American National Insurance reviews and ratings
- Available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
- Has fewer than the expected number of complaints for auto insurance.
- Sells a wide variety of insurance products.
Founded in 1905 by William Lewis Moody Jr., American National insurance might be a good choice for someone looking to bundle their policies. Headquartered in Galveston, Texas, the company offers a wide variety of products, including auto, home, life and renters insurance in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. New York insurance products are written through Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, United Farm Family Insurance Company and American National Life Insurance Company.
American National auto insurance
American National auto insurance earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
» MORE: The best car insurance companies for 2021
Common types of car insurance coverage
When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require car insurance to drive a vehicle, although minimum coverage requirements vary from state to state. This generally includes liability insurance and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
If you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Full coverage isn’t a specific policy you can buy, but rather a combination of coverage types like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
Check out the most common types of car insurance coverage below to see how they work:
| Coverage type | What it pays for | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury and property damage liability | Costs for injuries, deaths or property damage from an accident you caused. | Typically required. |
| Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage | Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who has insufficient insurance or none at all. | Often required. |
| Collision coverage | Repair expenses from traffic-related accidents, regardless of who's at fault. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
| Comprehensive coverage | Repair costs from events outside your control — including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
In addition to the usual car insurance coverages like roadside assistance, American National Insurance sells:
- Gap insurance, which pays the difference between the actual cash value of your car and the amount you owe on your car loan if your vehicle is totaled or stolen. You must have comprehensive and collision coverage to buy gap insurance.
- ACE insurance, which stands for “added coverage endorsement,” for when you need to replace parts on a damaged vehicle.
Auto insurance policies from American National include these perks, though they may not be available in all states:
- Cash-back program if you have both auto and home policies. You can earn a percentage of your premiums back if you remain claim-free for three years.
- Pay one deductible, the amount subtracted from a claim payout, if your auto and home are damaged from the same incident and you have both policies through American National Insurance.
- Discounted or no deductible if you’re in a car accident with another American National customer.
If you buy comprehensive and collision insurance, benefits include:
- Up to $2,000 worth of customized equipment coverage.
- Rental car reimbursement.
American National’s auto insurance discounts include:
- Discount if you apply for a policy before your current one ends.
- Discount if you bundle auto, home and life insurance.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
American National homeowners insurance
American National offers standard homeowners insurance coverage, including temporary relocation coverage and identity theft protection. Policies are also available for condo owners. A multiple-policy discount is available if you bundle your home and auto insurance. You may also qualify for cash back if you’re claim-free for three years.
American National life insurance
Term life insurance policies are available for terms of five, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years.
The company also offers whole, universal, indexed universal and guaranteed universal life insurance, which are all types of permanent life insurance.
Complaints about American National Insurance
American National Insurance had fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for auto insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It had more than the expected number of complaints for home insurance, and far more than the expected number of complaints for life insurance.
More about American National
Website: American National’s website lets you report a claim and make a payment, but doesn’t offer much information about auto or home insurance discounts.
Mobile app: You can use the American National app on Apple or Android devices to view your policy, make a payment or report a claim. You can also access your ID card and request roadside assistance.
| Other types of insurance through American National include: | |
|---|---|
| Business insurance | Renters insurance |
| Health insurance | Condo insurance |
| Farm and ranch insurance | Off-road vehicle insurance |
| Recreational vehicle insurance | Boat and watercraft insurance |
| Classic car insurance | Motorcycle insurance |
Besides auto and home insurance, American National sells annuities and specialty products like credit disability coverage.
» MORE: Car insurance quotes: What you need to know
Auto insurance buying guide
Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect basic information, such as the driving history of everyone on the policy and facts about your car, including safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to understand which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.
When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to decide based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service you might receive.
Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.
Recap: American National pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sells a wide variety of insurance products | Far more than the expected number of customer complaints for life insurance |
| Available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico | |
| Low number of customer complaints for auto insurance |
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, website transparency and affordability. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2018-2020. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
