Erie insurance review: One of our top picks for best auto and renters insurance

OSTN Staff

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Erie insurance logo on Personal Finance pattern background

Erie insurance pros and cons

Pros Cons
  • Reputation for low prices and good service

  • In the regions where it offered coverage, Erie was ranked highly in auto claims satisfaction and homeowners customer satisfaction

  • Multiple discounts for auto insurance

  • Flood insurance and guaranteed replacement cost for homeowners

  • Only available 12 states plus D.C.
  • You must contact an agent to receive quotes

 

Erie auto insurance offers low prices and excellent customer service 

Erie Auto Insurance has been in business since 1925. It ranked #2 in J.D. Power’s auto claims satisfaction survey and received 901 points on a 1,000-point scale, above the industry average of 880 points. 

Erie Auto Insurance encourages its consumers to interact with their agents. Those who prefer to purchase and manage their policies online may find Erie Insurance’s digital experience underwhelming. 

Erie Auto Insurance is known for its top-notch customer service. During the pandemic, Erie mailed customers checks for up to 5% of their premiums to offset pandemic costs and reduced rates across the board by 5% for existing and new customers.

Like most insurance companies, Erie Auto Insurance provides discounts for bundling your home and auto insurance. Erie offers liability insurance (required by most states), comprehensivecollision, and full car coverage. Your lender may require comprehensive and collision coverage if you lease and finance your car. 

Erie’s auto discount and additional features:

  • Erie rate lock — This endorsement will allow you to freeze your auto premiums despite changes to your policy and even if you file a claim.
  • Vehicle storage discount —  If you plan to put your vehicle in storage for 90 consecutive days, you can get a reduced usage discount on your premiums. 
  • Safety savings discount — Get a discount for equipping your vehicle with factory-installed airbags, anti-theft devices, and anti-lock brakes.
  • Payment perks discount — Receive a discount for paying your payment in full, upfront. 
  • Youthful driver discount — Drivers under 21 who completed an approved driver training course can qualify for a discount. 
  • College student discount — Qualify for a discount if your child is away at college and leaves their car at home.
  • Diminishing deductible — Get up to $100 off your deductible every year that you are claims-free up to a maximum of $500.
  • First accident forgiveness — If you’ve been a customer for at least three years, your premiums won’t increase the first time you’re at fault in an accident. 
  • YourTurn program — YourTurn is a telematics smartphone app that allows safe drivers to earn cash. Drivers ages 16-23 can earn rewards of up to $10 every two weeks, and ages 24+ can earn rewards of up to $5 every two weeks, based on driving 50 tracked miles and the participating driver’s score during the scoring period. This program may not be available in all states.
  • Rate lock — This feature allows customers to lock a rate indefinitely as long drivers and cars remain the same.
  • Auto security endorsement — Erie Insurance will replace your vehicle with the newest model year if it is less than two years old and totaled. If your vehicle is older than two years, Erie Insurance will replace it with the same model but two years newer and with 30,000 fewer miles than your original vehicle.
  • Pet coverage — This policy will cover medical bills if your pet is injured in an accident.
  • Auto glass repair — Available if you have comprehensive coverage and waives deductible.
  • Locksmith service — Available if you have comprehensive coverage, up to $75 for a locksmith.
  • Roadside & rental car bundle —This feature is available if you need emergency services.

Erie auto insurance quotes

Erie insurance’s auto insurance rates are relatively inexpensive, especially for drivers with a DUI, an at-fault accident on record, and a speeding ticket. It is also lower than the national average, according to data from Insurify — an independent insurance shopping tool.

Auto insurance quotes Erie Insurance American Family Amica National Average
Clean record $48 $55 $113 $77
With a DUI $86 $93 $171 $155
With an at-fault accident $65 $94 $138 $113
With a speeding ticket $55 $70 $119 $104

Data sourced from Insurify.

Erie Auto Insurance

Erie homeowners insurance is ranked high in customer satisfaction and offers flood insurance

Erie Homeowners Insurance ranked #3 on J.D. Power’s homeowners insurance customer satisfaction survey. It scored 835 points on a 1,000-point scale, above the segment average of 825 points.

Erie Homeowners Insurance offers homeowners, renters, and mobile home insurance. Erie Insurance gives discounts if your home is equipped with safety systems like fire alarms, sprinklers, and burglar systems. It also offers discounts for bundling multiple Erie Insurance products.

In addition to offering flood insurance, Erie Homeowners Insurance offers guaranteed replacement value for your damaged belongings. Replacement cost is better than actual cash value if your items are damaged or stolen.

Homeowners insurance protects your dwelling and personal belongings and offers personal liability coverage for injuries on your property. To obtain Erie’s homeowners insurance quotes, speak to an Erie insurance representative.

Erie homeowners insurance features

  • Guaranteed replacement cost — Instead of using actual cash value (ACV) to replace your items, Erie guarantees replacement cost, which is better.
  • Flood insurance — Many carriers do not offer flood insurance – requiring you to find a separate insurer – but Erie does.
  • Fire, burglary, and sprinkler discount — Discounts are available to homeowners who install smoke alarms, burglar systems, and sprinkler systems.
  • Multiple-policy discount — Get a discount if you have multiple policies with Erie depending on your state.

Erie Homeowners Insurance

Erie renters insurance is one of our top picks for renters insurance 

Erie Renters Insurance does not rank in J.D. Power’s renters insurance customer satisfaction survey. However, it is one of our top picks for Insider’s best renters insurance companies.

Erie Renters Insurance offers discounts for bundling your policies and getting a quote before your policy starts. It also has discounts for having safety features in your unit. To obtain Erie’s renters insurance quotes, speak to an Erie insurance representative.

Renters insurance will cover your personal property in the event of damage and theft. Your landlord is responsible for insuring the building and structure. A renters insurance policy has three main parts: personal property coverage, personal liability coverage, and “loss of use” coverage.

Erie renters insurance discounts 

  • Multi-policy discount —  Get a discount if you bundle multiple Erie Insurance policies.
  • Safety discounts — Receive a discount for installing an alarm or sprinkler system. 
  • Advanced quote discount — Get a discount for obtaining a quote seven days before the start of your renters policy. 
  • Age of insured discount —  Get a discount based on your age. 

Erie Renters Insurance

Erie life insurance offers term, whole, universal, and an affordable no-medical exam policy. 

Erie Life Insurance offers term, whole, and universal life insurance. It also offers ERIExpress Life for ages 18-55 — a no medical exam term or whole life insurance policy with up to $500,000 in coverage. Erie Life Insurance also offers a long-term care rider for at-home, assisted living, and nursing home care. To obtain Erie’s life insurance quotes, speak to an Erie insurance representative.

The two types of life insurance are permanent life and term life. Term life insurance will only cover a specific period. When your policy is up, you can reapply for coverage. However, premiums will most likely increase as you age.

Permanent life insurance never expires, has a death benefit for your beneficiaries, and a cash value you can use during your lifetime. Some financial advisors recommend a combination of term and permanent life insurance.

Erie life insurance features

  • Term life — Select from a 10, 15, 20, or 30-year term plan. 
  • Whole life — A lifelong policy which premium and coverage that stays the same throughout your lifetime. 
  • Universal life — A flexible lifelong policy that builds cash value.
  • ERIExpress Life — This can be a term or whole life policy with up to $500,000 coverage with no medical exam for ages 18-55. 
  • Long-term care rider — Coverage for assisted living, at-home, and nursing care.

Erie Life Insurance

Erie insurance vs. Amica

 
Erie Insurance

 

Amica Logo

 

Availability  Regional presence Regional presence
Types of insurance offered Auto, homeowners, renters, life Auto, homeowners, renters, life, pet
Auto insurance claim’s satisfaction (out of #18) #2 #4 
Homeowners insurance customer satisfaction (out of #21) #3 No.1
Renters insurance customer satisfaction (out of #9) N/A N/A
Life insurance customer satisfaction (out of #21) N/A N/A
Financial Strength  A+ (Superior) A+ (Superior)

Erie Life Insurance and Amica life insurance, and insurance are regional carriers that offer auto, homeowners, life, and renters insurance. If you value good customer service in your homeowners insurance provider, you might opt for Amica; if you value good customer service for auto insurance, you might opt for Erie insurance instead. However, both are excellent auto and home insurance providers, so choosing one comes down to price

Erie Insurance vs. American Family

 
Erie Insurance

American Family Logo

Availability  Regional presence Regional presence
Types of insurance offered Auto, homeowners, renters, life Auto, homeowners, renters, life, pet
Auto insurance claim’s satisfaction (out of #18) #2 #7
Homeowners insurance customer satisfaction (out of #21) #3 #6
Renters insurance customer satisfaction (out of #9) N/A #3
Life insurance customer satisfaction (out of #21) N/A N/A
Financial Strength  A+ (Superior) A (Excellent)

Erie Life Insurance and American Family insurance are regional carriers that offer auto, homeowners, life, renter, and renters insurance. If you value good customer service in your homeowners and auto insurance, you might opt for Erie Insurance. However, if you value good customer service in your renters insurance, American Family ranks highly, while Erie Insurance does not. While Erie Insurance doesn’t rank in customer satisfaction, it is still our top pick for renters insurance based on price, discounts, and superior financial strength. 

Is Erie trustworthy?

Among all policy types, the NAIC Complaint Index shows that Erie Life Insurance has slightly fewer complaints compared to other top insurance companies. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is an insurance regulatory organization that protects consumer interests. The complaint index compares a company’s performance to other performance of other providers in the industry.

Erie Life Insurance ‘s financial stability is excellent with an AM’s Best rating of A+(Superior). AM’s Best is a credit rating agency that assesses an insurance company’s ability to pay claims to its policyholders. A company that receives an A++ to B+ is stable in financial strength, while anything lower than a B means that a company is unstable or unable to meet its financial obligations. 

Frequently asked questions — Erie Insurance

Where is Erie Insurance offered? 

Erie is licensed in the following jurisdictions:

  • District of Columbia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Erie has no plans to expand beyond 12 states and D.C. The focus is on giving customers in its region the best affordable coverage. 

How do I obtain a quote from Erie Insurance? 

Obtaining an online quote from Erie Insurance is quite challenging. Erie Insurance encourages its customers to contact an agent to purchase and manage their policy. You can use Erie’s agent locator tool to get in touch with an Erie Insurance representative. Alternatively, you can call (800) 458-0811, to get in touch with an Erie agent near you. 

How do I pay my Erie Insurance bill? 

You can pay your bill online, by phone, or by mail. 

If you’re making a payment online, you’ll need your Erie policy number and zip code to log in. You’ll also need your payment information. 

If you’re paying by phone, contact:

Customer Care
(800) 458-0811, option 4
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Eastern)
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Eastern)

Erie Family Life
(800) 458-0811, option 3
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Eastern)

If you’re paying by mail, send your payments to: 

Erie Insurance Group
100 Erie Insurance Place
Erie, PA 16530

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