Founders Insurance Review
- With 1.6/5 stars in 2023, Founders is a below average insurance company.
- Read Founders reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Founders insurance: Ratings and reviews
Founders Insurance Company has a long history of writing policies in Illinois and now offers auto coverage in Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, as well. If you're looking to bundle with home insurance, however, that is limited to Illinois residents.
The company offers some perks for drivers who may have trouble acquiring auto insurance elsewhere, such as those without a consistent insurance history, who have poor credit or who need SR-22 filing. Keep reading to learn more about what Founders has to offer and if they may be a good option for your next insurer.
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Strong financial stability rating
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In business for 100+ years
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Not available in all states
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Higher than average NAIC complaints
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Lackluster website; no mobile app
Is Founders a good insurance company?
The majority of The Zebra's review incorporates how well Founders scores in terms of customer service. In order to determine that we looked at the following third-party ratings.
Trustpilot Reviews: 3.2/5
- Trustpilot rated Founders as 3.2/5 in overall auto customer satisfaction[1]
BBB Customer Reviews: 1.02/5
- The Better Business Bureau rated Founders as 1.02/5 in overall claims satisfaction[2]
Complaint Index: Above average
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Above average customer complaints for Founders[3]
Financial Strength: Excellent/Good
- Founders received an Excellent/Good financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[4]
In addition to third-party ratings, we like to incorporate the results from our own consumer survey where we ranked which auto insurance companies are the best based on feedback from real customers. However, we did not collect a sufficient amount of data on Founders for it to be included.
How much does Founders insurance cost?
Currently, the national average for a 6 month car insurance policy is $880. Unfortunately, Founders' pricing data is not widely available, and this is something else we use to calculate our review.
If you reside in one of the states where Founders personal auto insurance is available, we encourage you to reach out for a specific quote so you can adequately compare companies and policies. Founders could be one of the cheaper auto insurance options available, depending on your individual rating factors, but speaking to an agent is the best option to find out.
Discounts offered
Auto insurance discounts are dependent on qualifications and state availability. Here are some of the advertised discounts available from Founders.
- Multiple vehicle discount:Â Qualify for this popular discount by insurance multiple cars under one policy.
- Transfer discount:Â Get a discount for staying insured with the same company for a specified length of time.
- Homeowner discount:Â Drivers who own their own homes can get this discount.
- Renewal discount:Â Save some money when it comes time to renew your policy.
Founders may have other discounts available, so it's best to check with an agent for specifications to see if you qualify. The company also has several perks that may be appealing to drivers with a unique, or less-than-perfect, driving history, including:
- No credit check
- No prior insurance required
- SR-22 filings
- Prior losses acceptable
- International/foreign licenses accepted
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What types of coverage does Founders offer?
Another important piece of Founders' review is the types of coverage options the company offers. The company's website is slightly lacking when it comes to details about coverages, add-ons and other features that may be available for their auto policies.
When contacted, Founders reported that they do offer roadside assistance to every policy for an additional cost.
If you are the kind of consumer who prefers to handle your insurance business completely online or via a mobile app, you may be disappointed with what is offered. If connecting with a local agent and keeping things simple is important for you, though, Founders might be a great option.
Read more about Founders' auto insurance here.
Where is Founders available?
If you live in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana or Wisconsin, you may qualify for auto insurance through Founders.
Homeowners and renters coverage is also an option for customers, but only those in Illinois, so if you're looking to bundle your auto insurance with other policies then keep this in mind.
Founders insurance review: Summary
Founders is a regional insurer focused on providing auto insurance in four states (IL, IN, OH and WI) as well as home and renters coverage for customers residing in Illinois. They offer standard auto coverage options and may be a good option for those without a perfect driving or insurance history.
However, their geographical coverage is limited, and their technology may leave something to be desired for those who prefer more elaborate user tools. We suggest reaching out to a local agent with Founders to glean more detailed information about what they can offer to meet your individual needs.
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra considers the company's standing in five main categories to come up with an overall rating. These metrics are weighted according to importance and are detailed below:
- Price (20%): Using the base profile detailed below, we compared the company's average rate with the national average. If it surpassed this average, we gave a lower rating; if it fell below, we awarded a higher rating.
- Coverage (20%): The highest-scoring companies offer a variety of coverage options, including bundling options, roadside assistance, telematics, beyond-basic coverage levels, and a variety of other coverage types.
- Customer service (30%): We averaged ratings from JD Power, the NAIC complaint index to come up with a rating for the company's customer service. In instances when a company is not rated, we may use alternative rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot.
- Financial strength (10%): We use AM Best to determine a company's financial standing. In some cases when a company is not rated by AM Best, we may use an alternative measure such as Demotech.
- The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey (20%): The Zebra conducts an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction for many of the top insurance companies with the goal of ranking both the best auto insurance companies and best home insurance companies. Read more below.
For our auto insurance review, we analyzed more than 83 million insurance rates spanning every U.S. ZIP code using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
- $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage
For our home insurance review, rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:
- $200,000 for the dwelling
- $20,000 for other structures
- $100,000 for personal property
- $100,000 for personal liability
- $1,000 deductible
These sample premiums are dynamic and automatically refresh whenever the newest data is made available.
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted this profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level and others.
For The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.
Founders insurance: Frequently asked questions
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