Review
Updated
This auto insurer is a good fit for: Drivers who want one-on-one support and those seeking unique coverage options. Read our full Auto-Owners car insurance review to learn about everything it has to offer.
Best for customer serviceAuto-Owners
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Auto-Owners car insurance snapshot
Pricing
Auto-Owners offers competitive pricing to teen drivers and those with an accident history. But adults with clean records may be able to find a more affordable rate elsewhere.
Discounts
The company doesn't offer as many car insurance discounts as some of its competitors. The discounts it does offer are pretty easy to achieve, though.
Perks
Auto-Owners offers flexible policies and gives drivers the choice of several unique endorsements. Its diminished value coverage, in particular, is something most other insurers don't offer.
Customer service
Auto-Owners is best known for its great customer service. It sells its policies through a nationwide network of independent agents, so it's a great fit for those who value personalized support when they need it.
Full Auto-Owners auto insurance review
Pros
- Excellent customer service
- Affordable rates for riskier drivers
- Coverage for all types of vehicles
- Diminished value coverage
Cons
- Not available in all states
- No online quote tool
- Above-average rates for drivers with clean records
Auto-Owners auto insurance at a glance
Monthly premium costs:
- 35-year-old female with clean driving record: $199.08
- 35-year-old male with clean driving record: $195.58
- 35-year-old female with one accident: $255.92
- 18-year-old male with clean driving record: $458.83
Coverage options:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Personal injury protection
- Medical payments
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Roadside assistance
- Additional expense
- Gap coverage
- Diminished value
- Accident forgiveness
- Personal Automobile Plus package
Top perks
Excellent customer service
Auto-Owners puts a strong emphasis on personalized support, and judging by its customer reviews, it's paid off. The company scored well in every region it appeared in on the latest J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study. It has also received fewer complaints than is typical for a business of its size. This indicates that most customers are happy with the service Auto-Owners provides.
Affordable rates for riskier drivers
Young drivers and those with an accident history are typically perceived as riskier and insurers often charge them more. This is also true of Auto-Owners, but its rates for these drivers fall below the national average.
Coverage for all types of vehicles
Auto-Owners offers comprehensive coverage for all types of vehicles. This includes classic cars and converted or modified vehicles. For those with wheelchair lifts or other costly modifications, this extra coverage is invaluable.
Diminished value coverage
Getting in a car accident can reduce the value of the vehicle, even after it's been repaired. Drivers who purchase this optional endorsement from Auto-Owners are compensated for this reduction in value.
What could be improved
Not available in all states
Auto-Owners operates through a network of independent agents in 26 states. But drivers who don't live in one of these states will have to get quotes from other companies.
No online quote tool
The only way to get an Auto-Owners car insurance quote is to call the nearest independent agent. After gathering all the relevant information, the agent will call the applicant back with a quote. It's not the most efficient process, but this approach could be useful for those who are new to auto insurance and aren't sure how much coverage they need.
Above-average rates for drivers with clean records
Auto-Owners' car insurance rates aren't quite as competitive for drivers with a clean record. However, those who qualify for one or more car insurance discounts may be able to secure an affordable price.
Alternatives to consider
2024 Award Winner
Best for bundling coverageState Farm
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
2024 Award Winner
Best for price conscious consumersGeico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
When looking for an insurer that's available everywhere and has great online tools: State Farm offers auto insurance in all 50 states and it enables drivers to get a quote and purchase a policy entirely online if they don't want to speak to an agent. But it also has a network of local agents for those who prefer personalized service.
When looking for an insurer that offers great rates to everyone: Geico is best known for offering affordable rates to most drivers. It also offers numerous discounts to help drivers save even more.
Monthly premium costs
Auto-Owners car insurance premiums are pretty competitive for drivers with an accident history and young drivers who are more likely to get into accidents. But its rates for older drivers with clean records are actually a little above the national average.
This may not be the case for all drivers, though. Many factors go into a car insurance quote, including the driver's accident history, their address, and their vehicle make and model. The only way to know exactly how much an Auto-Owners policy will cost a specific driver is to call and get a quote.
| 35y, female, clean record | 35y, male, clean record | 35y, female, one accident | 18y, male, clean record |
|---|---|---|---|
| $199.08 | $195.58 | $255.92 | $458.83 |
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas
Discounts available
Auto-Owners doesn't offer as many car insurance discounts as some of its competitors. But it hits all the basics, and many of the discounts are easy to achieve. Many drivers will likely qualify for more than one and this will help reduce their rates.
- Multi-policy
- Life multi-policy
- Payment history
- Paid in full
- Green
- Advance quote
- Multi-car
- Safety feature
- Good student
- Student away at school
- Teen driver monitoring
Coverage options
Policy types
- Car
- Classic car
- Converted or modified car
- Motorcycle
- ATV and offroad vehicle
- Motorhome and RV
- Boat
- Trailer
Auto-Owners offers a competitive selection of policy types. It even offers coverage for classic vehicles and modified vehicles, which many of its competitors don't cover.
Coverage types
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Personal injury protection
- Medical payments
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Roadside assistance
- Additional expense
- Gap coverage
- Diminished value
- Accident forgiveness
- Personal Automobile Plus package
Drivers who choose Auto-Owners will get all the standard coverage options required by law as well as a choice of many common optional protections. One of its most unique offerings is its diminished value coverage, which pays the driver if their vehicle loses value following an accident.
Customer service and ratings
Drivers tend to review Auto-Owners favorably. It scored above average in every region it was featured in during the latest J.D. Power Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study. It didn't fare quite as well in J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, but it still edged out many larger, better-known insurers.
Auto-Owners also has a fairly low complaint ratio with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This suggests most customers are happy with the support they've received when they've reached out to Auto-Owners or had to file a claim.
This auto insurer is best for:
Auto-Owners car insurance is a good fit for:
- Drivers who value personalized support
- Drivers seeking rare coverage options, like diminished value coverage
- Young drivers and those with an accident history seeking an affordable rate
But those looking for a company that offers affordable rates to everyone may want to check out Geico. And those who prefer to purchase and manage their policy online might like State Farm better.
Our Insurance Expert
Kailey Hagen has been writing about small businesses and finance for almost 10 years, with her work appearing on USA Today, CNN Money, Fox Business, and MSN Money. She specializes in personal and business bank accounts and software for small to medium-size businesses. She lives on what's almost a farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband and three dogs.
Share This Page
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Kailey Hagen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.