Fred Loya Auto Insurance Review 2024

Drew Gula
By Drew Gula 
Edited by Ben Moore

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Our Take

The bottom line:

High-risk drivers may be able to find coverage, but Fred Loya’s past legal issues, customer complaints and confusing policies make this company a difficult one to recommend.

Fred Loya Auto Insurance
NAIC complaints
Far more than expected
Ease of use
Below average
Discounts
Very few discounts

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Policies are available for high-risk drivers.

  • Some offices are conveniently located in grocery stores and Walmart.

Cons

  • High number of complaints and past legal issues.

  • Does not offer 24/7 claim filing.

Full Review

NerdWallet was not able to rate Fred Loya for overall performance because there is no financial strength rating information available for the company. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.

Fred Loya Insurance specializes in providing minimum levels of auto insurance to high-risk drivers — typically those with poor credit or those who are required to file an SR-22 form due to traffic violations or DUIs. The company is operated by EP Loya Group, a Texas-based auto insurance company, which also owns Loya Insurance Company and Young America Insurance — companies that may offer policies from both Fred Loya and other insurance providers. Depending on your location, Fred Loya Insurance may be marketed using one of these names.

While Fred Loya offers convenient office locations in grocery stores and Walmart stores, its policies can be confusing. The company also has a high number of customer complaints and has faced legal troubles in the past.

If you have a hard time finding coverage, Fred Loya can likely issue you a policy. However, consider other options available for high-risk drivers before choosing Fred Loya as your auto insurance provider. If you simply want to purchase a policy that meets your state’s required minimum coverage levels, there are alternative options available to you.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B. 

Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.

Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.

Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a Fred Loya offers and the total number of discounts available.

Compare to other insurers

Current Product

Fred Loya Auto Insurance
Bristol West Auto Insurance
Acceptance Auto Insurance
NerdWallet rating 

2.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

1.5

/5

Complaints to NAIC 

Far more than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

Far more than expected

Ease of use 

Below average

Ease of use 

Average

Ease of use 

Average

Discounts 

Very few discounts

Discounts 

Very few discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Bottom line 

High-risk drivers may be able to find coverage, but Fred Loya’s past legal issues and customer complaints make this company a difficult one to recommend.

Bottom line 

This insurer offers coverage for high-risk drivers and can help you out with an SR-22, but it has a high volume of customer complaints.

Bottom line 

Acceptance provides coverage for high-risk drivers and can file an SR-22 form if needed. However, it sells policies in only 15 states.

Fred Loya auto insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

In addition to these coverage types, Fred Loya also offers rental reimbursement coverage, which will pay for a rental while your car is in the shop for covered repairs.

Fred Loya offers policies for high-risk drivers, which often includes those with poor or no credit. Fred Loya’s policies can be issued with or without a credit check, and SR-22 forms may be available.

Some policy coverage types and exclusions are unconventional and may not be clear, so it’s important to carefully read the fine print. For example, Fred Loya mentions you would need “complete coverage” to pay for damages to your own vehicle if you cause an accident, but there is no explanation of how to add that to a policy. And once a policy is purchased, any changes, including address and phone number updates, must be made over the phone or in person.

Fred Loya offers online car insurance quotes or you can call for quotes at 800-444-4040. You can also visit a Fred Loya location by using the website’s location finder. Some are in readily accessible retail spots like grocery stores and select Walmart locations.

Auto insurance discounts

You may be able to save on a Fred Loya auto insurance policy by:

  • Insuring more than one vehicle.

  • Having a record of insurance coverage for the past 12 months.

  • Owning a home.

  • Maintaining a clean driving record.

🤓Nerdy Tip

First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance.

Complaints

Fred Loya had far more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

More about Fred Loya auto insurance

Website: The Fred Loya website has limited information on coverage options and offers few features. Current customers can log in to access their policy and make payments online, while new customers can get an online quote and use the site’s location finder to look up the nearest agency.

Methodology

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. 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. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life 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 and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. 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 and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.

Frequently asked questions