Founders Car Insurance Review (Ratings and Expert Insights)
Founders accepts high-risk drivers that other companies won’t cover, but customer reviews report frustrating experiences with claims handling.
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Written byAmy Beardsley
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3+ years writing about auto, home, and life insurance
7+ years in personal finance and technology
Amy specializes in insurance and technology writing and has a talent for transforming complex topics into easy-to-understand stories.
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Edited byKatie Powers
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ 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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Reviewed byMacKenzie Korris
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MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
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Table of contents
Founders Insurance Company has a limited footprint, selling coverage in only four Midwestern states.[1] It offers car insurance for high-risk drivers who may struggle to get coverage from other insurers. The company has a solid financial strength rating from AM Best and offers online claims filing and drive-in appraisal locations.
This Founders car insurance review draws on regulatory data, real customer feedback, and industry ratings to provide expert analysis, so you get the full picture to decide if it’s right for you.
Quick Facts
Founders sells auto insurance in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The auto insurance company has a higher-than-average number of customer complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Founders is best for high-risk drivers who require SR-22 filings or have faced rejections from standard insurers.
Our take on Founders car insurance
Founders offers coverage to high-risk drivers that some other companies won’t. Its underwriting process doesn’t require a credit check or prior insurance. Plus, Founders can file an SR-22 certificate for drivers who need it. You can even get coverage from Founders if you have a foreign, expired, or suspended license.
The company’s AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) indicates an ability to pay out claims. But Founders has a high number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC, with a complaint index score that’s more than four times higher than the industry average.
Customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site are also low. Founders has a star rating of 1.15 out of 5.
Still, if you live in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, or Wisconsin and are having trouble finding coverage elsewhere, Founders may be worth considering.
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How real customers feel about Founders car insurance
Founders has many negative reviews about the company’s customer service. Between 2022 and 2025, customers filed 95 complaints with the BBB. Of the reviews from car insurance customers, many report poor communication with the company. For example, some discuss reaching the company’s voicemail and adjusters who didn’t call back.
Other common complaints from customer reviews include lengthy wait times for claim decisions and repair approvals, confusing or inconsistent claims handling, incorrect information, body shop mix-ups, and lost documents.
Founders industry ratings
Reviewing industry ratings is a quick way to compare car insurance companies on the same scale. Higher financial strength ratings from AM Best indicate companies are more likely to be able to pay claims even in tough years. Low complaint numbers from the NAIC and high rankings from J.D. Power indicate high levels of customer satisfaction.
Here’s how Founders Insurance Company stacks up in different areas.
Rating  | Score | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A (Excellent) | Strong financial position that indicates it can pay claims |
| J.D. Power | Not rated | The company is too small to make it into customer satisfaction studies |
| NAIC complaint index | 4.36 (above average) | More than four times the number of complaints than average for an insurer of its size |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.15 out of 5 stars | Many negative customer reviews |
How Founders compares to similar insurance companies
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $144/mo* | Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $179/mo* | Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $63/mo* | Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $124/mo* |
Overall rating 3.8 | Overall rating 3.8 | Overall rating 4.0 | Overall rating 3.0 |
Value for money 2.6/5 | Value for money 3.3/5 | Value for money 3.2/5 | Value for money 3.1/5 |
Customer service 2.1/5 | Customer service 2.8/5 | Customer service 3.4/5 | Customer service 3.0/5 |
Claims handling 2.4/5 | Claims handling 3.4/5 | Claims handling 3.9/5 | Claims handling 3.1/5 |
Special highlight Low down paymentsAI-generated from 5 user reviews | Special highlight Difficult-to-insure driversAI-generated from 35 user reviews | Special highlight Cheap ratesAI-generated from 34 user reviews | Special highlight High-risk driversAI-generated from 436 user reviews |
Data in this table has been sourced from Insurify’s users who have indicated they are insured with the listed providers
Is Founders car insurance cheaper than competitors?
Founders covers high-risk drivers, which typically results in higher prices across the board. That said, Insurify doesn’t have specific average monthly premiums for Founders.
The amount you pay will ultimately depend on your specific situation, including factors such as your driving record, age, and location.[2] Your license status and whether you need an SR-22 certificate can also affect your cost, as they indicate your level of risk.
Compare rates by driving record
Any driving infractions on your driving record can affect the cost of your car insurance. Though Insurify doesn’t have average rate data for Founders, you can compare average monthly full-coverage costs from a few of the company’s competitors.
The table below shows how your driving history can affect average car insurance quotes from Founders competitors.
Driving Record | Anchor | AssuranceAmerica | COUNTRY Financial | Direct Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $176 | $231 | $81 | $153 |
| One speeding ticket | $217 | $298 | $120 | $192 |
| At-fault accident | $226 | $310 | $114 | $215 |
| DUI | $260 | $339 | $110 | $225 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare rates by age
Your age will also affect the cost of your coverage. Older drivers typically pay less than younger drivers because they have more driving experience. Below, you can compare average full-coverage rates for a few of Founders’ competitors.
Age | Anchor | AssuranceAmerica | COUNTRY Financial | Direct Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen drivers | $296 | $527 | $113 | $316 |
| Adult drivers | $158 | $175 | $75 | $140 |
| Senior drivers | $137 | $163 | $60 | $114 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Founders car insurance discounts
To help you lower the cost of auto insurance, you should look for discounts from multiple insurers. Doing a little research can save you a significant amount of money.
The Founders Insurance website doesn’t offer exact percentages of how much you can save. But the company offers the following discounts:
Multi-car discount: If you get auto insurance policies for multiple cars in your household, you may be eligible for this discount.
Transfer discount: If you make the switch from your current auto insurer to Founders car insurance, you may qualify for a transfer discount.
Renewal discount: When you renew your policy with Founders Insurance, you may be eligible for a renewal discount for sticking around.
Non-owner discount: If you get a non-owner policy through Founders due to an SR-22, an out-of-state or expired license, or another eligible reason, you may score a discount.
The Founders car insurance website doesn’t provide many details about its coverage options. But most insurance companies have the following standard auto insurance coverages:[3]
Liability insurance
Though not mentioned on the website directly, Founders offers liability coverage, which includes bodily injury and property damage. So if you cause an accident, you’re not on the hook for costs related to other people’s injuries or property damage.
SR-22 insurance
While an SR-22 isn’t specifically a type of insurance, it’s a form for high-risk drivers showing that they have the minimum liability insurance in their state. Founders provides SR-22 filings.[1]
Collision coverage
Through Founders, you can get collision insurance to pay for damages from any type of collision, whether it’s a car accident or hitting an object or pole.
Comprehensive coverage
Car damage can happen for a range of reasons that don’t have to do with a car accident. Comprehensive insurance protects you in these situations, such in the case of theft, fire, or flood.
Non-owner policies
If you don’t have regular access to a car but still need car insurance, you can get a non-owner policy.
Founders car insurance is ideal for drivers who need an SR-22, have prior losses, have never had insurance, or have poor or no credit. If you don’t qualify for a standard auto insurance policy, Founders is a good non-standard option to look into. If you don’t fall into this category or are looking for a wide variety of coverages, another insurance company may be a better fit.
Other options for Founders customers
In addition to auto insurance coverage, Founders also offers the following insurance products:
Renters insurance: You can protect your personal belongings and get medical and liability coverage through Founders.
Homeowners insurance: Founders offers homeowners insurance with various dwelling limits based on the type of home. Optional endorsements are also available, such as water backup, identity fraud coverage, and more.
Commercial auto insurance: Aside from personal auto coverage, Founders also offers commercial auto insurance for businesses.
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How to file a claim with Founders
You have a few ways to file a claim with Founders. Here’s how the claims process works:
Have your information ready. Before you file a claim, you’ll need to know where and when the incident happened, your policy number, information on other drivers and vehicles, and details about any injuries.
Report claims online or by phone. Founders has online claim reporting through its website. You’ll enter your name and contact information, as well as a few details about the accident. If you prefer to file a claim by phone, you can call Founders at 1 (888) 676-4342.[4]
Wait for an adjuster to contact you. Founders will assign an adjuster to your claim. They’ll walk you through the next steps, including getting estimates for damage and repairs.
Receive reimbursement. If Founders approves your claim, you should receive some kind of reimbursement.
Founders insurance FAQs
If you’re shopping for car insurance coverage, the following information can help answer your remaining questions about Founders Insurance.
Is Founders Insurance legitimate?
Yes. Founders Insurance is a legitimate auto insurance company founded in 1901. It now operates under Utica National Insurance Group.
Is Founders Insurance good at paying claims?
Founders Insurance currently has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), which indicates its claim reliability. That said, Founders Insurance doesn’t have rankings in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
How do you cancel your Founders Insurance policy?
To cancel your Founders auto insurance policy, contact its customer service team at 1 (847) 768-0040. When you speak with a representative, you can request a cancellation of your auto insurance policy.
Who owns Founders Insurance?
Utica National Insurance Group owns Founders Insurance, which is a member company of the brand. The company originally began in 1901 and was formerly Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Does Founders Insurance have a grace period for non-payment?
Founders Insurance may offer a grace period for non-payment, but its website doesn’t provide specific information about it. In general, car insurance companies with a grace period allow policyholders three to 30 days after non-payment before canceling a policy. Ask an insurance agent if you’re interested in learning more about the company’s grace period.
Does Founders offer motorcycle insurance?
No. Founders doesn’t offer motorcycle insurance. The company focuses on personal car insurance, but it also has commercial auto insurance options. Additionally, Founders also sells home insurance, renters insurance, and liquor liability coverage for bar and restaurant owners.
Is Founders Insurance reliable?
Founders has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), indicating strong financial backing to pay claims. That said, Founders has a NAIC customer complaint score that’s more than four times the industry average for auto insurance, which suggests that service reliability is a concern.
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Sources
- Founders Insurance Company. "Personal Automobile Insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
- Founders Insurance Company. "Contact Us."
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Amy BeardsleyInsurance Writer
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
Amy has been a contributor at Insurify since September 2023.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ 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
MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.