Auto Owners homeowners insurance review 2024

Our thoughts on Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is No.3 in our best home insurance companies 2024 ranking. The insurer received strong scores from third-party rating agencies AM Best and J.D. Power — an A++ (superior) and 834 out of 1,000, respectively. Its J.D. Power score was the third highest of the insurers we ranked.

Auto-Owners also received strong marks in multiple categories in our survey, including ease of service, recommendations and customer loyalty.

Where can you buy Auto-Owners homeowners insurance?

Auto-Owners home insurance is available in 26 states:

Map

Table

Available

Not available

State
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin

*Some state rates will vary based on the addition of a hurricane deductible and may be much higher when included.

What does Auto-Owners homeowners insurance cover?

Your home (dwelling coverage)
Other structures on your property, such as a shed or detached garage (other structures)
The contents of your home (personal property)
Temporary housing and additional expenses if you can’t live at home due to a covered loss (loss of use/additional living expenses)
Damages if you are responsible for injuries or damage to someone else (personal liability and medical payments)

You can also add additional coverage to supplement your policy:

Complete replacement of your home if your cost to rebuild exceeds your insurance policy’s limit.
Expanded coverage for your personal items
Repair costs for damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems
An extra 25% above your limits if your repair or replacement costs exceed your coverage limit

How much is Auto-Owners home insurance?

The table below shows average annual premiums for different coverage levels, all with a $1,000 deductible.

Coverage level	Average annual rate
$200,000 with $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability	$1,732
$200,000 with $1,000 deductible and $300,000 liability	$1,741
$300,000 with $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability	$2,150
$300,000 with $1,000 deductible and $300,000 liability	$2,160
$400,000 with $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability	$2,604
$400,000 with $1,000 deductible and $300,000 liability	$2,616
$600,000 with $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability	$3,464
$600,000 with $1,000 deductible and $300,000 liability	$3,480
$1,00,000 with $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability	$6,672
$1,00,000 with $1,000 deductible and $300,000 liability	$6,700

Auto-Owners home insurance discounts

Only 42% of customers surveyed said they would choose discounts as one of Erie’s top three attributes. However, most insurers surveyed didn’t perform very well in the category. American Family received the highest score of 54%.

The chart below shows some available discounts and how each discount affects pricing. The biggest discount offered is for new homes.

Discount type	Average rate before	Average rate after	% discount
Insurance Score Alignment	$2,160	Hail Resistant Roof	52%
New Home	$2,160	$1,492	31%
Bundle	$2,160	$2,002	12%
Age of home	$2,160	$1,939	10%
Separate Wind-Hail Deductible	$2,160	$1,953	10%
All Perils Deductible	$2,160	$1,993	8%
Paid in Full	$2,160	$1,980	8%
Advance Purchase	$2,160	$2,036	6%
Upgrades	$2,160	$2,033	6%
Construction type	$2,160	$2,088	3%
Fire Alarm	$2,160	$2,105	3%
Hail Resitant Roof	$2,160	$2,105	3%
Sprinklers	$2,160	$2,101	3%
Loyalty	$2,160	$2,124	2%
Smoke Detector	$2,160	$2,147	1%
Water Safety System	$2,160	$2,149	1%
Burglar Alarm	$2,160	$2,152	>1%

*Based on $300,000 dwelling, $300,000 liability with a $1,000 deductible

What makes Auto-Owners' home insurance rates go up?

Most insurance companies hike your rates in certain situations, and Auto-Owners is no different. Filing a claim is a major factor for increased rates, just about doubling your cost.

Having a wood-burning stove in your home will result in a 17% increase in your rates. An older home results in a 4% increase.

Reason	Average rate before	Average rate after	% increase
Age of home	$2,160	$2,257	4%
All Perils Deductible	$2,160	$2,367	10%
Claims	$2,160	$4,292	99%
Construction type	$2,160	$2,417	12%
Home-Based Business	$2,160	$2,208	2%
Wood burning stove	$2,160	$2,523	17%

Auto-Owners vs. Competitors: How does Auto-Owners stack up?

Company	Average annual rate	Customer satisfaction	Ease of service	Policy offerings
Auto-Owners	$2,160	67%	81%	67%
Allstate	$2,098	83%	82%	81%
American Family	$2,504	84%	89%	84%

*Based on $300,000 dwelling, $300,000 liability with a $1,000 deductible

What do people ask about Auto-Owners?

Below are some commonly asked questions about Auto-Owners and how it stacks up against competitors.

Is Auto-Owners a good homeowners insurance company?

To determine if a homeowners insurance company is the right fit for you, there are a few factors to consider, such as the insurer's financial strength, customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Auto-Owners performed well in all of these categories. It received an A++ rating from AM Best, demonstrating that it has the ability to meet its financial obligations. Additionally, it received a high J.D. Power score of 834, showcasing its ability to pay out claims — the reason you’re buying a homeowners insurance policy in the first place. Our survey shows that Auto-Owners customers are also loyal to the company, with 81% of policyholders saying they’ll renew their coverage with the insurer.

Do people trust Auto-Owners?

Though Auto-Owners received high marks in multiple categories, only 65% of the customers surveyed think the insurer is trustworthy. This was on the lower end of the scoring range of carriers surveyed. American Family led the pack at 89%.

Company	Percentage of customers who say they trust the company
Auto-Owners	65%
Nationwide	73%
American Family	89%

Do people recommend Auto-Owners?

Satisfied customers recommend their insurance company to friends and family. Auto-Owners scored well in this category, with 86% of people surveyed saying they’ll recommend it to others. Erie led the pack with 95%.

Company	Percentage of customers who would recommend the company to others
Auto-Owners	86%
Erie	95%
Farmers	82%

Do people plan to renew with Auto-Owners?

Auto-Owners scored well for customer loyalty, with most policyholders saying they plan to renew their coverage. Erie again led the pack at 97%.

Company	Percentage of customers who would recommend the company to others
Auto-Owners	81%
Erie	97%
Hippo	76%

Is Auto-Owners good at paying claims?

J.D. Power is a third-party rating system that rewards points based on several factors, including the ability to pay out claims. Auto-Owners earned a high J.D. Power score of 834/1,000, the third highest of all the carriers surveyed. Erie came in first, receiving a score of 856.