Safeway Auto Insurance Review: What to Know (2024)

Safeway Insurance sells traditional and nonstandard auto insurance policies to drivers with any driving history or license. Safeway auto insurance is available in 12 states and costs between $60 to $125 per month on average.

In this Safeway car insurance review, you’ll learn how to request a quote, compare financial ratings, read customer experiences, find discounts, and determine if this company is right for you.

What is Safeway Insurance?

Founded in 1959, Safeway Insurance touts itself as the oldest privately-held and family-owned insurance company in America. It sells both traditional and nonstandard auto insurance policies in 12 states.

To purchase a policy from Safeway, you must live in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, or Texas.

Safeway auto insurance covers high-risk drivers, people with poor driving histories, people with no license, international licenses, and folks requiring SR-22 insurance. So if you’ve struggled to secure coverage from a traditional car insurance company, consider adding Safeway to your comparison shopping list.

In terms of auto insurance coverage options, you can purchase liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance from this company.

Safeway Insurance also offers uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and medical payments — or MedPay — coverage in select states. Available policy add-ons include towing, labor, and rental car coverage. However, Safeway may require you to invest in collision and comprehensive insurance to qualify for the policy add-ons.

The Safeway Insurance website is slightly outdated and challenging to navigate, but a second website exists called MySafeway that customers use to create logins for the convenient user portal.

You can make policy changes in the portal, pay your bill, find local agents, and access ID cards.

The MySafeway mobile app — compatible with most Apple and Android devices — is also available for customers to use on the go, providing the same functionality as the MySafeway web portal.

There are multiple ways to submit your Safeway Insurance payment. Customers can use the mobile app, company websites, or call the payment and billing phone number associated with the closest Safeway Insurance office. Those specific numbers are available in the MySafeway user portal.

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How do you request Safeway auto insurance quotes?

You can start the quote process for Safeway Insurance on the company website. However, to finalize the purchase of a ​​Safeway car insurance policy, you must connect with a local agent.

After completing the form with some basic information about yourself and your vehicle, you’ll receive an estimated rate. The form informs you of potential discounts you might be eligible to earn, but you’ll also get a list of contact information for the closest Safeway Insurance offices to you.

It’s up to you to contact a Safeway agent to finalize the purchase of your policy.

Understand that, as permitted by law, your quoted rate is subject to change based on information gathered about you from consumer reports.

However, interested customers can also skip the online quote form altogether and opt instead to find the nearest office or agency with licensed Safeway agents. Just remember to ask about the available auto insurance discounts.

What are the average Safeway auto insurance rates?

Your Safeway auto insurance rates depend on your age, driving record, coverage needs, vehicle make and model, and ZIP code.

On average, sources suggest basic coverage from Safeway Insurance costs $60 per month or $720 annually.

By comparison, Safeway’s full coverage car insurance policies cost $125 per month or $1,500 annually on average.

However, if you get a quote from Safeway, consider comparing it to the average cost of coverage in the state where you live. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the table below displays the average annual auto insurance expenditures in the 12 states where Safeway Insurance operates.

Average Annual Auto Insurance Expenditures by State

If you’re considering Safeway Insurance because you have a rocky driving record or are considered high-risk, expect to receive higher than average quotes. Data suggests that high-risk drivers pay 65% more for car insurance than safer drivers.

No matter what your driving history looks like, compare quotes online from multiple companies aside from Safeway Insurance to secure your best car insurance rates.

How do you file car insurance claims with Safeway Insurance?

Safeway car insurance customers can submit claims through the company website, through the MySafeway mobile app or online portal, or by contacting a local agent in person or over the phone. (For more information, read our “Can You Get Cheaper Car Insurance Over the Phone?“).

You must create a MySafeway user profile to submit auto insurance claims online.

The company website also says that you should still contact the closest Safeway Insurance office to you, even with online claims. Once Safeway assigns a claims representative to your case, keep their contact information on hand for more convenient communication.

Safeway Insurance contacts you within 48 hours after submitting a liability claim and accident report. However, the company does not give an estimated timeline for other types of claims.

Real Safeway Insurance customers rate the claims department somewhat poorly. Common complaints include slow payouts and unresponsive claims adjusters. Keep these experiences in mind while considering Safeway Insurance for coverage.

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Does Safeway Insurance offer any auto insurance discounts?

Safeway Insurance does not mention auto insurance discounts on the company website.

However, the online quote tool asks several questions to verify if you qualify for various rate reductions. In particular, it asks if you’re a homeowner, student, or affiliated with the military, implying that it offers discounts for them.

Depending on the vehicle you insure, the quote form also recommends various safety and anti-theft rate reductions.

However, discount availability and saving amounts vary by state.

For those wondering how to save money on car insurance with Safeway auto insurance, make sure you ask your local agent about the available discounts where you live.

What are the Safeway Insurance ratings and reviews?

When shopping around for coverage, it’s essential to look at an insurance company’s financial evaluations and customer reviews. Researching a company like this allows you to verify the reliability and efficiency of a company before committing to an auto insurance policy.

Financially, Safeway Insurance received an A rating from A.M. Best, one of America’s leading credit rating agencies.

A.M. Best’s rating implies the company is financially sound and can follow through on its promises to policyholders. So, how do real Safeway Insurance customers feel about the company?

The Better Business Bureau does not accredit Safeway Insurance, but it has an A+ score, meaning the BBB believes Safeway interacts positively with its consumers. However, customers awarded it only one star out of five possible stars.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, this company also has a higher complaint index ratio than the median. Safeway Insurance’s complaint index ratio is 3.12, and the median is always 1.00, which means Safeway received over three times as many complaints as the median.

Most negative reviews about Safeway Insurance involve the claims department. However, some drivers complain about increasing rates, and others share poor customer service interactions.

What is the history of Safeway Insurance?

Headquartered in Westmont, Illinois, Safeway Insurance Company started selling auto insurance policies in 1959. It calls itself the oldest family-owned and privately held insurance company in America.

The twofold mission of Safeway Insurance is to provide drivers with affordable, straightforward auto insurance policies and give customers access to helpful, licensed advisors.

The company has a network of over 3,000 independent agents across 12 states. Plus, physical office locations are available in every state where the company operates.

Some sources suggest the company previously underwrote homeowner policies. Today, Safeway focuses on selling traditional and nonstandard car insurance policies to customers with a personal touch. The current president of Safeway Insurance is Carol Parrillo.

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Safeway Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line

Safeway Insurance is ideal for drivers who prefer personal touches, like connecting with a local agent to discuss discount options or speaking directly with a claims representative by phone after an incident occurs.

Other Safeway auto insurance benefits include affordable coverage, even for high-risk drivers. Plus, you can access both a mobile app and an online user portal.

However, this company is only available in 12 states, making it regionally limited. It also does not offer as many optional policy coverages as standard insurance companies. So if you are interested in roadside assistance services or need GAP insurance, consider looking into other top auto insurance companies.

Overall, safe drivers may find it easier to secure broader coverage levels at a cheaper rate from other auto insurance companies.

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