In 2024, Auto-Owners car insurance offers competitive pricing and a range of coverage options.

Since 1916, Auto-Owners Insurance, based in Michigan, has been providing some of the lowest rates in the industry and has made it onto our list of top picks for liability-only insurance.

Its robust add-ons, such as accident forgiveness, diminished value coverage, and additional expense coverage, can reimburse you for rental car and other expenses if you're away from home.

Although Auto-Owners is only licensed in 26 states, it's not an option for everyone.

Auto-Owners: Pros and cons

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Types of Auto-Owners car insurance

In 26 states, Auto-Owners provides auto insurance: 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, and Wisconsin.

Basic coverage

Full coverage is typically required if you're financing or leasing your car.

• In most states, the minimum coverage for liability car insurance covers damages and expenses if you or someone else driving your car is found to be at fault in an accident.
• Collision insurance: Pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident.
• Comprehensive insurance covers damages or losses not resulting from a collision, such as theft, weather damage, or hitting an animal.

Additional coverage

These policies are required in some states in addition to liability insurance.

• No-fault insurance, also known as personal injury protection, covers a range of expenses including medical bills, lost wages, child care, and funeral costs, regardless of who is at fault.
• MedPay insurance for medical payments: Less comprehensive than PIP, it covers medical expenses for you, your passengers, and pedestrians.
• Gap insurance covers the difference between the amount still owed on your car loan and the depreciated value of the vehicle.
• If you're involved in an accident with a driver who has minimal or no insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance will cover your repair and medical expenses.

Endorsements

Auto-Owners offers a variety of optional add-ons.

• Drivers with no at-fault claims for three years are granted accident forgiveness, which means their rate will not increase for their first at-fault accident.
• If you're involved in an accident away from home, you may incur additional expenses such as the cost of a rental car, lodging, food, and other related costs.
• Rental auto gap insurance provides extra protection for the financial responsibility you have under a rental agreement.
• Rental car coverage: If your car is damaged in a collision, it covers the cost of a rental car until your vehicle is repaired. Additionally, it provides coverage for any damage to a rental car.
• 24-hour road assistance for common problems such as flat tires and dead batteries.
• Reduced value coverage: Compensates you for a decrease in the worth of your car following an accident.
• If you're involved in an accident with another Auto-Owners policyholder, collision coverage advantage waives your deductible.
• Auto-Owners offers the option to waive or reduce the deductible for both home and car damage if both policies are with them.

Auto-Owners car insurance discounts

Auto-Owners offers many ways to save on your auto insurance policy, including:

• Bundle auto with homeowners, renters, condo, or life insurance to save money.
• Save money by insuring two or more vehicles on a single policy.
• If you've consistently paid premiums on time for three years, you're eligible for a discount.
• Upfront payment of premiums in full can result in a discount.
• Green discount: Rate reduction for enrolling in paperless billing and online payments.
• Enroll before your current policy expires to receive an advance quote discount.
• Students with a GPA of B or higher are eligible for a discount of up to 20%.
• Customers with a student on their policy who attends school at least 100 miles away without a car can receive a discount on their student away at school.
• A 5% rate reduction is available to customers who use GPS or an app to monitor their teenage drivers on their insurance policy.

Auto-Owners customer service

In J.D. Power's 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Auto-Owners was ranked first in Florida, and highly in the Central and Southwest U.S. However, it scored below average in the Southeast and North Central regions.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Auto-Owners received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has fewer complaints about auto insurance than expected for its size. Additionally, the company ranked above average in a J.D. Power survey regarding claims experience.

You cannot purchase a policy or obtain rate quotes online, but the Auto-Owners website will connect you with a local insurance agent. The mobile app enables you to pay your bill, access your insurance ID, and request roadside assistance, but you must contact an agent to file a claim. Customer service is not available during evenings or weekends, and there is no online chat feature.

Other kinds of Auto-Owners insurance

Auto-Owners offers policies in many other categories, including:

• Pet insurance through Figo

How does Auto-Owners compare to other car insurance companies?

In comparison to two prominent car insurance providers, how does Auto-Owners perform?

Auto-Owners vs. Erie

Although both Auto-Owners and Erie are smaller insurers with limited availability, Auto-Owners is licensed in 26 states, which is more than double Erie's 12 states, and Auto-Owners has a slight edge with lower rates.

While both companies have positive customer satisfaction ratings, Erie was ranked No. 1 in both regions of J.D. Power's Auto Insurance Study, whereas Auto-Owner's rankings were more mixed. In terms of the claims process, Erie was rated No. 2 out of 24, compared to No. 7 for Auto-Owners.

Auto-Owners stands out with its comprehensive endorsements, including diminished value and rental car protection.

Auto-Owners vs. Amica

Both Amica and Auto-Owners have earned an A+ from the Better Business Bureau and have a lower volume of complaints than expected. While Amica has the highest rating in J.D. Power's survey on satisfaction with the claims process, Auto-Owners comes in seventh.

Amica excels in availability, as it is licensed in all states except Hawaii. Additionally, Amica provides price quotes, which Auto-Owners does not offer.

The annual full coverage policy rates we compared for Amica were significantly higher than those of Auto-Owners.

How do I buy car insurance from Auto-Owners?

To obtain an Auto-Owners auto insurance quote or purchase a policy, you can either enter your ZIP code on the website to find a nearby agency or call 800-346-0346, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. In order to get a quote, you will need to provide your location, age, driving history, number of miles driven annually, and other personal data. Additionally, you will need to know the make, model, and year of any vehicles you are insuring.

Is Auto-Owners car insurance right for me?

Auto-Owners offers competitive pricing, particularly for motorists with imperfect driving records, including those with accidents or traffic violations.

If you're seeking comprehensive coverage or exceptional customer service, it could be suitable for you.

Auto-Owners may not be suitable for everyone due to its limited availability in many states and limited online access.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our goal at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each car insurance review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of insurance products. At CNBC Select, we are committed to maintaining our journalistic standards and ethics, even when we earn a commission from our affiliate partners on many offers and links.

Our methodology

CNBC Select evaluates auto insurance products based on several factors, including coverage options, average rates, accessibility, discounts, and customer satisfaction.

We utilize data from various sources, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' complaint index, Better Business Bureau ratings, A.M. Best's financial strength scores, J.D. Power surveys on insurance shopping, the claims process, the digital consumer experiences, and overall customer satisfaction.

The sources of auto insurance rates can include both the provider and state insurance departments.

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