John Egan is a veteran personal finance writer whose work has been published by outlets such as Bankrate, Experian, Newsweek Vault and Investopedia.
John Egan Personal Finance ExpertJohn Egan is a veteran personal finance writer whose work has been published by outlets such as Bankrate, Experian, Newsweek Vault and Investopedia.
Written By John Egan Personal Finance ExpertJohn Egan is a veteran personal finance writer whose work has been published by outlets such as Bankrate, Experian, Newsweek Vault and Investopedia.
John Egan Personal Finance ExpertJohn Egan is a veteran personal finance writer whose work has been published by outlets such as Bankrate, Experian, Newsweek Vault and Investopedia.
Personal Finance Expert Penny Gusner Insurance Writer and AnalystPenny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance.
Penny Gusner Insurance Writer and AnalystPenny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance.
Penny Gusner Insurance Writer and AnalystPenny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance.
Penny Gusner Insurance Writer and AnalystPenny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance.
| Insurance Writer and Analyst
Updated: Jan 3, 2024, 1:17pm
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Safeco is suitable for safe drivers—it offers a discount for being claims-free, a diminishing deductible and a usage-based insurance option (RightTrack). However, Safeco’s complaint level is slightly higher than the industry average.
Safeco was founded in 1923 in Seattle as the General Insurance Co. of America and was nicknamed The General. Eventually, the company adopted the Safeco name (standing for Selective Auto and Fire Insurance Co. of America) and abandoned The General nickname. Liberty Mutual purchased Safeco in 2008.
Safeco sells car insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Safeco offers all the standard coverage types that you would expect to find at other car insurance companies, as well as some add-ons, such as custom equipment coverage, emergency assistance and pet injury coverage.
If someone is hurt or their property is damaged in an accident you cause, your liability car insurance will pay for covered damages and expenses, including court costs if you are sued. This coverage is divided into bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
Comprehensive coverage applies to damage caused by anything not considered a collision. This can include theft, vandalism, fire, floods, hail, falling objects or a run-in with a deer or other animal. The maximum payout for comprehensive coverage is the actual cash value of your car if it’s totaled, minus your deductible.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from an accident, regardless of fault. It will also pay for your vehicle damage if you hit an object (such as a guardrail or utility pole). The maximum payout for collision coverage is the actual cash value of your car if it’s totaled, minus your deductible.
Collision and comprehensive insurance are optional coverage types that are usually sold together. If you have a lease or car loan, your leasing company or lender will likely require you to purchase them.
In some states, you are required to buy uninsured motorist insurance, and it’s optional in other states. If you get hit by a driver who does not have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses in full, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance will provide additional coverage for you and your passengers’ injuries. In some states, you can also buy coverage for damage to your car caused by an uninsured driver.
Personal injury protection (PIP) pays for you and your passengers’ medical expenses and hospital bills, no matter who is at fault for the accident. It is required in no-fault insurance states and is optional in others.
Medical payments insurance (Medpay) covers medical expenses up to the policy limits for anyone injured while they’re in your car, no matter who’s at fault. It also covers expenses such as ambulance rides, X-rays, surgeries and nursing services.
In addition to the standard coverage types above, you’ll find these car insurance coverage types at Safeco:
Safeco has a slightly higher-than-average level of auto insurance complaints made to state insurance departments across the country. Safeco’s complaints are higher than most top competitors.
Safeco’s auto insurance complaints tend to be related to claim delays, unsatisfactory claim settlement offers, adjusters’ handling of claims, claim denials and rates.
In a survey of collision repair professionals by CRASH Network, Safeco earned a D+ grade. CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card has grades from more than 1,000 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
The opinions of auto body repair specialists are valuable because they have an insider’s view of insurance companies’ use of lower-quality repair parts, whether insurers encourage proper repair procedures, and whether car insurance companies have rapid and satisfactory claims processes for customers.
Your first accident on a Safeco policy is waived after a set number of years with Safeco coverage if you haven’t had an at-fault accident or moving violation.
Yes, Safeco car insurance offers new car replacement insurance.
Safeco will cover the cost of a comparable new car if you’re the original owner of a car less than one year old and with fewer than 15,000 miles that has been totaled or stolen.
Yes, Safeco offers gap insurance.
Gap insurance pays you the difference between what you owe on a car loan or lease and the value of your stolen or totaled vehicle.
If you keep a clean driving record, your deductible will be reduced by $50 for a six-month policy or $100 for an annual policy at policy renewal, up to a maximum of five years or $500.
In some cases, your state may require you to get an SR-22 from your insurer. This document proves to the state that you have car insurance. While the reasons for needing an SR-22 can vary by state, common reasons include causing an accident while uninsured, a DUI conviction or having a high number of traffic offenses.
The Safeco RightTrack program monitors hard braking, acceleration, nighttime driving and the number of miles driven. After a 90-day review period, your safe driving behaviors could earn you a discount up to 30% for the life of your car insurance policy. You’ll also get a guaranteed discount for signing up and participating in the program.
If you drive for a company like Lyft or Uber, you’ll likely have an insurance gap. When you have the app on and you’re waiting for a ride request, your personal car insurance policy doesn’t cover you (because you’re using your car for business purposes) and the rideshare company’s insurance doesn’t start until you’ve accepted a trip. Rideshare insurance covers the insurance gap.
In addition to auto insurance, Safeco offers coverage for:
With so many choices for car insurance companies, it can be hard to know where to start to find the right car insurance. We've evaluated insurers to find the best car insurance companies, so you don't have to.
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