Erie Insurance Company Review

Erie Insurance Company at a Glance

Erie Pros: Well-established carrier with nearly a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry. Very high ratings through A.M. Best and the BBB. High volume of glowing customer reviews. Offers a wide range of insurance products from boat insurance to workers’ compensation. Strong financial stability. A Fortune 500 Company. Polished, intuitive official website. Known for providing excellent customer service. Offers several competitive discounts and locked auto insurance rates.

Erie Cons: Not a BBB accredited company. Several complaints filed against the carrier through the BBB in recent years. No online claims reporting. Coverage not available in every state.

What Type of Insurance Does Erie Offer?

Erie provides a range of insurance products for both individuals and businesses. Their coverage offerings include:

This list of insurance products offered by Erie is far from exhaustive. Your independent insurance agent can help you find out more information about all of Erie’s coverage options.

What to Know About Erie Insurance

Erie Insurance was founded in 1925, under the name the Erie Insurance Exchange, giving the carrier nearly a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry today. The insurance company has grown from humble roots to now having more than 5,000 employees. Erie’s official website states that today the insurance company has more than five million insurance policies in force.

Erie began its venture in the insurance industry by focusing its efforts on auto insurance. Now the insurance company offers tons of different products, ranging from boat insurance to personal umbrella insurance and workers’ compensation. Though their coverage is currently only available in 12 states and DC, millions of customers have chosen to rely on Erie for their insurance needs.

The insurance company holds a few impressive rankings today. As of 2020, Erie has taken the titles of the 12^th largest auto insurer in the US, the 11^th largest home insurer in the US, and the 12^th largest business insurer in the US. Erie is also a Fortune 500 Company and has been recognized on the list since 2003. In 2016 and 2017, Erie won the Achievement in Customer Excellence Awards by Confirmit for their claims service.

Because of its long-standing history, amount of insurance in-force, and massive size, Erie has earned itself a reputation as a respected and financially stable carrier with a strong outlook for the future. A.M. Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives Erie an “A+” rating, indicating the carrier is a superior choice for insurance customers. A high rating from A.M. Best assures customers that Erie is capable of offering guaranteed, secure coverage from a trustworthy and reputable carrier.

Established in 1899, A.M. Best is one of the oldest rating companies in the world. Reviews from A.M. Best indicate an insurance company’s financial strength and creditworthiness, and are based on comprehensive evaluations of the company’s operating performance, business profile, and balance sheet. For customers who aren’t as familiar with insurance companies’ respective reputations, A.M. Best’s ratings system allows them to make an informed decision about who they can trust to meet their needs in the short term, and also to remain a strong, financially sound company in the long term.

What Discounts Does Erie Offer?

Erie offers several competitive discounts for their customers, especially on auto insurance. Their discounts include:

Your independent insurance agent can help you find even more information on discounts offered by Erie and other ways to save money through the insurance company, helping you to get the most bang for your buck on coverage.

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Erie Customer Service

Erie allows customers to file claims via phone any time of the week. The carrier also provides the following customer service options:

Erie sells insurance through a wide network of agents, including independent insurance agents. Independent insurance agents can help make customer service easier for you by handling claims and other concerns.

Erie Insurance FAQ

What is Erie's average claim response timeframe?

Erie allows customers to file claims over the phone at any time. Their official website states that the carrier will respond “right away” to customers after a new claim has been filed to get the process moving along.

What is Erie's customer service availability?

Erie provides 24/7 claims reporting for their customers via a toll-free phone line. Their main customer service hotline is available at generous hours Monday-Friday, and at restricted hours on Saturday. The carrier also has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, making them even more accessible to customers.

What is Erie's claims process?

Erie allows their customers to file claims at any time via phone. The official website breaks down  the insurance company’s process for auto insurance claims in a few simple steps:

"Step 1: Start your claim

You can start an auto insurance claim by:

Contacting your local Erie agent

Calling Erie Insurance at 800-367-3743 (Sometimes in these situations, you just want to talk to someone, and we’ll be there for you. ERIE offers support 24/7.)

No matter how large or small the accident, let us know about it right away.

Step 2: Get in touch with your claims handler

Once you file your claim, an ERIE claims adjuster will get in touch with you right away to review the accident details and your auto insurance coverage. As you work with your claims adjuster, keep this information handy to help speed up the process:

Your insurance policy number (and the insured’s name as it appears on the policy

Your claims number

The names, email addresses and phone numbers of your agent and claims handler

Estimates, emails and notes of the phone conversations about the claim

Step 3: Review car repair options

We have several car repair options to help get you back up and running. Your claims adjuster will review the details with you. The options apply if you have auto, business auto or garage auto insurance policies with ERIE.

Step 4: Settle the insurance claim

We want to settle your auto claim as quickly as possible. Most claims have speedy resolutions, but the timeframe will depend on the nature of the accident. For instance, a minor fender bender will generally be processed faster than a claim involving multiple cars, property damage and injuries.

If you’re looking for help with your claim and the repairs, you could work with your favorite mechanic or one that ERIE recommends. Ask your ERIE claims adjuster about the qualified businesses that are a part of ERIE’s Direct Repair program. The network of businesses in the program will estimate the damages, share their estimate with us and then make the repairs.

Find a garage or body repair shop near you now. Whenever you have questions about your claim or the process, please get in touch with your claims adjuster or ERIE agent.”

Customers can stay updated on their claim’s progress by keeping in touch with their independent insurance agent or by calling the carrier.

Does Erie Insurance create a user-friendly experience for customers?

Erie’s official website is excellent. Compared to other modern carriers’ websites today, Erie’s site is among the most intuitive and easiest to navigate. Pertinent information can be located easily for prospective and current customers, and information provided on the website is detailed and thorough. The insurance company’s discounts and their official claims process, for example, are prominently displayed on the website, which is a courtesy not provided by all insurance companies. However, one aspect lacking from Erie’s website is an option for online claims reporting, a service provided by many modern insurance companies today, which makes its absence from an otherwise very advanced carrier appear quite bizarre.  

Does Erie have good auto insurance?

While Erie offers many types of coverages, the carrier has its roots in auto insurance. The insurance company provides the following benefits under their auto policies:

One of the most unique features about Erie’s auto insurance is the “rate lock” endorsement, which allows customers to keep their same premium rate throughout the life of their policy, unless they make changes such as adding or removing a driver, or moving the address of their vehicle.

Is Erie a good insurance company?

With extremely high ratings through both A.M. Best and the BBB, as well as several impressive nationwide rankings, Erie has certainly made quite a name for itself over the years. Many glowing customer reviews can be found across the web, too, suggesting that Erie delivers on its coverage promises. Topped off with a polished modern official website, Erie Insurance can arguably be considered a good insurance company indeed.

Erie Insurance Customer Reviews

Clearsurance

“I love it, that have good pricing and help me with most needs. The customer service is amazing also!”

Clearsurance

“Erie insurance is great! It really gives great deals if you bundle multiple cars, and even better when you include your home.”

Better Business Bureau

“I’m 85, have had several different insurers over the years, and Erie is the best! Their reps are easy to reach, they handle claims quickly, and their prices are lower than most.”

Consumer Affairs

“I have been very satisfied with Erie Insurance. I was with GEICO before and was paying way too much for my home and auto coverage. Erie saved me about 20 percent from the start and I check them each year to make sure they are in line. I have had one claim and it was handled perfectly. Five Stars ****”

Consumer Affairs

“The customer service is provided by the local agent. That will make or break someone's opinion. I personally don't care for online only insurance services. The price we get is very good. We are older drivers but have been with Erie while our children (now adults) were covered under our policy. After hours service is available.”

TrustedChoice.com's Final Review

We award Erie Insurance a final rating of 3 out of 5 stars. The insurance company is fast approaching its century mark in the insurance industry, and their level of experience shows through their ratings and feedback. Erie’s extremely high ratings of an “A+” through both A.M. Best and the BBB are noteworthy and certainly respectable. The carrier does lose some points for not being BBB accredited, however, and for having had quite a few complaints filed against them through the organization in recent years. That being said, it’s easy to find tons of glowing customer reviews about the insurance company scattered across the web. Customers seem satisfied with not only the coverage provided by Erie, but also their customer service and claims handling practices. Additionally, Erie’s official website is extremely well done, and perhaps among the best around regarding all insurance companies today. While the lack of an online claims reporting option is strange, many customers don’t seem to be bothered by it due to the level of care they receive when contacting the carrier.