Erie Insurance is a strong yet under-the-radar choice in auto insurance. It operates in only 12 states and Washington, D.C., and doesn’t advertise. Instead, Erie lets its customers spread the word about its service and policy options. Although it is best known for its auto insurance, Erie also offers other products, including life insurance and home insurance, as well as coverage for renters and landlords, umbrella coverage, boat insurance and annuities.
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Where Erie shines
- Auto insurance customers can lock in their rates until they add or remove drivers or vehicles, or until they move.
- Accident forgiveness coverage waives a surcharge after your first at-fault accident.
- Erie’s auto insurance ranks well for customer service.
at a glance
- A.M. Best financial strength rating: A+ (superior)
- Consumer complaints: Erie Insurance has fewer complaints against it than the industry median for a company of its size.
- Size: No. 12 auto insurance company based on direct premiums written, according to A.M. Best.
In this article:
Erie auto insurance
Erie home insurance
Erie life insurance
Retirement planning and other insurance
Website and apps
Next steps
About Erie
Erie has been in business since 1925 and is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is the second-largest auto insurer in Pennsylvania, and its policies are sold through a network of independent agents.
You’ll find Erie in:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Erie auto insurance
Price comparison
For sampling purposes, NerdWallet analyzed insurance rates for Erie and the other largest auto insurers in Pennsylvania. Erie was third-cheapest for a Toyota Camry and offered the best rate for a Ford F-150. Here’s a look at how Erie’s insurance rates stack up.
| Company | 2015 Toyota Camry with minimal coverage and limited tort | 2015 Ford F-150 with full coverage and unlimited tort |
|---|---|---|
| USAA (available to service members and their families) | $750 | $1,228 |
| Geico | $773 | $1,268 |
| Erie | $1,000 | $1,106 |
| Nationwide | $1,235 | $1,241 |
| State Farm | $1,255 | $1,565 |
| Travelers | $2,557 | $2,797 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,589 | $3,250 |
| Allstate | $2,640 | $3,103 |
| Progressive | $3,230 | $3,538 |
Coverage
Erie offers an innovative “Rate Lock” option that lets customers lock in their auto insurance rates until they add or remove drivers, add or remove vehicles, or move.
You can also opt for accident forgiveness, which prevents you from facing a surcharge after your first at-fault accident. There’s also a unique “Feature 15” that promises no accident surcharges for customers who have been with Erie Insurance for at least 15 years (availability varies by state).
Auto insurance policies from Erie Insurance also include extras such as:
- Pet injury coverage: Up to $500 each for veterinary care for two dogs and/or two cats injured in your vehicle in an accident, or $1,000 if they die.
- Waiver of collision deductible if two Erie customers crash into each other.
For customers who purchase collision and comprehensive coverage:
- Up to $350 for personal property such as clothing damaged in your vehicle ($100 in North Carolina).
- Up to $75 per person for travel costs such as meals and hotel if you can’t reach your destination because of an accident.
DISCOUNTS
Ask an agent about available discounts. Here’s a sample of discounts from Erie Insurance:
- Youthful driver: For unmarried drivers under 21 who live with their parents.
- College student: For unmarried, full-time students who go to college away from home without a car.
- Youthful longevity: Young unmarried drivers who have been on someone else’s Erie policy (like a parent’s) receive credit for consecutive years.
- Age 55 and older: For customers 55 and over who are the principal driver of the car.
- Reduced usage: For customers who don’t drive their car for 90 consecutive days.
- Paying in full: Up to 7% (in most states) for paying in a lump sum.
customer service
Erie Insurance consistently outranks its competitors in customer service, though it drops in rankings of satisfaction for claims. Auto insurance customer satisfaction scores:
| Category | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sources: J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, J.D. Power 2015 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study; Consumer Reports | ||
| Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power) | No. 1 and “among the best.” | 870 out of 1,000. |
| Auto claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) | No. 6 and “about average.” | 862 out of 1,000. |
| Consumer Reports car insurance ratings | No. 4 | 87 out of 100 (reader score). |
Erie home insurance
Erie Insurance offers coverage for houses, condos and manufactured homes, plus coverage for renters and landlords. Its ErieSecure Home policy offers guaranteed replacement cost so that your home will be covered in full if it’s destroyed or damaged. Erie’s HomeProtector policy offers three coverage levels.
Erie performs well in customer satisfaction studies. In J.D. Power’s most recent home insurance claims satisfaction measurements, Erie was “among the best” for service interaction. Its lowest score was for repair process, where it was “about average.” Home insurance customer satisfaction scores:
| Category | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sources: J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study; Consumer Reports |
||
| Overall customer satisfaction with property insurance claims (J.D. Power) | No. 4 and “better than most.” | 874 out of 1,000. |
| Consumer Reports home insurance ratings | No. 4 | 87 out of 100 (reader score). |
Erie life insurance
Erie’s life insurance choices include term life, whole life and universal life. (Erie’s life insurance products are not available in New York.)
Retirement planning and other insurance
Erie’s retirement planning products include annuities and traditional and Roth IRAs. (Annuities from Erie are not available in New York.) For business owners, Erie offers business liability, business auto, workers’ compensation, group life and other coverage types.
Erie customers can also purchase:
- Umbrella coverage.
- Boat insurance.
- Identity recovery and fraud reimbursement.
Website and apps
Erie’s website is quite handy. You can get an auto quote, find an agent, pay your bill, access your account, as well as file a claim and find a repair shop. Erie does not have a smartphone app.
Next steps
Erie is worth considering if you’re in its regional coverage area, looking for a good price, and are interested in one-stop shopping for auto, life, home and other insurance products. It’s always a good idea to shop around for the best insurance to fit your needs. NerdWallet’s comparison tool can help in your search for auto insurance.
Auto insurance comparison methodology
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/erie-insurance-review/
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