No one plans to file a claim, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. The table below shows examples of what you might expect after submitting one.
American Family Insurance Review (2026)
- Overall rating: good (3.8/5 stars)
- Average cost: $936 for a 6-month policy
- 90.2% of customers recommend American Family
Read more below to get a quote directly from American Family.
Reviewed By Tara Stumpf
Edited By Beth Swanson
Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as a licensed insurance professional and content strategis…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 5 years of experience in the insurance industry
Tara joined The Zebra in 2025, bringing 18 years of marketing and public relations experience with fintech and insurance brands. She specializes in c…
Credentials
- 18+ years of experience in the fintech & insurance industries
Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- Associate in Insurance (AINS)
- Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
American Family Insurance: A good option for everyday drivers
American Family earns a good score from The Zebra for its discounts, flexible coverage, and competitive rates.
Customers also appreciate its affordability and easy digital access, though some note issues with policy changes, integration, and claim transparency.
What customers like:
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Digital document access: Access policy documents and ID cards anytime from any device.
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Mobile app: Manage claims, payments, and documents from your phone.
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Ease of filing: Multiple filing options make submitting claims simple and quick.
What customers don't like:
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Policy term: Frequent changes create confusion and coverage uncertainty.
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Lacks integration: No integration means managing insurance separately from other accounts.
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Lacks transparency: Lack of transparency leaves you uncertain about claim status.
How The Zebra evaluates insurance companies
| Rating | Explanation | Star rating equivalent |
| Subpar | Lowest ranking, suggesting instability or high risk | 0-1.9 |
| Fair | Somewhat stable but not consistently reliable | 2-2.9 |
| Good | Generally dependable with moderate stability | 3-3.9 |
| Solid | Strong, reliable and dependable with minor risks | 4-4.4 |
| Exceptional | Highest rating, indicating outstanding stability and reliability | 4.5-5 |
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra evaluates companies by focusing on customer experience first, with an emphasis on service quality, reliability, and ease of interaction. Unlike previous models, pricing is not scored but is instead presented separately as context for comparison.
Each category has been scored using a combination of our internal customer satisfaction survey results and published scores from reputable organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power.
- Service Accessibility & Support Quality (25%): This category measures how easy it is to get help when needed, evaluating factors such as support channel availability (phone, chat, in-person, app), response times, agent knowledge, service hours, and language accessibility.
- Claims Experience (25%): This category assesses how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
- Digital Experience & Policy Management (25%): This category evaluates the convenience of managing your policy: this includes mobile app usability, website experience, account management, digital document access, self-service options, and platform integrations
- Trust & Reliability (25%): This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.
Price context: Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and risk factors. Customers can evaluate cost-effectiveness based on their specific situation and the service quality scores provided.
How much is American Family car insurance?
Currently, the national average for a 6-month car insurance policy is $1,163, whereas American Family is about $936.[1]
Updating data...
| Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| American Family | $377 | $936 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
See how American Family stacks up against competitors →
Discounts offered at American Family: extensive discount options compared to competitors
Early Bird
If you get a quote from American Family at least seven days before your policy with another insurance company goes into effect, you may be eligible for a discount.
Defensive Driver
In certain states, drivers may qualify for additional discounts by taking a defensive driving class to invest in safety behind the wheel.
Auto Safety Equipment
Depending on the state you reside in, you can expect a 10-30% discount if your car has safety equipment like factory-installed airbags.
| Multi-Policy Discount | Multi-Car Discount |
| Usage Based Discount | Good Driving Discount |
| Safety Discount | Bundling Discount |
| Loyalty Discount | Early Bird Discount |
| Switching to American Family Discount | Auto Safety Equipment Discount |
| Defensive Driver Discount | Good Driving Discount |
| MilesMyWay Discount | DriveMyWay Discount |
| Good Student Discount | Away at School Discount |
| Young Volunteer Discount | Generational Discount |
| AutoPay Discount | Pay in Full Discount |
| Paperless Discount |
To learn more about each discount American Family has to offer, see their discounts page.
Compare with other companies
See how American Family stacks up against similar companies
American Family
Nationwide
State Farm
Avg. Cost
The Zebra's Overall Rating
Customer Service
Claims Experience
Digital Experience
Trust & Reliability
More Insurance Products
Financial Strength
American Family's customer service & claims experience: A blend of strengths and weaknesses
American Family’s service experience depends heavily on the situation. Everyday tasks like updating your policy or filing a straightforward claim are quick and convenient through their digital tools. However, when it comes to complex claims or disputes, the process can slow down and become less clear, leading to frustration for some customers.
Thinking about American Family?
See what other drivers are asking
How can I add a driver to my American Family policy?
The simplest way is to call your American Family agent or log into the MyAmFam app to make the update. You’ll need your son’s driver’s license information, and your agent can walk you through how adding him could affect your premium. Young drivers, especially college-aged ones, are often considered…
Is American Family's DriveMyWay app worth it?
Yes, American Family’s telematics program, DriveMyWay, is an app that tracks your driving habits and can potentially save you money. It looks at things like how hard you brake, how quickly you accelerate, the time of day you’re usually on the road, and how many miles you drive.If your habits are ge…
Are the agents local and hands-on?
American Family Insurance does tend to emphasize a local agent model, so the experience can feel more hands-on than companies that sell policies mostly online. In fact, working with an agent is usually part of how you sign up for American Family home insurance in the first place.Instead of buying e…
What's the Costco discount for American Family?
The Costco insurance program with American Family Insurance is real, but it helps to understand what it actually is. Costco itself doesn’t sell or underwrite insurance. Instead, it partners with American Family, which provides the policies offered through the Costco program (which include car, home…
American Family Customer Survey results
90.2% of customers recommend American Family
The Zebra conducted a survey across 4,000+ users to gather ratings on major carriers' customer service, claims process, ease of use, and more. See how American Family was rated in individual categories by expanding the section below.[2]
Source: The Zebra
How much will your rates climb after filing a claim with American Family?
Updating data...
| Accident/Violation | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| None | $811 |
| One comp claim | $904 |
| Two comp claims | $987 |
| At-fault accident - greater than $2000 | $1,159 |
| At-fault accident - $1000-$2000 | $1,159 |
Claims process: Speedy but lacks clarity
American Family offers a reliable experience for a wide range of drivers, with strong performance in both claims handling and customer satisfaction. Their low volume of customer complaints and solid financial standing suggest stability when it comes to paying out claims. Premiums are generally competitive compared to other major insurers, making them a reasonable option for cost-conscious drivers. While they may not be the cheapest provider available, American Family’s balance of service quality and financial reliability makes them worth including when gathering quotes.
Coverage options: Flexible and customizable
Along with standard coverage like comprehensive, collision, liability, medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist, American Family allows its customers to tailor their policies to meet their needs. Below are some optional extras that can be added to an American Family insurance policy.
Carrier pulse: Recent news from American Family
- AM Best reaffirmed American Family’s strong “A” rating, highlighting its solid finances and consistent performance. This indicates strong financial stability and the ability to pay out claims, even during tough economic times.[3]
Final thoughts: Is American Family right for you?
American Family provides an appealing mix of affordable rates and a wide variety of coverage options, allowing drivers to tailor policies to their needs. While routine claims are generally handled efficiently through digital tools, more complex claims can take longer, and policyholders may experience rate increases after filing a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Family:
Get quotes from American Family and other top companies
Sources:
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Data Methodology. The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool
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Anonymized User Survey. The Zebra
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AM Best ratings affirm American Family's financial strength. AM Best
About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.
