Erie Auto Insurance Review

You may not have heard of Erie because, unlike the major providers, the company doesn’t spend a ton on advertising. Erie’s goal is to attract drivers with a clean record — who are considered less risky to insure — which is part of how it keeps premiums low. While drivers with good credit and a clean record will see the lowest prices, drivers with at-fault accidents and DUIs may also find cheaper rates compared to the competition.

If you live in one of the states where Erie sells auto insurance, I recommend getting a quote. Here’s where it’s available:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington D.C.
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

I learned about Erie a couple years ago, when I moved to North Carolina. After I moved, my rates with my then-provider State Farm increased. I got quotes from a few different providers, and Erie was the cheapest — about half the price of my State Farm policy for the same coverage.

Erie Pricing by Customer Profile

Erie’s average premiums are $1,495 annually ($125 monthly) for full coverage and $483 annually ($40 monthly) for minimum coverage. That’s 22 percent below average for full coverage and 12 percent below average for minimum coverage. Among the insurers we analyzed, just USAA (which is available only to military members and their families) was cheaper.

Rates change based on factors like location, vehicle, and driving history, so your quote may differ depending on your circumstances.

When I was an Erie customer, I paid $984 annually ($82 monthly) for full coverage, which is about 38 percent less than the average cost of full coverage in North Carolina. That’s significant savings, which is why I bought a policy and recommend getting a quote if Erie is available where you live.

My Erie policy included the following discounts:

• Advance Quote, for getting a quote before the policy the takes effect (Erie doesn’t specify, but you typically need to get the quote at least eight days in advance)
• Anti-Lock Brakes, for having this feature in my car
• Anti-Theft, for having a passive anti-theft device in my car (meaning it protects the car without the driver having to do anything — for example, auto-locking doors)
• Multi-Policy, for bundling my auto and renter policies
• Passive Restraint, for having driver, passenger, and side airbags

Something I appreciated about Erie is that unlike with State Farm, I did not have to install a device in my car to track my driving behaviors. While tracking my driving with State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save app isn’t a big deal, it was one less thing to worry about with Erie.

If you are interested in a discount for safe driving, Erie offers a rewards program called YourTurn. YourTurn tracks driving habits like braking, acceleration, cornering, speed, and phone use, and offers feedback for improvement. Depending on habits, drivers age 16 to 23 can earn up to $10 in rewards every two weeks and drivers age 24 and older can earn up to $5 every two weeks. I don’t recall being offered the opportunity to enroll in YourTurn, so it’s possible this program is not available in North Carolina. Compared to telematics discounts from major providers, it’s not a huge savings — but as in my case, you may find Erie’s rates are cheaper even without enrolling in YourTurn.

In addition to the discounts mentioned above, Erie also offers discounts for the following:

• Attending college full time away from home
• Being under age 21 and living at home
• Completing a driver education course (for drivers under age 21)
• Paying your premium upfront
• Storing your vehicle for 90 days or more
• Transitioning off your parents’ Erie policy onto your own policy

Recently, I moved from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, so I needed a new insurance policy.

Nearly every state requires drivers to hold minimum liability coverage, which pays for the other party’s injuries and damages in the event of an accident. With the costs of medical care and vehicles rising, minimum required limits may not be sufficient in an accident. If it fits your budget, I always recommend raising your liability limits above the state minimum.

Here’s how much it cost to increase liability limits above the state minimum in my Pennsylvania quote:

* Sample quote for a 30-year-old driver in Pennsylvania (me), where the bodily injury liability limits are $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident and the property damage liability limit is $5,000 per accident.

When I had a policy in North Carolina, I also had the following coverages:

In addition to standard coverages above — liability, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, collision and comprehensive, towing and labor, rental reimbursement — Erie offers coverages such as:

The following coverages are also built in to most Erie policies:

• First Accident Forgiveness, after three years as a customer without claims
• Windshield Repair, which waives your collision deductible if your windshield is repaired rather than replaced
• Pet Injury Coverage, which reimburses up to $500 for vet bills if your pet is injured in your car
• Travel Expenses, meals and lodging if your trip is disrupted due to a covered loss
• Locksmith Services, up to $75
• Personal Damage Coverage, which pays for up to $350 of personal belongings in your car damaged during a covered accident

Featured Add-on: RateLock

Many drivers in the U.S. are facing rising costs for car insurance. According to J.D. Power, almost 1 out of every 3 drivers had to pay more for insurance between 2022 and 2023.¹

For those looking to avoid price hikes, Erie offers a unique feature called RateLock. If you add this feature to your policy, Erie will not raise your rates — even if you file a claim — unless you add or remove drivers or vehicles from the policy or you move.

While I was an Erie customer, I was involved in an accident and had to file a claim. In my experience, Erie helped me navigate a stressful situation as smoothly as possible.

I initiated the claim by phone (Erie does not currently offer the option to initiate a claim online) and spoke to an agent (Erie’s agents are available 24/7). Within 24 hours, a claims handler reached out to me to review accident details, my coverage, and repair options. Erie also reserved a rental car for me, and I had the option to choose which company to rent from.

For repairs, Erie gave me the choice between working with one of its in-network shops or my preferred shop. I chose my own shop, and Erie paid the shop directly. I did not have any issues with adjustment. When I told the repair shop manager that I had Erie for insurance, he said that he consistently finds that company easy to work with. Overall, I was satisfied with my claims experience and found the claims process to be straightforward and easy.

Overall, I was satisfied with Erie, and according to the data, other customers are too.

Claims

Every year, the independent publication CRASH Network conducts a survey of collision repair shops. It asks a single question: “How well does this company’s claims handling policies, attitude and payment practices ensure quality repairs and customer service for motorists?”

In CRASH Network’s 2023 report, Erie ranked No. 3 overall and No. 1 in the Northeast region. This indicates that collision repair shops find Erie easy to work with. Erie will prioritize paying for quality repairs over saving money during the claims process. This aligns with my own claims experience.

Erie also ranked highly — No. 3 overall — in J.D. Power’s 2023 Claims Satisfaction Study, further reflecting its strong claims process.

Financial Strength

AM Best gives Erie an A+ for financial strength, which means the company can reliably pay for claims.

Shopping Experience

Erie also received above-average scores in J.D. Power’s 2023 Insurance Shopping Study, ranking No. 2 among midsize insurers after The Hartford. This study analyzes agent interaction, quote process, coverage offerings, and price. This aligns with my own positive experience with Erie’s pricing and ease of obtaining a quote.

Customer Satisfaction Summary

Erie’s mobile app allows you to view policy documents (like your ID card and declarations page) and pay your bills. To file a claim or request roadside assistance, customers must call Erie.

Erie’s insurance-related mobile app received mixed to negative reviews, so customers may find it easier to manage their policy on Erie’s website or by phone. Erie’s YourTurn app, which helps customers improve their driving habits and earn rewards, received more positive reviews.

Personally, I did not use Erie’s app, so I can’t speak to its functionality. I managed my policy online and by phone, which I found intuitive and user-friendly.

Did I buy another policy with Erie when I moved to Pennsylvania?

It was a tough decision because of the excellent service I received with Erie in North Carolina, but in the end, I got a policy with State Farm. The decision came down to price, as the State Farm quote was about 14 percent lower than the Erie quote. I can’t know for sure, but I suspect my claim increased the Erie quote. Like I mentioned, the company tends to be best for drivers with a claims-free history.

That said, I recommend getting a quote with Erie if you are shopping for auto insurance. Based on my industry research and expertise, and my personal experience as a customer, Erie offers high-quality auto insurance at a good value.

Our auto insurance evaluation process aims to provide consumers with insights backed both by research and customer experience. We employ the following methodology to assess companies:

1. Value and coverage: We analyze companies’ pricing, discounts, availability by state, and coverage options.
2. Customer experience: Leveraging our own experiences as auto insurance consumers, we offer insights into the shopping journey and the level of engagement with insurers.
3. Claims handling: At the core of an insurance company’s service is claim fulfillment. Our evaluation includes analyzing claims processes using third-party data and customer feedback.
4. Industry ratings and reviews: We gather data from independent agencies to assess factors like financial strength, complaint records, and customer satisfaction.
5. Digital tools and technology: We evaluate the user-friendliness of websites, mobile apps, and online account management features.