Safeco Insurance Review
- With 2.8/5 stars in 2023, Safeco is a below average insurance company.
- Read Safeco reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Safeco insurance: Ratings and reviews
Safeco auto insurance offers drivers a wide array of coverage and options but is lacking in positive claims satisfaction and customer satisfaction in general. With the backing of Liberty Mutual, their financial standing is high, so that may add a level of reassurance when it comes to paying claims. To get a better sense of what Safeco car insurance has to offer, read our in-depth review below.Â
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Discount opportunities
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Good for those looking to bundle home and auto insurance
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Below-average customer satisfaction ratings
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Above-average NAIC complaints
Is Safeco a good insurance company?
A large part of The Zebra's review score incorporates how well Safeco is rated in terms of customer service. In order to determine that we looked at the following third-party ratings.
Claims Satisfaction: Below average
- Safeco earned Below average marks in J.D. Power's most recent auto claims satisfaction study[1]
Customer Satisfaction: Below average
- J.D. Power also rated Safeco as Below average in overall auto customer satisfaction[2]
Complaint Index: Above average
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Above average customer complaints for Safeco[3]
Financial Strength: Excellent/Good
- Safeco received an Excellent/Good financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[4]
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey
In addition to third-party ratings, we also incorporated the results from our own consumer survey where we ranked which car insurance companies are the best based on feedback from real customers. In this survey, Safeco scored 8/10 overall, placing it 24th on the list.
Safeco vs. other top insurance companies
How much does Safeco insurance cost?
Information on Safec's average rates is limited, which makes it challenging to provide an accurate review and calculate a thorough rating.
Keep in mind that many personal factors are taken into consideration when any insurer calculates individual rates. Your premiums will vary based on your location, age, credit score, driving history and more. We recommend reaching out to an independent agent in your area to get specific Safeco quotes so you can accurately compare pricing.
Discounts offered
Auto insurance discounts are dependent on specific qualifications and can differ from company to company. Safeco does have several options for discounts, however, such as the following:
- Multi-vehicle: Covering more than one vehicle with Safeco may qualify you for a multi-vehicle discount.Â
- Claims-free cash back:Â If you've been claim-free for six months, Safeco will actually send you a check for 2.5% of your policy premium automatically (up to 5% per year). This may not be available in all states, however.
- Safety features:Â If you've got a vehicle with certain safety features, such as anti-lock brakes or anti-theft systems, you may be able to save on your premiums.
- RightTrack:Â RightTrack is a telematics feature (device or app you have with you in your vehicle to track driving habits) and it rewards you for safe driving practices. You could save up to $513 per year by using Right Track, and you'll get a discount just for signing up.
There may be more options than are shown on the website, which is why it's important to talk to your independent Safeco agent about discount opportunities. View more about Safeco's discounts here.Â
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What types of coverage does Safeco offer?
Apart from the standard suite of collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection (PIP), liability, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, Safeco offers an array of policy features and coverage options that can be added to your auto policy.
- Diminishing deductible: Also known as a vanishing deductible, Safeco's diminishing deductible program can result in a $100 cut to your deductible each time you renew your policy annually. Note: You must remain free of claims during your policy period to qualify for this perk. This offer is not available in all states.
- Roadside assistance: Safeco will cover the expenses of towing if your car breaks down in addition to emergency roadside services like flat tires, lockouts, and jumpstarts.
- Rental car reimbursement: A common addition to many car insurance policies, Safeco will cover the expenses of a rental car if your own is out-of-commission while it's being repaired following an accident. This is included with the optional Use of Loss coverage.
- New car replacement: Safeco will pay out the value of a comparable car if your car is less than a year old and becomes totaled or stolen. Learn more here about this coverage.
- Guaranteed repair network: If you need work done on your car and select a Guaranteed Repair Network shop, then Safeco will have your back in the event that something isn't right after the work is performed. This is a standard part of their auto coverage.
Safeco RightTrack
The RightTrack telematics feature from Safeco offers you savings of up to 30% by tracking your safe driving habits behind the wheel using the corresponding app (New York residents may have the option of a plug-in device). Some of the things RightTrack will pay attention to are braking, nighttime driving, acceleration and miles driven. It can be a simple way to see significant savings if you're typically a good driver. However, RightTrack may not be available in all areas. Learn more about RightTrack here.
Real-life customer experience
To help readers get even more insight into the Safeco customer experience, we contacted actual customers of Safeco to hear their thoughts. Below is what some real-life customers had to say.
Felix
Quick facts:
- Customer for less than one year
- Only has car insurance through Safeco
- Has not filed a claim
Safeco insurance review: Summary
Safeco insurance policies are only available through independent brokers, which may leave some folks who prefer to buy quickly online leaning toward other options. Safeco's claims and customer satisfaction scores are lacking, but their financial standing is excellent so you can feel confident of the likelihood that claims will be paid. The company also offers a wide array of coverage options and discounts, so Safeco may be a good option for those looking for multiple policies from a well-known name in the insurance industry.
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.
Safeco insurance: Frequently asked questions
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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 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.