SafeAuto insurance review 2024
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At a glance
Bankrate's take
High-risk drivers who struggled to find coverage elsewhere may have considered SafeAuto. However, SafeAuto no longer writes new policies. As of 2021, the carrier is now a part of Direct Auto, which also offers policies to drivers with similar profiles.
- Specialized in nonstandard auto insurance for high-risk drivers
- Availability limited to 11 states
- Above-average number of complaints with the NAIC
New
SafeAuto is now a part of Direct Auto. In 2021, SafeAuto was purchased by National General, an Allstate company and parent company of Direct Auto. SafeAuto car insurance policies are now managed and serviced through Direct Auto. Like the old SafeAuto policies, car insurance from Direct Auto is also tailored to high-risk drivers.
SafeAuto car insurance review
For drivers considered to be high-risk, SafeAuto car insurance could have been one of the best car insurance companies. The company specialized in providing nonstandard car insurance for drivers with incidents like multiple tickets or at-fault accidents on their driving records. Coverage was available in 11 states, and the company boasted an easy online quoting system. There was also an online chat feature and a support phone number for customer assistance.
SafeAuto focused on state minimum coverage, although you could purchase higher liability limits if you need to. SafeAuto did not, however, offer liability limits as high as some other car insurance companies. You could also add comprehensive and collision coverage, and endorsements like rental car reimbursement or roadside assistance coverage were available in some states.
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. Although SafeAuto no longer writes new policies, comparing its features may help you find a suitable alternative carrier. Here’s a summary of some SafeAuto car insurance pros and cons our insurance editorial team identified:
Pros
- SR-22 filing available
- Online chat available
- Specialized in nonstandard car insurance
Cons
- Few options for higher liability coverage
- Limited optional coverage types for a more robust car insurance policy
- No longer writing new policies
SafeAuto customer satisfaction
Customer experience can be an important factor for many when it comes to insurance. Unfortunately, SafeAuto was not scored in any of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction studies. Now that the carrier has merged with Direct Auto, looking at Direct Auto customer service metrics may help you decide if that carrier could be right for you.
SafeAuto auto insurance customer complaints
To get a gauge of policyholder’s satisfaction with an insurer, you can also look to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which routinely studies complaints filed about different insurance companies. NAIC complaints are reflected in the organization's complaint index. This index has a baseline of 1.00, and companies with an index higher than the baseline have more complaints than expected for their size.
Since SafeAuto’s homeowners and life insurance products were offered by other companies, we did not include complaint index information, but you can check out our full insurance reviews for Hippo and Bestow, which are the companies that underwrote SafeAuto homeowners and life insurance, respectively.
SafeAuto had an NAIC Complaint Index of 6.66 for its private passenger auto product, indicating that it received significantly more complaints than expected based on its size, which could indicate that customers didn’t have a great experience with the insurer.
SafeAuto car insurance cost
Because SafeAuto is no longer actively writing policies, rates are unavailable. To get a better sense of what a policy from Direct Auto would cost, take a look at our in-depth Direct Auto review page. While you compare rates, it may help to know that the average cost of car insurance is $2,388 for full coverage and $664 for minimum coverage. However, keep in mind that your rates will vary significantly based on your personal rating factors. Insurers typically look at your location, age, credit score, vehicle, driving history and more. If you need nonstandard coverage, your rates are likely to be higher. Fortunately, Direct Auto provides SR-22 insurance to high-risk drivers. The company will file the proof of insurance coverage with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
SafeAuto car insurance discounts
Discounts offered by Direct Auto are very similar to the ones SafeAuto used to offer. Direct Auto policyholders may find some car insurance savings with these discounts, but bear in mind that availability will vary on a state-by-state basis:
- Military discount: Savings up to 25 percent are offered for qualifying members of the military.
- Safe driver discount: You could save up to 10 percent by maintaining a clean driving record over 36 months.
- Good student discount: Unmarried, full-time students doing one or more of the following could save up to 10 percent: making at least a “B” average or better, being placed on the dean’s list, being recognized as an honor student or being scholastically ranked in the upper 20 percent of your class.
- Senior citizen discount: Drivers 55 and older who have completed a vehicle accident prevention course could save up to 5 percent with Direct Auto
- Multi-car discount: Savings up to 25 percent are available when you have more than one vehicle on your policy.
- DynamicDrive: With Direct Auto’s telematics program, DynamicDrive, drivers could save up to 10 percent.
- Payment discounts: If you sign up for paperless billing, make automatic payments or pay one year in total up-front, you could save.
SafeAuto home insurance review
SafeAuto did not sell its own home insurance, but it did 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. However, Direct Auto does not sell home insurance policies.
SafeAuto life insurance review
SafeAuto life insurance was provided by Bestow, and policies are underwritten by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance. If you’re shopping for life insurance, SafeAuto might have been 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.
Direct Auto offers no-exam term life insurance policies underwritten by Direct General Life Insurance. Coverage limits are low, only up to $25,000, but Direct Auto car insurance customers can save up to 5 percent when they bundle the two policies together.
Compare life insurance providers quickly and easily
See which provider is right for you.
Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component.
- Coverage for life
- Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid
- 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component
Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time.
- Fixed premium over term
- No savings benefits
- Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back
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Compare SafeAuto with other insurers
Choosing a car, home or life insurance company often means researching and sourcing quotes from multiple companies. Although SafeAuto is no longer writing new policies, Bankrate highlighted some comparable alternative companies.
SafeAuto vs. Progressive
Progressive was named the Best Auto Insurance Company for High-Risk Drivers in our 2024 Bankrate Awards. Like SafeAuto, Progressive offers SR-22 forms for high-risk drivers and a long list of potential discounts. However, Progressive edges out SafeAuto in that it offers national service as opposed to just 11 states. Plus, Progressive’s Name Your Price tool and lower average rates (even for drivers with a DUI) may result in cheaper premiums.
Learn more: Progressive 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
Geico tied for two 2024 Bankrate Awards: Best Car Insurance Company Overall (with Amica) and Best Budget Auto Insurance Company (with Auto-Owners). The company features low average rates and 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
Was SafeAuto a good insurance company?
With extensive insurance industry experience, Bankrate’s insurance experts aim to give you a broad overview of pricing, coverage types and customer service in our SafeAuto insurance reviews. SafeAuto specialized in minimum coverage car insurance and high-risk car insurance. The carrier also had some modern touches with online chat and an online portal for policy management. However, the carrier did not write its own home and life insurance policies, which could have been a drawback for those who wanted to manage all their policies in one place.
What were real-life customers saying about SafeAuto?
To round out our SafeAuto insurance review, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team looked to online discussion forums to find what real SafeAuto policyholders had to say about the company.
By and large, Reddit users who had an at-fault accident on their record were unhappy with how SafeAuto handled the claims process. This could be due to the fact that SafeAuto’s liability limits tended to be lower and closer to the state minimum requirements — which could have left the at-fault party with out-of-pocket expenses if the damage exceeded their coverage limits. Another common discussion point about SafeAuto was how the company handled the transition to Direct Auto.
A coverage lapse is more than a missed bill — it could raise your rate when you sign up with a new insurer and, if you’re involved in an accident, you could be held liable for another driver’s post-accident expenses out of pocket.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
SafeAuto company details
- Customer service: 1-800-SAFEAUTO (1-800-723-3288)
- Customer service email: customerservice@safeauto.com
- Claims email: claims@safeauto.com
State availability
SafeAuto car insurance was available in AZ, IL, GA, IN, LA, MD, MO, OH, PA, TN and VA. SafeAuto home and life insurance availability varied based on Hippo and Bestow availability.
SafeAuto tools and benefits
Through various underwriting partners, SafeAuto also offered the following perks and types of insurance coverage:
- Motorcycle
- Boat/personal watercraft
- RV/trailer
- Renters
- Business
- Health
- Dental
- Accident
- May file SR-22 forms
- Vehicle service plans
- Roadside assistance
- Mobile app for iOS and Android
Frequently asked questions about SafeAuto
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
$500These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
