Safety Auto Insurance Review 2024

Ryan Brady
By Ryan Brady 
Edited by Lacie Glover

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Our Take

3.5

NerdWallet rating 

The bottom line:

Safety gets far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, but it sells policies in only three states.

Safety Auto Insurance
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Ease of use
Below average
Discounts
Average set of discounts

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Gets far fewer consumer complaints for auto insurance than expected for a company of its size.

  • Offers a variety of upgrade options for auto policies.

Cons

  • Available in only three states.

  • Quotes aren't available online.

Full Review

Safety Insurance earned 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. 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.

Founded in 1979, the Boston-based Safety Insurance Company offers auto, homeowners, business and other insurance products to customers in select New England states through independent agents. If you want the personal attention of an agent and you’re a resident of Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine, Safety Insurance might be right for 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 company offers and the total number of discounts available.

Compare to other insurers

Current Product

Safety Auto Insurance
The Hartford Auto Insurance
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

3.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Complaints to NAIC 

Far fewer than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

More than expected

Ease of use 

Below average

Ease of use 

Above average

Ease of use 

Above average

Discounts 

Average set of discounts

Discounts 

Average set of discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Bottom line 

Safety gets far fewer consumer complaints than expected, but it sells policies in only three states.

Bottom line 

The Hartford primarily caters to customers 50 and older, offering policies through a partnership with AARP.

Bottom line 

Liberty Mutual offers a long list of discounts, plus robust digital tools on its website and app.

Safety 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 standard types of auto insurance such as liability and comprehensive and collision coverage, Safety also offers optional coverage, including:

Safety Shield. The coverage in this package varies depending on your state, but it may include extras such as glass coverage, a waiver of the collision deductible, guaranteed replacement cost, emergency road travel expenses and coverage for personal belongings.

Safety Shield Plus. Available only in Massachusetts, this includes everything in the Safety Shield package plus accident forgiveness, additional coverage for your personal items, seat belt coverage, bail bonds and coverage for pets injured in an accident.

Gap coverage. This optional add-on will pay the difference between your car’s value and the balance on your lease or loan if your car is totaled or stolen. You’ll typically need to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, which pay up to the car’s value, to buy gap insurance.

Auto insurance discounts

Depending on where you live, you may be able to earn a discount or credit on your Safety auto insurance policy by:

  • Not having an accident or traffic violation for at least five years.

  • Insuring more than one vehicle.

  • Buying more than one insurance product from Safety.

  • Meeting Safety’s requirements for a good student.

  • Being a loyal customer.

  • Having a student who is away at school and keeps their car at home.

  • Having your policy issued electronically.

  • Taking a crash-prevention course.

🤓Nerdy Tip

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

Pricing based on tracked driving habits

Drivers may qualify for a discount by using the Drive with Safety telematics app, which is only available for Massachusetts drivers. Drive with Safety tracks driving behaviors like hard braking, speeding, and cell phone use.

Complaints

Safety Insurance had far fewer 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 Safety auto insurance

Website: Users can log in to their accounts and file claims through the Safety Insurance website, but there’s no way to get an online quote. This is because Safety sells insurance exclusively through independent agents. In addition, coverage information on the site is not as robust as it could be. However, the website does have an agent search tool, information about discounts and answers to frequently asked questions.

Mobile: Safety’s customer app lets you file a claim, find an agent, view your insurance card, pay your bill and manage your account.

Safety homeowners insurance

Safety Insurance offers standard coverage for homes, condos and apartments, including for damage due to fire, windstorms and theft. Learn more in our Safety home insurance review.

Other insurance from Safety

Other insurance products available from Safety Insurance include:

  • Business owners insurance.

  • Commercial auto insurance.

  • Dwelling fire insurance.

  • Personal and commercial umbrella insurance.

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