SafeAuto Insurance Review: Coverage And Cost (2024) (2024)

Written by:

Dash Lewis, Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

03/22/2024 10:31 PM

Key Points:

• SafeAuto Insurance is part of Direct Auto and specializes in coverage for high-risk drivers.
• SafeAuto offers minimum- and full-coverage policies with extras like roadside assistance.
• You can get SafeAuto coverage through Direct Auto’s website and locations in 16 states.

If you’re shopping for car insurance, you may have come across SafeAuto Insurance Company. Our team dug into the details of this insurance company to bring you a full guide to SafeAuto Insurance reviews, coverage, discounts, and more.

The provider didn’t make our list of the best car insurance companies, but it could still be worth considering if it’s offered in your area. Start comparing free, personalized quotes with available providers in your state by filling out the form below.

SafeAuto Insurance Rating

We give SafeAuto Insurance a 4.0-star rating overall. It’s part of Direct Auto insurance today and is a decent option for high-risk drivers or people who want minimum-coverage insurance. Our rating takes into account categories of reliability, availability, coverage, cost, service, and technology.

SafeAuto Insurance Overview

SafeAuto is a property and casualty insurance company specializing in auto insurance for customers needing to meet minimum coverage requirements by the state. The company was founded in 1993 and has its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

Today, SafeAuto is part of the Direct Auto brand, which specializes in low-cost minimum-coverage insurance. Direct Auto is a subsidiary of National General, which is owned by Allstate. SafeAuto maintains a website presence but sells policies under Direct Auto.

In addition to auto insurance, SafeAuto offers the following types of coverage:

• Motorcycle insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Business insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Supplemental insurance
• Accident insurance
• Life insurance

SafeAuto auto insurance products are available from physical store locations in 16 states:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

SafeAuto may also sell plans online in other states.

SafeAuto Pros and Cons

Below are a few pros and cons of SafeAuto that we found in our review.

SafeAuto Insurance Coverage

While SafeAuto Insurance specializes in state-minimum coverage, it has a wide range of auto insurance coverage options to suit the needs of different drivers. The following standard coverages are available:

• Liability Coverage
• Collision Coverage
• Comprehensive Coverage
• High-Risk Coverage And SR-22 Insurance
• Full Coverage

The following non-standard coverages are also available.

• Rental reimbursem*nt: Covers the cost of a rental vehicle up to a certain limit while the insured vehicle is being repaired due to a covered accident.
• Towing and labor coverage: Provides reimbursem*nt for towing and labor charges at the site of the event up to a maximum limit.
• Roadside assistance: Provides emergency roadside assistance for events like running out of gas, having a flat tire or a dead battery, or being locked out, and is available only in certain states.
• Accidental death benefit: Provides payment to the insured person’s estate if they die in a covered accident.

SafeAuto Cost And Discounts

SafeAuto specializes in low-cost insurance for high-risk drivers and people with SR-22s. In our research, we looked into SafeAuto’s payment options and plans. SafeAuto insurance policies are issued for six months, and customers can choose from three payment options for easy budgeting:

• Full payment
• Bi-monthly payments (33% down payment with two remaining payments due every other month)
• Monthly payments (an initial down payment with five monthly payments)

The final cost of your SafeAuto insurance policy depends on a wide range of factors, including your age, marital status, driving history, and credit score. We analyzed data from Quadrant Information Services to find that the average annual minimum coverage rate is $789 for a single 30-year-old male driver with a clean record and good credit.

SafeAuto Insurance also offers several ways to pay your bills. You can make a quick, one-time online payment using your debit card, credit card, or checking account without signing in or you can set up automatic payments on your account.

Discounts

Like all other insurance providers, SafeAuto offers a few discounts to cut down on your premium costs. We have listed a few of them below for your reference. The availability of the discount, coverage, and rates will vary by state.

• Multi-vehicle discount: Available if you insure multiple vehicles with SafeAuto
• Homeowner discount: May be available if you own your home
• Driver improvement course discounts: Available in certain states if you voluntarily complete a driver improvement course
• Paid-in-full discount: Available in certain states if you pay your premium in full
• Good student discounts: Available in certain states for students with good grades

Discounts may also be available if you drive a safe, reliable vehicle, sign up for an extended policy, or have a good driving record.

SafeAuto Insurance Reviews

SafeAuto has an A+ rating on the BBB. It shares a BBB page with its parent company National General. Its average rating on BBB from over 600 customer reviews is 1.1 out of 5.0 stars. Some reviews we read indicated dissatisfaction with the way SafeAuto claims were handled by the adjusters.

If you visit the BBB website, you will notice that a little over 1,800 customer complaints filed against SafeAuto/National General have been closed in the last three years. While the complaints range from billing issues to claims settlement, it’s good to see that SafeAuto has always responded to each complaint and provided an explanation and/or resolution.

SafeAuto Mobile App

Customers used to be able to use the SafeAuto online portal to manage their policies, pay bills, view insurance information, or request proof of insurance. However, since joining Direct Auto, customers now use the Direct Auto app.

The app has a decent score of 3.5 stars from reviewers on Google Play. Looking at the Apple App Store, the program scores 2.5 stars from customers. Many customers have complained about difficulty logging into and making payments through the app. However, there are also plenty of reviewers who praise it and report no issues. Overall, the user experience can be hit-or-miss.

SafeAuto Insurance Review: Our Take

We rated SafeAuto Insurance 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. Overall, we believe that drivers who fall into the high-risk category and are denied coverage elsewhere will find the SafeAuto insurance company a decent option for their auto policies. Insurance costs can vary drastically, depending on your credit, driving record, and location. In general, its prices are pretty competitive compared to other providers who offer high-risk insurance.

Top Recommendations For Car Insurance

If SafeAuto isn’t available in your state or if you would like to explore more auto insurance companies, we have a few recommendations.

USAA: Best For Military Members

In our USAA auto insurance review, we found USAA to be the best option in terms of pricing, customer service, financial stability, and coverage for U.S. military members. USAA frequently scores high in industry surveys by J.D. Power. We also found it offers some of the lowest insurance rates on average compared to other providers.

State Farm: Best Overall Provider

Our research team named State Farm the best insurance company in our State Farm auto insurance review. State Farm offers many ways to save including a usage-based program called Drive Safe and Save™ that can award discounts of up to 30 percent based on your driving. State Farm also has a good student discount of up to 25 percent that’s the largest in the industry.

SafeAuto Insurance Review: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about SafeAuto Insurance.

How We Rate SafeAuto Insurance

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Dash Lewis Content Writer