Safeco Insurance Review (Updated For 2023)


WRITTEN BY: Julia Matseikovich

UPDATED: OCTOBER 05, 2023 | 1 MIN READ

Safeco insurance is in the business of selling both personal vehicle insurance and other insurance products. The company offers policyholders a variety of coverages and discounts. However, customer service rankings aren’t excellent – it lacks customer satisfaction. Let’s take a deeper dive below into Safeco insurance and what it has to offer. 

About Safeco

Liberty Mutual, based in Seattle, Washington, is the parent company of Safeco insurance. Safeco was founded in 1923, and throughout just a couple of decades, it experienced lots of growth and ventured into multiple lines of insurance types. 

Safeco offers customers competitive and fair pricing, with plenty of opportunities for discounts on premiums and plenty of kinds of insurance coverage. The insurance company also helps customers save extra money by bundling auto and home insurance policies. Let’s review Safeco’s customer satisfaction ratings below and see what customers like you think of this popular insurance option. 

Satisfaction ratings

  • BBB Rating: A+
  • Consumer Reports Rating: Satisfied
  • J.D. Power Rating: 4.1/5
  • AM Best Rating: A

Safeco pros and cons

Like all companies, Safeco has pros and cons when purchasing an insurance policy through them. 

PROS
  • Offers a plethora of add-on coverage options
  • Offers the Claims-Free Cash-Back program to drivers who want to save on premium rates
  • Offers the RightTrack discount program, which allows policyholders to track driving behavior in real-time to unlock discounts
  • Offers a wide variety of tools to manage policies digitally
  • Fewer complaints among customers when compared to the average NAIC Complaint Index
CONS
  • The company scores below average with JD Power's customer satisfaction rating
  • Offers fewer discount programs than other companies
  • The company doesn't offer quotes online
  • Customer service hours are limited to business hours
  • Scores lower than other major insurance companies for the AM Best financial strength

Safeco car insurance review

Rating

Safeco car insurance provides policyholders with a variety of discounts and coverage options. The company has an A+ rating with the BBB. It offers basic and extra insurance coverage options (such as accident forgiveness) and ranks third among major auto insurance carriers when comparing policy pricing. Safeco auto insurance also offers special options, like classic car insurance

Car insurance policies offered through Safeco

Safeco boasts many types of car insurance policies that are available for purchase. This includes the following:

Types of coverage offered by Safeco

Safeco is a popular option for auto and home insurance coverage and other types of insurance coverage, like motorcycle and rental coverage. Some of the most popular auto insurance coverage options include comprehensive and collision, liability, and uninsured motorist coverage. 

Safeco offers many optional add-ons for car insurance policies, like roadside assistance and new vehicle replacement. Safeco protects all your needs, whether for your vehicle, boat, ATV, classic car, or more. 

Customers can also purchase homeowners insurance through Safeco, and can bundle their home policy with their auto policy. With such a wide variety of coverages, it’s easy to understand why many customers are satisfied with Safeco. 

Upgrades and add-ons

Safeco offers a variety of optional upgrades and add-ons to its policies. Some of the most popular options include:

Golf carts and low-speed vehicle coverage 

Golf carts and low-speed vehicles are steadily growing in popularity. Chances are, you may see golf carts strolling through the streets in your neighborhood, as they’re a convenient source of accessible transportation. 

Much like auto coverage, golf cart coverage works similarly. You can purchase bodily injury, guest, and property damage liability insurance for your golf cart or low-speed vehicle. In addition to liability insurance, Safeco offers comp and collision, medical coverage, and roadside assistance on your small vehicle. 

Cyber protection insurance coverage

As we all know, technology is a part of our daily lives and is all around. And with the increase in technology comes an increase in online fraud, identity theft, and cyber attacks. Safeco offers cyber protection coverage for those who wish to utilize it. 

This insurance is designed to step in and pay for repair costs, should you need to hire a professional to repair or replace devices, and costs associated with identity theft, like legal fees, attorneys, and more. It’s coverage can even help with credit monitoring and is quite affordable compared to the mountain of expenses you could find yourself in due to a cyber attack. 

Pet insurance coverage

Pet insurance helps ensure your pets get access to veterinary care and helps reduce the excess financial strain that both vet preventative care and emergencies can cause. Safeco offers pet insurance that can include coverage for wellness visits, surgeries, flea and tick care, euthanasia, and more.

ATV and off-road vehicle insurance coverage

Off-road vehicle and ATV insurance works much like golf cart insurance. You can purchase bodily injury, property damage, comprehensive and collision, and medical bill coverage. Safeco also offers parts coverage, should you need to replace critical components on your ATV, gear replacement insurance, and roadside assistance.

Safeco’s available discounts

Insurance premiums can be costly, but Safeco offers various discounts to help policyholders save some extra money each year. Depending on your policy type, you’ll likely find discounts or money-saving programs that will fit your specific needs. Let’s take a look below at some of the discounts you may qualify for if you obtain a policy through Safeco:

  • Discounts from paying upfront: If you decide to pay your entire premium upfront rather than monthly, you’ll likely qualify for savings. 
  • Bundling: If you bundle your car and home insurance policies, you can receive up to 15% off your annual premium. 
  • Good student discounts: For those young drivers in your home, Safeco offers good student discounts for students with good grades in school.
  • Low-mileage discount: Policyholders who are over 25 and drive their vehicle less than 8,000 miles each year could qualify for the low-mileage discount program. This allows policyholders to save up to 20% on their annual premiums. 

Special programs available through Safeco

Safeco has various discounts available, but they also have various special programs. Two of this insurance company’s most popular special programs include the claim-free cash-back discount program and the RightTrack safe driving program. 

Claim-Free Cash-Back program

The claim-free cash-back discount program allows drivers to earn money back as a reward for safe driving. While the refund isn’t huge, it’s still an extra jingle in your pocket at the end of the year. 

For every six months of safe driving without filing a claim, motorists earn 2.5% cash back through the insurer. In addition to the claim-free cash-back program, Safeco offers safe drivers, another program that can help save money. 

RightTrack safe driving program

The RightTrack safe driving program provides discounts of up to 30% off the annual premium cost. Policyholders will need to download a mobile app on their phones, allowing the program to track safe driving behavior. The app monitors miles driven, braking, acceleration, and driving hours. 

What you need to apply for a Safeco policy

Signing up for a Safeco insurance policy is easy and quick. To apply for a policy, you’ll need a few things.

  • Your full name: You will need to provide your full legal name so that the insurer can locate public records. You’ll also need to give your date of birth. 
  • Your home address: Zip codes play a significant role in insurance pricing. Rural areas will carry different rates than suburbs, and the state in which you reside will play an important role in pricing since different states may have other minimum coverage requirements.  
  • Social Security number: You’ll need to provide your Social Security number when applying for car insurance. Insurers will use this to locate driving records and credit reports, which will play a role in premium rates. 
  • Email address: You’ll want to be sure that you provide your email address when you first conduct a quote. Many insurance companies, including Safeco, will communicate via email and may even send paperless bills directly to your email address.
  • VIN: This is a 16-digit identification number found within your vehicle. Each VIN is different and is designated solely to your vehicle. This number can be found within your car door or your owner’s manual.

FAQs

Is Safeco good at paying claims?

While Safeco pays claims, customers aren’t overly impressed with the claims process. Safeco ranked below average in the 2022 JD Power’s U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. 

Is Safeco insurance good or bad?

Overall, Safeco insurance is good. They offer fair pricing and many coverage choices.

Are Safeco and Progressive the same?

Safeco and Progressive are not the same insurance company. Progressive is a much larger insurance company that sells through licensed independent agents and directly to the public. Safeco sells insurance policies through licensed agents. 

How much does Safeco insurance cost?

Safeco insurance will range in cost, depending on many different factors. These factors include age, zip code, driving history, and marital status. However, the average policy cost through Safeco starts at around $1,000 per year. 

Is Safeco insurance expensive?

Safeco offers more expensive premium rates in comparison to other insurance companies. However, your factors will significantly impact your monthly or yearly pay. 

Is Safeco a reliable insurance company?

Safeco is proven to be a reliable company. For the most part, customers are satisfied with their insurance coverage and claims process. 

Are Safeco rates high?

Safeco insurance rates are typically higher than other insurance companies. But, they are still considered affordable and offer a variety of discount programs and incentives for the policyholder to save money where possible.

Compare Safeco auto insurance policies

Shopping for auto insurance may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re ready to compare Safeco auto insurance policies, call our team of insurance agents. 

We can generate multiple insurance quotes for you in just moments, and be sure to find the most comprehensive plan at the best rates possible.