2021 Auto-Owners Insurance Review

Yes, Auto-Owners does offer free towing for customers who have the company's roadside assistance coverage, though the company does not specify a towing mileage limit on its website and says that limits vary by policy. Auto-Owners roadside assistance generally costs about $60 per year. Customers can request Auto-Owners roadside assistance online, or they can call 1-888-869-2642.

Auto-Owners Roadside Assistance Covers:

• Towing services
• Jump starts
• Flat tire change
• Emergency fuel delivery
• Lockout services

While roadside assistance from Auto-Owners Insurance covers towing and other services, it doesn't cover the cost of repair parts, replacement keys, or major fixes due to things like engine failure or structural damage.

Yes, Auto-Owners has glass coverage for customers with comprehensive insurance. Auto-Owners customers can file a glass claim under their comprehensive coverage if their windshield was damaged due to something besides an accident, such as an animal, a weather event, or vandalism. If the windshield was damaged in a crash, drivers can file a claim with their collision insurance if they were at fault or with the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

Fixing a cracked or chipped windshield is important for safety reasons, since damaged windshields can obstruct a driver's vision and weaken the car's frame. But if the damage is minor, you might be able to have your windshield repaired rather than replaced. A general rule of thumb is that windshields can be repaired if there is a chip smaller than a quarter or a crack smaller than a dollar bill.

To encourage customers to drive safely, Auto-Owners waives the comprehensive deductible for windshield repairs. Several states also have specific laws about car insurance deductibles for windshield repairs and replacement.

State Laws on Deductibles for Glass Coverage

• Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for both windshield repair and replacement.

• Kentucky and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for all auto glass that you can see out of, not just the windshield.

• Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York require insurers to offer customers the option of a $0 glass deductible plan. This option is often referred to as full glass coverage.

If you don't live in one of these states, you will likely have to pay your comprehensive deductible in order for your windshield to be completely replaced. You can check with Auto-Owners if you're unclear about your policy details or your state's laws. For more information, check out WalletHub's guides to comprehensive and windshield insurance.

Auto-Owners does not offer a specific marriage discount, which is typical among major insurance companies. Auto-Owners also charges married drivers rates that are similar to what single drivers pay, which is less common.

In general, married couples pay around 9% less for car insurance than single drivers because they're less likely to file a claim. Auto-Owners is a rare exception, though.  

To get a Auto-Owners quote, you can find a local agent or call 1-800-346-0346.

Auto-Owners does not advertise a safe driver discount. The closest thing Auto-Owners has to a safe driver discount is TrueRide, the company's telematics program, which tracks driving habits like braking and acceleration, and rewards safe drivers with a discount. However, TrueRide is currently only available in Ohio.

If you can't sign up for TrueRide, Auto-Owners offers other ways for you to save on your premium. For example, drivers can get a multi-vehicle discount by insuring more than one car on their policy.   

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Auto-Owners discounts.

Auto-Owners does not have a set time limit for filing claims and will consider a claim even if it is filed months or years after the incident occurred. However, Auto-Owners is more likely to deny a claim if the delay was unreasonable or if it compromised their ability to investigate.

Your Auto-Owners car insurance policy likely requires you to report an accident “promptly” or “as soon as possible.” But even though you have to immediately report the accident, that does not mean you have to immediately file a claim. In fact, you can wait 1-10 years to file a claim, depending on your state's laws and the type of claim you need to file.

It's important to keep in mind that the longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult it will be for your insurance company to investigate and approve it. Filing a claim as soon as possible helps to ensure that everyone remembers the details of the accident and the evidence is still intact, so your claim is less likely to be challenged.

To file a claim with Auto Owners, you need to contact your independent agent. You can also reach out if you have any questions about the claims process.

Yes, Auto-Owners offers personal injury protection car insurance where required by state law. Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of auto insurance that pays medical bills after an accident regardless of who was at fault, so it is often referred to as no-fault insurance. States with no-fault laws require drivers to carry PIP, and the coverage is optional in many other states.

Auto-Owners PIP Insurance Can Cover:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Child care expenses
• Nursing care, medical supplies, and prescriptions
• Funeral expenses

The details of Auto-Owners personal injury protection will depend on your state and policy. In some states, PIP will pay the majority of qualifying medical bills, but policyholders will need to pay out of pocket for a small percentage of their expenses. However, personal injury protection is still considered a good investment because using health insurance to cover car accident injuries usually involves more out-of-pocket expenses.

If you've been in a car accident and need to file a PIP claim with Auto-Owners, you can file a claim by calling your agent or 1-888-252-4626 if it is after-hours. Coverage may also extend to your household members and passengers. For more information, check out WalletHub's guide to personal injury protection.

You can get an Auto-Owners good student discount if you have at least a B average or a 3.0 GPA. Student drivers can save up to 20% as long as they are eligible according to their agent's requirements.

Young drivers are usually quite expensive to insure since they lack driving experience. However, Auto-Owners offers a good student discount because having good grades shows the insurer that you are responsible off the road, meaning you're more likely to be responsible in the driver's seat as well.

Auto-Owners good student discounts vary by state, but it's always worth the effort of checking if they are available in your location.

No, Auto-Owners does not offer a military discount to its customers. Some auto insurance companies, including six of the top 10 providers, do offer discounts that are exclusively available to members of the military community and their eligible family members, but Auto-Owners isn't one of them.

While Auto-Owners does not offer a military discount, specifically, the company does offer a wide variety of other discounts that can help drivers save money. To learn more, check out WalletHub's Auto-Owners review.

You can lower your Auto-Owners car insurance costs by taking advantage of Auto-Owners discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and reducing your coverage, among other things. Auto-Owners considers a variety of factors when calculating your premium, though some – like your age and location – are out of your control. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence other factors in order to lower your rate.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance from Auto-Owners

Use Auto-Owners's auto insurance discounts

Auto-Owners offers a wide variety of discounts that can help you lower your overall car insurance bill. For example, drivers can get a discount of up to 20% if their policy covers a college or high school student who maintains at least a "B" average. Or you can save on your premium if you have more than one policy with Auto Owners.

Raise your car insurance deductible 

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from Auto-Owners can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it's important that you choose a deductible amount that you can still afford if you suddenly need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Reduce your car insurance coverage 

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may not have to purchase, depending on your state.

Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it's important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Improve your driving record

Practicing save driving habits and avoiding moving violations can help you qualify for lower Auto-Owners insurance rates long-term. You may also be able to attend traffic school in order to remove a violation or points from your record, depending on your state.

Build and improve your credit

Because your credit history is correlated with your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, Auto-Owners uses your credit data to calculate your premium in states where it is legal. As a result, having good credit makes you less of an insurance risk, which will reduce your rates over time.

Drive less 

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your Auto-Owners premium.

Drive an insurance-friendly car

Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high rates of theft are considered to be riskier to insure than cheaper, more practical vehicles. Before you buy a new car, get a new quote from Auto-Owners to see how it will affect your rate. If the cost is out of your budget, then you should probably choose a different car.

Sign up for TrueRide

TrueRide, the Auto-Owners telematics program only available to drivers in Ohio, rewards you for good driving with a discounted premium. Specifically, TrueRide tracks miles driven, the time of day that you drive, speed, braking, acceleration, and distracted driving.

Finally, if you're still struggling to afford your Auto-Owners policy, you should consider switching insurers. Even if you're not actively looking for a new policy, it's generally a good idea to compare quotes from three different companies every 6-12 months. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to switching car insurance companies.

Yes, Auto-Owners will pay for windshield replacement or repair services for customers who have comprehensive coverage, though a deductible will apply unless state laws or policy details say otherwise. Comprehensive insurance from Auto-Owners covers windshields damaged by weather, vandalism and theft, among other things.

In some states, specific laws govern whether customers will need to pay their deductible for windshield repairs or replacement. For instance, in Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina, insurers cannot charge a deductible for windshield repairs or replacement. Additionally, insurance companies in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York must offer a "full glass coverage" policy that allows customers to choose a $0 deductible for glass repairs.

On the other hand, if the windshield was damaged in an accident and the policyholder was at-fault, Auto-Owners customers can file a collision claim, though their exact policy details will determine if they need to pay a collision deductible. And if the policyholder was not at-fault, the at-fault driver's liability insurance should cover the damage without a deductible.

If you're not sure whether you will need to pay a deductible for windshield replacement, you can check your policy details or call Auto-Owners's customer service line at 1 (800) 346-0346. To file a claim for windshield repair or replacement, you can use Auto-Owners's claims phone number.