Best Auto Insurance Company Ratings

A number of companies make upA number of companies make up Shelter Insurance companies

The Group of Shelter Insurance Companies has history and experience as its two pillars. It is one of the most successful group of companies in terms of selling insurance to it client base. Their headquarters are in Columbia, Missouri. Missouri Farmers Association, MFA decided in nineteen forty six to have an insurance company named Shelter under the brand name MFA Insurance. The name Shelter was take from the then mission statement of the company which was: MFA is your shield of shelter. They have ever since lived up to those standards and have been in the business of providing, Shields and Shelter to those who require it. They currently have their presence in fourteen states in The United States of America including, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, and Oklahoma. The Shelter Insurance Companies have a group of insurance companies that cater to the different needs of the difference insurance policy holders. Their companies are into general insurance, life insurance, mutual insurance, banking reinsurance and benefits management.

To be more specific in the genre of insurance they specialize in let me give you some of the coverage they actually do for their clients. The provide insurance to apartment owners. They also provide insurance to boat owners and automobile owners. This is an interesting aspect of insurance and you have to have the knack and experience in advising the client on the right sort of insurance. Customers are generally not aware of the pros and cons of any policy and they are also not aware of what is the best and most appropriate for their vehicles. You need to have agents who have mastered the art of knowing what the customer requires only by looking at the car he drives. At Shelter Insurance companies this is what they do. All Agents working for Shelter Insurance companies have a vast knowledge and experience is allotting insurances to customers. They are also people who take care in seeing that the customer is satisfied. What more could you want from an insurance company?

The other insurance that caught my eye was Commercial, dwelling and farm fire. Since most of the states mentioned above have a large number of population who have farming as their profession, the insurance companies made sure they had laws pertaining to farm insurance policies. Owning a commercial business can be quite a hassle. It comes with a lot of challenges. The one thing I can advice is that taking Fire insurance from Shelter Insurance Companies will be a wise choice. Don’t misunderstand what I just said but life can bring anything your way and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Everything is not in your control and certain things are just fate, but you have a chance of changing that by taking a wise decision and investing is the right coverage for you home or business, and you can be assured that you are in experienced hands and that they would take care of you.

The Group of Shelter Insurance Companies has history and experience as its two pillars. It is one of the most successful group of companies in terms of selling insurance to it client base. Their headquarters are in Columbia, Missouri. Missouri Farmers Association, MFA decided in nineteen forty six to have an insurance company named Shelter under the brand name MFA Insurance. The name Shelter was take from the then mission statement of the company which was: MFA is your shield of shelter. They have ever since lived up to those standards and have been in the business of providing, Shields and Shelter to those who require it. They currently have their presence in fourteen states in The United States of America including, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, and Oklahoma. The Shelter Insurance Companies have a group of insurance companies that cater to the different needs of the difference insurance policy holders. Their companies are into general insurance, life insurance, mutual insurance, banking reinsurance and benefits management.

To be more specific in the genre of insurance they specialize in let me give you some of the coverage they actually do for their clients. The provide insurance to apartment owners. They also provide insurance to boat owners and auto mobile owners. This is an interesting aspect of insurance and you have to have the knack and experience in advising the client on the right sort of insurance. Customers are generally not aware of the pros and cons of any policy and they are also not aware of what is the best and most appropriate for their vehicles. You need to have agents who have mastered the art of knowing what the customer requires only by looking at the car he drives. At Shelter Insurance companies this is what they do. All Agents working for Shelter Insurance companies have a vast knowledge and experience is allotting insurances to customers. They are also people who take care in seeing that the customer is satisfied. What more could you want from an insurance company?

The other insurance that caught my eye was Commercial, dwelling and farm fire. Since most of the states mentioned above have a large number of population who have farming as their profession, the insurance companies made sure they had laws pertaining to farm insurance policies. Owning a commercial business can be quite a hassle. It comes with a lot of challenges. The one thing I can advice is that taking Fire insurance from Shelter Insurance Companies will be a wise choice. Don’t misunderstand what I just said but life can bring anything your way and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Everything is not in your control and certain things are just fate, but you have a chance of changing that by taking a wise decision and investing is the right coverage for you home or business, and you can be assured that you are in experienced hands and that they would take care of you.

Taking care of the things you own and the people you love is the utmost priority. You have to make the right choices when it comes to taking or choosing the right insurance policies also. What you need is a company that ensures security as well as provides customer satisfaction. No, I’m not talking about a fantasy insurance company. I’m referring to Mercury General Corporation. Mercury General Corporation is a insurance company well known for making lives for customers so much more easy by giving them good coverage and also giving it at the lowest rates. It’s very rare that you come across insurance companies that are willing to give coverage at low rates. There are many areas of insurance that they specialize in. Some of the primary being personal auto insurance, home owners insurance, renters insurance, commercial auto insurance, commercial business insurance and many more.

They have very rightly named themselves as Mercury General Corporation. Mercury according to the roman culture is considered to be the god of trade, profit and commerce. They are so confident of the insurance products that they sell that they have profit as their name. Any company that seeks the customers benefit first wins the favor of all. It is nice to see that such companies exist till today. Most of the policies that are designed are done keeping in mind the needs of the man next door. When it comes to Personal Auto insurance they make sure that you receive the best coverage without making any compromises on the policy that you choose. In spite of giving such great deals they make sure that you avail discounts too, so that you can save as much money as possible. There are very few companies that don’t think of just profits but also of the best they can offer to the client and that is exactly what Mercury General Corporation does.

Mercury General Corporation has a call center that you can reach for any queries regarding the policy that you already have or for any queries regarding the right policy for you and your family. They go a further step and see if they can locate you address so that they can send one of their agents to meet you and clarify all the questions you have about insurance. He other amazing aspect that they sell is the commercial business insurance which helps you protect you business in case of a mishap. Any one from apartment owners to restaurant owners can avail this for affordable prices. It takes a lot to trust but it takes even more to keep up the trust. Mercury General Corporation has not only given good deals to customers but has also been able to win the trust and live up to those high standards. Insurance is not daunting any more because of the clarity they have introduces in their products. Mercury General Corporation had lived up to its own name of being able to be the blessing of profits in the lives of those who use its policies.

Unitrin.Inc is a large corporation dealing with a large diversity of insurance products. The best thing about this insurance company is that it has made things simple for its clientele. Most of us I’m sure get quite tangled up in the web of various insurances and take quite some time to get use to the whole thing. This particular insurance corporation has made individual brands for all its products under the banner of Unitrin.Inc. As a customer who requires insurance I want to be sure for what I want to apply for. Many times we find our selves reading through a Boucher or a website trying really hard to figure out what kind of insurance you require. People who work at Unitrin.Inc have made it simple for their customers to find the product of their desire easily.

Under the brand of Unitrin.Inc you have many sub brands selling various insurance products. Kemper, is one of their sub brands that deals with providing home insurance, personal automobile insurance, personal life insurance, boat owner insurance and many more. If you are looking for a insurance for home appliances or a new gadget that you have purchased then you know that Kemper has it. Anything to do with personal insurance and you’ll be sure to find it here. The next sub brand would be Unitrin Specialty, deals with personal and commercial automobile insurance. Automobile insurance could be tricky and confusing, but at Unitrin.Inc, like I said before you are assured to get everything under one roof. There is a difference when it comes to personal and commercial automobiles. Let’s looks at trucks for example. You could be owner of a truck company looking to get the best insurance possible. Unitrin Specialty will help you find the ideal insurance for any automobile that you own for a commercial reason. You don’t only have to be a owner of a truck company. You could also be a person running a simple door to door delivery business and just have one automobile that you are using for the purpose of your business but even then you can get a cover for commercial automobile insurance.

Unitrin.Inc also has two banks under its banner. Reserve National and Fireside bank are the two banks that operate for Unitrin.Inc. Fireside bank is a bank that deals with industrial law. To make that simple for you it is an automobile financing bank. It deals with collecting outstanding loan dues and check on the regular payments of interest on the customers account. On the other hand Reserve National Bank on the other hand deals with insurance for home and automobile but the difference here is that it is based in more rural parts to reach out to the folks there. It also deals with a lot of health insurance plans too.

Where can you find such diversity without being confused about any product? Unitrin.Inc had emerged as a brand which is not only trust worthy but also customer oriented. This is what makes up great banking and insurance.

TopRatedInsuranceCompanies.com has put together a comprehensive list of the top 10 insurance companies in the United States for the year 2009 (so far).

Top 10 Insurance Companies:

1.) Allstate Insurance Company - Allstate auto insurance quotes and anonymous ballpark estimates to help protect you, your family and your automobile. Insurance and financial products include car insurance, home insurance, business insurance, life insurance, IRAs and annuities.

2.) State Farm Insurance Company - State Farm Insurance offers coverage for auto, life, home, health, and more. State Farm also offers mutual funds, banking, loans, and credit cards.

3.) Prudential Insurance Company - Life Insurance, Annuities, Mutual Funds, Long Term Care, Real Estate and Retirement Services from Prudential Financial.

4.) Travelers Insurance Company - Protect your personal and business investments with Travelers Insurance. From auto insurance to homeowners or business insurance, we have the solution to suit your needs.

5.) Fidelity Insurance Company - Fidelity has the people, guidance, and investments to help you find your way, whatever your destination. Fidelity offers up to the minute financial news, market updates, stock quotes and all the financial services you?ll need to reach your goals.

6.) MetLife Insurance Company - MetLife offers life insurance, annuities, disability insurance, retirement products, auto insurance, dental insurance, employee benefits, banking, and more.

7.) Farmers Insurance Company - Farmers Insurance Group offers insurance including auto insurance, home insurance and life insurance. Farmers HelpPoint claims service offered through Farmers Insurance Company.

8.) AIG Insurance Company – International insurance and financial services organization, with operations in approximately 130 countries and jurisdictions.

9.) MassMutual Insurance Company - Learn how products and solutions from MassMutual can be part of your financial plan. We’ll help you get there.

10.) The Hartford Insurance Company - Offers a complete line of personal insurance and financial service products, including auto, homeowner’s, life, annuities, and mutual funds.

Website - http://www.commerceinsurance.com
Located - Webster, Massachusetts
Phone – 1-800–922-8276
Employees - 217
2007 Sales (mil.) - $9.3
Description - American Commerce Insurance Company (ACIC) makes American money for its Spanish parent. The company writes property/casualty insurance for individuals and businesses in about a dozen US states. ACIC, which specializes in private automobile and homeowners’ insurance, sells its products through independent insurance agencies and agencies owned and operated by AAA clubs. It offers car, motorcycle, and RV insurance as well as home and condo owners and renters insurance. Founded in 1946, American Commerce Insurance is part of Massachusetts-based The Commerce Group, which is owned by MAPFRE, Spain’s largest non-life insurer.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

smooth1974’s Full Review of Commerce Auto Insurance Company

I have been a member of the commerce Insurance company for 2 years now. They are very excellent to deal with and offer a AAA member discount. About a year and a half ago I was rear ended and called them for help. They were very helpful on the first call and I did not have to play games with them to have my car looked at although damage was minimal. They rapidly took the information from me and set up a case. I forgot to get the other person’s insurance company and policy name and number. With all the other information they tracked it down for me through their license number and address. Within 24 hours I had an appraisor call me to set up a time to come look at my car. They came to me at work and I met them in the parking lot. The person was very professional and I had the estimate back within three business days in the mail. Promptly I was able to make an appointment with my dealer to bring the car in and have it painted ( as there was no physical damage ) They had the check sent to me with the appraisal and it was ready to pay for the paint job. When I went to Enterprise rent a car they had no trouble setting up payment through the insurance company either. They also offered me a discount for taking the MBTA into work each day when I switched my job into Boston when I turn in 11 months of train/subway passes. Luckily I have not had to contact them other than that one situation but compared to the other insurance companies and filing cases with them, Commerce comes in #1.

lightyear27’s Full Review of Commerce Auto Insurance Company
It’s nearly a year since I insured my car with Commerce.
It was a brand new car,and in September 99 I had some major
problems involving the car.
I was expecting major hurdles from the side of the insurance company( Every other person I talked about this had a horror story to narrate about the ways and means of auto insurance companies), but the opposite happened, the dealings with Commerce were very smooth,
their appraiser did his job very fast and I got the cheque
immediately after the appraisal.(On the contrary I had lot of issues with the dealer and the manufacturer).

pravinkn’s Full Review of Commerce Auto Insurance Company
When I purchased a new car ( Honda civic ), I couldn’t decide which insurance company I should approach .I didn’t know many names . I had heard about AAA and a colleague recommended that I approach them.

I had no idea that AAA were in fact acting for Commerce Insurance company.
Well, the paper work was done smoothly in a day and I got a shock when the agent told that my premium would be over 1500$ .Minus the discount for being a AAA member , the premium still was around 1450 $.I was placed in
the neutral step of 15 .The AAA agent suggested that if i get a letter from my home country that I have been driving for over 6 years and that
I have accident free record, my premium will drop by 500 $.

Since I could not produce the letter immediately , i had to pay a monthly premium of 134 dollars every month. On top of that they charged 3$ every statement as service fee . I felt that I had done a terrible mistake by
not researching different insurance companies.

Finally , When I did get the letter , they kept their word and reduced the premium and brought me to step 9.But still I am paying 932$ annually and i know some of my friends are paying much lesser.

So , I would advise you to do a study yourself and not just blindly sign on.Ultimately it’s your hard earned money and you have to spend it wisely.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website – http://www.gfb.org/indexins.htm
Located – Macon, GA
Phone – 1-800-342-1192 (Georgia only) or (478) 474-8411
Employees – 1,210
2007 Sales (mil.) – $534.5
Description- You don’t have to be a farmer to get insurance coverage here, but it helps. Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance and its affiliates provide a variety of commercial and individual property/casualty products to members of the Georgia Farm Bureau. Its offerings include automobile, farm, marine, homeowners, business owners, and personal liability insurance. The company specializes in writing lower-cost, preferred risk policies (policies for customers that are less likely to file claims). A network of more than 550 company agents and representatives market Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual’s products. A part of the Georgia Farm Bureau, the company was founded in 1959.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

hopes527’s Full Review of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Company

Georgia Farm Bureau is a company that provides all types of insurance to everyone, not just farmers. I am very satisfied with my plans. I have auto, renters, and life insurance with them. I have searched around for cost comparisons but there is not another company that comes close enough for me to change. I have been with them for 5 years. Over that time period, my car was stolen and my home was broken in to. The employees there, for the most part, were very helpful in trying to get things resolved. They are very thorough thus it takes a little longer for your claim to be settled. However, with the low rates, the convenient payment plans and the local offices it is worth the wait. I recommend this company to everyone that is looking to change insurance carriers.

3sisters’s Full Review of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Company
I qualify for AARP insurance and carried it for several years and was satisfied with it, but when my daughter started driving (I’m an older Mom), they did not give discounts for good grades, drivers education, etc. I had to find another insurance company that would insure her and none would unless they carried my insurance as well.I tried another company for one year, but was not satisfied. I then tried Georgia Farm Bureau and have been pleased with them. I’ve had three or four claims in the last seven years and had only minor problems with one claim.

The local agency I deal with is very helpful, from the agent to the secretary. They know who I am each time I call and try very hard to solve some strange situations. I highly recommend them.

Each year when my policies come up for renewal, I always check other companies thinking I can get a better deal, but none can compare with the premiums I’m paying Georgia Farm Bureau.

amland1’s Full Review of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Company
I have been with Ky Farm Bureau for over 5 years. I dumped them recently for Allstate. Farm Bureau – where do I begin. The local agent I was dealing with had horrible service and was very unprofessional. When I called recently to get my current 6 month premium, he effectively guessed at what I was paying. He conveyed the idea that I was bothering him and taking up his time. Better yet, his office only had one phone line to take customers! The rates are astronomical. When my son turned 16, and ONLY had his permit, they raised our rates. This contrasts poorly to other companies who do not charge for drivers whom only have their driving permits. I have since switched to Allstate which have been more professional and much less expensive.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website – https://www.calcas.com
Located – San Mateo, CA
Phone – 1-800-800-9410
2000 Employees – 1,400
2002 Revenue (mil.) – $228.4
Description – California Casualty looks after the less than golden moments in the Golden State and beyond. The group of four property/casualty insurance companies provides personal automobile and homeowners insurance in more than 40 states. It specializes in serving such affiliation groups as education and public safety association and credit unions. The group also provides some personal specialty coverage, including earthquake insurance, flood insurance, and personal liability umbrella coverage.The group is managed by its attorney-in-fact, California Casualty Management. Chairman Thomas Brown, whose grandfather founded California Casualty in 1914, controls the firm.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

kermitcummings’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

I had grown up being covered on my parents’ insurance policies offered by Allstate. As a young man, my rates were quite high. It was to the point where I was afraid to report any damage to my car for fear of being dropped.

So anyway, I grew up and became a teacher. The teachers’ union recommended this insurance carrier. I called for a rate quote. Their quote saved me over 200 dollars over what I had been paying. I was instantly hooked.

Thankfully, I have not had reason to use it as of yet. However, I have been quite pleased with their level of customer service. I have called several times to change aspects of my coverage. These matters were handled in a quick and efficient manner.

The best part I enjoy is that they take the premiums out of my paycheck. No longer do I have to worry about making a large payment at a certain time of year.

Hopefully, I will never have to make a claim. If I do, hopefully they will handle it as they have handled my dealings thus far.

ramonal’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

I bought Calif Casualty auto insurance after becoming a teacher in 1963. Their group rates were excellent.

In 1987 I quit teaching to go into business for myself and lost the group rate coverage. I’ve occasionally been tempted to shop around for better rates, but just haven’t gotten around to it, because of two things I know: the coverage is reliable and the service is terrific!

I’ve never encountered any problems with coverage… every claim has been settled.

Staff has always been extremely helpful, clear in their requirements and processes for getting autos fixed or paid for. Never had any claim denied… even though 3 of my children had major damage accidents… two of them totaled (nobody hurt, thank Goodness).

After reading about the 10 worst insurance companies in the U.S. at http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/07/07/daily50.html I’m especially grateful I’ve stayed with Calif Casualty… I have great peace of mind knowing I’m covered.

llwh’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

A quality policy for good prices. Great discounts if you qualify. Great service, good communication. I love this company – my husband convinced me to switch to a different company after they raised his rates after an accident and I am SO SORRY I did it! He felt that they did not investigate the accident thoroughly. While I do agree with this, I still feel that I had excellent service with them.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website – https://www.safeco.com
Located – Seattle, Washington
Phone – 1-800-242-6422
Employees – 7,200
Revenue (bil.) – $6.29
Description – While the name doesn’t tell you much about the business, Safeco does sound secure, and with insurance that counts for a lot. Through its Safeco Insurance Co., the company offers personal property/casualty insurance including auto, homeowners, and fire coverage. Its commercial business includes workers’ compensation, multiperil, and general liability geared towards small to midsized companies. In addition to its property/casualty business, Safeco also offers surety bonds to its long-term construction and corporate customers. Liberty Mutual acquired Safeco in a 2008 deal valued at $6.2 billion.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Sinata’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

I had so many different insurance companies and all of them are just too lazy to do their job. I had 2 accidents in the past 5 years, with my other insurance companies I had to call to report an accident and no one would really respond to me. With Safeco I have been there for 6 months and had my second accident in January (the road was too slippery from the ice). I have called Safeco and their agents were really nice, they recorded everything and gave me the claim #, and told me to relax and everythng will be done for me. 30 minutes later another agent called and explained everything to me that I needed to know, and offered me a rental car (included in my policy) and told me to just relax and wait for estimator to come over and take a look at all the damages that was made to my car. He came in 2 days. Check the car and gave an estimate of the damage. After 2 more days I recieved a good amount to fix my car. And after my car was fixed, I have returned the rental and only paid for the tax. That was the best insurance company I have ever had.

forelysium’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

I used another auto insurance carrier for years before switching to Safeco.
I have been *very* pleased with the customer service, rates and claim payout with Safeco.
Safeco even gives me easy options of how to pay my bill – without any extra charges added on.
My Safeco agent is always very patient with me when explaining the different types of coverage and is also very helpful at suggesting what type of coverage amounts I should have. My old carrier was happy to have me majorly over-insure my vehicle. But when I switched to Safeco my agent readily pointed out that I was very over-insured for my vehicle, assets and income level. My Safeco agent did a great job at helping me determine my insured amounts at levels that keep me plenty covered – and it even helped my rates drop!
With such good rates and service I always recommend Safeco when friends and family are looking for auto insurance. (and please keep in mind I don’t give compliments easily.)

kilrur’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

Right off the start, I will confess my epinion is biased because I’ve worked for SAFECO for over 9 years. This does make me qualified to say that SAFECO lives by its core values of discipline, integrity, diligence, empathy and decency. I’ve experienced this as an employee and as an insured.

Check the news and see how many other insurance companies are being sued for deceptive practices, poor repair practices, or not covering valid claims and you will understand why it is important to be insured by a company you can trust. As the adage goes: “You get what you pay for!”

You can find out more information about SAFECO at SAFECO.com or contact your local friendly independent agent.

For what it is worth. I’m an E-Commerce Business Analyst, not an insurance salesperson.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website – https://www.horacemann.com
Located – Springfield, IL
Phone – 1-800-999-1030
Employees – 2,200
Sales (mil..) – $834.8
Description – Naming itself in honor of Horace Mann, considered the father of public education, Horace Mann Educators is an insurance holding company that targets K-12 school teachers and other public school employees throughout the US. The company and its subsidiaries offer homeowners, auto, and individual and group life insurance, as well as retirement annuities. Horace Mann employs some 800 agents, many of whom are former teachers themselves. Writing business in 48 states and Washington DC, the company derives a third of its premiums from five states – California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

SprGrover69′s Full Review of Horace Mann Auto Insurance Company

Horace Mann is an insurance company that provides insurance and business to individuals that are teachers, which my father is, so thus I have this insurance. Ever since I started driving, I have had this insurance and have been very happy with them and so has my parents.

This insurance offers great rates for almost everyone. I am currently a single male under the age of 25 (currently 22) and am driving a 1993 Red Ford Probe with full coverage. Ford Probes are considered a sports car with any insurance company. I am currently paying $720 a year for them to insure my car. This is alot cheaper then my girlfriendsd and alot of my other friends who also have sports cars around the same year as mine. I have also had one speeding ticket (51 mph in a 25 mph zone) and several accidents. My insurance for my car was orginally $980 a year, but went down for two reasons. 1. Because my dad is a teacher and 2. Because I didnt get any traffic violations or accidents for one year. It decreased 15% for each reason.

I have never had any problems with this company. They have always been there for me and have treated my right. I highly recommend this insurance to anyone that can qualify. It is one of the best out there.

amytart’s Full Review of Horace Mann Auto Insurance Company

Well…here I am…writing yet another epinion on an auto insurance. Please don’t see me as an auto insurance hopper…I just like a good deal.

I used to have State Farm Insurance…and I was quite happy with them until I moved further into the “country” and my rates went UP. I was living before in a city-atmosphere with a high crime rate and parking in a public parking lot. Then I moved….had my own private driveway..lived in a country/down-home setting and my insurance rates went UP!!! So…needless to say…I decided to shop around.

I found out about Horace Mann through teacher friends of mine. They said that Horace Mann would offer me wonderful rates because I was a teacher. So I called them up..and wah lah…they gave me rates that made my monthly payments about 30 dollars less than at State Farm.

Recently I was in a car accident where my front bumper was taken off. My fault of course (but my first accident.) I was so nervous about calling my insurance company…afraid they would be rude because I had crashed my car. The people on the other end were incredibly helpful and took down the information I gave them. When I did hear back from them…they were extremely helpful…answered all my questions and showed some humor. (unlike most people in the customer service business.) My rates increased some but not a lot like I had thought. They covered the 2200 they needed to and boom..I have a like new car

I like Horace Mann…I’m glad they are behind us teachers of America!

stealth’s Full Review of Horace Mann Auto Insurance Company

Horace Mann is an insurance company specializing in serving teachers. I’m not a teacher, but both my mom & dad are and were very happy with Horace Mann, so they recommended that I check the company out. Being the son of a teacher was enough for them to accept me into their happy family of insurees.

I was with State Farm before, paying about $1400 every 6 months for insurance on a ‘97 Mustang (see my “Wheels of Fire” review at http://stealth.epinions.com/auto-review-9F-20D9AA-388D7BE9-bd3). Yes, $1400 did seem a little excessive, but as a new college graduate, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and I didn’t do much shopping around based on “inside information” from my auto salesman. I called up Horace Mann and got a quote over the phone for $1050, so my path was clear.

I was also interested in renter’s insurance for my apartment. The agent from Horace Mann drove about an hour to my place on a weekend, which seemed a little above & beyond the call of duty. But he seemed very happy to have my business, and was very helpful. I can attest that they have some pretty friendly service.

All was fine for quite a while, until I had a claim. A truck in a different lane kicked up a rock, cracking my windshield. I called up Horace Mann’s service department, and they put me in touch with a window & glass company in downtown Seattle. This company actually hated insurance companies, and decided to screw them. My new windshield cost $540 for parts & labor (which is more expensive than a BMW windshield). Horace Mann did pay without any questions. Note I had a $250 deductible though.

A few months later my 6 month term expired. Horace Mann decided to jack my rates up to $2200 for 6 months! I thought yes, having a claim could raise my rates a little, but not by a factor of 2! So I called up my helpful, friendly agent to demand an explanation, and he said he had thought I was married when he visited me originally. I have no idea where he got that idea – I certainly didn’t tell him I was married, since I’m single. But the corporate bean counters decided I was single through some odd extrapolation based on what I drive, where I live, my credit history (!), and a few other places. So obviously being a single male under 25 with 1 claim but no accidents nor moving violations entitled me to an extortion rate. When I said I would probably be looking elsewhere, my agent was of course understanding, but he couldn’t do anything about it. To be clear, Horace Mann may be a very nice company, but I was pretty offended by the sudden desire to tear my wallet to shreds.

I’ve heard that if an insurance company just doesn’t want to insure you for some reason, they’ll jack up your premium to the extortion level. I never understood why they decide to hate you, but they apparently do this somewhat frequently.

I’m currently insured with Progressive, paying a paltry $1900 per year. This is less than half of what Horace Mann was charging me at the peak of their offensiveness, and still less than what they charged me for what I considered a reasonable rate.

Horace Mann – they’re your friends unless you’re a single male under 25.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website – https://www.ShelterInsurance.com
Located – Columbia, MO
Phone – 1-800-SHELTER (1-800-743-5837)
Employees – 3,145
Revenue (mil.) – $877
Description – Maslow’s hierarchy of needs didn’t include insurance, but once you have shelter, you might want Shelter Insurance. The company offers personal and commercial property/casualty and life insurance products to customers in more than a dozen midwestern and southern states. Its insurance subsidiaries (Shelter Mutual Insurance, Shelter General Insurance, and Shelter Life Insurance) sell their products through dedicated agents. The company’s Shelter Financial Bank offers consumer and mortgage loans, CD’s and money market accounts through Shelter agents or online. Shelter Insurance began operating in 1946 as MFA Mutual Insurance with a loan from the Missouri Farmers Association; it changed its name in 1981.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

mjacoby159’s Full Review of Shelter Auto Insurance Company

I recently had a deer run out in front of my car while I was traveling on a local highway. Growing up in the Midwest I knew that it was always better to just hit the darn thing rather than trying to avoid it and end up putting my car in a ditch. Anyway, needless to say the deer didn’t make it across my path and the front end and left side of my car took the brunt of the damage.

I have only been with Shelter for about 10 months but my agent had said to me if there was ever anything I needed to not hesitate in calling him directly.

I was unsure what I needed to do next so I called him on my cell phone pretty much in a panic. He calmed me down and said not to worry. He then contacted the sheriff’s dept to notify them about the accident and then called a towing company to come and get the car.

My agent showed up AT THE SITE to take pictures of the vehicle and spoke with me about a few local body shops that he worked directly with as a place to take the vehicle for repairs. He then gave me a ride to a car rental place to get set up with a rental car since mine was not drivable.

The next morning I received a call from him stating that the he had spoken with the body shop and that the damage was approximately $3100.00 and that if I did want them to get started all I needed to do was call and verify that I wanted the vehicle fixed at that location and he would issue them a check directly.

In three days my car was as good as new and all I had to do was show up to the auto body shop and pay my deductible.

I could not have imagined a better experience… outside of that darn deer making it across the highway.

THANK YOU SHELTER!!!

blakeps’s Full Review of Shelter Auto Insurance Company

My personal three month nightmare with Shelter Mutual began when a hit and run driver totalled my brand new 2000 neon on the the very day I moved to a new city to start a new job. My entire family had been with Shelter for some 10 years prior and I had expected rather better service than what I got. Firstly, the car had to be towed, and since I was in a strange city with no one else to rely on, I was forced to rent a car. With no advance notice the first two weeks I had the car ran a charming $500.00 in rental fees. The trite answer I got from the adjuster was “Why don’t you rent from some place cheaper”. I kept that in mind while I trained all day every day for my new job. Meanwhile the remains of my car lingered on the impound lot, since hit had to be towed. I was told there were no adjusters available in my current area. When they finally sent an adjuster to examine the car, they they gave me 24 hours to get it out of the impound and have it moved to the repair place (yes, repair, they were not going to declare it totalled, but instead repair it). The repair shop closed at 5pm, so I had to take 2 hours off work at my new job to make arrangements in person at the shop. After the car had been in the shop for 4 weeks (while I was still driving a now somewhat cheaper $25/day rental car) the shop declared the original adjuster estimate far too low. I had said this from the very beginning, considering that the entire rear end of the car was smashed. I waited another 2 weeks while the insurance company proceeded to send the adjuster back out before the repairs could be approved. I finally gave up on the rental car and bought a new car out of my own pocket. The neon was not out of the shop until 3 months and 1 week had elapsed (I’d only owned the car for 2 months in the first place). The adjuster’s original estimate and draft had been for $4500.00. The final cost was $9800 (more than half the total $16,450 pricetag of a new neon retail). During the course of this adventure I received 2 notices from Shelter stating that my now deceased father (who died the day I moved for the new job), would no longer be covered by the policy. These letters were the pinnacle of rude, and labelled in bold letter in red “Notice of Cancellation”. They were also typical of all my correspondence with Shelter. I am now covered by State Farm (who handled the claim for several items of computer equipment covered by them which had been in the neon at the time of the crash, and who did so with a great deal more professionalism and courtesy than Shelter). After being insulted, ignored, abandoned, and trivialized by my Shelter claims adjuster, I couldn’t help but share my experiences with the 450 people who attended my father’s funeral. I hope you’ll gain as much from this as the 50 or so of them who changed insurance providers after hearing about my personal nightmare.

takbliving’s Full Review of Shelter Auto Insurance Company

This company is a very poorly run company. They are definitely followers not leaders behind other insurance companies. They are small and are regionally located in the mid- west only. Also check out their agent turnover rate, it is the highest in the USA. They go through agents like candy. Agents are hired and they quit in droves. Why? The agents are lied to about the salary they are guaranteed. Very poorly run and unethical company. Stay away from these idiots!!!!

Source: http://www.epinions.com