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- Auto-Owners insurance earns 4.4 out of 5.0 stars for its cheap rates and few complaints.
- Drivers in 26 states can get Auto-Owners insurance, but there’s no option for online quotes.
- The average cost of full-coverage car insurance from Auto-Owners is $1,491 per year or $124 per month.
Auto-Owners Insurance
In Our Opinion:
Auto-Owners has a strong reputation for customer service and offers lower-than-average rates for many drivers. It’s only available in 26 states, though, and you must head to an agency to get a car insurance quote.
Auto-Owners Insurance Pros
- Many unique policy add-ons
- Affordable rates for many types of drivers
- Low number of customer complaints
Auto-Owners Insurance Cons
- Only offers coverage in 26 states
- No option for online quotes
Auto-Owners insurance may be among your best options if you live in one of the 26 states where it’s available. Our review team found that the company offers affordable premiums to various driver profiles, but only for those who head to an agency to get a quote.
We analyzed industry ratings, customer comments, coverage selections, and cost estimates when creating this Auto-Owners insurance review. You can see how the company performed and how it measures up to the best car insurance companies in the sections below.
Auto-Owners Insurance Review: 4.4 of 5.0 Stars
In the states served by Auto-Owners, the provider is typically among the cheapest auto insurance options. The company’s mix of low rates and high customer satisfaction earned it a score of 4.4 out of 5.0 stars in our most recent auto insurance study.
Below is a breakdown of the scores that Auto-Owners insurance earned in each of our research categories:
| Review Category | Auto-Owners Insurance Score Out of 5.0 |
| Industry Standing | 4.6 |
| Availability | 4.2 |
| Coverage | 4.7 |
| Affordability | 4.3 |
| Customer Service | 4.4 |
| Online Experience | 3.8 |
| Overall Rating | 4.4 |
How Good Is Auto-Owners Insurance?
From inexpensive premiums and thoughtful coverage options to typically satisfied customers, Auto-Owners insurance is clearly a strong provider. In fact, it ranked 10th overall in our most recent industrywide study of car insurance companies.
However, its main weakness is tough to work around: Auto-Owners is unavailable in nearly half of the country. Even for those who qualify for coverage, the company’s requirement for drivers to come to an agency to get a quote can be frustrating.
Auto-Owners Car Insurance Ratings
Auto-Owners currently holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The provider also received an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating that Auto-Owners insurance is unlikely to face issues when covering claim obligations.
Auto-Owners Insurance: Customer Satisfaction
Auto-Owners has one of the industry’s lowest rates of customer complaints filed with the BBB and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This means that fewer policyholders had issues with services from Auto-Owners than with most other insurers.
In 2022, our research team asked more than 7,000 drivers, “How satisfied are you with your insurance company?” Auto-Owners insurance earned a score of 4.2 out of 5.0, which was average among the providers considered in the survey.
Auto-Owners Insurance: J.D. Power Ratings
Auto-Owners insurance’s performance in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance StudySM varied considerably by region. The company received below-average scores across much of the Midwest but earned one of the highest regional ratings in the Southeast.
The provider earned 865 out of 1,000 points in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM. This score was lower than the study’s average, revealing that policyholders had greater issues when filing insurance claims than with other providers.
Auto-Owners Insurance Customer Reviews
On the BBB website, Auto-Owners has an average customer review score of 1.3 out of 5.0 stars. This is objectively low but average among car insurance providers since people usually come to the site to lodge complaints.
Positive Auto-Owners Insurance Reviews
Despite many negative comments, we found some reviews that reported positive experiences. These Auto-Owners customers typically mentioned fast and easy claims handling.
The following quotes reflect the overall sentiment of positive Auto-Owners insurance reviews:
My car was hit in a hailstorm and Auto-Owners paid even though we did not notice the damage right away. They were very generous with the coverage.”
– Cody J. via the BBB
I had an auto claim with them last year. The adjuster was very friendly and I got paid quickly for the claim and was very happy with the amount of the payout.”
– Chase H. via the BBB
Negative Auto-Owners Insurance Reviews
Insurance claims were often the subject of many negative reviews for Auto-Owners. People who reported bad experiences with the company tended to cite a difficult or lengthy claims process.
These quotes are representative of many negative reviews we read:
The insurance person … didn’t return calls or texts when I tried contacting her. [I] had to call the local office and have them reach out to her. It took several days before they heard from her.”
– Gwendolyn J. via the BBB
My vehicle was involved in an accident 22 days ago and there has been no resolution made.”
– Arnissa T. via the BBB
About Auto-Owners Insurance
Founded in 1916, the Auto-Owners Insurance Group is a mutual insurance company based in Lansing, Michigan. The company sells coverage through independent agents across 26 states. According to NAIC data, the company held a 1.27% market share in 2021 and wrote more than 3.3 million premiums.
Auto-Owners Insurance Availability
Auto-Owners insurance operates across several regions of the U.S. but has its greatest availability in the Midwest. Below are the 26 states where Auto-Owners currently operates:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Auto-Owners Insurance Coverage
Drivers can select from a broad range of insurance options with Auto-Owners, from minimum coverage up to more extensive plans. Here are the company’s standard auto insurance choices:
- Bodily injury liability insurance: If you’re found at fault for an accident, this covers medical bills, lost wages, and other related costs for other parties.
- Property damage liability insurance: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing other parties’ vehicles and personal property damaged in a car accident you caused.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): No matter who caused the accident, this will cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs for you and your party.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical bills for you and your party resulting from an accident, no matter who is at fault.
- Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage: If an at-fault driver lacks sufficient auto insurance, this offers coverage for medical expenses and property damages.
- Collision coverage: Covers damages to your own vehicle resulting from a car accident.
- Comprehensive coverage: Theft, vandalism, flying objects, and severe weather – there are many potential sources of damage other than a car accident, and comprehensive coverage helps cover these.
Auto-Owners Additional Coverage Options
In addition to the most common coverage types, our team found a few Auto-Owners insurance add-ons that are harder to find elsewhere. This list of additional coverage items includes:
- Guaranteed asset protection (gap insurance): Covers some or all of the difference between what you owe on a car and its assessed value following a total loss.
- Diminished value coverage: Covers depreciation on your vehicle caused by damage from a covered loss if it isn’t totaled.
- Accident forgiveness: Stops your premium from increasing after your first at-fault accident. Auto-Owners only offers this option to drivers who’ve been free of road violations and claims for at least three years.
- Road trouble service: Covers emergency roadside assistance needs such as towing, fuel deliveries, and tire repair or replacement.
- Additional expense coverage: Covers travel expenses like food and accommodation in addition to rental car coverage if your car is unavailable following a loss.
- Personal automobile plus package: Combines 10 smaller coverages like cellphone insurance, lost or stolen key insurance, and identity theft protection into one add-on.
Auto-Owners Car Insurance Benefits
Auto-Owners insurance policies offer a few perks as part of your coverage. These include:
- Collision coverage advantage: Removes your collision deductible when you get into an accident with another Auto-Owners policyholder.
- Rental car insurance: Protects any vehicles you rent with the same coverage and limits as your personal auto policy.
- Common loss deductible: Removes your auto insurance deductible if you have an Auto-Owners home insurance policy and both your house and car suffer a covered loss from the same event.
Other Auto-Owners Insurance Products
In addition to car insurance policies, Auto-Owners offers various other types of coverage. Bundling your auto policy with one of the plan types below could even get you a discount.
- Homeowners insurance
- Condo insurance
- Renters insurance
- Business insurance
- Flood insurance
- Mobile home insurance
- Pet insurance
- Motor home and recreational vehicle (RV) insurance
- All-terrain vehicle (ATV) and off-road vehicle insurance
Auto-Owners Car Insurance Costs
A full-coverage Auto-Owners insurance policy costs an average of $1,491 per year or $124 per month, which is 22% cheaper than the national average cost of $1,983. Unless stated otherwise, estimates here and below are for full-coverage auto insurance and reflect the profile of a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit history. Those who select a minimum-coverage plan pay an average of $416 annually or $38 per month, which is 16% below the U.S. average of $766.
Auto-Owners Rates by Driver Profile
Your premiums will likely vary from the average prices listed above. Auto-Owners and other insurers adjust their rates based on risk factors such as your driving profile, age, and location.
We pulled Auto-Owners insurance cost data from Quadrant Information Systems for many of these variables. You’ll find those average cost estimates in the sections below.
Auto-Owners Insurance Rates by Driving Record
Having traffic violations or car accidents on your record will likely cause your rates to increase. However, our team found that Auto-Owners usually offers cheaper estimates than the national average for high-risk drivers. The table below shows the average Auto-Owners car insurance rates for those with various risk factors.
| Risk Factor | Auto-Owners Monthly Rate Estimate | Auto-Owners Annual Rate Estimate | National Average Annual Rate | Auto-Owners Insurance Cost Comparison |
| Recent at-fault accident | 183 | $2,058 | $2,911 | -20.30% |
| Speeding ticket | 124 | $2,031 | $2,487 | -18.34% |
| DUI | 155 | $3,054 | $3,277 | -6.81% |
| Poor credit | 347 | $1,491 | $6,181 | -75.88% |
Auto-Owners Insurance Rates by Age
Age plays a major role in the prices you receive from Auto-Owners insurance or any other provider. Young drivers and especially teen drivers often pay much higher premiums than those in other age groups. However, Auto-Owners offers car insurance rates that are cheaper than the national average for drivers of every age studied.
| Age | Auto-Owners Monthly Rate Estimate | Auto-Owners Annual Rate Estimate | National Average Annual Rate | Auto-Owners Insurance Cost Comparison |
| 16 | 281 | $3,368 | $8,160 | -58.7% |
| 20 | 183 | $2,197 | $3,752 | -41.4% |
| 30 | 128 | $1,535 | $2,047 | -25.0% |
| 40 | 124 | $1,491 | $1,983 | -24.8% |
| 50 | 117 | $1,407 | $1,895 | -25.8% |
Auto-Owners Insurance Rates by State
Due to differing risk factors and regulations, car insurance costs vary substantially between states. Auto-Owners has higher-than-average rates in a few states, but the estimates that our team found were more often on the cheaper side.
The table below has full-coverage price estimates from Auto-Owners insurance for drivers with a clean driving record in select states.
| State | Auto-Owners Annual Rate Estimate | National Average Rate Estimate | Auto-Owners Insurance Cost Comparison |
| Alabama | $1,939 | $1,717 | 12.93% |
| Arizona | $1,597 | $1,680 | -4.94% |
| Colorado | $2,642 | $2,177 | 20.53% |
| Georgia | $1,665 | $1,850 | -10.00% |
| Idaho | $744 | $1,035 | -28.12% |
| Illinois | $1,904 | $1,859 | -2.42% |
| Indiana | $1,289 | $1,407 | -8.39% |
| Iowa | $1,398 | $1,424 | -1.83% |
| Kentucky | $1,467 | $1,803 | -18.64 |
| Michigan | $2,067 | $3,642 | -43.25% |
| Minnesota | $1,960 | $2,272 | -13.73% |
| Nebraska | $1,235 | $1,483 | -16.72% |
| North Dakota | $1,453 | $1,326 | -9.58% |
| Ohio | $1,195 | $1,408 | -15.13% |
| South Carolina | $2,230 | $1,775 | -25.63% |
| South Dakota | $1,810 | $1,862 | -2.79% |
| Tennessee | $1,690 | $1,495 | 13.04% |
| Utah | $1,672 | $1,988 | -15.90% |
| Virginia | $1,253 | $1,390 | -9.86% |
| Wisconsin | $871 | $1,962 | -55.61% |
Auto-Owners Car Insurance Discounts
Auto-Owners insurance offers several savings opportunities to drivers. Here’s a list of the car insurance discounts given by the company:
Auto-Owners provides many of the most popular car insurance discounts found among car insurers. These common savings opportunities include:
Actual discounts available may vary by location since Auto-Owners policies are sold by independent insurance agents. Ask a local agent for a list of all available discounts before signing up for your policy.
TrueRide by Auto-Owners
Until recently, Auto-Owners insurance was one of many providers to offer a telematics program. The company’s TrueRide program used a mobile app to track policyholders’ driving behaviors.
Good drivers in Ohio who practiced safe driving habits were rewarded with discounted rates. Premiums could also go up for motorists who showed unsafe behaviors such as hard braking, driving late at night, and using their phones while driving.
As of September 2022, Auto-Owners insurance has discontinued the TrueRide program and no longer accepts new enrollees. Note that young drivers can still enroll in a form of telematics insurance if they opt for the company’s teen driver monitoring discount.
Is Auto-Owners Insurance Expensive?
Auto-Owners is not particularly expensive compared to national averages. In the areas it serves, it’s often among the cheapest car insurance providers for drivers.
Auto-Owners Insurance Rate Comparison
In the table below, you’ll find a comparison of the average premiums from some top national insurance providers. Auto-Owners ranked third-cheapest of the major companies in our study.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Estimate | Average Annual Estimate |
| USAA | $98 | $1,179 |
| Nationwide | $130 | $1,556 |
| Erie Insurance | $121 | $1,456 |
| GEICO | $148 | $1,779 |
| Auto-Owners | $124 | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $156 | $1,872 |
| Travelers | $137 | $1,643 |
| Progressive | $136 | $1,628 |
| Allstate | $231 | $2,768 |
| Farmers | $227 | $2,722 |
Auto-Owners Insurance Review: Conclusion
Auto-Owners insurance offers affordable coverage and receives a relatively low number of complaints. Based on our research, we’d recommend looking into the company if its coverage plans are available in your state.
One of the main drawbacks to the company other than its limited availability is the lack of an online insurance quotes engine. That means you must reach out to an independent insurance agent to get a quote as you shop for car insurance.
Alternatives to Auto-Owners: Recommended Providers
The potential for cheap car insurance through Auto-Owners makes it worth a call for a quote. However, you can still get free quotes from many other companies online in a matter of minutes. We recommend starting with a few of the top-rated providers from our most recent auto insurance study.
State Farm: Best Customer Service
State Farm has affordable premiums, lots of coverage options, and in-person service across the nation. This well-rounded provider earned the top score in our latest auto insurance study and was named the Best Customer Service provider. State Farm may be an especially good option for those with younger drivers on their policy, as the company lists several discounts specifically for young motorists and students.
Keep reading: State Farm insurance review
GEICO: Most Discount Options
Our researchers found that GEICO was among one of the cheapest providers for many driver profiles. On top of these low rates, the company has a number of savings opportunities to push your premiums even lower. That means that GEICO is likely to be among your most affordable options regardless of where you live.
Keep reading: GEICO insurance review
Auto-Owners Insurance: FAQ
What is the rating on Auto-Owners insurance?
Auto-Owners has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB. It also holds an A++ score from AM Best for its financial strength.
Which insurance company has the highest customer satisfaction?
American Family Insurance and Erie Insurance had the highest customer satisfaction ratings among the insurance companies in our survey. USAA and State Farm had the greatest customer satisfaction among providers that are available across nearly the entire U.S.
Who owns Owners Insurance Company?
Owners Insurance Company is owned by the Auto-Owners Insurance Group. Auto-Owners also owns Southern-Owners Insurance Company, Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, Capital Insurance Group, and Concord Group Insurance Companies.
Which is the best car insurance company?
State Farm is the best car insurance company according to our most recent study. The provider earned the highest score and was named Best Customer Service by our insurance experts.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best car insurance providers.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team considers auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car insurance company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, financial strength, and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurers with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Customer Service: Reputable car insurance providers operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We consider complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power claims servicing scores, and customer feedback.
- Online Experience: Insurers with easy-to-use websites and highly rated mobile apps scored best in this category.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
