Erie Insurance Reviews

Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A+
BBB complaints in last three years: 115
J.D. Power customer satisfaction index: 901 / 1,000
Trustpilot rating: 3.0

Erie Insurance reviews are generally good from their customers and most complaints tend to talk about their claims process. Erie Insurance generally has a positive reputation for customer service in the areas where it operates. The company also performs well in J.D. Power studies, scoring above the industry average in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study^SM. In the 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study^SM, Erie Insurance ranked first in the North Central region and second in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Below are some examples of  positive customer reviews and complaints about Erie Insurance company:

Positive Erie Auto Insurance Reviews

Erie customers who give positive reviews mostly focus on the company’s competitive rates, discount programs, and responsive service from their local agent.

“My car’s rear windshield randomly shattered one day. I contacted Erie’s dedicated glass line and spent exactly zero seconds on hold. I was greeted by a very friendly and helpful person who took care of everything in a few minutes.”
– Stephen D. via Trustpilot

Erie Insurance Complaints

Not everyone reports a positive customer experience with Erie, however. Negative Erie insurance reviews and customer complaints tend to reference delays and issues around payments.

“After many years [as] a loyal customer, with zero accidents on my file, I got into an accident on April 15. It is now June 11 and I still [do] not have my vehicle. I have been turned around to so many agents [and] they didn’t have a clue about my case.”
– Leslie L. via BBB

Our team of experts gives Erie insurance a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. The insurer earns points for its comprehensive coverage options and competitive pricing. It is also in excellent financial standing, meaning you don’t have to worry about its ability to settle your claims should you have any.

Below we have broken down our overall score to the four core areas that our review team uses to measure insurance providers’ cost, coverage, availability, and service:

Overall, the biggest drawback with Erie is its limited availability. The company only offers coverage in 12 states and the District of Columbia, leaving many people without Erie as an option. That said, Erie auto insurance can be an excellent option if you live in an area where it’s available.

About Erie Insurance

Founded: 1925
Parent company: Erie Insurance Group
States available: District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
AM Best financial strength rating: A+
Insurance types: Auto, home, life

Like all auto insurance providers, Erie determines your premium based on a number of factors. Costs can vary widely depending on the information you provide about yourself and your vehicle. We found that 35-year-old drivers with good credit and a clean driving record typically pay between $800 and $1,600 per year with Erie.

Some of the factors that will affect your premium are:

• Age
• Vehicle
• Driving record
• Marital status
• Location
• Gender as it appears on your driver’s license

To give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for Erie auto insurance, the table below includes rate estimates for states in which Erie insurance is available. These cost estimates are for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit, so it’s important to note that your rates will vary based on your driver profile.

*Cost data not available for Erie auto insurance in Illinois, Kentucky, or New York.

Overall, Erie tends to offer affordable car insurance rates for many types of drivers. Based on our rate estimates, Erie auto insurance is often one of the cheapest car insurance options in the areas it’s available.

Erie Car Insurance Discounts

Erie Insurance has a number of discount programs available. These discounts can help you lower your Erie car insurance premiums:

Erie Insurance offers an extensive array of insurance products, including the following standard coverage options.

Additional Erie Auto Insurance Coverage Options

In addition to its standard coverage, Erie offers several benefits and add-on coverage options.

Erie Rental Car Insurance

Erie rental car insurance comes in six different coverage options, each broken up by vehicle class from 1 to 6. As you go up each class the premium costs get higher. Below we will break down each of these classes and what types of rentals they cover:

• Class 1: This includes coverage for compact sedans such as a Nissan Versa or Honda Civic
• Class 2: Traditional sedans which include cars like a Hyundai Elantra or BMW M-5 are covered
• Class 3: Small SUVs or pickup trucks such as a Ford Escape or Nissan Rogue are covered under this class
• Class 4: Minivans or midsize SUVs which can include vehicles like a Dodge Grand Caravan or Honda Odyssey are covered
• Class 5: Luxury sedans or large SUVs which can include Cadillac DTS, Chevy Tahoe, or similar vehicles
• Class 6: for specialty vehicles for the disabled. Contact your local rental service for available options.

You can use Erie rental car insurance with any rental car provider, but in particular, Erie is partnered with Enterprise where you can get special deals and discounts if you enroll.

Erie Usage-Based Insurance

While Erie offers a comprehensive set of coverage options, discounts, and add-ons, it does not have a traditional usage-based insurance option. If you’re a low-mileage driver, another provider may be a better fit.

Other than car insurance coverage Erie offers a variety of home and life insurance policies. Below we will go into more detail about the coverage options they have for homeowners insurance and life insurance:

Erie Home Insurance

Erie standard home insurance policies include four facets which include dwelling insurance, liability insurance, personal property coverage, and loss-of-use coverage. Dwelling insurance covers damages to your house in fires, storms, or other damaging events and personal property coverage gives you protection if your belongings are damaged or stolen due to fires, theft, or other losses. Loss of use coverage pays for expenses when you are displaced from your home and liability insurance pays medical costs for injuries of guests in your home, lawsuits from animal bites or falls, or other incidents on your property. Additional add on coverage options include:

• Earthquake Insurance
• Flood Insurance
• Water Backup and Sump Overflow
• Service Line
• Identity Theft
• Personal Liability

Other coverage for valuable items can be included in your policy such as jewelry, firearms, laptops, and other equipment. Erie also offers three discounts which include a multipolicy discount, safety systems discount if you have fire alarms or security equipment in the house, and an advanced quote discount of up to 20% if you are a customer and get a quote seven to 60 days before your policy ends.

Erie Life Insurance

Erie life insurance policy option types are term, whole, and universal like most life insurance providers. Term Life insurance policies have terms of 10, 15, 20, and 30 years. Erie also offers choices for whole life insurance where you can add an accelerated death benefit which can pay for long-term care if you are unable to take care of yourself. Their universal policies have cash values and have the option for flexible payment schedules. Lastly, they promote their ERIExpress life insurance program that allows you to be insured for up to $500,000 at an affordable price and get a policy quickly.

Erie Insurance is one of several car insurance companies that has its own app. The app, which is available for both iOS and Android, gives you access to your account and all of its data. 

Here are some of the things you can do with the Erie auto insurance mobile app:

• Access policy information. With the Erie mobile app, you can view, send, and print your insurance card and policyholder information. 
• Use paperless billing. You can also use Erie’s mobile app to view and pay your bills online. The app allows you to save your payment information for future use.
• Communicate. The mobile app lets you get in touch with your insurance agent.
• Follow claims. You can view your claim status anytime using the mobile app.

The Erie auto insurance mobile app isn’t the company’s only digital offering. Erie YourTurn is a safe driving app that tracks mileage and driving events like hard acceleration, quick stops, and phone usage. Drivers who record safe driving habits through the app are made eligible for savings and discounts.

Through our analysis of Erie car insurance customer reviews, ratings, costs, and coverage options, we give it 4.3 out of 5.0 stars.  Erie Insurance can be a great choice for drivers who live in areas the company serves, but it’s not available to many people in the U.S. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insuring your vehicle. There are also many great options for home and life insurance that the company offers at great rates. We recommend comparing quotes from multiple providers before making a decision.

You can start comparing car insurance quotes with the tool below:

Erie Car Insurance Competitors: Top Picks

While Erie car insurance can be a good option where available other companies may better suit you. In your search for auto insurance, we suggest getting quotes from two top-rated companies: Progressive and Geico.

Progressive: Best For High-Risk Drivers

Progressive is a giant of the auto insurance industry that was established in 1937. Based on our research, we found Progressive to have affordable rates and excellent customer reviews. The company offers coverage for custom parts, roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and lease/loan payoff. Progressive also has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and offers discounts for safe driving habits and bundled insurance packages. 

To learn more about the provider, read our full Progressive insurance review.

Geico: Best Overall Provider

Of all the providers we researched, we rate Geico as the Best Overall Provider for most drivers. The company is frequently recognized for its customer service excellence and smooth claims process. Industry reviews for Geico are strong, with an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and an accredited A+ rating from the BBB. Geico’s use of technology through its mobile app and DriveEasy program help provide a positive customer experience as well.

For more information, check out our Geico insurance review.

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.

• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.

• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.