In 1925, H.O. Hirt and O.G. Crawford set out to create an insurance company that valued people over profit. After working at the Pennsylvania Indemnity Exchange from 1922 to 1924, the men felt undervalued and unhappy, seeing just how little importance was being placed on human satisfaction. They put the wheels in motion and decided to start their own company, one that valued customer happiness above all else. This was the beginning of Erie Insurance. From that simple idea came an insurance company that has always put the customer first.
Erie has always been designed to fit the way you want to live while protecting the car you love. Hence why they have always sought to offer unique coverage options in addition to basic collision and comprehensive packages. Some are included with comprehensive coverage and others may be tacked onto your policy for a small premium increase.
Coverage Options
Erie Auto Plus
Erie’s Base Auto coverage policy package is great, but for just a few pennies more per day, you can truly optimize your package with Erie Auto Plus. Benefits of Erie Auto Plus include:
- Diminishing deductibles
- $10,000 Death Benefit
- Additional days of transportation expense coverages
- Waived deductibles
- Increased spending limits on certain coverage areas.
Pet Coverage
Most of us see our pets like valued members of the family. Erie offers up pet coverage that will cover the cost of vet treatments up to $500 per pet or $1,000 total should your pet be hurt in a car accident while in your vehicle.
Personal Items Coverage
It isn’t uncommon to keep valuable personal items in your car. Should you experience an accident, physical damage coverage on an Erie car insurance policy will cover the cost of damaged personal items in your car up to $350.
Better Car Protection
Every driver’s worst nightmare is a totaled vehicle, especially if funds are tight. Better Car Protection from Erie can replace an older vehicle with a car two years newer if it is totaled in an accident. Additionally, Lease Loan Protection, if your car is totaled, can cover the balance of an auto loan (not including any carry-over balances on the loan).
New Car Protection
If you have a new car (up to 24 months old) and it is totaled in an accident, New Car Protection will replace your car with a vehicle of the latest model year.
Roadside and Rentals Coverage
Should your car break down, Erie offers rental car coverage and 24/7 emergency roadside assistance services.
Glass Coverage
Glass repair can be costly to drivers. Erie comprehensive auto insurance coverage comes equipped with glass coverage with a waived deductible in place for glass repair. You can also purchase Full Window Glass to get your deductible waived in the event of repair or full replacement.
Discounts
Who doesn’t want to save money on their car insurance premiums? Luckily, Erie offers a variety of discounts and features to keep your monthly premiums reasonable.
Discounts and features include:
- Erie Rate Lock Promise – A unique feature that ensures your car insurance premium won’t go up even after a claim. Your premium will only change should you add a new vehicle to your policy or change your address.
- Multi-policy discount
- Safe driving discount
- Reduced usage discount
- Safety feature discount
- Annual payment plan
- Young driver discount
Is Erie Highly Rated?
Erie doesn’t just earn top marks with customers, they are also ranked highly with J.D Power. For the seventh year in a row, Erie earned the top ranking in customer satisfaction among all auto insurers for providing an amazing customer shopping experience. Overall, Erie earned a whopping 917 points on a 1,000 point scale, which puts them 65 points above the industry average of 852.
Additionally, Erie boasts a high A.M. Best rating. A. M. Best is a respected provider of financial ratings for all insurance organizations. With that said, Erie has earned an A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior). Additionally, Erie ranks number 381 on the 2019 Fortune 500 list, which ranks the largest companies in America based on total revenue.
What Customers Say About Erie
Unlike many car insurance companies, Erie tends to boast more positive customer reviews than the average insurer. Users cite that working with Erie is fantastic and highly affordable. Others note that the company offers up excellent customer service and is available for support during non-traditional times, such as Saturday afternoons or early Sunday morning. Agents also work tirelessly to get you the most for every claim.
Unfortunately, some customers cite that dealing with Erie while filing an accident claim can be difficult and that wait times can be lengthy. Typically, users found that once Erie offered up a quote or claim estimate that the price was non-negotiable. Overall, users had a tremendously positive experience.
Conclusion
Here are the pros and cons of going with Erie.
Pros
- Easy to navigate website
- Excellent coverage explanations
- Transparent pricing
- Unique discount offerings
- Flexible billing options (including monthly and annually)
- Variety of coverage options available
- Well-trained customer service agents
Cons
- Doesn’t reward its most loyal customers
- Keeps very traditional hours
- Claim estimates are often non-negotiable
- Wait times can be lengthy
Overall, Erie Insurance’s focus on customer satisfaction and providing the best in customer satisfaction seems to be paying off. Most customers cite feeling happy and satisfied with their coverage options and agent experiences.