Shelter
- Has repeatedly been ranked highly for customer satisfaction.
- Includes new car replacement as a part of some auto policies.
- Shelter’s rates are often cheaper than average, though it depends on where you live and other factors.
- No usage-based insurance option, unlike many other car insurance companies.
- Not offered in every state.
NerdWallet's take on Shelter auto insurance
Shelter earned 4.7 out of 5 in our analysis for its customer service ratings and coverage offerings and discounts.
Best for: Drivers whose vehicles have less than 15,000 miles and can get new car replacement included with the cost of an auto insurance policy.
Not ideal for: Drivers who don’t live in one of the 14 states where Shelter offers car insurance.
Where Shelter car insurance stands out
Highly-rated customer experience. Shelter receives fewer complaints than expected for its size, and has historically done well on regional surveys focusing on customer satisfaction.
Variety of coverage options. If you’re looking to add coverage to a basic car insurance policy, Shelter may be an attractive option. In addition to its coverage options, Shelter includes new car replacement for some vehicles when you buy a policy.
Often cheaper than average. We found that Shelter is often a cheaper car insurance company than average in the states where it offers coverage. Shelter also offers a wide range of discounts.
Where Shelter car insurance falls short
Regional availability. Shelter offers insurance in just 14 states located around the middle and south of the country. Even though we rate it well, Shelter may not be an option for everyone.
Lack of telematics discount. Shelter doesn’t have a usage-based insurance discount like some other insurance companies. By enrolling in this type of program, you agree to share details about your driving in exchange for a potential discount.
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How much does Shelter car insurance cost?
Shelter car insurance costs an average of $151 per month or $1,812 per year for a full coverage car insurance policy, according to NerdWallet’s November 2025 analysis. That's compared to the national average of $2,300 per year.
Minimum coverage, which is the coverage your state requires to drive, costs an average of $44 per month or $525 with Shelter, according to the same analysis. The national average cost of minimum coverage is $52 per month or $627 per year.
Your coverage is just one factor affecting your car insurance rates. Your vehicle, location and driving history can all have some effect on what you pay for insurance. For this reason, we recommend comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies before you buy a policy.
Shelter auto insurance rates by age
Your age can affect your car insurance rates, too. In the first few years that you have your license, you’ll pay more for car insurance than older drivers. This is because insurers may view young drivers as higher risk than other drivers.
As you get older, your rates will probably get closer to average as long as you keep a clean driving record. While you’re still young, it can help to join an existing policy, like a parent or guardian’s. You’ll likely pay less for coverage this way than by buying a standalone policy.
Here are Shelter's average car insurance rates for drivers of different ages:
Young drivers. The average cost of Shelter car insurance for 20-year-old drivers is $4,205 per year, or $350 per month. Nationally, the average cost of car insurance for young drivers is $4,684 per year, or $390 per month.
Adult drivers. The average cost of Shelter car insurance for 40-year-old drivers is $1,702 per year, or $142 per month. This age group sees an average national rate of $2,232 per year, or $186 per month.
Senior drivers. The average cost of Shelter car insurance for 60-year-old drivers is $1,420 per year, or $118 per month. The national average for this age group is $1,988 per year, or $166 per month.
- More Shelter auto rates by age
Age Company median rate National median rate 20 $4,205 $4,684 30 $2,070 $2,375 35 $1,812 $2,300 40 $1,702 $2,232 50 $1,463 $2,074 60 $1,420 $1,988 70 $1,578 $2,125
Shelter auto insurance rates by driver profile
You will likely pay more for car insurance after an accident or driving violation, but higher rates won’t necessarily last forever. Depending on your driving history, the insurance company and the incident, your rates could get close to average after a few years of safe driving.
One factor that you might not realize affects your car insurance rates is your credit history. In most states, insurance companies use your credit history to figure out your credit-based insurance score. Having a low credit-based insurance score can cause your rates to jump significantly.
Below are Shelter's average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers:
Poor credit. The average cost of Shelter car insurance for drivers with poor credit is $3,689 per year, or $307 per month, while the national average cost is $3,850 per year, or $321 per month.
(California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.)
Speeding ticket. The average cost of Shelter car insurance after a speeding ticket is $2,025 per year, or $169 per month, while the national average cost is $2,931 per year, or $244 per month.
At-fault crash. The average cost of Shelter car insurance for drivers after an accident is $2,253 per year, or $188 per month. The average cost of car insurance after an crash is is $3,405 per year, or $284 per month.
DUI. The average cost of Shelter car insurance after a DUI or DWI is $2,634 per year, or $220 per month. That's compared to the national average for drivers with a DUI, which is $4,265 per year, or $355 per month.
Shelter auto insurance discounts
Shelter offers more discounts than many other insurers. Depending on your state, you may be able to lower your insurance rates by:
Switching to Shelter from another company, depending on the amount of coverage you had and your insurance history.
Renewing your car insurance with Shelter, depending on how long you’ve been a customer.
Owning a vehicle for a certain number of years.
Insuring another non-passenger vehicle with Shelter, like a car used for business.
Having a home, farm, mobile home or dwelling insurance policy with Shelter.
Buying life and property insurance from Shelter.
Not having any accidents or traffic violations for at least three years, although you may qualify for another discount after being accident-free for six years.
Getting good grades if you’re unmarried, have a driver’s license and are under age 25.
Paying your premium all at once every six or 12 months.
Owning a car with factory-installed airbags.
Passing an accident-prevention course.
Having every driver in your household younger than 21 complete an approved driver’s education class.
If you’re looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates possible, you may want to buy the lowest amount of car insurance your state requires. However, we recommend getting more coverage if you can afford it. Otherwise, you could face huge out-of-pocket costs after a serious accident.
Shelter car insurance coverage
Shelter’s full coverage car insurance includes the standard types of coverage offered by most insurers:
- Liability insurance
Liability car insurance pays for others’ injuries or property damage you cause in a car accident, up to your auto policy limits. There are two types:
Bodily injury liability covers others’ medical expenses after an accident where you are at fault.
Property damage liability covers the repair costs to other vehicles, fences, mailboxes or buildings from an accident.
Is it required? Yes. Every state, except for Virginia and remote parts of Alaska, requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability car insurance in order to drive legally.
- Personal injury protection
Also known as "no-fault insurance," PIP covers your own injuries and medical expenses after a crash, regardless of who's at fault, up to your policy limits. Depending on your state, PIP could also help pay for:
Lost wages if you're unable to work due to your injuries from a car accident.
Services you can't perform because of an accident, such as house cleaning or child care.
Funeral costs if an injury from an accident leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Is it required? Personal injury protection is required in the following states: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah.
- Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, helps pay for your medical expenses or funeral costs after a car accident, no matter who's at fault, up to your policy limits. It also pays for medical bills if you or one of your family members is hit by a car while on foot, riding a bike or traveling as a passenger in someone else’s car.
Is it required? MedPay is required in Maine and New Hampshire, and can be purchased as an optional add-on in most other states. In a few states, MedPay can't be purchased because personal injury protection is required.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays out if you're in an accident where the at-fault driver has no liability car insurance, or not enough to cover your injuries or property damage. It can also be used to pay for your passengers’ and household family members’ injuries.
Is it required? Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required in Washington, D.C., and the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Collision insurance
Collision insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car if you crash into another car or object. It can also pay for hit-and-runs, rollovers and damage caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Collision insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Collision insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy collision insurance, you'll likely have to also get comprehensive insurance, which pays for damage to your car from non-traffic-related causes.
- Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car after non-traffic-related causes, such as:
Weather events, like hail, floods or tornadoes.
Falling objects, such as tree limbs.
Fire or explosions.
Hitting an animal.
Car theft and broken windows.
Earthquakes.
Vandalism or civil disobedience, such as a riot.
Comprehensive insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Comprehensive insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy comprehensive insurance, you'll likely have to also get collision insurance, which pays for damage to your car from traffic-related causes.
Optional coverage
Shelter also offers other types of optional coverage. Notably, Shelter auto insurance includes new car replacement coverage, which can help pay for a replacement vehicle after your new car is totaled. This is available to cars with less than 15,000 miles.
You may also choose to purchase:
Accidental death coverage. After you or your spouse are killed in a car crash, accidental death coverage would provide a payment. You can extend coverage to other members of your family for an additional cost.
Who might need it? This coverage may be most useful if you or your spouse don’t have another form of life insurance. If you’re interested in accidental death coverage, compare life insurance rates first. A simple term life policy that pays a set amount in the event of a death could be cheaper than you’d expect.
Disability income coverage. If you're in a car crash and can’t return to work because of your injuries, Shelter will provide a weekly stipend for up to one year. This coverage may not be available in all states.
Who might need it? Disability income coverage could be useful if you don’t have personal injury protection or another form of short-term disability insurance, like through a job or a separate personal policy. Even if you do, the extra protection might still make it worth having depending on price.
Gap insurance. If you total your car, Shelter will help cover the difference between the car’s value and the unpaid balance of an auto loan or lease.
Who might need it? There’s a good chance you’ll be required to get this coverage unless you own your car outright. Even if you don’t have to get it, gap insurance can help you avoid having to pay after your car is totaled.
Loss of use coverage. This coverage would pay you a single lump sum if your car needs to be repaired after it’s damaged in a covered accident.
Who might need it? If you don’t want temporary transportation coverage, you might want to consider loss of use coverage. It could help you pay for transportation and surprise expenses that could arise while your car is in the shop.
Roadside assistance. Shelter will help pay for roadside services, like a battery change, flat tire and lockouts, if you’re stranded. This coverage pays up to $100 per claim.
Who might need it? Roadside assistance may be worth having if you don’t already have similar coverage from a credit card or association membership, like AAA. Consider it if you often go on trips that take you far away from home.
Temporary transportation coverage. If your car is damaged and needs repair, this coverage will help pay for another dependable way to get around, like a rental vehicle. You may also be able to use this coverage after your car is stolen.
Who might need it? You might want to add this coverage to your policy if you drive everyday to work or school, especially if you have no other reliable way to get around besides your car.
Besides your state’s minimum insurance requirements, you might have to get more than basic coverage if you drive a lease or financed your car with a loan. Shopping around from multiple companies can help you find the cheapest car insurance company for the coverage you need.
Is Shelter a good insurance company?
Shelter stacks up well to competitors. It offers a range of coverage options, lots of discounts and a functional website that allows policyholders to manage a lot of their policy online.
Additionally, Shelter’s customer experience rating was stronger than many other insurers.
Complaints: Shelter receives fewer complaints than expected for its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Regional auto satisfaction. Shelter is rated first in the Central region of the country in J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Study. This is the fifth year in a row that Shelter has topped the list in the Central region for customer satisfaction.
See what you could save on car insurance
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More information about Shelter auto insurance
Customer service: Call 1-800-SHELTER (1-800-743-5837) for policy service, or send an email through Shelter’s website.
Website: Shelter’s website is easy to navigate, with insurance offerings, coverage details and discount opportunities accessible from the main menu. You can get a quote and find a nearby Shelter agent directly from the homepage.
Mobile app: You can use Shelter’s mobile app to manage your account, view policy details, access your insurance cards, pay your bill, request roadside assistance and contact your Shelter agent.
How we review auto insurance companies
Our editorial team considers these factors when reviewing auto insurance companies:
- Financial strength
We use AM 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 the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
Read our full auto insurance methodology.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a quote from Shelter?
How do I get a quote from Shelter?
You can get a quote from Shelter online or over the phone with an agent.
In what states does Shelter sell insurance?
In what states does Shelter sell insurance?
Shelter products are available in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
How do you file a claim with Shelter?
How do you file a claim with Shelter?
You can file a claim via the Shelter website. If you’re filing a life insurance claim, you can do so by calling a Shelter agent.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed .
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. 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 2022 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.
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.
