Superior customer service and great rates: An Erie car insurance review.

Erie, founded in 1925, has consistently prioritized affordability and exceptional customer service, making it one of our top picks for car insurance companies. One of the reasons we like Erie is its Rate Lock® feature, which ensures that your rates remain the same even after filing a claim. Additionally, Erie's full coverage comes with numerous perks, including accident forgiveness, windshield repair, locksmith service, and coverage for pets injured in a covered accident. However, one downside to Erie is its limited availability, as auto policies are only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C.

Erie car insurance: Pros and cons

Types of Erie car insurance

In the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC, Erie offers car insurance policies.

Basic coverage

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

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

Erie's Xtra Protection Features are automatically included with comprehensive or collision coverage.

• Your rates won't increase after your first at-fault accident, even if you have been accident-free for three years.
• If you require a locksmith service in Erie and accidentally lock your keys in your car, the company will reimburse up to $75.
• In the event of property damage not covered by another policy, the policyholder is entitled to a maximum of $350 for their personal belongings.
• Erie will cover up to $500 in vet costs if your pet is injured in a covered accident while in your car.
• If your car is undrivable after a covered event and you're not near home, you may receive up to $75 per passenger for food, lodging, and other expenses.
• If you repair a damaged windshield in Erie, you won't have to pay the comprehensive deductible.

Additional coverage

These policies are required in some states and optional in others

• No-fault insurance, also known as personal injury protection (PIP), covers a range of expenses including medical bills, lost wages, child care, and even funeral costs.
• Medical payments insurance: Protects you, your passengers, and pedestrians from financial burden due to medical bills, irrespective of fault.
• Erie's Auto Security benefit provides various levels of coverage based on the age of your vehicle, and it covers the difference between the actual cash value of your car and the balance of your loan or lease if the vehicle is totaled or stolen.
• 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.

Add-ons

Erie offers a variety of optional endorsements policyholders can buy.

• Erie Auto Plus offers enhanced coverage with higher limits, a diminishing deductible of up to $500, additional transportation expenses for undrivable cars, waived deductibles, and a death benefit of up to $10,000.
• Your Erie Rate Lock policy will not change your rates unless you make changes to your coverage, such as adding or removing a vehicle or driver, or updating your address or parking location.
• If your vehicle is totaled or requires covered repairs, rental reimbursement will cover the cost of a rental car.
• 24/7 roadside assistance offers towing, flats, jump-starts, door unlocking, and fuel delivery assistance.
• Erie provides extra liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage for individuals driving for transportation network companies such as Uber or Lyft.

Erie car insurance discounts

Not all discounts offered by Erie are available in all states, and some cannot be combined.

• Signing your policy at least eight days before it becomes effective will result in an advance quote discount.
• Erie's combined auto and home insurance can result in a discount of up to 25%.
• If your college student is not driving for at least nine months out of the year, you may be eligible for a lower rate on your policy.
• Completing an approved defensive driving course can earn you a discount on driving training for a young driver.
• Paying your annual premium in one lump sum will give you a discount.
• Anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices are factory-installed safety features.
• In many states, Erie provides a discount for vehicle storage in a garage for at least 90 days.
• Discount for young drivers: Offered to single, underage drivers residing at home.
• Parents' Erie policy may offer a discount to young drivers who maintain consecutive years of their own insurance.
• A telematics program that evaluates your driving habits and offers gift cards or Visa prepaid cards as incentives for safe driving.

Find the right car insurance

Erie customer service

In the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Erie was ranked first in customer service for the North Central and Mid-Atlantic regions, and it came in second for customer satisfaction with the claims process.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Erie earned an A+ from the Better Business Bureau and has fewer complaints about auto insurance than expected for a company its size.

To purchase a policy from Erie, you must speak with an agent, which can be arranged through the Erie website.

You can file claims online through the Erie mobile app or website, or contact your agent directly during business hours for support. Claims support is also available 24 hours a day at 800-367-3743.

For billing, payment, or policy inquiries, customer service can be reached at 800-458-0811 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Additionally, an online chat feature is available on the Erie website during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Other types of Erie insurance

Erie offers a variety of insurance products, including

• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Business insurance
• RV insurance
• Life insurance
• Flood insurance
• Identity theft insurance

Erie offers policyholders the chance to save up to 25% by bundling home and auto insurance.

How does Erie compare to other car insurance companies?

In comparison to two prominent players in the auto insurance industry, how does Erie perform?

Erie vs. Amica

Erie has policies in 12 states and D.C., while Amica offers coverage in all states except Hawaii.

Both Amica and Erie are highly rated for customer service, with high rankings from J.D. Power, fewer complaints than their competitors, and top grades from the Better Business Bureau.

Erie offers lower rates for most types of drivers compared to Amica, and it also has a telematics program that Amica does not have. With the YourTurn app, you can earn gift cards by allowing it to track your driving behavior. To learn more about Amica car insurance, continue reading our review.

Erie vs. Allstate

Erie offers lower average premiums than Allstate, particularly for drivers with a history of accidents or speeding violations.

While both companies offer discounts of up to 25% for bundling, Allstate provides more discounts overall, including those for going paperless, having a new car, and being a student with a B+ GPA.

Both Allstate and Erie offer telematics programs, but while Allstate's Drivewise™ app can earn you up to 25% off, Erie's YouTurn program rewards safe drivers with Visa prepaid cards. Allstate also offers a pay-per-mile plan, MileWise, which can save infrequent drivers up to 40% over a traditional policy. However, Erie excels in customer service, earning top marks in J.D. Power's surveys while Allstate tends to fall below average in most regions. Additionally, Erie has a perfect A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, compared to Allstate's B rating. Despite this, Allstate has more complaints about car insurance than expected or a carrier its size.

Read on: Our review of Allstate car insurance

How do I buy car insurance from Erie?

You can obtain a quote for Erie auto insurance online, but you must speak with an agent to purchase a policy. The Erie website will provide a list of independent agents in your area. To buy a policy, you will need to answer questions about yourself, your location, and your driving history, and provide details about your car, including its make, model, and year.

You can manage your policy and insurance cards, submit claims, and make payments through the Erie mobile app or website.

Is Erie car insurance right for me?

If you're seeking lower auto insurance premiums, Erie could be the ideal option. It offers cheaper rates for various categories, including teenagers, high-risk drivers, and seniors. However, its availability is limited to only 12 states, so it may not be suitable if you do not reside in one of those states. Additionally, Erie does not allow you to purchase a policy online, which may be a significant drawback for those who value the convenience of not having to interact with an agent.

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 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 though 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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