Shelter Insurance Company Review

Shelter Insurance Company at a Glance

Shelter Pros: Well-established carrier with nearly two-thirds of a century’ of experience in the insurance industry. Offers many types of coverage for individuals and businesses, including renters insurance, ATV insurance, flood insurance, and more. Offers 24/7 claims reporting. High ratings through A.M. Best and the BBB. Offers several discounts. Strong financial stability.

Shelter Cons: Coverage not available nationwide. Several complaints filed against the carrier through the BBB. Mixed customer feedback. Claims response timeframe promise not provided.

What Type of Insurance Does Shelter Offer?

Shelter offers a large catalogue of insurance products for individuals and businesses. Their coverages include:

This list of products available from Shelter is not exhaustive. Your independent insurance agent can help you find more information about the coverages offered by Shelter, and help you decide if this insurance company is right for you.

What to Know about Shelter

Shelter Insurance was founded in 1946, giving the carrier more than seven decades of experience in the insurance industry. The insurance company was originally founded in Missouri, with a mission to provide affordable auto coverage to residents in the state. Today, Shelter has expanded their catalogue to offer many types of coverage for individuals and businesses, including renters insurance, farm insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. The carrier now operates in 21 states across the US.

Shelter’s LinkedIn profile states that the insurance company currently has between 1,001 and 5,000 employees, with 3,270 found on the social media platform. The carrier’s size is also noteworthy in terms of financial strength. A.M. Best places the carrier in the $2 billion or greater financial size category.

Thanks to its long-standing history, solid financial strength, and wide variety of insurance products offered, Shelter has earned a reputation as an insurance company with a strong outlook for the future. A.M. Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives Shelter an “A” rating, indicating the carrier is an excellent choice for insurance customers. High ratings from A.M. Best assure customers that Shelter 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’ reputations, A.M. Best’s rating 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 Shelter Offer?

Shelter offers many competitive discounts on their products, especially for auto insurance. Their discounts include:

Your independent insurance agent can help you find even more information about discounts offered by Shelter and other ways to save money through the insurance company, helping you to find the coverage you need at the rate you deserve.

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Shelter Customer Service

Shelter encourages claims reporting through the website, but also offers phone claims reporting at any time. The carrier provides the following customer service options:

The best way to ensure a smooth customer service experience is to work with an independent insurance agent. These agents can help handle claims and other concerns for you, so you can relax and enjoy your coverage.

Shelter FAQ

What is Shelter's average claim response timeframe?

Shelter allows customers to file claims at any time over the phone or online. However, the insurance company does not provide a claims response timeframe promise.

What is Shelter's customer service availability?

Shelter allows customers to file claims at any time online or over the phone. Their hotline for customer service inquiries is available at generous hours, Monday-Saturday. Customers can pay their bills through the official website as well. The carrier also has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, which makes them even more accessible to customers.

What is Shelter's claims process?

Shelter allows its customers to file claims anytime through multiple media. However, the insurance company does not detail their claims process on their official website or social media platforms. If customers have questions about filing or the claims process itself, they can contact the carrier via phone or email, or get in touch with their independent insurance agent.

Does Shelter create a user-friendly experience for customers?

Shelter’s official website is decent, but could be better. The layout could benefit from an update, as could the information the carrier provides about claims. There is not much detail about a claims process or claims response timeframe provided for customers, which could deter some folks who are seeking coverage. Shelter does provide 24/7 claims reporting through the website or over the phone. So, while Shelter isn’t the most user-friendly carrier around today, they’re certainly far from the least.

Does Shelter have good auto insurance?

Shelter offers a variety of coverages for individuals and businesses, but got its start by offering affordable auto insurance. Their auto policies come with the following coverage options:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability
• Roadside assistance
• New car replacement
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Medical payments
• Personal injury protection
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Rental reimbursement
• Accidental death coverage
• Disability income coverage
• Gap insurance
• Loss of use coverage

Shelter offers several forms of auto insurance, including coverage for RVs, ATVs, and motorcycles. Your independent insurance agent can help you find out even more about the insurance company’s auto coverage, as well as their many other products offered.

Is Shelter a good insurance company?

Shelter has more than 74 years of experience under its belt today. The carrier has been highly rated by both A.M. Best and the BBB, however, Shelter has had quite a few complaints filed against them through the latter organization in recent years. Customer feedback also appears to be somewhat mixed. The insurance company offers 24/7 claims reporting and has solid financial strength. Overall, it may be open for individual interpretation whether Shelter can be considered a good insurance company.

Shelter Customer Reviews

Consumer Affairs

“Shelter has been one of the easiest companies I have ever worked with. My agent is extremely personal and easy to work with, and he embodies the values of Shelter as a whole. He is very hands-on with his customers, and he always makes sure that their needs are taken care of. Especially when it comes to claims. He was able to save money on several of my insurance needs. I will send everyone I know to him! Shelter- thank you for being so AWESOME!!”

Consumer Affairs

“Have only used it once after I hit a deer, but they were easy to work with and paid my claim quickly. My agent cares about my family and wants to make sure we are adequately covered. They also cover my home and two rental properties, and have many other financial products available.”

Clearsurance

“I had to file two claims in less than a year, and one I could have been hassled over, but Shelter took care of it no questions asked. Super friendly and personable company. I have been with them for five years and have always been impressed, and I am a super critical person when it comes to businesses such as this.”

Clearsurance

“I recently had an accident and getting information from the company regarding the status of my claim was extremely difficult. Overall, my dealings with the agent are pleasant, but receiving updates from the claims department was a nightmare.”

Better Business Bureau

“Shelter Insurance make claims impossible. Pay your premium, but they won't pay.”

TrustedChoice.com's Final Review

We award Shelter Insurance a final rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. The carrier has been around for nearly two-thirds of a century now, which is noteworthy in the insurance industry. The insurance company has high ratings through A.M. Best and the BBB and has impressive financial strength. Shelter provides many types of coverage for all kinds of insurance customers in need, however, coverage is only available in 21 states currently. The carrier provides 24/7 claims reporting through multiple media, yet customer feedback still seems largely mixed. Almost equal amounts of glowing customer reviews and dismal feedback can be spotted on multiple platforms across the web. Also, Shelter has had quite a few complaints filed against them through the BBB in the past three years. We’re also not huge fans of the fact that the insurance company doesn’t provide much detail about their claims process or a claims response timeframe promise. Overall, however, we say it’s worth exploring Shelter Insurance as a potential option to be your next insurance company, just work with your independent insurance agent to explore your other options as well.