Erie is one of the best auto insurance providers on the market, despite the fact that it only serves 12 states. The company consistently earns top ratings from industry research organizations, is financially strong and has above-average customer service reviews.
The company offers unique features and extensive add-on coverage, including rate lock programs. Drivers can take advantage of discounts to lower their premium, like bundling policies and paying their policy in full.
Erie insurance overview
If you’re looking for comprehensive auto insurance with the ability to personalize your policy, Erie is a great option. The company is known for its reliable basic coverages, like collision and comprehensive insurance, and add-ons such as roadside assistance, new car replacement, better car replacement and rental car reimbursement. Erie’s policies also include pet injury coverage, locksmith services and auto glass repair.
Additionally, Erie offers unbeatable pricing and deductible options. Drivers can take advantage of Erie Rate Lock, first accident forgiveness and a diminishing deductible program to avoid a rate hike after an accident.
Erie’s car insurance rates are slightly more expensive than some competitors, but drivers can access a few discounts. According to the website, Erie offers an average policy bundling discount of 20 percent
Getting an insurance quote from Erie is simple. You can use the online quote tool to get a free rate estimate, but you’ll have to contact the company to purchase a policy. Erie generally has good customer service reviews, and over 12,000 agents across the 12 states it serves.
If you’re purchasing auto insurance for the first time, we recommend working with an Erie agent. The company doesn’t provide many online resources that are geared toward insurance education. Its CarSense blog provides some helpful information, but it’s not as comprehensive as what other providers offer.
In terms of reviews, Erie is one of the highest-rated companies. It was rated the best auto insurance provider in the mid-Atlantic region in J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, with a 5-star rating for overall satisfaction. It has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and an A+ rating from the BBB.
| Price | Varies |
| Best for | Drivers who want extensive and customizable coverage options |
| Not for | Drivers who want the cheapest policy |
| Discounts | Safe driving Car safety equipment Multi-car Multi-policy Reduced usage Young drivers Annual payment plan |
| States served | Illinois Indiana Kentucky Maryland North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin |
| In business since | 1925 |
| Better Business Bureau rating | A+ |
| AM Best Rating | A+ |
| S&P rating | N/A |
| Moody’s rating | N/A |
| Standout features | Rate lock Diminishing deductible First accident forgiveness New and better car replacement coverage Locksmith services Glass repair Pet injury coverage |
Erie insurance rates
Erie isn’t known for selling the cheapest auto insurance rates, but its premiums are reasonable considering the level of coverage and service you get. If you’re looking for the least expensive premiums on the market, we wouldn’t recommend Erie.
To gauge Erie’s average price, we got sample quotes for a 27-year-old single female living in Arlington, VA. The quotes are for a 2015 Honda CR-V, with $ 100,000/$ 300,000 in bodily injury coverage, $ 5,000 in medical payments coverage and $ 100,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorists property damage coverage. We chose a $ 500 deductible for collision and comprehensive coverage.
Overall, our sample premium quote came to $ 1,110 per year, or about $ 101 each month. By default, the quote also included roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement up to $ 750 per loss, which cost an additional $ 19 per month.
The Simple Dollar’s Erie auto insurance review
We recommend Erie for drivers who live in the 12 covered states. Here’s a look at Erie’s coverage options, discounts and unique features.
Erie coverage options
Erie has the basics plus a few helpful add-on options:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Transportation expenses/rental car reimbursement
- Roadside assistance
- New and better car replacement coverage
- Ridesharing
- Non-owners insurance
- Pet injury coverage
- Locksmith services
- Auto glass repair
- Personal item coverage
Erie discounts
- Safe driving
- Car safety equipment
- Multi-car
- Multi-policy
- Reduced usage
- Young drivers
- Annual payment plan
Other unique features
- Rate lock
- First accident forgiveness
- Diminishing deductible
Erie’s competition
Besides Erie, there are a few notable auto insurance providers in the mid-Atlantic region that stand out. For instance, Geico, which was ranked just behind Erie in J.D. Power’s Auto Study, is known for offering some of the most affordable rates in the industry.
Older drivers might prefer to purchase a policy from The Hartford, which has a 4-star rating from J.D. Power and a strong partnership with AARP, which comes with discounts.
State Farm and Progressive have three-star and two-star ratings from J.D. Power respectively, and while their customer service isn’t as good as Erie, their policies are cheaper and they offer added savings programs.
What others are saying
Other organizations also give high praise to Erie’s auto insurance. According to Business Insider, “While it’s not available everywhere in the US, Erie Insurance is a solid choice for a variety of scenarios, and offers fairly affordable rates,” adding, “If you live in one of the states it covers, Erie could offer competitive premiums and great customer service.”
Overall, these statements from Business Insider reflect what we found in our review of Erie auto insurance. The company does offer exceptional customer service, and while it’s not the cheapest insurance provider, the policies are relatively affordable.
Simplified
- Erie is a highly rated insurance company with good coverages, decent rates and great customer service.
- The company offers a wide range of endorsements and add-on coverages that allows drivers to personalize their policy.
- Erie’s rate lock, accident forgiveness and vanishing deductible programs help drivers maintain their rate, even after a claim.
- The company doesn’t offer a mobile app or many online tools, so it’s best to work with an Erie agent if you have questions about insurance.
