Erie Car Insurance Review
We rate Erie car insurance a 9.4 out of 10 and named it Best for Basic Insurance Coverage. It’s a strong choice for drivers who qualify for coverage in Eastern and Central states. Its insurance rates are some of the cheapest available, regardless of your driving profile, and the company offers many discounts to cut costs further. You’ll also have access to a variety of other insurance options with superior customer service.
Erie Insurance Pros and Cons
- No usage-based insurance option
Erie Insurance Rating
We found that the company performs well in five key areas — reputation, availability, coverage, cost and customer experience — which is why we rank it as one of the best car insurance companies in the nation. Below, you can compare Erie’s ratings for each of our five ratings categories:
| Overall Rating | 9.4 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 8.9 |
| Availability | 8.1 |
| Coverage | 10 |
| Cost | 9.9 |
| Customer Experience | 9.1 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
Is Erie Insurance Good?
If you are in one of the 12 states that Erie Insurance offers coverage, they are a great option for a car insurance policy. On average, Erie car insurance premiums are 38% lower than the national average, which makes them one of the cheapest options out there. Also, their overall customer satisfaction ratings for both service and claims are much higher than average.
Erie Insurance Ratings
Below you can see in greater detail how Erie Insurance rates in terms of customer satisfaction, claims satisfaction, complaint index, and financial strength:
- Customer satisfaction: Among the mid-size insurance companies, Erie scored the second highest rating for customer satisfaction according to J.D. Powers customer satisfaction survey — 878 vs. 855.
- Claims satisfaction: Erie scored well above the average for customer satisfaction according to J.D. Powers claims satisfaction survey, even outscoring some of the largest insurance companies in the industry, with a score of 893 vs. 873.
- Complaint index: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reports customer complaints are extremely low, at a score of .09 compared to the average of 1.
- Financial strength: The insurer holds an A+ rating from AM Best, which is the largest credit rating agency in the world that specializes in insurance.
Erie Insurance Comparison
Below you can compare major competitors of Erie Insurance and their overall scores:
| Comparison | Erie Insurance Rating vs. Competitor Rating | The Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance vs. Geico | 9.4 vs. 9.1 | Car insurance costs are comparable between the two, but Geico beats out Erie for having more availability. |
| Erie Insurance vs. Progressive | 9.4 vs. 9 | If you are in states where Erie insurance provides coverage, it is the better option for affordable coverage compared to Progressive. |
| Erie Insurance vs. State Farm | 9.4 vs. 9.4 | Compared to Erie, State Farm is the better option for more coverage options and widespread availability. |
| Erie Insurance vs. Allstate | 9.4 vs. 8.8 | If you can get coverage with the company, Erie Insurance is a better and more cost-effective option than Allstate. |
| Erie Insurance vs. USAA | 9.4 vs. 9.2 | While USAA offers cheaper coverage, Erie Insurance has more availability, making it the better option for non-military members. |
| Erie Insurance vs. Nationwide | 9.4 vs. 9.1 | Nationwide and Erie both offer cheaper coverage than most, but Nationwide is a better choice for add-on options and availability |
| Erie Insurance vs. Liberty Mutual | 9.4 vs. 9.1 | Liberty Mutual is offered in more states, but Erie insurance is a cheaper option if you live where policies are offered. |
Erie Insurance Cost
According to our rate estimates, Erie insurance costs an average of about $122 per month or $1,458 per year for full-coverage car insurance. This puts it 38% below the national average of $2,008 per year, making it one of the cheapest car insurance providers for many drivers.
Why Is Erie Insurance So Cheap?
Generally speaking, Erie insurance is much cheaper than average due to the limited availability of its policies around the U.S. This allows Erie to focus on regional areas to provide overall better pricing than larger insurance companies. In other words, due to the company’s tight focus on the 12 states it operates in, it can offer the same coverage for better prices.
Erie Insurance Quotes
Erie Insurance quotes tend to be lower on average, no matter what your driver profile looks like. To put this into perspective, we’ll break down average costs compared to competitors by age and driving profile.
Erie Insurance Full Coverage Compared to Competitors
Out of the top 10 providers we’ve reviewed, Erie Insurance ranks as the second least expensive provider of full coverage car insurance. The table below shows how Erie stacks up against both regional and national providers in terms of average estimated monthly and annual costs:
| Car Insurance Company | Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $119 | $1,433 |
| Erie Insurance | $122 | $1,458 |
| USAA | $126 | $1,512 |
| Travelers | $133 | $1,595 |
| Geico | $133 | $1,596 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $135 | $1,619 |
| State Farm | $138 | $1,657 |
| Progressive | $169 | $2,030 |
| Allstate | $216 | $2,598 |
| Farmers | $264 | $3,169 |
*The rates above are for 35-year-old drivers with good credit and a clean driving record
Read more: Cheapest full coverage auto insurance
Erie Insurance Minimum Liability Coverage Compared to Competitors
Minimum liability coverage from Erie insurance is 41.12% lower than the national average. To put this in perspective, the table below shows how Erie’s liability coverage stacks up to its leading competitors:
| Car Insurance Company | Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $30 | $358 |
| USAA | $32 | $387 |
| Erie | $33 | $390 |
| Geico | $38 | $461 |
| State Farm | $44 | $523 |
| Nationwide | $44 | $531 |
| Travelers | $54 | $648 |
| Progressive | $58 | $697 |
| American Family | $68 | $810 |
| Allstate | $71 | $854 |
*The rates above are for 35-year-old drivers with good credit and a clean driving record
Read more: Cheapest liability-only car insurance
Erie Insurance Rates for Teens
For 16-, 17-, 18- and 19-year-old drivers, Erie generally has some of the cheapest auto insurance for teens. The table below shows the monthly and annual average costs for teen drivers with Erie:
| Driver Age | Erie Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Erie Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $355 | $4,259 |
| 17* | $261 | $3,137 |
| 18* | $241 | $2,888 |
| 19* | $212 | $2,549 |
*Data in the table above is based on rate estimates from 2023.
Erie Insurance Prices For Young Adults
Erie offers some of the best car insurance prices for young adults, with 21-year-olds paying $2,103 annually, which is $682 cheaper than the national average. Similarly, 25-year-olds pay $540 less than the national average.
| Driver Age | Erie Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Erie Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 21* | $175 | $2,103 |
| 25 | $150 | $1,796 |
*Data in the table above is based on rate estimates from 2023.
Erie Insurance Rates for Adults
Adults looking for quality insurance with Erie can expect to pay $545 less than the national average per year. Adults between 45 and 54 get the most affordable rates from the insurer, with rates typically $575 lower than the national average. The table below shows Erie auto insurance rates for adult drivers:
| Driver Age | Erie Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Erie Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | $122 | $1,458 |
| 45 | $112 | $1,348 |
| 55 | $105 | $1,258 |
Erie Car Insurance Prices for Seniors
Erie senior car insurance prices are on average $442 lower than the national average; 65-year-olds typically pay $1,218 annually, which is 26% cheaper than the average. When choosing Erie, 75-year-olds save slightly less; annual rates average $1,457, or 23% lower than the typical rate for that age group.
The table below shows the cost of Erie car insurance for seniors on average:
| Driver Age | Erie Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Erie Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 65* | $101 | $1,218 |
| 75* | $121 | $1,457 |
*Data in the table above is based on rate estimates from 2023.
Erie Car Insurance Quotes for High-Risk Drivers
Drivers with poor credit, a recent accident, a speeding ticket or a DUI conviction typically pay $811 less for insurance with Erie compared to other insurance companies. Below you can see Erie insurance quotes for drivers within each of these categories:
| Driving Profile | Erie Average Monthly Rate Estimate | Erie Average Annual Rate Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Recent speeding ticket | $141 | $1,690 |
| DUI conviction | $206 | $2,474 |
| Recent car accident | $164 | $1,962 |
| Poor credit score | $277 | $3,319 |
*These numbers are based on full-coverage rates for unmarried 35-year-old drivers.
Erie Insurance Discounts
Erie offers a good range of car insurance discounts to help drivers save money. Some Erie auto insurance discounts include:
- Multi-car discount
- Multi-policy discount (up to 25% depending on state)
- Young driver discount
- Car safety equipment discounts
- Reduced usage discount
- Annual payment discount
Erie Insurance Quote
You can get an Erie insurance quote online or by contacting a customer service representative. You’ll need basic personal information such as age and location, vehicle details and how many drivers you want on your policy. Once you’ve given the company all of this information you can choose your desired level of coverage and finish getting your personalized quote from Erie.
What Affects Erie Insurance Quotes?
While Erie’s rates are affordable for most drivers, there are instances when some people will pay more for coverage. That’s because rates are influenced by several factors, some of which are in your control. Understanding what influences car insurance rates can help you receive the best deal possible.
Here are the most common factors that affect car insurance rates:
- Location
- Vehicle
- Age
- Gender
- Marital status
- Driving history
- Credit score
Erie Insurance Customer Reviews
Positive Erie reviews mention the company’s strong customer service and affordable coverage, while customer complaints highlight issues with filing claims and dealing with repair shops. Our review team reached out to Erie Insurance for comment on its negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Erie Customer Satisfaction Rating
We conducted a nationwide car insurance satisfaction survey in August 2023 that polled 6,923 respondents. Of those who participated, about 1% had an Erie car insurance policy. Out of the respondents who had an Erie insurance policy, overall customer satisfaction was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Erie Customer Satisfaction Ratings
The table below breaks down customer service ratings to show how Erie customers rated the company compared with the overall average from our survey, based on this five-point rating scale.
| Ratings Category | Erie Rating Average | Insurance Company Industry Rating Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Customer Satisfaction | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Affordability | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Discounts and Savings Programs | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Selection of Coverage and Add-Ons | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Car Insurance Shopping Process | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Company Website | 3.9 | 3.9 |
Erie Insurance Claims Reviews
In our survey, we found that about 44% of Erie policyholders had filed claims. We also discovered that those with Erie insurance policies were happy with the insurer’s customer service during the claims process, giving the company a 4.5-star rating out of 5. Respondents also gave the company a 4.4-star rating for satisfaction with the claim outcome or settlement.
Erie Insurance Reviews: BBB
Erie has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with 1.1 stars out of 5 from customers. While this may seem like a low rating, only 65 customers have left reviews for the company, which is a small fraction of its customer base.
Erie Insurance Reviews: What Do the Forums Say?
There is no shortage of positive reviews of the company on public forums like Reddit and Quora. In almost every area — whether it be claims, getting a quote or deciding on coverage options — customers report a very positive experience with friendly and patient agents. They also say that pricing is especially attractive compared to other companies in their area.
Erie Car Insurance Coverage
Each state sets its own requirements for coverage, and Erie offers all standard types of car insurance:
| Erie Auto Insurance Coverage | What It Covers |
| Liability | Property damage liability and bodily injury liability car insurance pay other parties’ medical expenses and vehicle repair bills after an accident you cause. |
| Collision | Collision insurance pays for repairs to your vehicle after an accident you cause. |
| Comprehensive | Comprehensive coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle after a non-collision incident, such as a fire, vandalism or tree fall. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Uninsured motorist coverage pays your damages in an accident with someone who has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage does the same if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have a policy limit high enough to cover your bills. |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Medical payments coverage pays medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | PIP insurance pays medical bills, lost wages and death benefits for you and your passengers after an accident. |
Erie Insurance Coverage States
As a regional provider, Erie Insurance is only available in the District of Columbia and the following states:
| Illinois | Indiana | Kentucky | Maryland | New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Virginia |
| West Virginia | Wisconsin |
Erie Car Insurance Add-On Coverage Options
Erie offers standard car insurance options and several features that set it apart from competitors. These extras and perks from the company include:
- Roadside assistance: This option covers towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts, lockout assistance and spare tire replacements.
- Pet coverage: Get up to $500 of coverage per pet with a total limit of $1,000 for vet costs after an accident.
- Erie Auto Plus: This benefits package includes a diminishing deductible, a $10,000 death benefit and increased limits for transportation expenses.
- Erie Rate Lock: This feature helps you avoid car insurance rate increases. Even if you have a claim after an accident, your rates won’t change until you make certain changes to your auto insurance policy
- First Accident Forgiveness: If you’ve been a customer for at least three years, there’s no surcharge the first time you’re at fault in an accident.
- Diminishing Deductible: Your car insurance deductible is reduced by $100 for each consecutive policy year that you don’t file a claim, up to a maximum of $500.
- Rental car coverage: Rental auto coverage is included in comprehensive policies and can be added to collision coverage for a fee.
- New car replacement insurance: This option replaces your totaled car with a new model if your car was under two years old at the time of the accident.
- Better car replacement: This add-on replaces your totaled car with a model two years old or newer.
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