Safeway Auto Insurance: Is It Worth The Hype?

Safeway Auto Insurance is a family-owned private insurance company that was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois. The company offers auto insurance in 12 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, and Texas. Safeway's auto insurance rates are comparable to the national average, but its limited coverage options may be unappealing to some drivers. The company has received mixed reviews, with a 1.4/5 average rating from WalletHub users and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It has also received a financial rating of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best, indicating its ability to meet financial obligations. Overall, Safeway Auto Insurance can be a good option for drivers with poor driving records seeking affordable coverage, but those with clean records may find more comprehensive options elsewhere.

Safeway's financial rating

Safeway Auto Insurance has received a financial rating of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best, a credit rating agency that assesses the creditworthiness of insurance companies worldwide. This rating indicates that Safeway has the financial stability and ability to meet its long-term financial obligations, including paying out claims.

In addition to its financial rating, Safeway Insurance has also earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), indicating its commitment to ethical business practices and customer satisfaction. Safeway has been accredited by the BBB, further demonstrating its reliability and trustworthiness as a business.

While Safeway's financial stability is reflected in these positive ratings, customer reviews offer a mixed perspective. Some customers appreciate Safeway's affordable rates, especially for high-risk drivers, while others have expressed frustration with the claims process and customer service. It is important to consider both the financial ratings and customer experiences when evaluating Safeway Auto Insurance as a potential provider.

Customer reviews

> "I have had Safeway Insurance for two years. I signed up with them because they had a reasonable price to begin with. The application itself was easy, but it took several hours for the agent to get back to me with a quote. I signed up and was pretty happy for the first year, but my premiums went up after that for no reason. Still though, they were cheaper than their competition."

Another review on AutoInsurance.org says:

> "I am so grateful for this company. I highly recommend it. I truly love the way they treat me and how effective they are."

However, there are also numerous negative reviews, with customers citing issues with unexpected rate increases, poor customer service, and difficulty receiving payouts from claims. A review on WalletHub states:

> "I’m a customer and they are the WORST. I will be switching companies ASAP. My car was stolen and damaged and they don’t want to cover all the repairs. They even have the nerve to ask me to cover half of certain parts of the car that need to be repaired. They have made this experience a literal nightmare. RUUUUUN from this insurance company. They need to be taken down asap and sued for all the crap they put people through."

Another review on WalletHub describes a similar experience:

> "Not a good company at all. You pay for a policy and they don’t honor their claims.. not a good company at all.. I give it no stars. They do not honor their policy."

Overall, while some customers have had positive experiences with Safeway Auto Insurance, particularly those with poor driving records who appreciate the company's affordable rates, there are also many negative reviews highlighting issues with the company's customer service, claims handling, and unexpected rate increases.

Safeway's car insurance rates

Safeway Insurance Company is a family-owned private insurance company that offers auto insurance to drivers in 12 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Texas. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois.

Safeway offers standard auto insurance coverages such as liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage. They also provide no-fault policies and non-standard policies for high-risk drivers.

The company has received high financial ratings from A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, customer reviews are mixed, with some complaining about difficulty in receiving payouts from claims and poor customer service.

Safeway's customer service

Safeway Auto Insurance has received mixed reviews for its customer service. While some customers have praised the company for its helpful and courteous staff, others have complained about difficulties in reaching a representative and delays in receiving payouts from claims.

The company's customer service team is available 7 days a week and can be reached via phone and email. However, Safeway does not currently accept claims online and policyholders must make claim submissions over the phone. The company promises to pass on the report to a representative within hours to initiate the next step in the claims process.

Safeway Insurance has extended service hours and physical offices in addition to its online presence for bill payments and ID printing. The company also provides an online matching tool to find an independent insurance agent or a local Safeway office.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has given Safeway an NAIC rating of 1.94, indicating that the company has received more customer complaints than the average competitor, adjusted for size.

Safeway's claims process

Safeway Insurance is not set up to receive claims online. Instead, policyholders must make claim submissions by phone. The company promises to pass on the report to a representative within hours. This representative will then initiate the next step in the claims process.

Safeway representatives are trained to make the claims process as smooth as possible. If your vehicle has been damaged, you can expect the representative to arrange repairs by scheduling an adjuster's trip to assess the car and the repair shop. Some rental car agencies will pick you up from the repair shop.

If you are at fault in an accident, the company will communicate the status of the situation to the other driver and passengers within 48 hours of receiving the report. If more damage is detected during the repair period, Safeway will send an adjuster to assess the new damage.

Frequently asked questions