Auto-Owners Car Insurance Review 2024

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Auto-Owners Car Insurance Review 2024

Insuring drivers since 1916, Michigan-based Auto-Owners Insurance has some of the lowest rates in the industry and has earned a spot on our top picks for liability-only insurance.

We like its robust add-ons, including accident forgiveness, diminished value coverage and additional expense coverage, which can reimburse you for a rental car and other costs if you’re away from home

Auto-Owners is only licensed in 26 states, however, so it’s not an option for everyone.

Auto-Owners Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Auto-Owners offers affordable premiums with high customer satisfaction ratings. There are 12 different types of discounts available, as well as various other types of insurance besides auto.

Pros

  • Offers at-fault accident forgiveness as an add-on
  • High customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
  • Low NAIC complaint index score

Cons

  • Only available in 26 states
  • Quotes must be obtained through an agent
  • Claims must be filed through an agent

Auto-Owners car insurance review

Auto-Owners: Pros and cons

The benefits and drawbacks of Auto-Owners car insurance

Pros

  • Lower rates, especially on liability insurance
  • Accident forgiveness after 3 years claims-free
  • Robust endorsements and discounts

Cons

  • Only available in 26 states
  • Must work with an agent to get quote or buy the policy
  • Website has limited features

Compare to find the right car insurance

Types of Auto-Owners car insurance

Auto-Owners offers auto insurance in 26 states: 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.

Additional coverage

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

  • Personal injury protection: Also known as no-fault insurance, PIP covers medical bills, lost wages, child care, funeral costs and more, regardless of fault.
  • Medical payments insurance: Less comprehensive than PIP, MedPay covers medical bills for you, your passengers and any pedestrians.
  • Gap insurance: Pays the difference between the amount remaining on your car loan owed and the vehicle’s depreciated value.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: Covers repairs and medical bills if you are in an accident with a driver with little or no insurance.

Endorsements

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

  • Accident forgiveness: Waives rate change for the first at-fault accident for drivers with no at-fault claims for three years.
  • Additional expense: Cover the cost of a rental car, lodging, food and other expenses if you’re involved in an accident away from home.
  • Rental auto gap: Covers additional coverage for amounts you’re liable for under a rental agreement.
  • Rental car coverage: Covers the cost of a rental if your vehicle is being repaired after a collision and provides coverage if a rental car is damaged.
  • Road trouble service: 24-hour assistance with common issues like flat tires and dead batteries
  • Diminished value coverage: Compensates you for a reduction in the value of your car after an accident.
  • Collision coverage advantage: Waives deductible if you’re involved in an accident with another Auto-Owners policyholder
  • Common loss deductible: Waives or reduces deductible after events that damage your home and car if both your homeowners and auto policies are with Auto-Owners.

Auto-Owners car insurance discounts

Auto-Owners customer service

Other kinds of Auto-Owners insurance

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

Auto-Owners vs Erie vs Amica auto insurance

Auto-Owners Erie Amica
Availability 26 states 12 states 49 states
Customer satisfaction Good Excellent Excellent
Accident forgiveness Yes Yes Yes
Gap insurance Yes Yes Yes
Best for Liability-only insurance Rate-lock option Customer satisfaction

Auto-Owners vs. Erie

Erie Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Erie Insurance offers auto insurance for many different situations and affordable premiums. Several different coverages allow you to customize your policy.

Pros

  • Affordable premiums
  • Below-average NAIC complaint index
  • High customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
  • Quotes available online

Cons

  • Only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Limited online and app capabilities
  • Claim filing is not available online

Where Auto-Owners really stands out is with its robust portfolio of endorsements. The diminished value feature can help you regain some of your car’s lost resale value after an accident and rental car protection is a useful perk for frequent travelers.

Auto-Owners vs. Amica

Amica Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Amica offers a variety of auto insurance policies to fit your coverage needs. The company also lists a total of 18 discounts, including discounts for bundling and for students.

Pros

  • Highly rated by J.D. Power for auto claims satisfaction
  • Amica offers the ability to customize your policy
  • Provides a substantial amount of discounts for its users

Cons

  • Higher prices than the industry average
  • Amica is focusing on short-term plans, reducing from 12-month policies to 6-month

Amica wins hands down on availability, since the only state it is not licensed in is Hawaii. You can also get price quotes quotes from Amica something Auto-Owners doesn’t offer.

However, Amica is considerably more expensive than Auto-Owners. The sample rates we compared for an annual full coverage policy were hundreds of dollars more.

How do I buy car insurance from Auto-Owners?

Is Auto-Owners car insurance right for me?

FAQs

Is Auto-Owners a good insurance company?

Auto-Owners combines competitive rates with good customer satisfaction scores and has an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, a good sign of its ability to pay on claims.

Does Auto-Owners cover the cost of a rental car during repairs?

Yes, Auto-Owners offers rental car coverage after an accident while your vehicle is being repaired. It can also cover additional expenses like food and lodgings if you’re stranded far from home after an accident.

Does Auto-Owners offer gap insurance?

Yes, Auto-Owners offers gap insurance, which can cover the difference between he balance on your auto loan and the car’s depreciated value n the event its totaled or stolen.

How do I cancel my Auto-Owners auto insurance policy?

To cancel your Auto-Owners policy, talk to the agent you bought the policy through. If you paid for the current term up front and cancel before it ends, you can receive a prorated refund.

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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every car insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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