Elephant insurance review 2023

Elephant car insurance

According to Bankrate’s analysis, Drivers who are seeking unique types of add-on car insurance coverage may find Elephant to be a good choice. Elephant was founded in 2009 and began as an auto insurance company. It offers the standard suite of auto insurance policy staples but also has an array of unique policy add-on options to consider. Among those options is coverage for loans for drivers who have financed cars, non-owner car insurance for drivers who don't have their own vehicle, and custom parts and equipment coverage for custom or modified cars. However, Elephant is only available in eight states, and drivers must be in one of those states to utilize insurance from this company.

Pros and cons of Elephant car insurance

Elephant has some pros to note for its car insurance but also some potential downsides to consider.

Elephant car insurance cost

Average premiums for Elephant auto insurance are not available.

It’s important to remember, though, that rates vary based on a number of personal rating factors, such as your ZIP code, make and model of your vehicle, driving history and even your age (in most states). As such, it may be helpful to get a personalized quote to learn what your costs may be.

Elephant car insurance discounts

Many of the best car insurance companies offer car insurance discounts to help you significantly lower your car insurance premium. Elephant advertises that drivers can save up to 40% on their car insurance by taking advantage of its long list of discounts, many of which may not be found with other car insurance carriers. Some discounts include:

Elephant car tools and benefits

Elephant offers a handful of car tools and benefits outside of its insurance coverage, including YourMechanic, roadside assistance, and legal coverage. YourMechanic allows policyholders to book online auto repairs for a discount and creates opportunities for contactless repair work. Roadside assistance pairs drivers with tow trucks and roadside services, such as replacing a flat tire. Legal coverage can help drivers with the legal costs associated with some minor traffic violations, as well as smaller discounts for other legal services like will preparation, real estate transactions, family law and more.

Elephant home insurance

Elephant offers home insurance policies through its partner company, Homesite. Standard homeowners insurance options such as personal property coverage, liability and medical payments coverage are available in the policy. Dwelling coverage is also included, and policyholders have the option to select extended replacement cost, which could give an additional 25% or 50% of the dwelling coverage amount if, in the event of a loss, the dwelling coverage amount is not enough to repair the home.

Other add-on options to further personalize the policy are available too. Homeowners can include identity theft coverage, which would provide up to $15,000 for any damages related to identity theft. They can also add personal injury for lawsuits alleging libel, slander or invasion of privacy and valuable items coverage for high-value personal property like furs and jewelry.

Pros and cons of Elephant homeowners insurance

There are several potential pros and cons of Elephant homeowners insurance for prospective customers to consider:

Elephant home insurance cost

Average premiums for a Homesite homeowners policy are not available.

When looking for the best homeowners insurance company for your needs, knowing the national averages could help for comparison purposes. This is especially true given that actual rates may vary due to factors such as where your house is located, its size and any renovations or updates that have been completed.

Elephant home insurance discounts

While Elephant does not underwrite its own home insurance policies, it does offer a multiple policy discount for drivers with an existing car insurance with Elephant. Other Homesite discounts may include:

Elephant home tools and benefits

Elephant and Homesite do not indicate if policyholders have access to additional home services.

Elephant life insurance

Similar to its homeowners insurance, Elephant does not underwrite its own life insurance. Instead, Elephant life insurance is offered through its partner company, Life Direct. The only available option is term life insurance, which may be a draw to those who want a cost-effective method of protecting their loved ones. A few perks of Life Direct and Elephant life insurance include a quick online application with no required doctor’s appointment and, if qualified, coverage can be initiated immediately.

Pros and cons of Elephant life insurance

Elephant life insurance endorsements

Many of the best life insurance policies offer numerous coverage options to personalize the policy. While Elephant does not indicate what specific endorsements are available for its life insurance policy, it does state that policyholders can choose from different coverage limits and payment plans.

Elephant life tools and benefits

Elephant does not specify any additional services or products for its life insurance policyholders.

Elephant customer satisfaction

Third party ratings and rankings companies, like J.D. Power and AM Best, review insurance companies and rate them on specific factors like customer claims satisfaction and financial strength. These ratings can help prospective customers determine which company is best for them. Another helpful metric is the relative number of complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Elephant home and auto ratings

Neither AM Best or J.D. Power offers ratings or rankings information on Elephant. However, it may be worth noting that the company has a ratio of NAIC complaints well above the national median. Its NAIC ratio is 4.12. Companies with ratios over the baseline of 1 have a higher number of complaints, while those under this number have fewer.

How to file a claim with Elephant

You can file a claim with Elephant through their website, over the phone, by email, or by written mail. No matter your chosen medium, you'll want to have your personal identification information, policy, and any details about the damage being filed. You'll be asked to provide this information and to specify what policy is being used and what occurred to lead to the claim.

Elephant availability

Elephant insurance products are currently limited to the following eight states:

• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Maryland
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia

Other Elephant perks worth considering

Elephant also offers other types of insurance in addition to auto, home and life insurance. These include:

• Motorcycle insurance: Elephant offers personalized motorcycle insurance through its partner company, Dairyland.
• Renters insurance: Renters can purchase insurance to help financially safeguard their belongings while they stay in a rental property.
• Condo insurance: Elephant offers insurance for condominium owners through its partner company, Homesite. These policies are designed to cover the interior of condos.

Elephant corporate sustainability

Elephant has partnered with several organizations to support community and youth programs. In 2021, the company donated $300,000 to Helping Herd. This initiative helped employees in various organizations and programs that had either been impacted by COVID-19 or were working to support COVID-relief efforts in the community.

For its youth-driven programs, Elephant supports Project Yellow Light, a scholarship competition that awards teens for highlighting the perils of distracted driving through films, radio and billboards. Elephant is also heavily involved in youth sports programs such as LeagueSide, Richmond Flying Squirrels and Richmond Kickers.

Not sure if Elephant is right for you?

Finding the right insurance can be tricky and depends on several personal variables. That's one reason why it's often helpful to shop around between multiple insurers when looking for a policy. Below are some possible alternatives to Elephant when considering insurance.

Elephant vs. Metromile

While Elephant offers discounts for low-mileage drivers, like its work-from-home discount, some companies specialize in low-mileage car insurance. Metromile is one such company, and it could be a good choice for drivers who want auto coverage but drive minimally and want to see that reflected in their rates.

Elephant vs. Progressive

Elephant offers a robust suite of auto insurance options, including add-on coverage options, but it does not have an app to make things more convenient for its customers. Progressive is one of the larger insurance companies, and it offers auto, home and life insurance. Progressive also has a free app and other digital tools. People who prioritize digital tools and apps and are looking for these types of insurance policies may prefer Progressive over Elephant.

Learn more: Progressive Insurance review

Elephant vs. Farmers Insurance

Customers can get auto, home and life insurance through Elephant, but home and life policies (as well as some specialized types of auto) are underwritten by partner companies. Farmers offers these types of policy in-house while maintaining several discount and customization options. Those who want to purchase all their insurance policies from one company and like customization options for home and auto may prefer Farmers to Elephant.

Learn more: Farmers Insurance review

Is Elephant a good insurance company?

Elephant Insurance may be a good option for the right customers. The company offers auto, home and life insurance products, although some of these policies are underwritten by partner companies. Auto policies have several add-on options that may be hard to find at some other companies, and Elephant offers several potential discounts.

Still, Elephant insurance products are only available in eight states, and the company has received a relatively high number of NAIC complaints. Customers who are in the service region, qualify for discounts, and don't mind the rate of NAIC complaints may find Elephant to be a good company.