Arbella insurance review 2024
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At a glance
Score breakdown
Auto
4.0
Cost & ratings
4.3
Coverage
3.5
Support
3.8
Home
4.2
Cost & ratings
4.3
Coverage
3.7
Support
4.5
About Bankrate Score
Bankrate's take
Individuals who like to work with smaller regional insurers, who may have extensive knowledge of their home state, may want to consider Arbella as their company of choice.
- Small regional insurance group with network of local agents
- Robust discount lineup for auto and home insurance
- Low rate of NAIC customer complaints
- J.D. power customer satisfaction ratings slightly below regional average
New
In March 2024, the Arbella Insurance Foundation announced that it raised $3 million through employees and agents in 2023 for 516 charitable organizations throughout New England. In total, the Foundation has donated over $43.2 million since its creation in 2005.
Arbella car insurance review
Arbella Insurance Group offers “car insurance for New Englanders,” with coverage options and policy riders tailored toward the needs of drivers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. With a Bankrate Score of 4.0 out of 5.0, Arbella may be an option worth considering for drivers in the states where it does business.
As a small regional insurer, Arbella does not offer online quotes. If you’re considering buying an auto policy from Arbella, you will need to find a local agent — but you may want to compare any car insurance quote from Arbella with quotes from other carriers before making a final decision. To help drivers make informed insurance decisions, Bankrate’s editorial team reviews dozens of car insurance companies, considering average annual premium data from Quadrant Information Services along with policy features, financial strength and customer satisfaction ratings and experiences shared by real customers.
Pros and cons of Arbella car insurance
Arbella could be a good fit for some drivers, but like all car insurance companies, it has its perks and drawbacks.
Pros
- Generous discounts for many drivers, including green vehicle and low-mileage discounts
- Online bill pay and claims filing tools
- Unique policy add-ons available
Cons
- Only available in four states
- No ridesharing coverage
- No online quotes
Arbella car insurance cost
Car insurance premiums with Arbella are generally more affordable than the national average. A full coverage car insurance policy with Arbella costs an average of $2,234 per year. The average cost of car insurance nationwide is $2,388 per year for the same amount of coverage. Similarly, minimum coverage from Arbella is also cheaper at $627 per year on average with Arbella compared to $664 per year nationally.
How much is Arbella car insurance?
According to Bankrate’s research, Arbella consistently offers cheap car insurance rates. However, car insurance rates vary based on driving history, with a clean driving record qualifying most drivers for the lowest rates. Drivers with violations or at-fault accidents on their record typically see higher rates, and not all insurance carriers will write policies for drivers with serious violations such as DUI convictions.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Good driver, good credit
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,234
|
National full coverage premium
$2,388
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,234
|
National full coverage premium
$4,372
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,234
|
National full coverage premium
$2,893
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,563
|
National full coverage premium
$3,396
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$3,805
|
National full coverage premium
$4,586
|
Arbella car insurance quotes by age
Young drivers, especially those under age 25, tend to pay higher premiums for auto insurance due to limited driving experience. Even in states like Massachusetts where insurers cannot use age as a rating factor, a lack of experience on the road signals a higher risk to insurance companies.
Arbella usually offers below-average rates for young drivers, especially those who stay on a parents’ policy rather than purchasing their own separate policy. Keep in mind that the average rates shown below are based on a clean driving record. It’s generally worth comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies based on your own driver profile and that of any teens on your policy.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Arbella full coverage premium
$4,020
|
National full coverage premium
$5,080
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$4,020
|
National full coverage premium
$4,376
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$4,353
|
National full coverage premium
$4,818
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,283
|
National full coverage premium
$2,929
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,282
|
National full coverage premium
$2,523
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,234
|
National full coverage premium
$2,388
|
|
Arbella full coverage premium
$2,234
|
National full coverage premium
$2,135
|
Compare Arbella car insurance rates
On average, Arbella Insurance Group offers rates well below the national average for drivers in the New England area. However, every insurance company uses a different set of calculations to issue car insurance quotes to drivers — meaning that some drivers might find a better fit for their profiles with a different carrier.
Comparing an Arbella car insurance offer to auto insurance quotes from multiple companies could help you save on car insurance costs. The average quotes below, gathered from Quadrant Information Services, offer a baseline comparison between Arbella and other competing insurance providers.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
$2,234
|
$627
|
|
$2,743
|
$874
|
|
$2,254
|
$694
|
|
$3,054
|
$919
|
|
$1,921
|
$565
|
|
$1,905
|
$688
|
|
$2,688
|
$886
|
|
$2,001
|
$545
|
|
$2,036
|
$750
|
|
$1,756
|
$455
|
Arbella customer satisfaction
Affordable pricing isn’t the only thing that makes a car insurance company a good choice for consumers. When shopping for auto insurance, it’s also important to consider a company’s record for customer satisfaction. Third-party ratings from organizations like J.D. Power, a leading consumer data and analytics company, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which tracks customer complaint rates for U.S. insurers, can help to give a picture of an insurance carrier’s ability to provide high-quality, reliable customer service.
Arbella customer satisfaction
Arbella holds a fairly unremarkable record for customer satisfaction, according to third-party ratings. The 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which scored insurance carriers for customer satisfaction on a 1,000-point scale, placed Arbella slightly below average in the New England region, with a score of 799 compared to the regional industry average of 816. That represents a decline from 2022, when Arbella received a score of 819 and ranked closer to the industry average.
As a smaller insurer, Arbella was not ranked in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction study. However, AM Best upgraded Arbella Insurance Group’s financial strength rating from A- (Excellent) to A (Excellent) in 2020, indicating that the company has been in a good financial position to pay out claims.
Arbella auto insurance customer complaints
Official complaints about an insurance company can flag potential issues with customer service. The NAIC Complaint Index reflects insurance carriers’ rate of complaints compared to the expected number of complaints for the company’s size. A complaint index of 1.00 is the baseline, indicating that a company received the average number of complaints based on its size; higher numbers point to a high rate of complaints.
Arbella Insurance is a small group, with few customer complaints logged by NAIC across its member companies. The 2023 private passenger auto complaint index for Arbella Independent Insurance Company has stayed close to zero in the past three years, likely in part due to the company’s small size and limited available data.
Arbella car insurance discounts
Arbella offers various car insurance discounts, but keep in mind that savings opportunities may vary depending on your state and eligibility. Arbella advertises the following discounts for New England drivers:
- New to Arbella discount: If you switch car insurance companies and opt for Arbella, you could save up to 12 percent for being a new customer.
- Drive less, pay less discount: Drivers who spend less time on the road may be eligible for discounts of up to 10 percent.
- Anti-theft device discount: If your vehicle has an anti-theft device, you could be eligible for a discount of up to 36 percent on your auto policy.
- Paid in full discount: Paying your Arbella auto insurance bill as an annual lump sum rather than monthly or semi annual payments could earn you a discount of up to 6 percent.
- Military away discount: If you are an active military member and are deployed, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 10 percent off your car insurance depending on the state you live in.
- Student away at school discount: If you have a young driver on your policy and they attend school without a car, you could save up to 10 percent.
- Energy-saving vehicle discount: If you drive a hybrid or electric car, you could earn an additional discount on your car insurance.
- Good student discount: Full-time students who earn a "B" or better average can earn up to 5 percent off.
Arbella home insurance review
To help homeowners make informed decisions about insurance coverage, we assigned homeowners insurance companies a Bankrate Score out of 5.0 points. Arbella received a Bankrate Score of 4.2 out of 5.0, indicating that it could be a strong pick for some homeowners in the New England region.
Arbella home insurance includes standard coverage options, generally at affordable rates. Among the attractive features of a homeowners insurance policy from Arbella are bundling options for auto insurance, helpful discounts and policy endorsements like Home Cyber Protection, which offers loss protection for data breaches, cyberbullying and other digital threats.
Pros and cons of Arbella homeowners insurance
Like any home insurance company, Arbella offers certain advantages along with downsides for some consumers. Here are a few pros and cons of buying homeowners insurance through Arbella:
Pros
- Low average rates for many customers
- Numerous discounts, especially for new homeowners
- Online claims filing is available
Cons
- Fewer endorsements than some other carriers
- Not rated by J.D. Power for customer service
- Limited state availability
Arbella home insurance cost
Arbella tends to offer cheap home insurance rates when compared to national average costs. For a homeowners policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, the average premium with Arbella is $1,362 per year. By comparison, the national average cost of homeowners insurance is $2,285 per year for the same coverage.
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|
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---|---|---|
$150K dwelling
|
Arbella average premium
$882
|
National average premium
$1,394
|
$300K dwelling
|
Arbella average premium
$1,362
|
National average premium
$2,285
|
$350K dwelling
|
Arbella average premium
$1,518
|
National average premium
$2,550
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$450K dwelling
|
Arbella average premium
$1,840
|
National average premium
$3,091
|
$750K dwelling
|
Arbella average premium
$2,909
|
National average premium
$4,525
|
Compare Arbella homeowners insurance rates
Every home insurance company sets premiums for policyholders using unique rating algorithms, which means that every homeowner can anticipate different rates from different companies. On average, Arbella offers low-cost home insurance compared to the national average, but some carriers may quote higher or lower rates for each homeowner.
To find cheap home insurance for your profile, you may want to compare rates from multiple companies. The table below compares average rates from Arbella and other homeowners insurance companies to the national average.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
$1,362
|
- $923 |
|
$1,955
|
- $330 |
|
$2,288
|
+ $3 |
|
$1,448
|
- $837 |
|
$2,411
|
+ $126 |
|
$1,699
|
- $586 |
|
$3,524
|
+ $1,239 |
|
$1,691
|
- $594 |
|
$2,935
|
+ $650 |
|
$1,871
|
- $414 |
Arbella customer satisfaction
Understanding a home insurance company’s customer experience can help you to find the best fit for your needs. Consider ratings from third-party organizations like J.D. Power and the NAIC to get a sense of how companies support their customers.
Arbella is a small, regional insurance group, which means that it doesn’t have as many third-party reviews as larger carriers. The company does carry an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, though, which speaks to the company’s historical ability to pay claims.
Arbella was not ranked by J.D. Power in the 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study, but the company did receive a rating in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which looked at claims service and other metrics. In the New England region, Arbella received a score of 799 out of 1,000, which is below the industry average of 816. Speaking to agents and reading reviews from real customers may be helpful in evaluating Arbella’s customer service practices for homeowners insurance.
Arbella home insurance customer complaints
As a small group of insurance companies, Arbella has limited data available through the NAIC database, but within that receives relatively few customer complaints. Over the past three years, Arbella Independent Insurance Company’s complaint index has stayed very near to 0.
Arbella home insurance discounts
Arbella offers a generous suite of home insurance discounts that might lower your premium. In particular, first-time homeowners may be eligible for multiple discounts that could reduce the cost of a policy from Arbella. Keep in mind that eligibility for the following discounts varies by state:
- New home credit: If your home is less than 10 years old, your home insurance policy could qualify for up to 20 percent in premium savings.
- New to Arbella: New Arbella home insurance policyholders may qualify for up to a 7 percent discount.
- Renew and save: You could get up to a 3 percent discount by renewing your policy each year and staying loyal to Arbella.
- Auto rewards: Bundling your auto and home coverage with Arbella could save you up to 25 percent on your home policy.
- Mass Save discount: Customers who complete a no-cost in-home energy assessment and send the results to their Arbella agent could be eligible for a discount of up to 5 percent.
- MAHA Workshop discount: If you are a first-time homebuyer in Massachusetts and attend an Affordable Housing Alliance Workshop, you could qualify for a 10 percent discount on your home insurance for two years.
Compare Arbella with other insurers
If you’re shopping for insurance and are wondering what other companies to get homeowners insurance quotes from, here are some options that compare to Arbella.
Featured
Arbella
4.1
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
Cost & ratings 4.3Coverage 3.6Support 4.2 |
Electric
Not scored
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
|
Allstate
4.1
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
Cost & ratings 3.8Coverage 4.5Support 4.0 |
---|---|---|
OVERVIEW
Bankrate identified key carrier features, coverage offerings, discounts and more
|
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Policyholders who want local agent access in the New England region for their auto and home coverage may want to consider Arbella as their company of choice.
Read More
|
Massachusetts-based Electric Insurance offers an array of discounts for auto and home insurance policies. The company also has options for collector car and RV insurance.
Read More
|
Allstate’s robust nationwide coverage options, 24/7 customer service and highly-rated mobile app could make it a good fit for many customers. However, Allstate received below-average customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power.
Read More
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STANDOUT FEATURES
These features are some of the carrier’s most impressive
|
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Generous discount options
Local agencies available
Online billing and claims filing
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Risk Coach coverage guidance
24/7 claims center
Robust coverage packages
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Excellent financial strength
Robust digital tools
Multiple insurance discounts
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AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy
|
||
$2,234 | $2,900 | $3,054 |
J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE
J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
|
||
Not Scored | Not Scored | 889/1000 |
AVG HOME RATE
Average national annual cost of a home insurance policy with $300K in dwelling coverage
|
||
$1,362 | No rates available | $2,288 |
J.D. POWER HOME SCORE
J.D. Power’s Property Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
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||
Not Scored | Not Scored | 631/1000 |
AM BEST RATING
AM Best ratings assess companies’ financial strength based on historical ability to pay out claims, among other financial obligations
|
||
A(Excellent) | Not Scored | A+(Superior) |
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyOur insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth Arbella insurance review.
46
years of industry expertise
122
carriers reviewed
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
1.2M
quotes analyzed
Is Arbella a good insurance company?
Arbella is a small insurance group with strong standard coverage offerings and generally low pricing for customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It particularly stands out for its long list of discounts for both auto and home insurance and its simple digital tools.
Both auto insurance rates and home insurance rates from Arbella tend to be lower than the national average. While the lack of online quoting may be a disadvantage for customers who prefer to purchase insurance online, Arbella’s network of local independent agents could make it a good fit for some shoppers.
What are real-life customers saying about Arbella?
When it comes to picking an insurance company, average rates and third-party professional ratings only provide part of the picture — especially when looking at a small company like Arbella. To get a better idea of the experiences that real Arbella customers have with their provider, Bankrate’s editorial team sourced first-hand takes from two online platforms: Reddit and Yelp. While Reddit offers a forum for frank discussion on a wide range of topics including insurance and personal finance, Yelp provides a platform for direct reviews from customers.
Reddit users in regional forums dedicated to life in New England offered mixed views on Arbella’s auto and home insurance offerings. Overall, perspectives tended to be positive, though some users reported that the initially low rates they received from Arbella increased unexpectedly in later years.
Yelp
Arbella’s overall rating on Yelp is fairly low, but a considerable number of policyholders gave 5-star reviews, balancing out negative perspectives with positive experiences. Arbella’s Director of Digital Strategy actively responds to both positive and negative company reviews on Yelp.
Arbella company details
If you’re considering purchasing a home or auto policy from Arbella, or if you’re an existing customer, you can use the following contact information to reach out to the company:
- Customer service: 1-800-272-3552
- Claims: 1-800-272-3552 or report online
- Find an agent: Online search
- Payments by mail:
- Arbella Insurance Group
P.O. Box 55392
Boston, MA 02205-5392
- Arbella Insurance Group
- Additional help: online contact request form
State availability
Arbella offers auto, home and other personal insurance products in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Commercial insurance products are also available in Rhode Island.
Arbella tools and benefits
Although Arbella's reputation is built on its auto and home insurance policies, it offers other types of insurance as well, and also has benefits and tools available to its policyholders to make it easier to manage their policies or save money on them. Here are a few of Arbella's tools and benefits:
- Motorcycle insurance: This policy provides coverage for your motorcycle when on the road or parked.
- Commercial auto insurance: If you use your vehicles for business, this type of policy may be important to you.
- Renters insurance: If you rent an apartment or house, you'll still need coverage to protect your belongings, even though the building itself is covered by your landlord's policy.
- Condo insurance: This policy is for those who live in condominiums and protects their personal property and condo unit.
- Rental property insurance: If you are a landlord, you will need coverage even if you don't live in your rental property.
- Umbrella insurance: This type of insurance adds value to your other policies, offering coverage for unexpected serious occurrences.
- Business insurance: Arbella offers coverage for both small businesses as well as those that are larger and more complex.
- Mass Save discount: Arbella has partnered with Mass Save to give homeowners up to a 5 percent discount on their home insurance and an opportunity for more discounts and rebates from other program sponsors. To participate, homeowners must participate in an in-home energy assessment that will be shared with their insurance agent.
- Mobile app: Policyholders with Arbella were already able to manage their policies online through the myArbella online portal, but the company launched a mobile app in 2021 to allow customers to do the same on their phones and tablets as well.
Frequently asked questions about Arbella
Methodology
Auto
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze October 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
Bodily injury liability
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$50,000 per accidentPersonal injury protection
$100,000 per accidentUninsured motorist bodily injury
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Collision deductible
$500Comprehensive deductible
$500Other profiles
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Home
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze October 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
Dwelling coverage
$300,000Other structures coverage
$30,000Personal property coverage
$150,000Loss of use coverage
$60,000Liability coverage
$500,000Medical payment coverage
$1,000Additional profiles:
- Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $350,000, $450,000
- Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $35,000, $45,000
- Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $175,000, $225,000
- Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $70,000, $90,000
- Coverage E, Liability: $500,000
- Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Bankrate Scores
Auto Bankrate Score
Our 2024 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.
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. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average 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, Demotech 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 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.
Home Bankrate Score
Our 2024 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.
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. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlight where they fall short.
-
Cost & ratings 50%
-
Coverage & savings 30%
-
Support 20%
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average 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, Demotech 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 a 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.