GoAuto Insurance Review 2020

GoAuto Insurance is a Louisiana-based auto insurance company that offers bare-bones car insurance for drivers in Louisiana, Nevada and Ohio. GoAuto says it is a low-cost insurance company: It allows drivers to purchase policies directly from the company instead of through commission-incentivized insurance agents.

While GoAuto offers a simple way to purchase and manage a car insurance policy directly through its website or mobile app, its website provides little transparency on discounts or available coverage. The company also has a high number of complaints relative to other companies of similar size.

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance, GoAuto may be an option. However, many other companies offer insight into the coverage they provide, have lower customer complaints and offer a range of discounts.

GoAuto auto insurance

GoAuto Insurance offers minimal auto insurance coverage. Liability coverage is included in every policy, while collision and comprehensive coverage, medical payments and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are additional options. Depending on your state, other coverage options may also be available.

» MORE: Uninsured motorist coverage explained

Additional coverage could include:

• Towing coverage covers towing and breakdown costs from a dead battery, flat tire or getting locked out of your car.
• Rental reimbursement can pay for a rental car while yours is in the shop for a covered claim.

While GoAuto doesn’t offer many bells and whistles, it’s possible you could qualify for a few discounts, depending on your state.

GoAuto Insurance discounts may include:

• Military discount.
• Safe-driving discount.

You can get a quote and buy a policy on both the website and mobile app, by calling GoAuto’s state-specific hotlines, and calling or visiting a local GoAuto office.

» MORE: Car insurance quotes: What you need to know

Complaints about GoAuto

Relative to its size, GoAuto Insurance has far more than the expected number of complaints to state insurance regulators when compared with other auto insurance companies, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

These are the top four types of customer complaints over the last three years:

• Delays in handling claims.
• Denial of claims.
• How claims are handled.
• Unsatisfactory settlements and offers.

» MORE: Compare car insurance

More about GoAuto

Website: While GoAuto’s website offers minimal information about the coverage it offers, you can get a quote, buy a policy, file a claim, find a nearby office, make a bill payment or view policy and policy documents after you log in. Plus, a Spanish version of the website is available.

Mobile app: GoAuto’s mobile app allows customers to get a quote, buy or renew a policy, pay a bill, view a current policy and corresponding documents, and file a claim.

GoAuto’s phone numbers are:

• Louisiana: 1-225-926-7000
• Nevada: 1-702-747-7777
• Ohio: 1-216-501-3322

Recap: GoAuto pros and cons

Methodology: Insurer complaints

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2016-2018. 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 and life insurance.