Our thoughts on Erie
Erie ranked No. 1 in our best home insurance companies survey of 2024.
It received strong marks from third-party rating agencies alike, with a J.D. Power score of 856 out of 1,000, and an AM Best ranking of A+.
Erie also ranked in the top spot for multiple categories in our survey, including customer satisfaction, ease of service and recommendations.
While Erie doesn’t have the cheapest home insurance rates, their premiums are average and they ranked fourth-lowest in premiums at $2,089 a year.
Though Erie is a top insurance company, it only offers coverage in certain states.
Where can you buy Erie homeowners insurance?
| State |
|---|
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Kentucky |
| Maryland |
| New York |
| North Carolina |
| Ohio |
| Pennsylvania |
| Tennessee |
| Virginia |
| West Virginia |
| Wisconsin |
*Some state rates will vary based on the addition of a hurricane deductible and may be much higher when included.
What does Erie 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)
Flood insurance can also be added for extra protection.
How much is Erie 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 | $1,570 |
| 200,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $1,583 |
| 300,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $2,168 |
| 300,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $2,183 |
| 400,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $2,791 |
| 400,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $2,810 |
| 600,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $4,015 |
| 600,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $4,035 |
| 1,000,000 with 1000 Deductible and 100,000 Liability | $6,541 |
| 1,000,000 with 1000 Deductible and 300,000 Liability | $6,560 |
Erie home insurance discounts
Only 43% 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 discounts and how each discount affects pricing. The biggest discount offered is for new homes.
| Discount type | Average rate before | Average rate after | % discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Home | $2,183 | $909 | 58% |
| Insurance Score Alignment | $2,183 | $1,568 | 28% |
| All Perils Deductible | $2,183 | $1,825 | 16% |
| Age of home | $2,183 | $1,920 | 12% |
| Bundle | $2,183 | $1,980 | 9% |
| Construction type | $2,183 | $2,020 | 7% |
| Separate Wind-Hail Deductible | $2,183 | $2,032 | 7% |
| Loyalty | $2,183 | $2,049 | 6% |
| Advance Purchase | $2,183 | $2,078 | 5% |
| Burglar Alarm | $2,183 | $2,153 | 1% |
| Fire Alarm | $2,183 | $2,153 | 1% |
| Sprinklers | $2,183 | $2,152 | 1% |
| Smoke Detector | $2,183 | $2,173 | 0% |
What makes Erie home insurance rates go up?
Just like a newer home or a good insurance score can result in a premium discount, an older home or a lower insurance score can cause your rates to go up. Additionally, most insurance companies raise your rates after you file a claim.
See the table below for how these particular scenarios might affect your premiums.
| Reason | Average rate before | Average rate after | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of home | $2,183 | $2,237 | 2% |
| All Perils Deductible | $2,183 | $2,370 | 9% |
| Claims | $2,183 | $3,424 | 57% |
| Distance From Coast | $2,183 | $2,589 | 19% |
| Home-Based Business | $2,183 | $2,491 | 14% |
Erie vs. competitors: How does Erie stack up?
Erie outperformed its competitors in multiple categories, coming in first place for customer satisfaction, policy offerings, recommendations, claims handling and customer loyalty. While the insurer doesn’t have the lowest premiums of the carriers offered, its rates remain competitive.
In the table below, you can compare Erie with two carriers with lower premiums – Allstate and Auto-Owners.
| Company | Average annual rate | Customer satisfaction | Ease of service | Policy offerings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $2,183 | 89% | 84% | 86% |
| Allstate | $2,098 | 83% | 82% | 81% |
| Auto-Owners | $2,160 | 67% | 81% | 67% |
*Based on $300,000 dwelling, $300,000 liability with a $1,000 deductible
What do people ask about Erie?
Following are some common questions customers ask about Erie.
Is Erie a good homeowners insurance company?
There are a few factors that customers use to decide if an insurance company is the right choice for them. They are an insurance company in good financial standing that is likely to meet its financial obligations — in this case, pay a claim — and that is pleasant to work with. Erie scored highly in these areas, with high scores for customer satisfaction and a solid rating for financial health from third-party rating agency AM Best.
Do people trust Erie?
Erie scored 78% for trustworthiness, fourth out of all the carriers surveyed. While American Family and State Farm scored a bit higher in this category, Erie is still trusted by its customers.
| Company | Percentage of customers who say they trust the company |
|---|---|
| Erie | 78% |
| American Family | 89% |
| State Farm | 83% |
Do people recommend Erie?
Erie is highly recommended to others, with 95% of people surveyed saying they would recommend the insurer. This was the highest score of all the carriers. Progressive took second in this category, with 93% of people saying they would recommend it to others. American Family ranked third.
| Company | Percentage of customers who would recommend the company to others |
|---|---|
| Erie | 95% |
| Progressive | 93% |
| American Family | 91% |
Do people plan to renew with Erie?
Customer loyalty is an important metric for customer satisfaction. Most Erie customers plan to renew, leading the pack in this category, with State Farm and Progressive following.
| Company | Percentage of customers who plan to renew |
|---|---|
| Erie | 97% |
| Progressive | 94% |
| State Farm | 94% |
Is Erie 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. Erie received a J.D. Power score of 856 out of 1,000. Erie came in first place in this category.
| Company | J.D. Power score |
|---|---|
| Erie | 856 |
| Amica | 844 |
| Auto-Owners | 834 |
Sources:
- Erie Insurance. “Our History.” Accessed May 2024.
- Erie Insurance. “States of Operation.” Accessed May 2024.
