- Our thoughts on Auto-Owners
- Where can you buy Auto-Owners homeowners insurance?
- What does Auto-Owners homeowners insurance cover?
- How much is Auto-Owners home insurance?
- Auto-Owners home insurance discounts
- What makes Auto-Owners' home insurance rates go up?
- Auto-Owners vs. Competitors: How does Auto-Owners stack up?
- What do people ask about Auto-Owners?
Our thoughts on Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners is No.3 in our best home insurance companies 2024 ranking. The insurer received strong scores from third-party rating agencies AM Best and J.D. Power — an A++ (superior) and 834 out of 1,000, respectively. Its J.D. Power score was the third highest of the insurers we ranked.
Auto-Owners also received strong marks in multiple categories in our survey, including ease of service, recommendations and customer loyalty.
Where can you buy Auto-Owners homeowners insurance?
Auto-Owners home insurance is available in 26 states:
| State |
|---|
| Alabama |
| Arizona |
| Arkansas |
| Colorado |
| Florida |
| Georgia |
| Idaho |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Iowa |
| Kansas |
| Kentucky |
| Michigan |
| Minnesota |
| Missouri |
| Nebraska |
| North Carolina |
| North Dakota |
| Ohio |
| Pennsylvania |
| South Carolina |
| South Dakota |
| Tennessee |
| Utah |
| Virginia |
| Wisconsin |
*Some state rates will vary based on the addition of a hurricane deductible and may be much higher when included.
What does Auto-Owners homeowners insurance cover?
- Your home (dwelling coverage)
- Other structures on your property, such as a shed or detached garage (other structures)
- The contents of your home (personal property)
- Temporary housing and additional expenses if you can’t live at home due to a covered loss (loss of use/additional living expenses)
- Damages if you are responsible for injuries or damage to someone else (personal liability and medical payments)
You can also add additional coverage to supplement your policy:
- Complete replacement of your home if your cost to rebuild exceeds your insurance policy’s limit.
- Expanded coverage for your personal items
- Repair costs for damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems
- An extra 25% above your limits if your repair or replacement costs exceed your coverage limit
How much is Auto-Owners home insurance?
The table below shows average annual premiums for different coverage levels, all with a $1,000 deductible.
| Coverage level | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| 200,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $1,732 |
| 200,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $1,741 |
| 300,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $2,150 |
| 300,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $2,160 |
| 400,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $2,604 |
| 400,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $2,616 |
| 600,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $3,464 |
| 600,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $3,480 |
| 1,000,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $6,672 |
| 1,000,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $6,700 |
Auto-Owners home insurance discounts
Only 42% of customers surveyed said they would choose discounts as one of Erie’s top three attributes. However, most insurers surveyed didn’t perform very well in the category. American Family received the highest score of 54%.
The chart below shows some available discounts and how each discount affects pricing. The biggest discount offered is for new homes.
| Discount type | Average rate before | Average rate after | Percent discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Score Alignment | $2,160 | $1,034 | 52% |
| New Home | $2,160 | $1,492 | 31% |
| Age of home | $2,160 | $1,939 | 10% |
| Separate Wind-Hail Deductible | $2,160 | $1,953 | 10% |
| All Perils Deductible | $2,160 | $1,993 | 8% |
| Paid in Full | $2,160 | $1,980 | 8% |
| Bundle | $2,160 | $2,002 | 7% |
| Advance Purchase | $2,160 | $2,036 | 6% |
| Upgrades | $2,160 | $2,033 | 6% |
| Construction type | $2,160 | $2,088 | 3% |
| Fire Alarm | $2,160 | $2,105 | 3% |
| Hail Resitant Roof | $2,160 | $2,105 | 3% |
| Sprinklers | $2,160 | $2,101 | 3% |
| Loyalty | $2,160 | $2,124 | 2% |
| Smoke Detector | $2,160 | $2,147 | 1% |
*Based on $300,000 dwelling, $300,000 liability with a $1,000 deductible
What makes Auto-Owners' home insurance rates go up?
Most insurance companies hike your rates in certain situations, and Auto-Owners is no different. Filing a claim is a major factor for increased rates, just about doubling your cost.
Having a wood-burning stove in your home will result in a 17% increase in your rates. An older home results in a 4% increase.
| Reason | Average rate before | Average rate after | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of home | $2,160 | $2,257 | 4% |
| All Perils Deductible | $2,160 | $2,367 | 10% |
| Claims | $2,160 | $4,292 | 99% |
| Construction type | $2,160 | $2,417 | 12% |
| Home-Based Business | $2,160 | $2,208 | 2% |
| Wood burning stove | $2,160 | $2,523 | 17% |
Auto-Owners vs. Competitors: How does Auto-Owners stack up?
| Company | Average annual rate | Customer satisfaction | Ease of service | Policy offerings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $2,160 | 67% | 81% | 67% |
| Allstate | $2,098 | 83% | 82% | 81% |
| American Family | $2,504 | 84% | 89% | 84% |
*Based on $300,000 dwelling, $300,000 liability with a $1,000 deductible
What do people ask about Auto-Owners?
Below are some commonly asked questions about Auto-Owners and how it stacks up against competitors.
Is Auto-Owners a good homeowners insurance company?
To determine if a homeowners insurance company is the right fit for you, there are a few factors to consider, such as the insurer's financial strength, customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.
Auto-Owners performed well in all of these categories. It received an A++ rating from AM Best, demonstrating that it has the ability to meet its financial obligations. Additionally, it received a high J.D. Power score of 834, showcasing its ability to pay out claims — the reason you’re buying a homeowners insurance policy in the first place. Our survey shows that Auto-Owners customers are also loyal to the company, with 81% of policyholders saying they’ll renew their coverage with the insurer.
Do people trust Auto-Owners?
Though Auto-Owners received high marks in multiple categories, only 65% of the customers surveyed think the insurer is trustworthy. This was on the lower end of the scoring range of carriers surveyed. American Family led the pack at 89%.
| Company | Percentage of customers who say they trust the company |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | 65% |
| Nationwide | 73% |
| American Family | 89% |
Do people recommend Auto-Owners?
Satisfied customers recommend their insurance company to friends and family. Auto-Owners scored well in this category, with 86% of people surveyed saying they’ll recommend it to others. Erie led the pack with 95%.
| Company | Percentage of customers who would recommend the company to others |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | 86% |
| Erie | 95% |
| Farmers | 82% |
Do people plan to renew with Auto-Owners?
Auto-Owners scored well for customer loyalty, with most policyholders saying they plan to renew their coverage. Erie again led the pack at 97%.
| Company | Percentage of customers who would recommend the company to others |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | 81% |
| Erie | 97% |
| Hippo | 76% |
Is Auto-Owners good at paying claims?
J.D. Power is a third-party rating system that rewards points based on several factors, including the ability to pay out claims. Auto-Owners earned a high J.D. Power score of 834/1,000, the third highest of all the carriers surveyed. Erie came in first, receiving a score of 856.
| Company | J.D. Power score |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | 834 |
| Erie | 856 |
| Amica | 844 |
Sources:
Sources Auto-Owners Insurance. “Homeowners Insurance.” Accessed May 2024.
