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Plutus Award winner
Over 12 years writing about insurance and personal finance
Emily is a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer and former educator who makes complex financial topics easy to understand. She specializes in the science behind money habits and has written for outlets like The Huffington Post, Business Insider, and The Washington Post.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Updated
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Table of contents
Founded in 1916, Auto-Owners has sold auto insurance and worked to provide excellent customer service for more than a century.[1] The insurer offers a robust menu of discounts and optional coverages for drivers at a lower-than-average rate. But Auto-Owners only sells insurance in 26 states, and some customers have left negative reviews online.
Here’s what you need to know about Auto-Owners so you can decide if this car insurance company is the right fit for your needs. You should always compare quotes from multiple insurers before choosing a policy.
Optional coverage offerings from Auto-Owners include additional expense coverage, road-trouble service coverage, diminished value coverage, and loan or lease gap coverage.
This company exclusively uses independent insurance agents, so you can’t get a quote or purchase a policy online.
Auto-Owners also offers homeowners insurance, pet insurance, life insurance, and other insurance products.
How Auto-Owners compares to other insurance companies
| User Reviews | 4.3 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.2 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $45/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $78/mo |
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
If you live in one of the 26 states the company sells auto coverage in, Auto-Owners may be a good choice for you. Compared to its direct competitors — like American Family, COUNTRY Financial, Erie, and State Auto — Auto-Owners has cheaper rates, more discounts, and greater availability. It also has a higher financial strength rating from AM Best.
Auto-Owners has similar customer service offerings as other car insurance companies. While rating agencies give it high marks for customer satisfaction, customers list issues with filing claims as their biggest grievance in Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot reviews.
Learn more about how Auto-Owners compares to competitors below.
High customer satisfaction
Multiple discounts
Employs more than 48,000 agents
Only available in 26 states
Poor 2.1 Trustpilot score
Doesn’t offer online quoting
Factor | How Auto-Owners Compares |
|---|---|
| Rates | Cheaper |
| Customer service | Similar to competitors |
| Discounts | More than competitors |
| Availability | More than competitors |
| Financial strength | Stronger than competitors |
Our editorial team spent 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1-to-5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: We use data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer’s transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.
How Auto-Owners rates compare to competitors
Auto-Owners has lower average rates than many competitors and the national average cost of insurance. See how full-coverage quotes from Auto-Owners compare to other insurers below.
Full-Coverage Rates by Insurance Company
Average cost of Auto-Owners car insurance
How much you pay for your car insurance policy will depend on your driving record and age.
People with clean driving records pay the lowest rates on average, while drivers with one or more speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs pay higher premiums. Teenagers face the highest rates by driver age due to a lack of driving experience. Insurance premiums typically decrease with age for drivers 25 and older but start to increase again slightly for older drivers 70 and older.
The average cost of insurance from Auto-Owners is much cheaper than the national average cost of auto coverage. See how average monthly liability quotes from Auto-Owners vary by driver type and compare to the national monthly average.
Driver Type | Auto-Owners Average Quote | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a clean record | $45 | $100 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $59 | $127 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | $57 | $133 |
| Drivers with a DUI | $66 | $147 |
| Teen drivers | $94 | $193 |
| Senior drivers | $33 | $85 |
Auto-Owners car insurance cost by state
The average price of auto insurance can vary a great deal by state due to location-based risks for drivers and unique requirements for bodily injury liability and property liability insurance. Insurers adjust their premium costs according to those risks, which is why your state’s average rates may be higher or lower than the national average.
Auto-Owners typically offers lower average premiums than the state average and other insurers operating in the same states, but the cost of coverage depends on your driving record and other factors.
Below, you can see the average monthly cost of liability coverage by state from Auto-Owners.
State | Auto-Owners Average Quote | State Average |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54 | $65 |
| Arizona | $76 | $93 |
| Arkansas | $77 | $82 |
| Colorado | $109 | $93 |
| Georgia | $93 | $159 |
| Illinois | $48 | $80 |
| Indiana | $44 | $67 |
| Iowa | $38 | $53 |
| Kentucky | $102 | $115 |
| Michigan | $67 | $137 |
| Missouri | $166 | $90 |
| Nebraska | $43 | $70 |
| Ohio | $54 | $69 |
| Pennsylvania | $85 | $91 |
| South Carolina | $73 | $162 |
| Tennessee | $67 | $66 |
| Utah | $72 | $97 |
| Virginia | $64 | $110 |
| Wisconsin | $39 | $59 |
Auto-Owners car insurance discounts
Discounts can be a great way to lower your auto insurance costs, so it makes sense to choose an insurance company that offers auto insurance discounts that work for your situation.
Here are some of the best Auto-Owners discounts that may help save you money on your car insurance policy:
Multi-policy: You can bundle your car insurance with another policy to save money. This applies to homeowners, renters, or condo insurance.
Payment history: Auto-Owners offers a discount to policyholders who make on-time payments for 36 months.
Green: Qualify by signing up for paperless billing and paying online.
Paid-in-full: Receive a discount when you pay in full rather than monthly.
Safety feature: Having certain safety features on your car, such as anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, or airbags, could lower your premiums.
Good student: Students who maintain a B or better grade point average can save up to 20% on insurance.
Teen driver monitoring: Young drivers who use a mobile app or GPS device that monitors their driving behavior can save money.
How customers feel about Auto-Owners
An important part of finding the best insurance company for your needs is considering each insurer’s customer satisfaction reputation.
Auto-Owners has great scores from industry reviewers like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power, and AM Best, but customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the BBB tell a slightly different story. Auto-Owners has a star rating of 2.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot based on a small sample of 11 reviews, and it has a rating of 1.45 out of 5 on the BBB based on 104 customer reviews.
Auto-Owners customer reviews
Seeing what real customers have to say about Auto-Owners can help you make an informed decision about whether the company is good for you. Here are some real customer service reviews from verified Auto-Owners customers.
Auto-Owners ratings
Several rating agencies offer helpful scales for understanding the financial strength and customer satisfaction of insurance companies. Learn more about these scores below to decide if Auto-Owners is right for you.
Rating | Score | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A++ (Superior) | Superior ability to meet financial obligations |
| J.D. Power | 888 out of 1,000 | Above-average ranking for auto claims satisfaction |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 0.49 | Nearly 50% fewer complaints than the industry average |
Auto-Owners car insurance coverage options
Auto-Owners customers can choose to purchase the standard state-minimum required car insurance coverage through this insurer.
Many drivers may also wish to purchase collision coverage, which pays to repair or replace your car in an accident regardless of fault, and comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage to your car caused by a non-collision incident. Auto-Owners offers full-coverage insurance to drivers who want extra protection.
But you may want to further customize your insurance coverage with add-ons. Consider the following optional coverage options from Auto-Owners:
Additional expense coverage
If you can’t use your car, you often have to spend money on other things, like a rental car, or food and lodging if you’re away from home. This coverage can help pay for these additional expenses.
Road-trouble service
If you opt for this coverage, you have 24/7 access to roadside assistance for problems like a dead battery, an empty gas tank, a flat tire, or minor mechanical problems.
Diminished value coverage
Because cars typically lose value after a car accident, this coverage can provide compensation for your vehicle’s diminished value.
Loan or lease gap coverage
If you total your financed car before your loan or lease ends, you’re responsible for paying the difference between the car’s current value and the remaining balance. Gap insurance will pay for that difference.[2]
Other options for Auto-Owners customers
In addition to auto insurance, Auto-Owners also offers the following types of coverage:
Homeowners insurance: This kind of insurance coverage will protect your house and personal property in the event of a number of different perils.
Flood insurance: Most home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. If you live in a flood plain, you may want to get coverage through Auto-Owners.
Pet insurance: You can cover the cost of veterinary care for your pets with this coverage.
Motorcycle insurance: A motorcycle needs different insurance than a car, and Auto-Owners offers coverage to protect your bike on and off the road.
Life insurance: Multiple types of insurance can protect your loved ones in the event of your death. Auto-Owners offers term, universal, and whole life insurance, as well as annuities and disability insurance.
Auto-Owners insurance FAQs
If you’re interested in purchasing an auto insurance policy through Auto-Owners, the following information can help answer your remaining questions and decide if it’s the right option for you.
Is Auto-Owners legitimate?
Yes. Auto-Owners is a legitimate insurance company in good financial standing, according to its AM Best rating. That said, because the company works with independent agents, customers may be dissatisfied with the service they receive from their local agent.
What is the average cost of Auto-Owners car insurance?
On average, Auto-Owners customers pay $45 per month for liability car insurance and $78 for full-coverage insurance. Ultimately, your premium will depend on your driving record, age, credit history, and more.
Is Auto-Owners good at paying claims?
Yes. Auto-Owners has an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior), which means it has a superior ability to meet its financial obligations, including its ability to pay each insurance claim. Additionally, Auto-Owners earned an above-average score in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.[3]
How do I cancel my Auto-Owners insurance policy?
As Auto-Owners works with independent agents, you must contact your Auto-Owners insurance agent to cancel your policy. You can’t cancel your coverage online.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Sources
- Auto-Owners Insurance. "Who We Are."
- Auto-Owners. "Coverages."
- J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds."
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Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.
Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.
She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.
Emily has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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