Our Editorial Opinion on Erie Auto Insurance
Erie auto insurance has been serving its customers since 1925. Today, it ranks 13th for largest company based on market share. While it is only available in 12 states, it could be an excellent choice for drivers in those areas.
Business Insider's personal finance team compared Erie Auto Insurance to the best car insurance companies and found it to be an industry leader in regions where coverage is available. The company is known for its affordable coverage, several built-in features, and stellar reputation. The downside is that its digital experience is lacking. For example, policyholders must call in to file claims. Major companies usually offer digital claims filing through their website or mobile app.
Erie Auto Insurance Insurance Review
If you're in the market for cheap car insurance that offers quality customer service and an exceptional selection of coverages with built-in features, Erie Auto Insurance may be the right provider. The insurer also works with independent agents who can pull quotes from multiple companies and find the best rates for you.
However, if you're a tech-savvy customer who values digital experience, you may not be thrilled with Erie Insurance's mobile app, which has mixed reviews online. Additionally, Erie Insurance only offers its services in 12 states, which excludes many drivers.
Erie Auto Insurance Pros and Cons
Erie Auto Insurance Pros
- Affordable premiums
- Complimentary coverages included in a basic policy
- Highly rated for claims and customer satisfaction
Erie Auto Insurance Cons
- Only available in some states
- Mixed customer reviews
- No online claims filing
Erie Auto Insurance Plans Available
Here are the car insurance coverage options available from Erie Auto Insurance:
- Collision coverage: Erie insurance will pay for the repairs of your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision.
- Comprehensive coverage: This insurance will cover repairs and replacements from non-collision-related accidents, like vandalism, theft, or fire.
- Bodily injury liability coverage: Liability insurance will cover expenses like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering of the victim party if they get injured in an accident you were at fault for.
- Property damage liability coverage: Insurance will cover the cost of damages to the other party's property or vehicle if you're at fault in an accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Erie Insurance will pay for your medical expenses and property damages if you're involved in an accident where another party is at fault and they do not have adequate coverage.
- Medical payments/Personal injury protection coverage: Medpay or PIP pays medical bills for you and your passengers if you're involved in a vehicular accident. It may be required in some states.
Additional Coverage Options offered by Erie Insurance (Riders)
Erie car insurance offers these complimentary coverages, which most companies would charge for.
- Accident forgiveness: This endorsement allows you to experience no increase in premiums for your first at-fault accident if you've been an Erie member for more than three years.
- Windshield repair: You'll receive a waiver on your comprehensive deductible if you repair instead of replacing a damaged windshield.
- Pet injury coverage: Erie Insurance will cover up to $500 per pet or $1,000 in total if your pet gets injured in a car accident.
- Travel expenses coverage: If your car breaks down due to a covered event, insurance will cover the cost of meals and housing.
You can also customize your Erie policy with the following optional coverages:
- Rate lock: This endorsement will secure your rates even if your situation changes (unless you move or add/remove another driver).
- New or better car replacement: This additional coverage will replace your car with a vehicle of similar or better value if totaled during an accident.
- Ridesharing insurance: Do you drive for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft? This insurance will cover accidents while your app runs but not while carrying passengers.
- Rental car coverage: If your car is in the shop for repairs, this add-on will cover your rental car expenses.
- Roadside assistance: This coverage will pay for emergency services like towing or jumpstarting your car if it breaks down on the road.
You can also purchase Erie's premium package, Erie Auto Plus. This bundle offers diminishing deductibles, up to ten days of alternative transportation expenses, increased limits for various coverages, waived deductibles, and $10,000 in death benefits for life insurance.
How Much Does Erie Auto Insurance Cost?
Erie costs less than the national average price of auto insurance. You can also bundle your auto insurance with other insurance products to save upwards of 15% on your policy. Plus, you're getting great value with its comprehensive policies and highly rated customer service.
Coverage amount | Average annual rate for Erie |
Required state minimum | $370 |
Full coverage ($50,000/$100,000) | $1,181 |
Full coverage ($100,000/$300,000) | $1,201 |
Source: Policygenius
Note: Policygenius used Quadrant data to obtain the average cost of a full coverage policy from Farmers. The sample includes 50/100/50 coverage limits and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage for single drivers aged 30, 35, and 45 driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE about 10,000 miles per year.
How to Purchase and Manage an Erie Auto Insurance Policy
Drivers can purchase a policy on Erie Auto Insurance's website or by calling an Erie agent. You can connect with a local agent by using its agent locator search tool. Erie works with independent agents, so they can get you a quote on policies from different insurance companies.
Keeping the following information (for you and any other drivers) nearby can make the purchasing process quicker:
Personal information:
- Date of birth
- Name
- Address
- Gender
- Marital status
- Contact information
- Payment information
Vehicle information:
- Make, model, year
- Ownership (Lease, Finance, or Own)
- Primary use (Pleasure, Work/School, Personal)
- Annual mileage
Driving history:
- Age you were first licensed
- Past Incidents (moving violations, criminal record, suspensions, etc.)
Policy information
- Current auto insurance information
- Desired start date
How to File a Claim With Erie Auto Insurance
You can file a car insurance claim with Erie by contacting an Erie Insurance agent or calling (800) 367-3743. Be aware that unless your claim is related to windshield/auto glass or roadside assistance, you must speak to a representative to file your claim. In other words, you can't do it yourself on a mobile app or web browser.
The Insurance Information Institute recommends having several pieces of information on hand before you start your claim to make the process go as smoothly as possible, including:
- Names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident (passengers, drivers, pedestrians, witnesses, etc.)
- Photos of each party's license, car registration, and insurance ID cards
- Makes and models of the vehicles involved in the accident
- Details like location, time, and weather conditions during the incident
- Police report number
Remember that before you receive your claim, you must pay a deductible if you have one. If your repair amount exceeds your deductible, Erie Insurance may deny your claim.
What if Erie Denies My Claim?
If Erie denies your claim or pays a low settlement, you can request an appeal. Consult your insurance policy for instructions, or speak to your insurance agent for more help. Be prepared to provide additional evidence or undergo another inspection in the process.
If you're discontent with the results of the appeal, file a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner or hire an experienced car accident attorney. They can help further investigate the matter.
Erie Auto Insurance Customer Reviews and Ratings
Erie received mixed customer reviews. Policyholders mentioned unexpected rate increases, unfair charges, and low claim settlements. Others praised the company for its affordability and local agents' customer service.
Take a look at Erie ratings from various sites.
- Better Business Bureau: 1.14 out of 5 stars
- Trustpilot: 2.4 out of 5 stars
- Consumer Affairs: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- Wallethub: 3.4 out of 5 stars
For customer ratings, Erie stands out for having a low complaint index ratio and strong financial ratings. It also ranks highly for claims satisfaction and customer satisfaction in various regions.
Rating Agency | Rating | What it Means |
NAIC Complaint Index | 0.77 | Fewer complaints than expected for its size |
AM Best | A+ | Superior financial strength |
JD Power Customer Satisfaction (based on a 1,000-point scale) | California: Not ranked Central: Not ranked Florida: Not ranked Mid-Atlantic: 713 (vs. 654) New England: Not ranked New York: Not ranked North Central: 710 (vs. 652) Northwest: Not ranked Southeast: 676 (vs. 663) Southwest: Not ranked Texas: Not ranked | Scored higher than the study average in the Mid-Atlantic, North Central, and Southeast regions for customer service. |
JD Power Claims Satisfaction (based on a 1,000-point scale) | 733 (vs. study average of 697) | Scored better than the study average for claims satisfaction |
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Erie Auto Insurance Alternatives
Erie Auto Insurance vs. Amica Auto Insurance
Amica's car insurance prices are higher than Erie's, but it ranked slightly better in JD Power's auto insurance claims satisfaction study. With Erie, you can get trip interruption coverage and rate lock coverage. With Amica, you can add identity fraud monitoring, $5,000 rental car coverage, and other specialized endorsements. It also offers the potential to earn dividends on your auto insurance policy.
Feature | Amica |
Average Cost | Higher than Erie |
JD Power Auto Customer Satisfaction | Slightly better than Erie (only ranked in one region) |
JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction | Better than Erie |
Optional Coverages | Fewer than Erie |
Discounts | More than Erie |
Erie Auto Insurance vs. State Farm Auto Insurance
State Farm is the cheaper choice when it comes to car insurance. It also has significantly more policies in force as it offers its services in most states. On the other hand, Erie Insurance ranks better in customer service. Also, Erie offers accident forgiveness, new or better car replacement coverage, or diminishing deductibles, but State Farm doesn't.
Another thing to note is that State Farm sells its policies through captive agents, meaning the agents can only sell for State Farm. Erie Insurance works with independent agents who can pull quotes and sell policies from other companies.
Feature | State Farm |
Average Cost | Cheaper than Erie |
JD Power Auto Customer Satisfaction | Worse than Erie |
JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction | Worse than Erie |
Optional Coverages | Fewer than Erie |
Discounts | More than Erie |
Read our State Farm auto insurance review.
Erie Auto Insurance FAQ
The grace period for Erie insurance isn't specified on its website. Many insurers allow policyholders three to 30 days to pay a missed bill before canceling coverage. If you missed an Erie payment, call your agent to find out if you're still within the grace period and if you can reinstate your coverage. It's important to do so immediately, as a lapse in coverage can cause your premiums to increase in the future.
Erie insurance may increase your rates after a comprehensive claim, like most insurers. Adding Erie Rate Lock to your policy can prevent your rates from going up. It's available at an extra cost and may have restrictions depending on location.
Erie doesn't charge a cancellation fee, so you can cancel before your policy period ends. Keep in mind that Erie doesn't allow online cancellations. You'll need to speak to an Erie representative directly.
You won't have to pay a deductible if you were at fault with Erie, like most auto insurance companies. Instead, the at-fault party's insurer must pay for any damages under their liability insurance coverage.
Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our Erie Auto Insurance Review
To ensure you're getting the most accurate and unbiased information, Business Insider used the following factors to rate insurance products:
- Extent of coverage: The standard auto insurance company offers comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage. But if you have unique coverage needs, you want your insurance company to carry different policy options. We examine what carriers offer outside the standard options, such as gap insurance, new car replacement, and rideshare insurance.
- Average cost: An insurance company's costs can vary with each applicant, but we can generally assess the affordability of a company based on its average rates. We compared the cost of the typical full-coverage policy for an 18 to 70-year-old male or female policyholder with the national average and its competitors. We also considered if it offers low rates for high-risk drivers and if it provides additional benefits that increase its value.
- Customer service: A company's quality of customer service is contingent on the helpfulness and professionalism of its insurance agents. To understand a provider's quality of customer service, we look at its JD Power Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study ranking and the NAIC complaint index ratio to see how each provider stacks up amongst its competitors.
- Financial stability: An insurance company's financial health indicates an insurer's longevity and ability to meet its future obligations, like paying claims. While rare, an insurance company's bankruptcy can jeopardize your coverage. So, we use AM Best to determine a company's ability to withstand economic downturns and reliably pay claims.
Read more about how Business Insider reviews auto insurance.
