services Offered
Customer Service
Insurance Rates
Carsurance Verdict:
Safeco offers excellent rates for older drivers and a variety of discounts and optional coverages. However, it’s quite expensive for younger clients, and its customer service is mostly average. That’s why Safeco may be a great option for some, but there are more rounded companies available.
3.9
Pros
- Great rates for older drivers
- Several discounts
- Good coverage options
- Decent online tools
Cons
- Bad rates for younger drivers
- Below average customer service
Safeco Auto Insurance: Product Overview
Features
Safeco sells insurance in all 50 US states, and it can be purchased through a network of independent agents. The company insists on working with independent agents because they are not obliged to sell you any particular type of insurance or choose any specific carrier. This is a practice that benefits its company and also its customers.
The company has a decent mobile app, which lets you report accidents, view your insurance documents, pay bills, or contact Safeco roadside assistance. Safeco also has an easy-to-use website, which can provide you with an online quote, put you in touch with the nearest agent or let you file or track a claim online.
The rates seem to be average for middle-aged drivers, higher for younger drivers, and lower for older drivers, it seems that Safeco has the word “safe” in its name for a reason. There are many safety discounts offered, and the company provides some coverages that are very unique and useful.
Signature Feature
One of the great features offered by Safeco is the Safeco Insurance Claims Valet Service, which takes rental car reimbursement coverage to a whole new level.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident but is still in drivable condition, Safeco will send a valet driver to deliver a rental car for you to use while you are waiting for your vehicle. The driver will also take your damaged vehicle to be fixed and deliver it back to you when it’s done.
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Financial Strength
The financial strength of a company should be among the first things to consider when choosing insurance. No matter how reliable the customer service is or how pleased you are with the coverage, it’s worth nothing if the company isn’t capable of paying their claims.
Safeco insurance ratings are great when it comes to financial stability. For instance, it has an “A” or “Excellent,”A. M. Best rating, meaning the company certainly has stable finances. The company is also a part of the Liberty Mutual Group, another big insurance player, indicating that there should be no worries that Safeco is capable of paying claims.
Types of Insurance Offered
Safeco offers all the coverages that are commonly found in the insurance industry, such as collision, comprehensive, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, medical expenses, personal injury protection, and underinsured/uninsured motorist protection.
The company also offers some noteworthy additional coverages, which are clients’ favorites, according to their Safeco reviews.
Roadside Assistance
This is an inexpensive add-on that offers towing, roadside repairs, oil delivery, locksmith assistance, and other similar services if your car breaks down.
Emergency Assistance Package
This option includes all benefits offered by Roadside Assistance, and it adds up to $100 in expenses and up to $500 in meals, lodging, and transportation if an accident happens to you more than 25 miles away from your home. It also covers personal items that are stolen or damaged.
Safeco rideshare insurance
If you are using your vehicle to drive for Uber or Lyft, you are fully covered by the company’s insurance only when you have a passenger in your car or when you are driving to pick up a match. Safeco offers an option that covers you also when you are waiting for a match. This coverage is not available in all US states.
Reimbursement for First Aid
Every Safeco auto policy includes up to $10,000 in coverage for the reimbursement of first aid given to victims after an accident. This is not commonly found in the insurance industry, and we can only praise Safeco for this fine offer.
Rental Car Reimbursement
This option covers the expenses of a rented car while you are waiting for your damaged vehicle to be repaired. Customers with Rental Car Reimbursement coverage may also qualify for Safeco auto insurance Claims Valet Service. To find out more about this excellent option, check the “Signature Feature” section of this review.
Gap Coverage
If your car is totaled in an accident, this coverage pays the difference between the actual cash value and the amount left on your loan or lease.
Electronic Key and Lock Replacement
If your electronic car keys are stolen, Safeco will replace them without applying any deductible. This also applies to any control pads or locks.
New Car Replacement
If your car is less than a year old, and it is totaled, Safeco will pay you the equivalent value for the same new vehicle.
Safeco Umbrella Policy
The main purpose is to provide an additional layer of personal liability protection. If a client causes an accident with damages surpassing their coverage, Umbrella will cover the additional expenses. What’s great about it is that everyone can buy this additional policy – you can have basic coverage from another insurer.
Audio-Visual and Custom Equipment Coverage
This option covers professionally installed aftermarket parts, such as custom engines, special rims, bumpers, or custom paint jobs. Your Safeco insurance claims payout will also include reimbursement for any damaged audio-visual equipment like high-end speakers, video screens, etc.
Pet Coverage
This option covers veterinary expenses if your furry friend gets injured or dies in an accident.
Personal Property Coverage
If personal belongings are stolen from your vehicle or damaged in an accident, this option will cover the expenses.
Collectible Car Coverage
Safeco is one of the couple insurers that offer classic car insurance. Their biggest upside is that they offer outstanding protection even for vintage cars that are used regularly.
Safeco Insurance Customer Service
The company doesn’t have stellar J.D. Power ratings, What’s even more discouraging is the high NAIC complaint index – 1.19. The expected number of complaints for its market share is represented as 1.
But, one fact strikes the eye – more than 50% of all companies’ national complaints come from California, Montana, and Colorado. There is a possibility that these bad Safeco auto insurance reviews are caused by bad local management and not by the company as a whole. If you live in one of these states, maybe you would be better off with another insurer.
One rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch, and some local results make the company’s national NAIC complaint index higher.
Just like most US insurance companies, Safeco has some negative reviews on websites such as Yelp and ConsumerAffairs, with customers complaining about low Safeco insurance claims settlement, unresponsive customer service while filing a claim, and slow roadside assistance.
However, this can be attributed to the fact that a customer is always more likely to take the time to leave a comment if the experience was overwhelmingly negative. Satisfied clients rarely leave reviews, and they are not so passionate when they do.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t rely on Safeco insurance reviews from BBB in helping us out in our research – the company is not accredited on the Better Business Bureau website.
However, the parent company, Liberty Mutual, holds a B+ rating. Our overall impression, especially given the low scores in the J.D. Power study, is that if you want top-notch customer service, you should look elsewhere.
Safeco Insurance Discounts
Safeco offers a significant number of discounts that can reduce your premium. These discounts can be quite useful, given the high rates the company offers for some driver categories. What we didn’t like is that, on the company’s website, only a few discounts have a percentage listed to show you exactly how much they decrease a premium.
This information is essential for reviewers because many companies offer similar discounts and our goal is to direct readers to a company where they can get the lowest prices possible. While we prefer having all the data listed online, there’s always the option to call an agent and get a Safeco auto insurance quote and verify specific details.
Below are the discounts offered by Safeco:
Bundle Discount – If you buy both home and auto insurance with Safeco, you can save up to 15%.
Low Usage Discount – You can save up to 20% if you don’t use your car often (drive less than 8,000 miles a year). To qualify for this discount you have to provide proof of your low mileage to Safeco.
Homeowners Discount – If you own a home, townhouse, condo, or even a mobile home, you can get a discount.
Multiple Vehicle Discount – If you are insuring more than one vehicle with Safeco, you can get a discount.
Safeco Accident Forgiveness – If you’ve been insured by Safeco for a certain amount of years without being in an at-fault accident or violation, your first accident will be forgiven—meaning your premium will not increase.
Pay in Full –You will get a discount if you pay the entire amount at once.
Good Student Discount – A student who has a grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better, makes the honor roll, or is in the top 20% of their class, can get a discount on their Safeco car insurance quote.
Accident Prevention Discount – Drivers who are 55 years or older and pass an accredited accident prevention course can get a discount that lasts for three years.
New Teen Reward – If you have had insurance with Safeco for more than one year, you can get up to a 27% discount when you add a new teen driver to your policy—an appreciated feature, according to a few Safeco insurance reviews submitted by clients.
Teen Driving Training Discount – If a teen driver completes an accredited driving education program, a discount is available.
Student Away from Home Discount – This discount is available if a teen driver on a policy is attending school more than 100 miles away from home without a car.
Newly Independent Discount – When a driver who was already listed on a Safeco policy gets their own policy, this discount applies. This is an excellent option for students who are starting their own life away from their parents. The process is simple – after applying, Safeco insurance reviews your policy and applies discounts.
Safety Features Discount – If your car is equipped with an anti-theft device such as an alarm or engine blocker, a discount is available.
Anti-Lock Brakes Discount – In some states, if you own a vehicle with a factory installed ABS (anti-lock brake system), you can get a discount.
Safeco RightTrack® Discount – If you enroll in this program, Safeco will track your driving habits using either a mobile app or a device installed in your car. They will trace how much you drive, whether or not you drive at night and whether or not you accelerate fast and/or brake suddenly. If your results are good, you can get up to 30% off your premium. Safeco won’t cancel your policy if it deems you an unsafe driver.
Tenure Reward – This discount is available in states where the New Teen Reward is not available. If you had a policy with Safeco for more than two years, you can get a discount when you add a new teen driver to your policy.
Diminishing Deductible Discount – With every renewal, your deductible decreases by $100 if there were no claims filed. The maximum decrease is $500.
Safeco Car Insurance Rates
The company offers rates that are among the more expensive, unless you are an older driver. A report that compared quotes from four major insurance companies found that Safeco is by far the most expensive option for an 18-year-old male driver.
It cost more than $3,000 per year than the cheapest option, which was Allstate. However, for an 81-year-old driver, Safeco was the second cheapest, costing only $8 more per year than Farmers.
Safeco Insurance Review – Monthly Premium for Different Driver Categories
Middle-aged Drivers
After requesting a quote for a 40-year-old driver, we compared the quote to multiple competing insurance companies. Our research found that Safeco scored in the middle, with a monthly premium of $210.
Progressive was by far the cheapest option, with a premium of $130, while State Farm was the most expensive with a premium of $307. Then we took our Safeco auto insurance review a step further and tested out different age demographics.
Younger Drivers
For a younger driver, Safeco is the most expensive option and should be chosen only if you can get some of the many discounts available for teen drivers. For middle-aged folks, Safeco insurance offers competitive rates while not being the best, meaning that it can be a very good choice even if not all of the discounts apply.
Older Drivers
For older drivers, Safeco offers excellent rates, indicating it should be near the top of their shortlist if they are looking for the best prices.
Comparison: Competitors vs. Safeco Reviews
Safeco vs. Travelers Insurance
Travelers is a cheaper option than Safeco per our data. In the customer service department, both Safeco and Travelers have the same score of 3 out of 5 stars in J.D. Power’s ranking in the claims satisfaction and shopping study.
Also, in regional rankings, the companies usually score in the lower half. Both companies offer a similar number of discounts, but their discounts are aimed at different customers. For instance, Safeco insurance offers a low mileage discount, while Travelers doesn’t. This means that the specific coverages and discounts offered by the two companies will be the deciding factor when trying to choose between the two.
Safeco vs. Allstate
The general trend with Safeco pricing is visible when compared with Allstate as well, meaning that they have similar prices for middle-aged drivers, Safeco offers better rates for older drivers, while Allstate has better prices for younger drivers.
When it comes to customer service, neither of these companies excel. Allstate scores 3 out of 5 stars in the J.D. Power ranking in claims satisfaction study and 2 out of 5 in the shopping study. Not exactly a score that would make you cancel Safeco insurance and go running to Allstate.
However, Allstate has significantly better regional scores than Safeco. The company also has guaranteed claims satisfaction, something that the best auto insurance reviews praise highly. It warrants that you will get a refund if you are not pleased with the way your claim was processed. If you are not an older driver or interested in some unique discounts or coverages offered by Safeco, we suggest Allstate insurance.
Safeco vs. State Farm
State Farm comes in as the most expensive option in our study, with the monthly premium for a 40-year-old driver being almost $100 higher than Safeco. State Farm does have a reputation for excellent customer service per some reviews; however, this is not confirmed by the J.D. Power rating.
The company has a score of 3 out of 5 stars in the claims satisfaction and shopping study. It shows that State Farm does roughly the same as Safeco in the claims complaints area. However, neither of them is stellar.
State Farm is more willing to take risky drivers compared to Safeco, who likes to play it safe with low-risk drivers. Based on this information, we would advise younger and riskier drivers to check out State Farm, while we would suggest that all other drivers give Safeco a chance.
Another area where State Farm does a bit better is roadside assistance. With Safeco insurance, towing is covered for up to 15 miles, and State Farm covers the entire trip to the repair facility. People who’ve used it say that it can go even above 100 miles. So, if you like to take long trips to sparsely populated areas, State Farm might be a better choice.
Best Alternatives
Progressive insurance is a good option for high-risk drivers and those who are working on a tight budget since the company offers the most competitive rates overall. For those with a newer car, Travelers is one of the best options, since they offer up to five years for newer car replacement.
If you have a Safeco vs. Geico dilemma, the latter would be better if you are looking for lower prices and decent customer service. Geico was even mentioned in the song “Gold Digger” by Kanye West. Not many insurance companies can boast about that. However, Safeco remains one of the finest options for older drivers with good driving records.
However, If you are looking for the finest customer service, Erie and Amica Mutual are two companies that score highly in the J.D. Power study.
Expert Thoughts – Summary of Safeco Auto Insurance Reviews
Insurance experts award Safeco with average ratings. In its study, J.D. Power gives the company 3 stars out of 5 for customer service satisfaction. Unfortunately, the NAIC complaint ratio is 1.19, which is slightly worse than expected for a company of its size ( the expected number is represented as 1).
However, this average number is contributed by high numbers of Safeco insurance complaints in the three states we’ve mentioned above. It could be just a local issue, but it affects the index on a national level.
The company offers good coverage options and some nice perks, so we wouldn’t disqualify it because of a few bar reviews. The best thing is to call the agent. As we’ve mentioned, the company works with independent agents, who are not obliged to sell any specific car insurance. That implies they are pretty confident about the quality of their service. And that says something.
People Also Ask
Is Safeco Insurance any good?
Safeco is a more than decent car insurance. The company has affordable rates, good coverage options, a large number of discounts, and some unique features like valet driver services. One of the most significant drawbacks is customer service. It is below average in some regions. On the upside, the company has a below-average number of complaints compared to its size.
Is Safeco an A rated company?
Yes, Safeco has an A (Excellent) AM Best rating. This is a third-best result, after A++ and A+, and shows that the company is perfectly capable of solving and paying any claim made by its customers. Safeco also has a high A rating on the S&P list and is A2 rated by Moody’s. Safeco’s parent company Liberty Mutual also has an A (Excellent) AM Best rating.
Is Liberty Mutual and Safeco the same?
Liberty Mutual bought the Safeco insurance company in 2008. but it continues to function as a separate company, offering its insurance under its name through independent agents. Although they are both in the car insurance business, the two companies have a different client base, and their plans and discounts differ. If you are shopping for insurance, you should explore both offers.
Who is better Progressive or Safeco?
Progressive is a much larger company with better financial strength than Safeco. Its AM Best rating is Superior, while Safeco has an Excellent rating. Both companies have slightly below average J.D.Power ratings and similar user satisfaction. It’s hard to say which one is better because it depends on personal preferences and overall client’s situation, but as a rule, we can say that teen drivers should choose Safeco over Progressive.
Does Safeco have a cancellation fee?
There are no fees for canceling your Safeco car insurance. If you want to cancel it, you have to contact your local agent. They will give you the form to fill and then send it to the company. You can download this request and send it online but to the agent. He will pass it on to the company. You should buy another insurance policy before canceling your current one so you wouldn’t have car insurance gaps.
Is Safeco good at paying claims?
Safeco is pretty decent at paying claims. It is financially solid (confirmed by its high AM Best rating) and average customer satisfaction ratings. However, the number of complaints is higher than expected for a company of its size. The average waiting time for the claim to be processed and paid varies depending on the severity, documentation needed, and other factors. We can agree with many Safeco insurance reviews that the procedure can be lengthy sometimes, but it mostly depends on the claim complexity.