Auto-Owners Insurance At A Glance
Auto-Owners Insurance has been around since 1916, making it one of the more established players in the industry with over a century of experience. The company operates as a mutual insurer, meaning policyholders technically own a piece of the company rather than outside shareholders. Available in 26 states primarily across the Midwest, South, and parts of the West, Auto-Owners has carved out a solid niche by partnering exclusively with independent agents rather than selling policies directly online.
Overall, we rated Auto-Owners car insurance 8.6 out of 10, but it fell just short of earning a spot on our list of the best car insurance companies. Read more and learn about Auto-Owners, and whether it might be right for you.
Key Strengths
- Premiums that typically fall well below what you’d pay with national competitors, often by several hundred dollars annually
- An extremely low complaint ratio according to the NAIC, suggesting most customers don’t have issues serious enough to escalate to regulators
- Strong financial stability backed by an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best
- A wide selection of coverage add-ons, including some harder-to-find options like diminished value protection
Key Weaknesses
- You can’t get a quote or buy a policy online since everything goes through a local agent.
- The mobile app has received consistent criticism for glitches, slow loading, and compatibility problems.s
- Limited to 26 states, leaving a large portion of the country without access
- Below-average marks in digital experience studies when compared to tech-forward competitors
Who Is Auto-Owners Best For?
This insurer works particularly well for people who actually enjoy working with a real human being when dealing with their insurance. If you like walking into a local office, sitting down with someone who knows your name, and having a consistent point of contact for any questions, Auto-Owners delivers on that promise. The company also stands out for households with teen drivers since average rates for young motorists come in noticeably lower than the industry average. Bundling multiple policies, like home and auto together, can yield solid savings here, too. That said, if you prefer managing everything from your phone at midnight without ever speaking to another person, this probably isn’t your match.
Auto-Owners Insurance Affordability
When looking at average annual rates, Auto-Owners tends to come in under the national benchmark. Full coverage policies average roughly $1,547 per year compared to a national average hovering around $2,399. Minimum coverage policies average approximately $451 annually, which also undercuts the $635 national average for bare-bones liability. For specific driver categories, the company’s pricing advantage holds up. Adult drivers around 40 years old typically see rates at least $300 cheaper annually than what they’d find elsewhere. Teen drivers, who normally face sky-high premiums, benefit from some of the lowest average rates available.
Looking at six-month policy costs, the national average sits around $1,084, while Auto-Owners comes in closer to $780. Remember that your actual quote will depend heavily on where you live, your driving record, your vehicle, and, in most states, your credit score. These are averages, not guarantees.
Auto-Owners provides a solid lineup of ways to trim your premium further. Available discounts include savings for bundling multiple policies, paying your full premium upfront, going paperless with billing, insuring multiple vehicles, maintaining a clean payment history for at least three years, and having common safety features on your car. Students with at least a B average can score up to 20% off, and there’s even a discount if your college student leaves the car at home while at school. Teen drivers whose vehicles have GPS monitoring installed can also qualify for reduced rates. In Ohio, a telematics program called TrueRide lets you earn discounts based on your actual driving habits.
Auto-Owners Insurance Coverage Options
Where Auto-Owners stands out is in specialty and optional coverages that aren’t always easy to find. GAP insurance covers the difference between your car’s actual value and what you still owe on a loan or lease if it gets totaled. Diminished value coverage addresses the reduction in your car’s resale value after it’s been in an accident, even after repairs. Additional expense coverage helps with unexpected costs that pop up after a claim.
Road trouble service handles situations like flat tires, dead batteries, and minor mechanical issues that leave you stranded. The company also offers purchase price guarantee protection for new vehicles, which accounts for the rapid depreciation that happens the moment you drive off the lot. Rental car coverage extends your policy protections to vehicles you rent. Classic car coverage and modifications coverage are available for those with unique vehicles or custom setups.
The insurer also offers disability-converted vehicle coverage, which isn’t something you’ll find everywhere. This matters if you drive a vehicle that’s been modified for accessibility needs. Coverage limits can be tailored through discussions with your local agent, who can walk through what makes sense for your specific situation and budget.
Auto-Owners Insurance Reliability
Auto-Owners currently holds an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, though this actually represents a downgrade from the previous A++ (Superior) rating that occurred in October 2024. The rating agency cited challenges in underwriting performance since 2022, largely driven by industry-wide inflation affecting repair and liability costs. Despite the downgrade, the A+ rating still places Auto-Owners in excellent standing financially. AM Best assessed the company’s balance sheet strength at the strongest level and noted that Auto-Owners demonstrated a return to profitability in the first half of 2024.
The company’s NAIC complaint index sits at an impressive 0.46, which falls well below the industry benchmark of 1.00. Anything under that baseline means fewer complaints than expected for an insurer of that size, suggesting that most customers don’t encounter problems significant enough to file formal grievances with state regulators. Auto-Owners has been in business since 1916, giving it over a century of operational history. The company is represented by approximately 48,000 licensed agents across more than 6,300 agencies in 26 states.
Auto-Owners Insurance Customer Service
Auto-Owners takes a traditional, relationship-based approach to customer service that feels pretty different from the chatbot-driven experience you get with many national carriers. Everything flows through independent agents who handle your quotes, policy changes, billing questions, and claims.
Phone Support: The main customer service line operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, with no weekend availability for general inquiries. For after-hours claims emergencies, a dedicated line (1-888-252-4626) provides 24/7 assistance, including weekends and holidays. Roadside assistance operates around the clock through a separate number. Wait times reportedly vary, but the reliance on local agents means you’re often dealing with someone familiar with your account rather than a random call center representative.
Digital Support: The mobile app has ratings of 3.5 on Google Play and 2.9 on the Apple App Store. Users have reported frustration with the app freezing, failing to load, and not working properly with older iPhone operating systems. Auto-Owners scored below average in the 2024 J.D. Power Digital Experience study for both shopping and service categories. Through the app and website, you can pay bills, set up autopay, view digital ID cards, submit glass claims, request roadside assistance, and check claim status. However, chat support is limited, and most substantive requests still route to your agent.
Third-Party Ratings: The company maintains an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. BBB customer reviews paint a less rosy picture, with an average of 1.45 out of 5 stars from 104 reviews, with complaints often centering on claim processing times and settlement disputes. Trustpilot shows a 2.3 out of 5 rating, categorized as “Poor,” though the sample size is relatively small. J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study ranked Auto-Owners above average in the Central and Southwest regions, and the company placed first in Florida among non-military-exclusive carriers. Reddit sentiment tends to be more positive, with users frequently praising stable rates and personalized agent relationships.
Auto-Owners Insurance Claims Process
Filing a claim with Auto-Owners starts with contacting your local independent agent during business hours. If an emergency happens outside of regular hours, a 24/7 claims hotline is available. For glass-only damage, you can submit claims directly through the website. The company offers electronic payment options, including direct deposit, Venmo, PayPal, and a Visa debit card option for faster claim payouts.
Auto-Owners promotes its claims operation as having over 100 local claim offices across its 26-state footprint, with the idea that adjusters are geographically closer to policyholders than centralized competitors. Seven catastrophe response teams are positioned around the country for large-scale weather events.
On the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, Auto-Owners scored 692 out of 1,000 against an industry average of 697. That puts them slightly below the middle of the pack but ahead of big names like GEICO, Allstate, Travelers, and Progressive. The company earned a spot on the CRASH Network’s 2025 Insurer Report Card “Honor Roll,” ranking 14th out of 97 insurers with a B rating. This reflects how well auto repair shops find the company to work with during the repair process.
Customer feedback on claims is mixed. Some policyholders appreciate friendly service and quick resolutions, while others express frustration with rate increases at renewal and inconsistent experiences during complex claims. Delays and communication gaps appear in some negative reviews, though positive experiences with specific adjusters are also commonly mentioned.
Auto-Owners Insurance Application Process
Getting a policy with Auto-Owners requires more legwork than dropping your information into a website form and buying coverage in ten minutes. Online quotes aren’t available. You have to connect with a local independent agent to get pricing and purchase a policy. The company’s website includes an agent locator tool that helps you find offices in your area.
Once you connect with an agent, they’ll gather your information, discuss coverage needs, and provide a customized quote. Policy binding happens through the agent rather than through any self-service portal. There’s actually a discount available if you secure a quote before your current policy lapses, encouraging advance planning rather than last-minute shopping.
The website and app allow existing customers to manage certain tasks independently, including bill payment, autopay setup, accessing digital ID cards, and tracking claim status. However, any actual changes to coverage, adding vehicles, or adjusting limits still route back through your agent. For people comfortable with this model, it provides a consistent point of contact. For those who want instant online service, the process feels slower and more cumbersome.
Pros & Cons of Auto-Owners Insurance
Here’s a quick breakdown of where this insurer shines and where it falls short.
Pros
- Premiums typically run several hundred dollars below national averages for most driver profiles.
- An extremely low complaint ratio suggests fewer serious customer disputes than the competitor.s
- Strong financial footing backed by a century of operational history and an A+ AM Best rating
- The local agent model provides personalized service and a consistent contact person.
- Unique coverage options like diminished value protection that are hard to find elsewhere
Cons
- Zero online quote capability forces you to go through an agent for any pricing information
- Mobile app receives consistently poor reviews for technical issues and limited functionality.y
- Only available in 26 states, excluding large markets like California, New York, and Texas
- Digital experience ratings lag behind tech-forward competitors significantly.
- Customer reviews on BBB and Trustpilot indicate problems with complex claims handling.
Our Verdict & Rating for Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners represents a solid choice for drivers who value competitive pricing and old-school customer service over digital convenience. The company’s rates consistently beat national averages, sometimes by significant margins, and the financial stability backing those policies is strong enough that you don’t have to worry about claims getting paid. For families with a teenage driver, especially, the pricing advantage can be substantial.
That said, this insurer asks you to accept some tradeoffs. You won’t be comparing quotes at 11 p.m. from your couch since everything runs through agents who work business hours. The app won’t win any design awards and may frustrate you with technical hiccups. If you need coverage outside their 26-state footprint, you’re out of luck entirely.
The reality is that Auto-Owners works extremely well for a specific type of insurance customer and falls flat for others. Understanding which category you fall into matters more than any overall rating.
Who Should Consider This Company?
- Drivers in any of the 26 states where Auto-Owners operates who want to save money on premiums
- Families with teenage drivers who face steep insurance costs elsewhere
- People who prefer talking to a local agent over navigating websites and apps
- Households looking to bundle home, auto, and other policies with one carrier
- Anyone who values financial stability and low complaint ratios over cutting-edge technology
Who Should Consider Another Provider?
- Drivers outside the 26-state coverage area (sorry, California, New York, Texas, and others)
- Anyone who strongly prefers getting quotes and managing policies entirely online
- Tech-savvy consumers who expect a polished, fully functional mobile app experience
- People who need quick policy changes or quotes outside of standard business hours
- Drivers who prioritize digital-first insurers with robust self-service capabilities
About Our Methodology
We use a weighted scoring system for car insurance reviews. We compared 20 companies on key factors, including their car insurance rates, to inform our ratings. Once we scored each company, we applied a curve based on the best overall product. Here’s what we look for:
- Financial Strength & Solvency: 20%
- Coverage Options: 10%
- Affordability: 30%
- Claims Process: 20%
- Customer Service: 20%
How Auto-Owners Scored
- Financial Stability: 8/10
- Coverage Options: 8/10
- Affordability & Value: 8/10
- Claims Process: 6/10
- Customer Service: 6/10
- Overall: 8.6/10
You can learn more about how each company scored and what curve was applied here: Car Insurance Reviews.
