Safe Auto Insurance Review 2023
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Our Take
The bottom line:
Safe Auto specializes in selling minimum required car insurance to drivers who may have trouble getting coverage elsewhere.
Full Review
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can file an SR-22 if you need one.
- Website available in English and Spanish.
Cons
- Far more than expected complaints about auto insurance to state regulators.
- Not available in all states.
Full Review
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.
In 2021, Allstate announced it was acquiring Safe Auto through its subsidiary, National General.
» MORE: Best car insurance companies
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: What is SR-22 insurance?
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.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
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
Safe Auto offers pay-as-you-go liability insurance in Illinois and California through Hugo. This option lets drivers pay a flat rate for insurance only on the days they drive.
Customers can buy this insurance in packages of three, seven, 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 each 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.
Other insurance from Safe Auto
In addition to auto insurance, Safe Auto offers homeowners insurance through Hippo and motorcycle insurance through either Dairyland or Progressive.
Safe Auto also sells other types of insurance through partner companies, including:
Health insurance.
Renters insurance.
Dental insurance.
Business insurance.
Life insurance.
Accident insurance.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2019-2021. 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 Safe Auto’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.
Frequently asked questions
Safe Auto offers car insurance in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
You can file a claim with Safe Auto online or by calling 800-SAFEAUTO.
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.
