Auto-Owners Homeowners Insurance: Legit Or A Scam?

Auto-Owners Insurance is a legitimate insurance company that offers auto, home, life, and business insurance. The company has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating that it has a strong ability to pay out claims. Auto-Owners operates in 26 states and provides insurance through a network of independent agents. The company offers customizable policies and multipolicy discounts. Customer reviews are mixed, with some praising the company for its service and others expressing dissatisfaction with the claims process.

Auto-Owners' insurance policies

Auto-Owners Insurance is a legitimate insurance company that offers auto, home, life, and business insurance. The company was founded in 1916 and operates in 26 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Auto-Owners provides customizable insurance policies and offers specialty coverage for high-value homes.

Auto-Owners offers a range of insurance options for dwellings, including homeowners, condo, renters, and mobile home insurance. The company also provides coverage for other structures on the property, injuries to others that occur on the property, personal possessions, and additional living expenses if policyholders need to stay elsewhere after a covered loss.

In addition to standard coverage, Auto-Owners offers various optional add-ons, such as equipment breakdown insurance, identity theft expense coverage, special personal property coverage, ordinance or law coverage, homeowners plus, and inland flood coverage.

Auto-Owners also provides auto insurance with standard coverage options, including liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance, as well as personal injury protection, medical payments insurance, and uninsured motorist coverage. The company offers several endorsement options, such as road trouble service, additional expense coverage, loan/lease gap coverage, and diminished value coverage.

The company has received generally positive reviews for its customer service and competitive rates. However, some customers have reported issues with the claims process, long wait times, and difficulty reaching representatives. Overall, Auto-Owners Insurance is a reputable company that offers a wide range of insurance products and services, but there may be some variations in customer experiences.

Customer reviews

Auto-Owners Insurance has an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating that it has been financially strong enough to pay claims, even during high-claim periods. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but a low rating of 1.4 out of 5 stars from customers on the BBB website.

Auto-Owners Insurance offers a range of insurance products, including auto, home, life, and business insurance. The company operates in 26 states and provides some discounted coverage and perks for its policyholders. It offers customizable home insurance policies and specialty coverage for high-value homes.

Some customers have praised Auto-Owners Insurance for its low costs and good customer service. One customer review on ConsumerAffairs states, "I priced around for insurance and Auto-Owners had the cheapest rate for what I needed. Though I have not been with them long, I am very pleased with them and would highly recommend." Another review on the same site says, "Very people-oriented staff. Understanding, compassionate. Great customer service. Claims department acts immediately to file claim, home visit if necessary, and compensation is done."

However, other customers have had negative experiences with the company, particularly regarding the claims process. One review on ConsumerAffairs states, "The worst insurance home policy I had for 20 years, they deny all kinds of legitimate claims with some excuses. Don't waste your time and money on this useless company. Having a policy with this company is like having no insurance at all, and they are pretty much expensive as well." Another review on the same site says, "I have been waiting on a claim for an accident. [...] It's been two months and still [no] compensation for our property! They compared our trailer to lesser models and tried to give us half the value."

Overall, while some customers have had positive experiences with Auto-Owners Insurance, there are also a significant number of negative reviews, particularly regarding the claims process.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Auto-Owners Insurance has excellent customer service and competitive rates.
• It offers customizable home insurance policies for single-family, condo, and mobile homes, among others.
• It provides specialty coverage for high-value homes.
• It offers multipolicy discounts and add-on coverage.
• It has an online portal to pay bills, track claims, and more.
• It offers identity theft and cyber insurance options.
• It has an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best.
• It has a decent Bankrate Score for home insurance.
• It has a high customer satisfaction score.
• It has a relatively high rating from WalletHub's editors.

Cons

• Auto-Owners Insurance is only available in 26 states.
• It has no option to buy online.
• It has no earthquake coverage option.
• It has a limited online presence.
• It has a below-average claims process.
• It has a lower-than-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score in most regions.

Discounts

Auto-Owners Insurance offers a range of discounts to its customers. The company provides insurance for homes, vehicles, and life, with a variety of discounts available for each type of insurance.

Home Insurance Discounts

Auto-Owners Insurance offers several discounts for its home insurance customers. These include:

• Multi-policy discount: Customers with multiple policies with Auto-Owners Insurance receive a discount.
• Payment history discount: Customers who have paid their premiums on time for 36 consecutive months are eligible for a discount.
• Green discount: Customers who switch to paperless billing and pay their premiums electronically qualify for this discount.
• Protective devices discount: If a home is equipped with safety devices like smoke detectors, deadbolt locks, and fire extinguishers, customers may receive a discount on their insurance premiums.
• Water shut-off system discount: If a home has a system that automatically turns off the water supply when a leak is detected, customers may be eligible for a discount.
• Mortgage-free discount: Customers who own their homes outright and do not have a mortgage or line of credit may qualify for lower insurance premiums.
• Favorable loss history discount: Customers with a history of few insurance claims may be offered a discount.

Vehicle Insurance Discounts

Auto-Owners Insurance also provides various discounts for its vehicle insurance customers. These include:

• Multi-policy discount: Customers who purchase multiple types of insurance from Auto-Owners Insurance, such as home and auto insurance, are eligible for a discount.
• Life multi-policy discount: Customers who have a qualifying life insurance policy in addition to their vehicle insurance receive a discount.
• Paid-in-full discount: Customers who pay their entire premium upfront instead of making monthly payments are offered a discount.
• Advance quote discount: Customers who get an insurance quote before their new policy goes into effect may be eligible for a lower rate.
• Multi-car discount: Customers who insure more than one car on the same policy can save on their premiums.
• Good student discount: Students who maintain a "B" grade-point average or better are eligible for a discount of up to 20%.
• Student away at school discount: Students who attend school more than 100 miles away from home without a vehicle can receive an additional discount.
• Teen driver monitoring discount: Customers with teenagers who have a permanently installed GPS system in their vehicles or use an eligible smartphone app for monitoring are eligible for a discount.
• Safety feature discount: If a vehicle is equipped with safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, or anti-theft devices, customers may qualify for a discount.

Life Insurance Discounts

Auto-Owners Insurance also provides life insurance and offers the following discounts:

• Multi-policy discount: Customers who bundle their life insurance with other types of insurance, such as home or auto insurance, can receive a discount.
• Paid-in-full discount: Customers who pay their life insurance premium in full and on time are eligible for a discount.
• Life multi-policy discount: Customers who have a qualifying life insurance policy in addition to their other insurance policies can receive a discount.

Customer satisfaction

Auto-Owners Insurance has received mixed reviews from its customers. While some customers have praised the company for its reasonable rates, prompt service, and compassionate staff, others have expressed dissatisfaction with its claims handling process, communication, and customer service.

In terms of customer satisfaction, Auto-Owners Insurance has earned an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating that the company has a strong financial position and a high capacity to pay out claims. This suggests that Auto-Owners Insurance is likely to be reliable in terms of fulfilling its financial obligations to its customers.

According to J.D. Power's 2024 U.S. Home Insurance Study, Auto-Owners Insurance ranked in line with the industry average (869) with a score of 869 out of 1,000 for overall home insurance satisfaction. This indicates that customers have a somewhat neutral view of the company's home insurance offerings.

On the other hand, Auto-Owners Insurance ranked above the industry average of 878 in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, achieving a score of 888. This suggests that customers are relatively satisfied with the company's auto insurance claims process.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index further supports the notion that Auto-Owners Insurance has above-average customer satisfaction. The company's NAIC Complaint Index for home and auto insurance is better than average, indicating that policyholders file fewer complaints compared to other companies of a similar size.

However, it is worth noting that Auto-Owners Insurance has received some negative reviews on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot. Some customers have shared negative experiences involving lengthy claims processes, poor communication, and issues with adjusters. These reviews highlight the importance of considering a range of factors when assessing customer satisfaction, including individual experiences that may vary.

Overall, while Auto-Owners Insurance has received recognition for its financial strength and claims handling, there are also customers who have shared less-than-positive experiences. As with any insurance company, it is advisable for prospective customers to consider a range of factors, including pricing, coverage options, and personal experiences shared by other customers, before making a decision.

Frequently asked questions