Safeco Car Insurance Review [2024]
Safeco has cheaper-than-average rates and a good selection of coverages, but its customer complaint ratio is higher-than-average. In addition, Safeco car insurance reviews find that it has poor customer service and claim satisfaction.
Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: May 5, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: May 5, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Safeco
Average Monthly Rate For Good Drivers
$71A.M. Best Rating:
AComplaint Level:
HighPros
- Safeco car insurance quotes are cheaper than the national average rates.
- Safeco has a good array of auto insurance coverages for those who want a more complete policy.
- Safeco has discount programs like accident forgiveness, disappearing or zero-deductible car insurance, and rewards for safe driving.
Cons
- Safeco’s ratings are below the industry average on J.D. Power’s claim satisfaction study.
- Safeco’s number of customer complaints is higher than the average.
- Safeco doesn’t offer online quotes, so you will have to contact a Safeco agent to get a quote.
Final Verdict: Review of Safeco
Safeco is owned by Liberty Mutual, one of the best car insurance companies, and offers a variety of coverage options and discounts for customers. Its auto insurance rates are also below the national average. However, Safeco does have a higher-than-average complaint ratio, which may give some consumers a reason to pause before choosing Safeco. If you are considering Safeco as a car insurance company, our Safeco car insurance review goes over everything you need to know about the company. Continue reading to learn about Safeco customer service, insurance rates, coverages, financial ratings, and more.
What You Should Know About Safeco Insurance
Safeco has a number of pros and cons. We’ve outlined the main pros and cons of Safeco below, so you can immediately get an idea of if Safeco is a good choice for you or if there is a con that eliminates Safeco as a contender for your needs.Safeco Pros
There are multiple pros to Safeco as a choice auto insurance company, including- Safeco car insurance quotes are cheaper than the national average rates.
- Safeco has a good array of auto insurance coverages for those who want a more complete policy.
- Safeco has discount programs like accident forgiveness, disappearing or zero-deductible car insurance, and rewards for safe driving.
Safeco Cons
Safeco also has some cons that customers should be aware of, which are:- Safeco’s ratings are below the industry average on J.D. Power’s claim satisfaction study.
- Safeco’s number of customer complaints is higher than the average.
- Safeco doesn’t offer online quotes, so you will have to contact a Safeco agent to get a quote.
Safeco Contact Information
To contact Safeco, you generally need to speak with your Safeco agent or log into your Safeco insurance account. If you don’t have a Safeco account and want to get a quote, you will need to reach out to Safeco at 1-800-332-3226. The best way to make changes to your account is to do so online, as Safeco will allow you to do all of the following:- Check billing history, pay bills, and change billing information.
- Update personal information, download policy documents, and print or order new ID cards.
- File car insurance claims and check the status of your claims.
- Add or remove drivers from your car insurance policy.
- General Number: 1-800-332-3226
- Roadside Assistance Number: 1-877-762-3101
Safeco Ratings and Reviews
Ratings and reviews are the best way to determine if a car insurance company has a good reputation for customer service and a strong financial base. We go over all the important reviews and ratings of Safeco below.Safeco Customer Satisfaction and Complaints
Safeco has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is great. However, Safeco has had a total of 1,804 complaints closed on the BBB within the last three years and a total of 904 complaints closed within the last year. This is a high number of complaints, and Safeco also had a higher complaint ratio than average from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). J.D. Power also ranks Safeco as mediocre in its customer claims satisfaction study, with Safeco scoring below the industry average and Liberty Mutual. Safeco wasn’t the worst car insurance company in J.D. Power’s study, but many companies have much better customer service.Safeco A.M. Best Rating
A.M. Best gave Safeco a rating of A (excellent), which is a good score. While it’s not the highest score possible at A.M. Best, an A means Safeco is in good financial standing. It also means Safeco is able to meet its ongoing financial obligations to customers and shareholders, so it isn’t at risk of going bankrupt.Safeco Mobile App Reviews
Being able to manage a car insurance policy online is convenient for the majority of drivers, so we want to take a look at the reviews for Safeco’s mobile app. Safeco has the following reviews on Google Play and the Apple Store:- Apple Store Rating: 4.2 stars out of five from 3.9 thousand reviews
- Google Play Rating: 4.8 stars out of five from 89.9 thousand reviews
- Access your car insurance ID cards and save them to your Apple Wallet.
- Contact your Safeco insurance agent.
- Contact roadside assistance.
- File claims and get claim updates.
- Pay bills and set up automatic payments if desired.
- Request a damage review.
- Request a rental car.
- Track your repairs and view estimates for repairs.
Safeco Insurance Coverage Options
Safeco offers a good array of auto insurance coverages for customers to choose from. In addition to state-required coverages like liability insurance, Safeco offers add-on coverages like roadside assistance. Take a look at Safeco’s list of car insurance coverage options below:- Bodily injury liability insurance: This coverage pays for other people’s medical bills if you cause a car accident that injures others.
- Property damage liability insurance: This coverage will pay for other people’s property damage bills if you cause an accident that damages their property, whether their car or fence.
- Collision insurance: This coverage pays for your car’s repairs if you crash into another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree.
- Comprehensive insurance: This coverage pays for your car’s repairs if you crash into an animal, acts of vandalism, or weather damage to your car.
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage: This coverage pays for you and your passengers’ medical bills if you are injured in a car crash, regardless of who caused the accident.
- New car replacement insurance: This coverage will pay for a comparable car if your new car that is less than a year old is stolen or totaled.
- Classic car insurance: This coverage provides liability insurance, as well as collision and comprehensive, for classic cars that are only driven to shows or the occasional hobby drive during nice weather.
- Rental car reimbursement: This coverage will help pay for the cost of a rental car if your car is in the shop for an extended period.
- Roadside assistance: This coverage helps provide roadside assistance and towing if your car breaks down.
- Underinsured motorists insurance: This coverage helps pay for your accident bills if the driver who hits you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your bills.
- Uninsured motorists insurance: This coverage helps pay for your accident bills if the driver who hits you doesn’t have car insurance coverage.
Other Insurance Types Offered at Safeco
Safeco does sell other types of insurance in addition to car insurance. The full list of Safeco’s insurance options is as follows:- ATV and off-road-vehicle insurance
- Boat and watercraft insurance
- Commercial insurance
- Condo insurance
- Golf cart and low-speed vehicle insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Home warranty insurance
- Identity recovery insurance
- Landlord insurance
- Motorcycle Insurance
- Pet health insurance
- Property insurance
- Recreation vehicle (RV) insurance
- Renters insurance
- Umbrella insurance
How to File a Claim at Safeco
You have a few options when filing a car insurance claim at Safeco. You can choose to file online through your Safeco account or the Safeco app, or you can file over the phone by calling Safeco’s claim number at 1-800-332-3226. Filing car insurance claims online tends to be the quickest option for most drivers, and it also allows you to submit pictures online immediately from your smartphone. The information you need to file a car insurance claim at Safeco includes the following:- Your Safeco policy number if filing over the phone and not through your account.
- How, when, and where the car accident occurred.
- Names, contact information, and insurance information of any involved parties.
- Pictures of the damages to the vehicles and the accident scene.
- Police reports, if any officers were called to the scene of the accident.
How to Cancel Safeco Car Insurance
You will likely have to reach out to your independent Safeco agent to cancel your policy or call the company directly at 1-800-332-3226. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to cancel car insurance. You will need your policy information to cancel, and it’s important to make sure you have a date for when you want your policy to end. You will want this end date to be after your new car insurance policy starts. This way, you will avoid any lapses in auto insurance coverage that are illegal and will raise your car insurance rates. Driving without insurance, even a day or two, can increase your auto insurance rates, so double-check your start and end dates. Make sure to also check for confirmation that your cancellation at Safeco was effective, whether it’s confirmed through email or mail.The Final Word on Safeco Car Insurance
Safeco has a good selection of car insurance coverages and cheaper-than-average auto insurance rates. It also has a good financial rating, customers highly rate its mobile app, and it has discount programs like accident forgiveness that can save customers a significant amount of money. The downsides to Safeco are that it has a higher-than-average complaint ratio from the NAIC and scored less than the industry average on J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction surveys. While Safeco seems to have good rates and coverages, customers may not be happy with the level of service they receive from the company. If you are interested in getting quotes from other companies to compare to Safeco, use our free quote comparison tool below. It will help you find the best auto insurance rates from companies in your area based on your individual driving profile and coverage needs.Free Car Insurance Comparison
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Safeco Insurance Rates Breakdown
So far, Safeco hasn’t had the best customer ratings, but it offers a good array of coverage. And, as you will see in this section, its rates are also very affordable. Compare Safeco car insurance rates for minimum liability car insurance and full coverage car insurance below:Coverage Type | Safeco's Monthly Rates | National Average |
---|---|---|
Minimum Coverage | $26.68 | $45.45 |
Full Coverage | $70.78 | $119.27 |
Safeco Car Insurance Rates by Age
Of course, rates will also vary based on age. Younger drivers will pay more for car insurance due to their driving inexperience, no matter what car insurance company you choose. The good news is that Safeco provides the best car insurance by age and charges less than the national average for all drivers who have clean driving records. See how Safeco auto insurance rates compare to other top companies for young and experienced drivers:Company | Male Teen Driver | Female Teen Driver |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $360 | $344 |
Geico | $312 | $297 |
State Farm | $349 | $310 |
American Family | $509 | $414 |
Allstate | $638 | $608 |
Farmers | $773 | $810 |
Progressive | $814 | $801 |
Liberty Mutual | $785 | $722 |
USAA | $249 | $245 |
Nationwide | $476 | $411 |
Safeco Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record
Bear in mind that your rates at Safeco will also depend on your driving record. See below Safeco’s average rates for drivers with DUIs, at-fault accidents, and tickets. Compare car insurance rates with a bad driving record from Safeco and more companies below:Insurance Company | Rates with a Ticket | Rates with a Clean Record | Rates with a DUI | Rates with an Accident |
---|---|---|---|---|
Safeco | $81.12 | $70.78 | $122.21 | $109.77 |
Allstate | $195.17 | $166.08 | $303.17 | $237.33 |
American Family | $130.92 | $115.50 | $177.00 | $166.67 |
Farmers | $175.67 | $139.50 | $191.33 | $198.58 |
Liberty Mutual | $216.67 | $176.67 | $325.00 | $236.67 |
Nationwide | $144.75 | $120.42 | $252.33 | $165.25 |
Progressive | $142.50 | $109.17 | $146.67 | $190.33 |
State Farm | $102.25 | $90.92 | $124.17 | $107.08 |
Travelers | $148.33 | $107.25 | $230.42 | $157.33 |
Average | $151.50 | $123.08 | $218.25 | $176.92 |
- You added a new driver to your car insurance policy.
- You added a new car to your car insurance policy.
- You moved to a new area or state.
- You recently got a traffic ticket, caused an at-fault accident, or were convicted of a DUI.
Safeco Insurance Discounts Available
Safeco doesn’t offer as many car insurance discounts as other car insurance companies, but this is likely because its rates are already on the cheaper side. The most popular Safeco car insurance discounts are:- Accident forgiveness: Safeco won’t penalize your first at-fault accident with the company as long as you have been accident-free and violation-free for a few years.
- Bundling policy discount: Safeco offers a multiple-policy discount for customers who buy more than one type of insurance from the company, such as bundling a home and auto insurance policy.
- Claims-free cash back: Safeco will return you 2.5% of your policy premium for every renewal period you go accident-free (up to 5% per year).
- Disappearing deductible: Safeco will decrease the deductible up to $500 on your collision insurance for each renewal period you go through without filing a claim.
- Right Track program: Safeco has a safe driving program that can save drivers who score well up to 30% off their car insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does car insurance cost at Safeco?
How much Safeco car insurance costs depends upon your personal demographics, vehicle, location, driving record, and more. The only way to know what you will pay at Safeco is to get a car insurance quote. However, Safeco’s rates tend to fall below the national average, so it is one of the cheaper companies on the market. Contact a Safeco insurance agent today to find out what your rates will be.
How can you buy car insurance from Safeco?
You can’t buy car insurance or get a quote from Safeco online. Instead, you will have to reach out to one of Safeco’s independent agents to get a quote and purchase a policy. You can search for an independent Safeco agent on Safeco’s website using either your ZIP code or an agency’s name to find an agent near you.
Does Safeco have accident forgiveness?
Yes, Safeco does offer accident forgiveness. Your car insurance rates won’t go up after an accident, which offers significant savings if you cause an accident. However, you must be accident-free at Safeco for a set number of years to qualify, and Safeco accident forgiveness is not applicable in California.
How can you file a claim with Safeco?
You can file a car insurance claim online through your Safeco account or the Safeco Mobile app. You can also call Safeco at 1-800-332-3226 to file a claim. You will need all the relevant details of the car accident in order to file a claim at Safeco, such as:
- When, where, and how the car accident happened.
- Contact information of any witnesses.
- Contact information and car insurance information of any involved parties.
- Police report if police were called to the accident scene and a police report was filed.
- Photos of the damages to your car, damages to others’ vehicles, and damages to any property.
Safeco will guide you through what it needs, but it is best to collect as much information as possible beforehand so that the process goes smoothly. After you collect all of the relevant information, then you can file your claim through Safeco.
Is Safeco a good car insurance company?
Safeco has a good rating from the BBB and A.M. Best, as well as economical car insurance rates and a good array of car insurance coverages. However, potential customers of Safeco should be aware that Safeco scored below the industry average on customer satisfaction studies and had a higher-than-average ratio of complaints with the NAIC.
Where does Safeco sell car insurance?
Safeco sells car insurance in all 50 states. However, Safeco’s car insurance coverage options and discount options may not be available in every state. You will have to talk to a local independent agent to see what Safeco offers for your state.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
MaxLaw
Read The Reviews, There Is A Reason It’s Cheaper
Ashton3636
Not worth considering
Lcrprez
Long time customer got scammed.
Tracey_
Bad Company run
06Maraya09_
Wouldn't use them
Dr_Polly_Heil-Mealey
Insurance claim denied
Dr_Polly_Heil-Mealey
They would not send an adjuster, just denied the claim.
Upset_customer_
Credit
Edona_
Roadside assistance /towing
safecosuxballs
Safeco is Pathetic, strongly suggest using someone else