State Auto Insurance Review: Home and Auto
TABLE OF CONTENTS
State Auto Insurance Companies is what's called a "super regional" insurance carrier. The company writes insurance in 33 states, with a concentration in the Midwest. And don't let the name fool you -- State Auto and its subsidiaries sell more than car insurance. Offerings include umbrella insurance as well as coverage for your auto, home, rental unit, business, farm, and ranch. State Auto does not sell insurance directly to consumers, but instead delivers its coverage through a network of independent agents and brokers. They were acquired in 2022 by Liberty Mutual.
Related Resources: State Auto Insurer Profile for Auto and Homeowners
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 1
The company offers a range of insurance policies, including auto, home, business, farm, and ranch coverage, through a network of independent agents.
- 2
Founded in 1921, the company's primary focus is still to offer great rates and fair claims process.
- 3
The company's record is good for homeowners, mixed for auto coverage with customer complaints about support.
History
State Auto Insurance was founded in 1921 by entrepreneur Robert Pein. Pein's focus then was to build an insurance company that would offer great rates and a fair claims process to its customers. Those values remain central to the State Auto culture today.
The company went public as State Auto Financial Corporation in 1991 and currently trades under the ticker STFC on the NASDAQ exchange. Notably, STFC is included in the NASDAQ Global Select index which has fairly stringent requirements for earnings, capitalization with cash flow, capitalization with revenue, and assets with equity.1 In other words, State Auto is pretty solid financially. The Company also earned a spot on Forbes' list of America's 50 Most Trustworthy Financial Companies in 2013 and remained there for several years straight.2
State Auto's subsidiaries and affiliates include State Auto Property & Casualty, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, Rockhill Insurance Company, Plaza Insurance Company, American Compensation Insurance Company, and Bloomington Compensation Insurance Company.3 In 2022, State Auto was purchased by Liberty Mutual, though their individual brand will live on for the time being.
State Auto Complaint History: Mixed
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners tracks complaints against insurance carriers, by type of coverage. The table below shows the complaint ratings for State Auto's two largest subsidiaries, State Auto Property & Casualty and State Auto Mutual Insurance Company. The ratings represent the number of complaints relative to the company's size.
A rating greater than 1 means the company had a higher than expected volume of complaints. A rating below 1 is what you'd want to see, as that means the company had a lower than expected number of complaints.
Insurer | Policy Type | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
State Auto Property & Casualty | Home | 0.33 | 0.23 | 0.84 |
State Auto Property & Casualty | Auto | 1.61 | 1.49 | 2.09 |
State Auto Mutual Insurance Company | Home | 0.16 | 0.26 | 0.92 |
State Auto Mutual Insurance Company | Auto | 1.42 | 3.27 | 2.29 |
Table data source: NAIC
As you can see, State Auto has a good complaint record for its homeowners coverage, but a worse-than-expected record on its auto coverage. Public reviews show customer complaints about the availability and support of customer service as well as the auto claims process.4
Is State Auto Insurance Right for You?
Although the customer service is inconsistent, State Auto car and home coverage does have a reputation for being affordable -- which may be a reasonable trade-off if you're price-conscious. The coverage options are reasonable and you can bundle policies for even more savings. One disadvantage of note is that they don’t offer much in the way of tools for managing your policy online.
State Auto is right for you if… | State Auto may not fit if… |
Your top priority is keeping your premiums low, and you're willing to give up online tools and customer service in return. | You prefer to manage your insurance independently online. |
You need multiple lines of insurance that you can bundle together. | You have high standards for customer service. |
You have a good driving history and don't expect to file many claims. | You don't live in one of the 33 states that State Auto serves. |
What We Think About State Auto
State Auto's primary selling advantage for auto coverage is low rates. Users report switching their car insurance to State Auto after an agent presented it as their lowest-priced option. Unfortunately, the complaint record for State Auto's car insurance and the lack of online policy management tools are reasons to be cautious about switching over from another carrier.
The coverage options are better than we'd expect for a regional carrier. State Auto offers three tiers of coverage on cars and homes: Standard, Plus, and Premier. For auto insurance, the Standard tier includes the usual coverage options, such as liability, comprehensive, collision, and even roadside assistance. But if you want features like accident forgiveness or full safety glass coverage, you have to upgrade to an AutoXtended Plus or AutoXtended Premier package.
If you're a conservative driver, you can also enroll in State Auto Safety 360 to see if you qualify for even lower rates. State Auto Safety 360 is an app-based program that tracks your driving activities. The data is then used to refine the pricing on your policy.
State Auto's home insurance has a similar structure; the Standard tier provides basic coverage, but you can upgrade with optional protections or step up to the Plus or Premier tiers. The upgraded tiers have broader coverages and higher limits. For example, the Plus tier for homeowners includes identity protection and coverage for things like rented golf carts, lost or stolen credit cards, and false alarms on your home security system. The Premier tier extends coverage to your jewelry and silverware.5
State Auto is sold through independent agents and brokers. You cannot make policy changes online, though you can make payments and submit claims. In order to change your deductibles, alter your coverage levels, update your contact information, print your ID cards, or view a copy of your policy, you must contact your agent. That setup works out if you have a good, responsive agent -- but it's a huge drawback if you don't.
Summary of auto coverage from State Auto:
The auto premiums are low, and you can customize the coverages to suit your needs. Customer service may be inconsistent, and you do have to call your agent to manage your policy.
Summary of homeowners coverage from State Auto:
You'll want to bundle home and auto for the lowest rates. You can customize the insurance to include just the basics or enhanced coverage on your personal property as well as your home. As with the auto coverage, you do have to call your agent to adjust your coverage levels.
How State Auto Car Insurance Works
The table below outlines the types of auto coverage available through State Auto.
Auto Coverage Type | How it Works |
Property Liability and Bodily Injury Liability | If you cause an accident, property damage liability pays for resulting damage to someone else's property up to stated limits. Bodily injury liability pays for the other driver's medical bills up to stated limits. |
Collision | If you cause an accident and your vehicle is damaged, collision pays for your repairs. You are responsible for the deductible. |
Comprehensive | Comprehensive pays for repairs to your vehicle that don't result from an accident. For example, damages from theft, vandalism, fire, hail, and falling tree branches are usually covered by your comprehensive insurance. You are responsible for the deductible. |
Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection
| Medical payments and personal injury protection cover medical costs for you and your passengers that result from an accident when you are driving, no matter who is at fault. |
Uninsured Motorist
| If someone else causes an accident, the resulting damages to your car should be covered by the other driver's liability insurance. If that driver has no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage would step in to pay for the repairs. |
Auto Replacement Cost Total Loss Plus | This coverage is available for cars that are no more than two years old. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, this coverage pays to replace the vehicle -- even if that replacement cost is more than the car's cash value. Other insurers call this gap insurance. |
Accident Forgiveness | With Accident Forgiveness, State Auto won't raise your premiums after an accident or a minor traffic violation. You are eligible once you've maintained a clean driving record for 35 months or more. |
Roadside Assistance | Roadside Assistance pays for limited towing and other breakdown services, such as battery jumpstarts and tire changes. You can add Roadside Assistance to a Standard auto plan, but it's automatically included in the Plus and Premier tiers of auto coverage. |
Full Safety Glass | If your windshield is damaged by something other than a collision, Full Safety Glass coverage will pay to replace it, with no deductible. |
OEM Parts | OEM parts coverage is available with State Auto's Plus and Premier tiers of auto coverage. This ensures that your vehicle will be repaired using OEM parts only and not lower-quality aftermarket parts. |
AutoXtended Plus | The AutoXtended Plus tier automatically includes a collision deductible waiver, $1,500 coverage on custom equipment, $250 coverage on personal effects, and $250 for locksmith services or key replacement. |
AutoXtended Premier | The AutoXtended Premier automatically includes a collision deductible waiver, $1,500 coverage on custom equipment, $500 coverage on personal effects, and $500 for locksmith services or key replacement. |
Table data source: Stateauto.com6, Value Penguin7
How State Auto Homeowners Works
The table below shows the options for State Auto homeowners insurance.
Homeowners Policy Tiers | How it Works |
Standard | Standard homeowners insurance from State Auto includes basic coverages that you can optionally upgrade with identity theft protection and replacement cost for personal property. |
Protection Plus | Homeowners Protection Plus has expanded coverages. You can optionally add State Auto's HomeXtended Coverages Endorsement, which protects you against stolen credit cards, loss of personal documents, and damage to rented golf carts, among other things. |
Premier | Homeowners Premier increases the limits on your coverage and expands coverage to include jewelry and silverware. The HomeXtended Endorsement is automatically included. |
Identity Theft Protection | If someone obtains your personal information and starts using it fraudulently, Identify Theft Protection gives you access to a fraud recovery specialist who will help you undo the damage. Your specialist is available to help with credit reports, law enforcement, and bill collectors. |
Replacement Cost for Personal Property | Standard homeowners coverage typically only pays for damages to your home, but not to the items within your home. Replacement Cost for Personal Property coverage can reimburse you for electronics, furniture, and personal effects damaged by a covered loss. |
Table data source: Stateauto.com8
More About State Auto
State Auto doesn't provide much in the way of extra tools and resources to help you manage your policy. But the carrier does have a telematics program, called State Auto Safety 360, which uses your actual driving data to set your rates. If you drive conservatively, it could be a way to lower your rates. You do get a 10% premium discount just for joining the program.
State Auto Safety 360
To enroll in State Auto 360, you have to contact your agent and request to add the program to your policy. You'll receive a windshield tag and instructions via email within 10 days. You then place the tag on your windshield and download the app, which is available for iOS and Android. Once you pair the app to your tag, it starts collecting data. The app then provides feedback on your driving. State Auto estimates that some drivers could earn a premium discount of up to 50%.
State Auto Discounts
Here's a look at the discounts State Auto offers on its auto and home policies.
Discount | How You Get It |
State Auto Safety 360 (auto) | When you enroll in State Auto 360, you give State Auto access to your driving data via a windshield tag and an app. These programs typically monitor things like hard braking and driving speed to assess your risk as a driver. You get a 10% premium discount for enrolling. The safest, most conservative drivers can earn discounts of up to 50%. |
Multipolicy Discount | Bundle multiple coverages, like home and auto, to earn the discount. |
Accident Prevention Course (auto) | Drivers who are at least 21 and have completed an accident prevention course within the last three years qualify for this discount. |
State Auto Start Up (for home and auto) | This discount is available when you are switching from another carrier to State Auto. You qualify by quoting your State Auto home or auto policy at least eight days before your other policy expires. |
Anti-theft Device Discount (auto) | Ask your agent what types of equipment qualify. Typically, you'll earn the discount with an alarm and/or VIN etching. |
Good Student Discount (auto) | Full-time students with a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better qualify. |
Driver Training Discount (auto) | Drivers under the age of 21 qualify after completing a driver's training course. |
Multi-car Discount (auto) | You should earn a discount with two or more vehicles on your policy. |
Paid-in-Full Discount (home and auto) | Your policy is automatically discounted if you pay for the entire term upfront. |
Smart Home (home) | You may qualify for the Smart Home discount if your home has smoke alarms, automatic temperature detection, smart lights, and related features. |
Fortified Home (home) | Homes that meet Fortified Home standards against wind, hail, and hurricane damage may qualify. |
Loyalty (home) | Keep your State Auto home coverage for at least five consecutive years to get this discount. |
New Construction (home) | Newer homes may qualify automatically. Ask your agent for specifics in your state. |
Prior Carrier (home) | If you kept your previous homeowners policy with the same carrier for three years or more, State Auto may reward you with a discount. |
Protective Devices (home) | Protective devices include home alarms and central smoke alarms. Check with your agent for specifics in your state. |
Roof Construction (home) | The age and material of your roof may earn you a discount. Ask your agent for the specifics in your state. |
Table data source: State Auto
State Auto Insurance FAQs
After an accident, how do I submit a claim?
You can file a claim online or by calling 877-722-5246. You can also contact your insurance agent.
If you need to file a glass claim, you can do that online here or by calling State Auto Glass Service at 888-504-4527.
Whom do I call to manage my policy?
Your independent insurance agent is your first point of contact when you need to manage your policy.
Can State Auto recommend a repair shop to fix my car?
You can search for an approved shop by name or location in this online directory. State Auto guarantees all repairs at approved shops.
State Auto Resources
State Auto's website has a collection of auto and home safety articles. Here are some of the best.
Signs of a faulty car battery
No one wants to get stuck roadside with a dead battery. Learn to spot the warning signs here.
Steps to file an auto claim
Your auto claims experience will be far easier when you're organized and know what to expect. This post explains the filing process, including the information you'll need to share with your claims adjuster.
What to do after an accident
Bookmark this article so you can refer to it after an accident. It outlines key steps for helping anyone who's injured and protecting your car against further damage.
- Kenton, W. (2020, August 28). NASDAQ Global Select Market Composite. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/nqgs.asp
- Strauss, K. (2017, May 25). America's 50 most trustworthy financial companies. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2017/04/28/americas-50-most-trustworthy-financial-companies/
- State Auto profile. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://investor.stateauto.com/profile
- 47 State Auto Insurance Reviews and Complaints @ Pissed Consumer. (2020, May 19). Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://state-auto-insurance.pissedconsumer.com/review.html
- Home insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.stateauto.com/insurance/individuals/home
- Auto insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.stateauto.com/insurance/individuals/auto
- Peterson, B. (n.d.). State Auto insurance review. Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.valuepenguin.com/state-auto-insurance-review
- Home insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.stateauto.com/insurance/individuals/home
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Trying to find the best insurance?
We'll help you find the policy that offers the best value for your situation.
Further Reading
Navigating the Digital Insurance Landscape Considerations
A look at the immense value and high customer lifetime potential within the insurance sector.
Read article
When is Term Life Insurance Worth it?
Decide if term life's advantages are worth it: compare whole vs term life insurance, assess top term providers, and delve into in-depth reviews.
Read article
Insurance Binder: Bridging Between Coverage and Confirmation
From car loans to rental properties, insurance binders are required in a variety of situations. Discover the ins and outs of these essential documents.
Read article
Haven Life Review: Providing Prudent and Protective Policies
Uncover the benefits and drawbacks of Haven Life's term insurance policies, along with eligibility details, pricing, and customer feedback..
Read article
Start Comparing Quotes
Search from our learning center to learn everything from how to easily switch your car insurance to the ins and outs of home insurance.
Fill out just one form and get multiple quotes!
