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American Family auto insurance review 2024

Updated Jan 18, 2024
  • At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

At a glance

4.2
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
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Auto

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

4.2

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Cost & ratings

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5

4.3

Coverage

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

4.0

Support

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

4.0

About Bankrate Score

Commonly known as AmFam, this Wisconsin-based insurer has been around since 1927. American Family might be particularly appealing to policyholders who want to personalize their insurance coverage with unique add-ons.

Who American Family may be good for: American Family may be a good option for policyholders who want a well-established provider known for a wide array of coverage options and affordable pricing. 

 

Who American Family may not be good for: American Family only offers auto policies in 19 states, so they are not a good fit for drivers outside its coverage area.

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American Family car insurance

Based on our comprehensive assessment of coverage offerings, average premiums, online tools and more, American Family car insurance earned a Bankrate Score of 3.8 out of 5, partly due to the company’s lower-than-average full and minimum coverage premiums and high third-party customer satisfaction ratings. Still, its score may have been better if it offered car insurance nationwide. Additionally, the company has a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best. While American Family’s insurance rating is still solid, it is lower than some other carriers.

American Family car insurance offers standard auto coverage types like liability, comprehensive, collision, medical payments and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Safe drivers may utilize optional tools like KnowYourDrive, a usage-based telematics program that allows drivers to earn up to 20 percent off their car insurance based on how safely they drive, with a 10 percent discount earned automatically just for signing up. AmFam also allows policyholders to purchase Diminishing Deductibles, which credits drivers with a 12-month policy $100 off their collision and comprehensive deductible for every year of safe driving, up to the full deductible amount.

Pros and cons of American Family car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, it’s important to evaluate a carrier’s options as well as the carrier itself. Here’s a quick summary of American Family car insurance to help you compare with other car insurance companies:

Pros
Cons
  • Car insurance is not available in every state

  • Digital insurance experience may not be as robust as some competitors

  • Limited additional coverage options

American Family car insurance cost

Car insurance with American Family costs an average of $1,521 per year for full coverage and $526 per year for minimum coverage, based on our study of quoted premium data from Quadrant Information Services. Comparatively, the national average cost of car insurance is $2,545 per year for full coverage and $741 per year for minimum coverage. Keep in mind that rating factors vary by car insurance carrier and location, which will affect your auto insurance quotes.

American Family car insurance rates by driving history

Drivers with a clean driving record generally pay the cheapest average car insurance rates based on Bankrate’s analysis of car insurance premiums. Drivers with a single infraction, like a speeding ticket, are often surcharged by car insurance companies. While DUIs are one of the more serious driving convictions, these have been excluded from the table below as not all car insurance companies accept DUIs. The best way to know if American Family accepts drivers with DUIs and what your insurance may cost with your personal rating factors applied is to reach out for a quote.

Clean driving record
American Family full coverage premium
$1,521
National full coverage premium
$2,545
American Family full coverage premium
$1,806
National full coverage premium
$3,070
American Family full coverage premium
$2,493
National full coverage premium
$3,575
American Family full coverage premium
$2,768
National full coverage premium
$4,740

American Family car insurance quotes by age

Driver age impacts car insurance rates in every state that AmFam offers coverage. Young and newly licensed drivers don't have the same skill level as older and more experienced drivers do regarding the ability to avoid road hazards or adapt to changing weather conditions. Younger drivers are also more likely to engage in distracted driving and opt not to wear a seat belt. All these risk factors are underwritten for and create higher insurance rates for youthful operators — drivers under the age of 25. While they may pay some of the most expensive car insurance rates compared to older drivers, finding cheap car insurance for newly-minted drivers is still possible.

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their parents’ policy

American Family full coverage premium
$3,712
National full coverage premium
$5,374
American Family full coverage premium
$3,105
National full coverage premium
$5,024
American Family full coverage premium
$3,035
National full coverage premium
$4,720
American Family full coverage premium
$2,301
National full coverage premium
$4,155
American Family full coverage premium
$2,265
National full coverage premium
$3,932

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy 

American Family full coverage premium
$5,153
National full coverage premium
$7,188
American Family full coverage premium
$1,680
National full coverage premium
$3,142
American Family full coverage premium
$1,557
National full coverage premium
$2,696
Age 40
American Family full coverage premium
$1,521
National full coverage premium
$2,545
American Family full coverage premium
$1,379
National full coverage premium
$2,307

American Family car insurance discounts

Taking advantage of discounts could help you save on car insurance. A few AmFam discounts you may not find as common among other insurers include:

  • Early bird discount: If you have a policy with another carrier and request a quote from American Family at least seven days prior to its effective date, you may qualify for this discount.
  • Steer into savings discount: This discount provides policy savings to new American Family customers for switching their car insurance from another insurer.
  • Young volunteer discount: To qualify for this discount, drivers must be under 25 years old and have earned 40 hours of volunteer service at a nonprofit.
  • Low mileage discount: Those who drive less than 7,500 miles per year may be eligible for extra savings.
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American Family life insurance

The best life insurance companies structure policies to allow policyholders to protect their loved ones’ financial futures in the event of an untimely death. AmFam offers term life insurance and whole life policies, as well as some other options, like simplified term, flexible life, senior whole life and children’s whole life policies. Whether you want to purchase life insurance for mortgage protection, income replacement or future tuition costs, AmFam’s different policy offerings and coverage options could provide solutions for your financial situation.

Pros and cons of American Family life insurance

Shopping for life insurance quotes can be an involved process. Whether you’re looking for the cheapest life insurance or a personalized policy, it’ll be important to consider how well your insurer meets your needs. The table below highlights where American Family life insurance excels and where it may fall short:

Pros
  • Guaranteed purchase option available for additional whole life coverage

  • Many endorsement options available for whole life

  • Variety of payment options depending on policy type

Cons
  • Medical exams may be required for some policy types

  • Not ranked in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Life Insurance Study

  • AmFam’s financial strength rating may not be as high as some of its competitors

American Family life insurance endorsements

Along with deciding which type of life insurance policy to obtain, American Family offers endorsements or riders that can tailor coverage to suit your financial needs. The availability of life insurance policy endorsements depends on the policy type, and adding endorsements will impact how much your policy costs. Here are a few options to consider:

  • Guaranteed purchase option rider: Allows policyholders with a whole life insurance policy to purchase additional permanent life insurance without a medical exam. This option is only available during dates and life events specified in the policy terms.
  • Children's insurance rider: Can provide $15,000 of coverage for the policyholder's children, including adopted children or step-children.
  • Waiver of premium benefit rider: Allows for the life insurance premium to be waived if the policyholder becomes totally disabled and cannot make the policy payments.
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Compare American Family with other insurers

It may help to compare American Family to similar insurers before deciding if it’s the right fit for your insurance needs. With that in mind, you may find these insurers also worth considering:

Badge 1 Featured

American Family

American Family
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Caret Down

Cost & ratings

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3

Coverage

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0

Support

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
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Cost & ratings

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0

Coverage

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0

Support

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0

The Hartford

The Hartford
Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5
3.9
Caret Down

Cost & ratings

Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5
3.7

Coverage

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Support

Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5
3.7
OVERVIEW
Info
Liberty Mutual is another insurer with a long list of coverage endorsements for auto insurance that you may find worth exploring. The company also offers numerous other insurance products, such as motorcycle and life insurance.
The Hartford provides similar types of insurance policies when compared to American Family. However, AARP members receive discounts and unique financial services by purchasing their insurance through The Hartford.
STANDOUT FEATURES
Info
Globe World
Coverage in Mexico
Badge 1
Above-average satisfaction scores
Loan
Numerous discounts available
Badge 1
High overall customer satisfaction
Document
Coverage add-ons available
Profile
For AARP members
AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Info
No rates available $2,681
AVG MIN COV. AUTO RATE
Info
No rates available $687
JD POWER AUTO SCORE
Info
870/1000 869/1000
AM BEST RATING
Info
A(Excellent) A+(Superior)

Is American Family a good insurance company?

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed average auto insurance premiums from hundreds of carriers. Our research shows that American Family’s rates are relatively low compared to the national average. This could be ideal for car owners looking for affordable insurance policies.

AmFam has additional insurance policy types, as well, which can help policyholders with more complex needs who want to keep their insurance products under the same company. Furthermore, the company offers many discount opportunities that could help you save on insurance — as long as the company is available in your state.

American Family customer satisfaction

When shopping for insurance, it can be important to also consider the customer experience, especially when it comes to claims. In addition to reaching out to friends and family for their experience, also consider ratings from third-party agencies like J.D. Power, which conducts annual surveys of insurance companies and ranks them on a 1,000-point scale.

Study or Rating Agency American Family Industry average
2023 J.D. Power Digital Experience Study - Service 568/1,000 702/1,000
2023 J.D. Power Digital Experience Study - Shopping 549/1,000 521/1,000
2023 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study- Usage Based Insurance (UBI) 794/1,000 816/1,000
AM Best rating A N/A

American Family ranks above average in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study in most regions. This study divides the nation into eleven regions and American Family is rated in three of them: Central, North Central and Southwest. The Southwest region is the only one where AmFam fell short, earning 819 out of 1,000 points. Additionally, American Family ranked above average for customer claims satisfaction in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study.

J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

American Family customer complaints 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) assigns complaint indexes to insurance carriers that reflect the number of complaints lodged against a company compared to its market share. These indexes are assigned by product type with a baseline of 1.00. An index above 1.00 indicates more complaints than expected for the carrier's size and vice versa. 

American Family's auto insurance product has received low NAIC Complaint Indexes for the past three years. This indicates that the NAIC receives fewer complaints than expected from the company's auto insurance policyholders. 

Other American Family tools and benefits

In addition to auto and life insurance, American Family also offers:

  • Umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy will provide additional liability coverage over your underlying auto, home and other policies.
  • Motorcycle: When looking for motorcycle coverage, don’t forget about your motorcycle gear. AmFam offers up to $1,000 of coverage for helmets, boots and other motorcycle safety gear.

Frequently asked questions about American Family

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46
years of industry expertise
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122
carriers reviewed
Location
20.7K
ZIP codes examined
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1.2M
quotes analyzed

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze February 2024 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Auto insurance rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region.

Auto

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze the latest rates in February 2024 for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates include the most recent approved rate changes filed by insurance companies that affect our profile. These revised rates are then weighted based on the population density in each geographic region so that policyholders can see the impact rates have in their areas. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16-20 added to their parents' policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

  • Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
  • Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
  • Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
  • Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
  • Coverage E, Liability: $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $500,000
  • Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Score

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

  • Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
  • Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
  • Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.




Written by
Shannon Martin
Writer, Insurance

Shannon Martin is a licensed insurance agent and Bankrate analyst with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She enjoys helping others navigate the insurance world by cutting through complex jargon and empowering readers to make strong financial decisions independently.

Edited by Senior Editor, Insurance