In 2021, Allstate announced it was acquiring Safe Auto through its subsidiary, National General, and is now a part of Direct Auto Insurance. The below information is outdated and reflects Safe Auto's auto insurance coverage while it was still operating as a separate company.
Safe Auto
Not yet rated
Safe Auto specializes in selling minimum required car insurance to drivers who may have trouble getting coverage elsewhere.- Can file an SR-22 if you need one.
- Website available in English and Spanish.
- Far more complaints than expected about auto insurance to state regulators.
- Not available in all states.
NerdWallet was not able to rate Safe Auto 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.
Safe Auto Insurance focuses on providing the minimum required car insurance needed to meet state requirements. Its policies are geared toward drivers considered high-risk because of issues like multiple moving violations, poor credit or a DUI.
» MORE: Best car insurance companies
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.
- How we review 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.
Safe 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.
Although Safe Auto specializes in minimum liability insurance, you can also get comprehensive and collision coverage, which pays to repair or replace your car if it’s stolen or damaged. This extra coverage is optional, but if you owe money on a car loan or lease, your lender may require you to buy it.
Safe Auto offers other standard coverage options as well, such as rental reimbursement, roadside assistance and towing, along with:
Personal injury protection, or no-fault insurance, to pay for medical and funeral expenses, lost wages and household services if you’re injured in an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
SR-22 availability. Your state may require an SR-22 form to prove you have insurance after a DUI or another serious violation.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Auto insurance discounts
Safe Auto’s discounts vary by state. You may be eligible for discounts for:
Insuring more than one vehicle.
Owning your home.
Switching to Safe Auto from another insurer.
Taking a driver improvement course.
Paying your premium in full, upfront.
Buying more than one insurance product from Safe Auto, such as auto and home coverage.
Getting good grades if you’re a student.
Being over 55 years old.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.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
Customers can buy this insurance in packages of 3,7, 14 or 30 days and can turn their coverage on and off via text message or an app.
Complaints
Safe Auto 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 Safe Auto insurance
Website: Safe Auto’s website is available in English and Spanish. Customers can log in to view policy information, pay premiums or report a claim. The website also features consumer reviews and summaries of state’s minimum car insurance requirements.
Mobile app: Safe Auto’s mobile app is another way to see policy details and make payments. Policyholders can also view their insurance ID cards on the app.
Frequently asked questions
In which states does Safe Auto sell auto insurance?
In which states does Safe Auto sell auto insurance?
Safe Auto offers car insurance in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Vermont and Wyoming.
How can I file a claim with Safe Auto?
How can I file a claim with Safe Auto?
You can file a claim with Safe Auto online or by calling 800-723-3288.
Is Safe Auto the same as Allstate?
Is Safe Auto the same as Allstate?
Safe Auto was acquired by Allstate, one of the largest insurers in the nation, through its subsidiary, National General. National General specializes in selling auto insurance to high-risk drivers. Safe Auto is now a part of National General subsidiary Direct Auto.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. 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.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we only used rates for “good credit.”
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for drivers of the following ages: 20, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60 and 70.
2025 auto insurance survey methodology
The opt-in survey of 7,503 U.S. adults ages 18 and older was conducted online by Russell Research on behalf of NerdWallet in June and July 2024. Respondents were asked to rate one auto insurance brand they obtained or renewed a policy within the past 12 months, with at least some changes to the original policy. These brands were rated on overall satisfaction, overall value, online experience, trustworthiness, mobile app experience, claims experience and customer support on a scale of 1-100.
Only brands with 100 or more qualifying respondents are reported. Of those respondents: 300 were State Farm customers, 300 were Progressive customers, 300 were Allstate customers, 300 were GEICO customers, 100 were USAA customers, 157 were AAA customers, 100 were Liberty Mutual customers, 100 were American Family customers, 100 were Farmers customers, 100 were Travelers customers and 101 were Nationwide customers.
