American Family Auto Insurance Review
Drivers searching for a good fit for their auto insurance needs have multiple decisions to make before choosing an insurance company. American Family Auto Insurance are a great company to look at! Making the decision difficult is the vast number of insurers and options trotted out in advertisements and commercials.
One of the contenders in the marketplace is American Family Insurance, a company founded more than 80 years ago. Compare auto insurance companies and find cheap auto insurance!
American Family Line of Products
When shopping around, checking the American Family Insurance website provides a quick rundown of all insurance products it has in addition to auto insurance. There is also home, health, life, business, retirement, and farm and ranch insurance, as well as umbrella insurance for extra coverage.
Other products it offers include Global Medical Insurance, Mexico Auto Insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance. For travelers, these types of insurance can come in handy.
- When traveling abroad, Global Medical Insurance purchased through a vendor offers the freedom to choose any hospital for treatment. The coverage is available for both individuals and families.
- For customers planning a trip south of the border, American Family Insurance has contracted with vendors to offer Mexico Auto Insurance rates and policies. This service is available because the auto insurance policies the company issues and underwrites do not provide coverage for vehicles operated in Mexico.
- When the unexpected happens after a trip has been planned and the customer is forced to cancel travel reservations, American Family offers Trip Cancellation Insurance coverage through a vendor. This option protects the customer from losing money in case of sudden illness, death in the family or other circumstances.
Online Quotes for Drivers
Getting an auto insurance quote online is convenient for those on the go. Depending on where you live, the process varies slightly. For example, typing in 30307, an Atlanta zip code, or 58102, a Fargo, ND, zip code requires the driver to indicate whether or not they are an existing American Family Insurance customer.
After that, they must submit information on their date of birth, address, driver’s license number and state, driving history, past claims submitted and information on other members in the household.
In some zip codes, including 75070 (McKinney, TX) 02910 (Providence, RI) or 02067 (Sharon, MA) non-customers are unable to get a quote, because American Family does not yet offer insurance in that state. In this case, quotes are given by a third party. However, the company does sell insurance in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Indiana, Kansas, Georgia and several other states.
When making payments, customers have several options. They can choose which one is most convenient for them and which one will help with reducing auto insurance costs. In addition to the “pay now” online feature, there is also the option to pay by mail, by phone, by automated transfer or through an online bank or bill payer service.
History and Growth of American Family Auto Insurance
American Family Insurance was launched in 1927 in Madison, WI. with three employees and 346 charter member policyholders. Originally called Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, more and more lines of insurance were added over the years, and in 1963 policyholders approved changing the company’s name to American Family Mutual Insurance Company.
In 1965 the company copyrighted its advertising “jingle” to market itself to the public, and by 1981 it became the fourth largest mutual auto insurance company. It currently offers insurance and financial product lines in 19 states, with $16.8 billion in assets under management and $5.4 billion in policyholder equity.
- Tips for Comparison Shoppers – When shopping for the best rates on auto insurance, comparing American Family with other providers helps to make an informed decision. There are many different insurers, and one that even does business strictly online. Some companies are more stable and well established than others, so check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before choosing any one company. Careful research will reveal important facts.
- The BBB has helpful information for drivers. – Most local American Family Insurance agencies are not BBB accredited, and have no rating on a scale from A to F. That is not necessarily a bad thing, because businesses are not obligated to seek BBB accreditation. Agencies have no rating when the BBB does not have sufficient information to determine how long this insurer has been operating. However, there are two exceptions.
- The central Ohio locations, with offices in Columbus, Marysville, Westerville and Madison, have been accredited since Aug. 22, 2000, and have an A+ rating. Ironically, there have been 10 complaints filed against them, including problems with the product or service, billing or collection issues and advertising and sales issues.
- The Oregon, OH. agency has been accredited since July 20, 2009, and has an A+ rating. There are no complaints showing against this agency in the last three years.
So do your homework before picking an insurer. Making a wise choice can not only save money, but will also provide protection when you need it the most. One final word of advice: the company offers different insurance plans for all types of vehicles, so meeting with an agent periodically to review existing coverage is prudent.
You should also take a look at various auto insurance discounts and make sure you are saving the most money possible! As families grow and circumstances change, so do their insurance needs. Check our other various auto insurance reviews and compare auto insurance rates to find the best deal!