Penn National Insurance Review

  • With 2.5/5 stars in 2024, Penn National is an average insurance company.
  • Read Penn National reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.
carrier-img

Why you can trust The Zebra

The Zebra partners with some of the companies we write about. However, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of editors and licensed agents. Reference our data methodology and learn more about how we make money.

Author profile picture

Beth Swanson

SEO Content Strategist

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. She is a licensed insurance agent whose goal is to make insurance content easy to r…

Author profile picture

Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

Credentials
  • 4+ years in the Insurance Industry

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

Ross h…

Author profile picture

Kristine Lee

Insurance Analyst

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 4+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

Penn National insurance: Ratings and reviews

2.5 100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 50.0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon

Rating from The Zebra Question mark icon

Penn National Insurance, founded in 1919, has a long history of serving customers with their auto insurance needs. Based in Pennsylvania, they offer insurance coverage across various states. In this balanced review, we'll take a look at the strengths and areas of improvement for Penn National, focusing on their customer service, coverage options and discount offerings.

100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 50.0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon
2.5 stars Rating from The Zebra
Ratings based on price, customer service, coverage, and financial strength.
Get a Quote at Penn
Pros
  • Offers a comprehensive range of auto insurance coverage options

  • Provides a variety of discounts to policyholders

  • Good reputation for customer service

Cons
  • Writes policies primarily in the East and Midwest

  • Pricing may be higher-than-average in some areas


Is Penn National a good insurance company?

The majority of The Zebra's review incorporates how well Penn National scores in terms of customer service. In order to determine that we looked at the following third-party ratings.

BBB Customer Reviews: 1/5

  • Better Business Bureau customers rated Penn National as 1/5 in overall auto customer satisfaction[1]

Complaint Index: Above average

  • The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Above average customer complaints for Penn National[2]

Financial Strength: Excellent/Good

  • Penn National received an Excellent/Good financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[3]

The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey

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 Penn National for it to be included.


How much does Penn National insurance cost?

The national average for a 6-month car insurance policy is currently $1093, whereas Penn National is about $570 or roughly 35% cheaper than a typical policy which makes it one of the more affordable auto insurance options available depending on your individual rating factors.

Every driver is rated individually on factors such as driving record, location and vehicle type. It's recommended to gather personalized quotes for the most accurate pricing, but Penn National may be a great option if you reside in their service area.

The table below shows how Penn National auto insurance compares against other top insurers.

Average Monthly Cost by Insurance Carrier

Updating data...

Company Avg. Monthly Premium
Penn National $95
Travelers $112
USAA $114
Nationwide $123
GEICO $129
State Farm $131
Farmers $149
Progressive $157
Allstate $201

Source: The Zebra

Similar to most other insurers, pricing for Penn National's auto insurance does vary based on your age and generally will get cheaper the older you get. 

The table below shows Penn National's car insurance premiums for different age brackets.

Penn National Costs by Age Group

Updating data...

Age Group Avg. Monthly Premium
Teens $297
20s $127
30s $94
40s $89
60s $87
50s $84

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.

Discounts offered

Penn National provides an array of auto insurance discounts, although availability may be contingent upon individual qualifications and regional factors. Here are a few popular discounts you may qualify for:

  • Bundling auto with homeowners insurance: This common discount lets you save if you get homeowners and auto insurance policies with the same company.
  • Safety features: If your car has certain safety features, you can qualify for this discount.
  • Paid-in-full savings: Pay for your policy in full rather than monthly to get this discount.
  • Good student discount: Keep your grades up to see some savings off your premium.
  • Student away at school discount: Students who live away from the address listed on the policy can expect some savings.

Take a look at all of Penn National's opportunities for savings here.

Search, compare and buy all on one site. Start saving today!

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

What types of coverage does Penn National offer?

Penn National provides a wide range of standard auto insurance coverages such as liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Offerings may vary by state, so be sure to confirm with an agent.

Additional coverages may include:

  • Auto PennPac: This bundle of additions includes pet coverage, death benefit, seatbelt and restraint coverage. You may also be able to customize it with non-owner trailer coverage, airbag replacement and more.
  • Auto loan/lease coverage: Sometimes referred to as gap coverage, this helps cover the difference between what you owe and what you would actually collect if your car were a total loss.
  • Replacement cost auto coverage: If you've purchased a new car in the last 30 days or are in the process of a purchase, this will cover your new car without depreciation if it's declared a total loss.
  • Towing and labor: Generally an inexpensive additional coverage, this pays for repairs at the site where the car was disabled or to tow the vehicle to a shop.

See more about Penn National's additional coverage options here.

penn national logo

Penn National's mobile app

Penn National offers a mobile app with multiple features that are handy for on-the-go information when it comes to your insurance. The app is available for both iOS and Android and offers the following services for customers:

  • Make payments, check your balance, view payment history
  • View your auto ID card
  • Sign up for automatic payments or change payment plan
  • Go paperless
  • Report a claim
  • Update account information
  • Change billing preferences

Penn National insurance Review: Summary

In conclusion, Penn National is a solid choice for those residing in the areas they serve, offering a good range of coverage options, a history of reliable customer service, and a variety of potential discounts. The company's geographical coverage is limited, but it does show a strong commitment to its policyholders and may be much more affordable than other carriers, depending on your location. As always, prospective customers should compare quotes and coverage options from various insurers to ensure Penn National meets their unique 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.


Penn National insurance: Frequently asked questions

You should consider getting a quote from Penn National if you live in one of the few regions they serve as they offer a variety of coverage options, reliable customer service, and several discounts. Those living outside the East and Midwest should look elsewhere.

Penn National received an "Excellent" rating from AM Best, meaning they are a financially stable company and able to pay out claims.

Yes, Penn National offers homeowners insurance.

Penn National sells insurance in Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Personal home and auto insurance are only available in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Get quotes from 100+ companies with The Zebra!

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

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.