SafeAuto insurance review 2023

SafeAuto car insurance

SafeAuto car insurance may be one of the best car insurance companies for drivers with high-risk incidents on their record. The company specializes in providing non-standard car insurance for drivers with incidents like multiple tickets or at-fault accidents on their driving records. Coverage is currently available in 11 states, and the company boasts an easy online quoting system. There’s also an online chat feature and a support phone number if you need assistance.

SafeAuto focuses on state minimum coverage, although you can purchase higher liability limits if you need to. SafeAuto does not, however, offer liability limits as high as some other car insurance companies, so if you’re looking for a more robust policy, SafeAuto may not be the best choice. You can also add comprehensive and collision coverage, and you might be able to add some endorsements like rental car reimbursement or roadside assistance coverage, depending on your state.

Pros and cons of SafeAuto car insurance

Comparing car insurance companies may be an important part of finding the best car insurance. Considering the pros and cons of each company may help you decide where to ask for car insurance quotes. Here’s a summary of SafeAuto car insurance pros and cons our insurance editorial team identified:

SafeAuto car insurance cost

SafeAuto car insurance is, on average, more expensive than the average national cost of car insurance. The average cost of a minimum coverage policy with SafeAuto is $687 per year, whereas minimum coverage costs an average of $622 nationally. Full coverage is similarly more expensive, at $2,521 per year with SafeAuto versus $2,014 nationally. This trend is continuous across multiple driver profiles we analyzed.

SafeAuto car insurance rates by driving history

Your driving history is an important factor when it comes to car insurance rates. Having an incident on your record, like a speeding ticket or at-fault accident, could make your premiums more expensive compared to a driver with a clean driving record. Multiple tickets and accidents or a more serious incident, like a DUI, could make car insurance companies consider you a high-risk driver.

The incidents tables below show a comparison of average car insurance rates based on driving history. We have excluded average car insurance rates for DUIs from the table below, as some car insurance companies may not write policies for drivers with a DUI, but you can always reach out to a SafeAuto agent for more information on insurance for drivers with a DUI.

SafeAuto car insurance quotes by age

Car insurance companies also look at a driver's age when determining premiums. Younger and newly-licensed drivers are considered higher risk compared to older drivers with more driving experience and generally pay higher average premiums as a result. Below is a comparison of car insurance premiums by age for drivers on their parents’ car insurance and on their own standalone policy. All feature drivers with clean driving records.

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

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy

SafeAuto car insurance discounts

Knowing that SafeAuto car insurance tends to be more expensive than average — which could be due, in part, to the high-risk drivers it covers — you may be wondering what kinds of discounts are available. SafeAuto offers several ways to save on car insurance, but keep in mind that if you have accidents or tickets on your record, you may still pay more than a driver with a clean record.

SafeAuto’s auto insurance discounts vary by state, but some of the featured savings opportunities include insuring more than one vehicle, being a homeowner and switching your coverage to SafeAuto. These discounts are fairly common, but more unique offerings might be available in your state.

SafeAuto car tools and benefits

SafeAuto may be able to file an SR-22 form for drivers who are required to have one. The company also partners with ForeverCar to provide a vehicle service plan that could help save you money on vehicle maintenance costs. If you're unsure what types of coverage you need, and whether high-risk insurance is the right choice for you, SafeAuto's information center could help you decide whether the carrier is a good fit for your needs.

SafeAuto home insurance

SafeAuto does not sell its own home insurance, but it does offer policies underwritten by Hippo Insurance. Hippo could be a good home insurance company for those who want a tech-forward experience. Coverage is available in 39 states and Washington, D.C. Keep in mind, though, that coverage from Hippo is not SafeAuto home insurance, so you may not get the benefits of bundling your auto and home insurance.

Pros and cons of SafeAuto homeowners insurance

SafeAuto homeowners insurance is provided through Hippo Insurance, which is a separate carrier. This may mean you’ll need to do additional research on Hippo to see if it’s the right fit for your home insurance needs.

SafeAuto home insurance cost

Nationally, the average cost of home insurance is $1,428 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage. The more coverage you buy, the more expensive your policy will be. Home insurance rates also vary based on the features of your home, the risk of damage in the city and state you live in, the endorsements you add and your claims history. While rates for SafeAuto’s home insurance through Hippo are not available, the national average rates could be a helpful guideline, especially if you’re looking for cheap home insurance.

SafeAuto home insurance discounts

There may be several ways to save on SafeAuto home insurance provided by Hippo. When shopping for home insurance quotes, some of the more unique discounts from Hippo you can ask about include:

Discounts may vary by state and have other eligibility requirements, so be sure to talk with a SafeAuto representative about the discounts available on Hippo home insurance policies.

SafeAuto home tools and benefits

SafeAuto does not offer any home services, although Hippo offers Hippo Home Care, which could help you learn how to properly maintain your home.

SafeAuto life insurance

SafeAuto life insurance is provided by Bestow Agency, LLC, and policies are underwritten by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance. If you’re shopping for life insurance, SafeAuto might be a convenient option if you already have policies with the company. However, if you are looking for the best life insurance company, you may want to compare quotes from other companies.

Policies offered include term life insurance with 2-, 10- and 20-year terms. Coverage amounts range from $50,000 to $1 million. Quotes are available online and policies do not require a medical exam. You can learn more about SafeAuto's partner life insurance company by contacting Bestow or SafeAuto directly.

Pros and cons of SafeAuto life insurance

Before you choose a life insurance company or even start to request life insurance quotes, you may want to consider why you need life insurance and your budget for life insurance to narrow down your options. The best company for your needs may vary based on your priorities. For example, some customers may be looking for cheap life insurance, while others want expanded rider options or something else entirely.

SafeAuto life insurance endorsements

Bestow does not list any life insurance riders on its website, but they may be available. Contacting a SafeAuto or Bestow representative could provide more details on riders.

SafeAuto life tools and benefits

SafeAuto doesn't advertise any additional tools or services available through its Bestow partnered life insurance.

SafeAuto customer satisfaction

Customer experience can be an important factor for many when it comes to insurance. Talking with friends and family who have SafeAuto policies may be a good way to get insights on the company's customer service, but you can also look to third-party rating agencies like J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). These organizations routinely study customer service and complaints for different insurance companies. NAIC complaints are reflected in the organization's complaint index. This index has a baseline of 1.00, so companies with a higher number have more complaints than expected for their size.

Additionally, AM Best provides ratings for companies' financial strength. SafeAuto and its life insurance partner, Bestow, are not rated by AM Best, but its home insurance partner, Hippo, has an AM Best rating of A- (Excellent).

SafeAuto auto satisfaction

SafeAuto did not rank in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study in any region. It has an NAIC Complaint Index of 4.25 for its private passenger auto product, indicating that it received more than four times as many complaints as expected in the market.

SafeAuto homeowners satisfaction

Hippo also did not rank in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study, and did not receive an NAIC Complaint Index score. This may be because Hippo is a relatively new company and does not yet have the reach as other national carriers. Speaking with current policyholders may be the best way to get a sense of Hippo’s homeowners satisfaction.

SafeAuto life satisfaction

Bestow did not rank in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study. It also does not appear to have been scored in the NAIC’s Complaint Index, so it may be difficult to gauge Bestow’s customer experience without speaking to current policyholders and beneficiaries.

How to file a claim with SafeAuto

Filing a SafeAuto car insurance claim can be done on its website or by calling 1-800-723-3288.

SafeAuto availability

SafeAuto car insurance is available in Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. SafeAuto home and life insurance availability may vary based on Hippo and Bestow availability. You may reach out to SafeAuto for more information on these products.

Other SafeAuto perks worth considering

Through various underwriting partners, SafeAuto also offers the following types of insurance coverage:

• Motorcycle
• Boat/personal watercraft
• RV/trailer
• Renters
• Business
• Health
• Dental
• Accident

SafeAuto corporate sustainability

SafeAuto does not list any corporate, social or environmental giveback programs on its website, although its various underwriting partners may have programs of their own.

Not sure if SafeAuto is right for you?

Choosing a car, home or life insurance company may mean researching and sourcing quotes from multiple companies. If you aren’t sure SafeAuto is the right fit for you, you could consider these alternatives.

SafeAuto vs. Direct Auto

Direct Auto is similar to SafeAuto in that it specializes in coverage for riskier drivers. However, if you prefer an agency experience, Direct Auto could be a better choice. The company has agencies in several states, so you can handle your insurance in person. The company does not offer homeowners insurance, even through a partner company, but it does offer term life insurance with slightly higher term length options.

Learn more: Direct Auto Insurance review

SafeAuto vs. The General

The General is known for offering coverage to high-risk drivers and could be a good fit if you like to handle your insurance digitally. The company has a robust mobile app, an online customer platform and a chat feature on its website. The General has a wide variety of potential discounts, but it also has a high NAIC Complaint Index for its private passenger product.

Learn more: The General Insurance review

SafeAuto vs. Geico

Not only is Geico one of the best car insurance companies in general, it also won a 2022 Bankrate Award for best car insurance for high-risk drivers. The company also has a long list of discounts that could help you get cheaper car insurance. Like SafeAuto, Geico home and life insurance is underwritten by third-party companies.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Is SafeAuto a good insurance company?

With almost 50 years of insurance industry experience, Bankrate’s insurance experts aim to give you a broad overview of SafeAuto's pricing, coverage types and customer service in this insurance review. SafeAuto specializes in minimum coverage car insurance and high-risk car insurance, which could be a good fit if these are the options you’re looking for. The carrier also has some modern touches with online chat and an online portal for policy management. However, the carrier does not write its own home and life insurance policies, which could be a drawback for those who want to manage all their policies in one place, and information on its customer experience is limited.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for 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 are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

Auto

• $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 sample drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

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.