American Family Insurance Review: Auto, Home & Renters
Editor's Rating
A wide range of optional add-ons and above-average customer service make American Family a worthwhile option to consider.
American Family Insurance (AmFam) offers affordable auto insurance policies, but its home and renters insurance rates are typically more expensive than the competition. However, the company has plenty of discounts available to help make rates more affordable.
American Family: Our thoughts
Bottom line: American Family offers quality auto, home and renters insurance products backed by highly rated customer service. Although it is not the cheapest insurance company, American Family has a number of valuable optional coverages available that make it a worthwhile consideration for customers who need custom coverage.
American Family offers competitive car insurance rates, averaging $1,156 a year for a full coverage policy. However, for home and renters insurance, AmFam is more expensive than its competitors.
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One of American Family's best features is its highly convenient apps. They allow you to file claims, view their insurance cards and handle billing. On the other hand, AmFam's quote system is slow and clunky, making it time-consuming to get a price and compare AmFam to other insurers. Prospective customers may need to call an agent to customize their coverage.
American Family's biggest drawback is its coverage area. Currently, the company offers policies in 44 states and Washington, DC. Despite its limited availability, it is the seventh-largest home insurer and ninth-largest auto insurer in the country. While the company writes policies directly, it also has several subsidiaries, most notably Homesite and The General.
American Family auto insurance
American Family car insurance quotes
While American Family is not the cheapest auto insurance provider we found, the company offers rates that are cheaper than average, along with a long list of discounts to help lower your rates. AmFam charges an average of $343 a year for minimum coverage insurance and $1,156 for a full coverage policy.
American Family gives drivers the opportunity for lots of savings with a wide range of discounts, making its rates even more competitive for those who qualify.
American Family auto insurance rates vs. competitors
Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | Accident |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $325 | $963 | $1,115 |
| American Family | $343 | $1,156 | $1,957 |
| Progressive | $402 | $1,186 | $1,924 |
| Geico | $489 | $1,400 | $2,536 |
| Allstate | $605 | $1,655 | $2,737 |
American Family auto insurance discounts
You'll be hard-pressed to find an insurance company that offers a more comprehensive list of car insurance discounts than AmFam. The company recently added a mileage-based telematics program, MilesMyWay, which offers a discount for people who drive fewer than 8,000 miles per year.
Discount | How do you get it? |
|---|---|
| Loyalty and signup discounts | |
| Multivehicle | Insure multiple vehicles with AmFam |
| Loyalty | Based on the length of time insured with the company |
| Early-bird | Sign up for coverage within seven days of receiving a quote from American Family |
| Multiproduct | Bundle multiple insurance policies with American Family, such as homeowners or renters insurance |
Highlighted discount: KnowYourDrive
KnowYourDrive is an app-based program that monitors your driving behavior. Enrolling in the program earns you an automatic 5% discount on your auto insurance policy. Depending on how safely you drive, you could earn a discount of up to 20%. The KnowYourDrive program is a great discount because AmFam doesn't penalize drivers based on their driving behavior.
Highlighted discount: Teen Safe Driver
While most auto insurance companies offer some sort of teen driver discount, not many offer a discount based on your teen's driving behaviors. This discount program scores each trip teen drivers take using a mobile app. Once participants complete one year in the program or drive more than 3,000 miles, they qualify for up to a 10% discount. Parents can also access the info on their teens' driving habits and scores.
American Family MilesMyWay program
MilesMyWay is a program that allows AmFam customers to earn a discount based on the number of miles they drive. Drivers who travel 30 or fewer miles per week can save as much as 25% on their car insurance.
The discount steadily decreases as you drive more miles, and it disappears altogether if you drive over 160 miles per week. Savings are determined monthly, which means that you may see your discount decrease if you take a long trip or drive more than usual.
In order to save, drivers must download the MilesMyWay app. After registering for the program, AmFam will send you a small sensor to place inside your car that will pair with the app via Bluetooth to track your mileage.
American Family customers aren't required to enroll all of the vehicles on their policy in the program, which makes it particularly useful for drivers with a vehicle that's rarely driven.
People who primarily drive a work vehicle but have an additional car for personal use, those who work from home and drivers who regularly use public transportation should all consider MilesMyWay to save money on their insurance costs.
American Family also offers accident forgiveness to avoid a rate increase after an at-fault accident. Accident forgiveness is available in two forms:
- Drivers can earn accident forgiveness if they have been claim-free for five years.
- Drivers can buy accident forgiveness if they have no tickets or at-fault accidents in the last 12 months and no more than one at-fault accident in the last three years.
American Family auto insurance coverage
Whether you want basic coverage or you're a rideshare driver, American Family's coverage options are fairly comprehensive. In other words, there are very few drivers who will be dissatisfied with American Family's auto insurance policy options.
American Family offers the standard car insurance coverages, including liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision and comprehensive insurance.
In addition, the company has a number of optional coverages that you can choose to enhance your policy:
Rental car reimbursement
Rental car reimbursement pays for car rental expenses when your vehicle is inoperable due to a covered accident. AmFam allows customers to rent vehicles through an approved provider or a company of their choice. One approved provider is Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which is very convenient with over 7,600 locations worldwide. If you rent through an approved company, American Family will pay it directly, which also saves you time.
Rideshare coverage
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft usually provide coverage for you as a driver when the passenger is in your vehicle, but that doesn't protect you from accidents that happen beforehand. American Family's rideshare endorsement fills the coverage gap between a standard policy and the coverage provided by the rideshare service.
Roadside assistance
Emergency roadside service provides you with 24-hour roadside assistance services, including towing, tire servicing and fluid delivery. To request roadside service, you can call 800-MYAMFAM or request service through the MyAmFam app.
Gap insurance
If your new car is totaled in an accident, there's a good chance that you won't get a large enough insurance settlement to pay off your loan or lease balance due to depreciation. American Family's gap insurance add-on covers the difference between what you owe and what you'll get from your insurance company if you're in an accident.
American Family also provides customers with repair programs to help them get back on the road fast.
The Dreams Restored Program pairs drivers with a trusted repair shop in their neighborhood after a claim. American Family's direct relationship with these auto shops not only results in quicker repairs, but also includes a lifetime workmanship guarantee.
For windshield repairs, American Family has partnered with Safelite, a mobile glass repair company that can fix or replace your windshield at your home, at your work or wherever your car is kept. Windshield repairs are usually covered if you have comprehensive coverage and the damage was caused by a covered event. American Family may even waive your glass deductible if your windshield can be repaired instead of replaced.
Which states are covered by American Family
American Family offers insurance in 44 states and Washington, DC.
Coverage is not available in the following states:
American Family home insurance
American Family's homeowners insurance quotes
American Family's home insurance rates are higher than its competitors' rates by 12%-17% on average. However, the company's highly customizable policies and optional coverages may be worth the additional cost.
Since home insurance rates vary widely by region, you should compare quotes you get from American Family to the average in your state.
American Family home insurance rates vs. competitors
Company | $200,000 | $300,000 | $400,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $737 | $874 | $1,032 |
| State Farm | $902 | $1,156 | $1,416 |
| Travelers | $932 | $1,279 | $1,565 |
| American Family | $993 | $1,321 | $1,656 |
American Family home insurance coverage
American Family offers all the standard homeowners insurance coverages you'd expect, such as personal liability, medical payments and dwelling coverages.
However, American Family's homeowners insurance policies are highly customizable. The company offers three tiers of insurance and also allows customers to opt for a policy with custom coverage limits. In addition, homeowners can choose from a handful of endorsements that can enhance their coverage, including:
- Equipment breakdown coverage offers protection if your home systems, smart home devices or appliances are damaged due to electrical, mechanical or pressure systems breakdown. For instance, if your refrigerator is damaged during a power surge, it would be covered under this endorsement. Equipment breakdown coverage does not cover normal wear and tear, so while it's cheaper than a traditional home warranty policy, it does not offer as much protection.
- The hidden water damage endorsement covers repairs for damage done by a water leak not in plain sight — within your walls, ceilings, cabinets, beneath your floors or under an appliance. Most home insurance policies do not cover this type of damage, which can be costly if the leak isn't discovered quickly.
- Most homeowners insurance policies will replace damaged siding after a covered loss, but the remaining undamaged siding may not match your new siding. With matching siding protection, American Family will pay up to $20,000 in additional costs to replace any remaining undamaged siding so that everything matches as closely as possible.
American Family also offers sewer backup and sump pump overflow coverage, service line coverage and protection against identity theft.
American Family homeowners insurance discounts
American Family offers its customers access to only a few discounts compared to what it offers for car insurance. However, discounts vary by state and depend on the company underwriting your homeowners policy, so you may qualify for more discounts than the ones listed below.
Discount | How do you get it? |
|---|---|
| Safe, Secure, Smart Home discount | Install a smart home security system |
| Multiproduct | Bundle two policies, such as your auto and homeowners insurance |
| Age of home | Automatic discount if your home is under 15 years old |
| Renovated home | Replace your older home's plumbing, electrical and heating systems |
| Autopay | Have your insurance bill automatically deducted from your bank account |
American Family also offers homeowners a diminishing deductible, which lowers your deductible by $100 for every year that you remain claim-free.
American Family smart home discounts
Homeowners insured with AmFam can take advantage of additional discounts designed to help keep your home safe.
The most simple program is Hedge, a self-monitored system available directly through American Family. Hedge allows you to keep an eye on your home through smart devices, as opposed to paying a company to monitor a traditional security system. Indoor security cameras, motion sensors and leak detectors are all available through Hedge, along with noise detection and humidity and temperature monitoring. Device packages range in price from $74.99 to $109.99, and there are no monthly fees.
American Family customers also get a discount on ADT monitored systems. A more traditional security system, ADT offers free installation and monthly savings on monitoring packages with a 36-month contract. The wireless security system allows homeowners to customize their system with window and door sensors, flood sensors, motion sensors and doorbell and indoor cameras.
Not only will AmFam customers save money on the systems themselves, but signing up may qualify you for savings on your homeowners insurance rate with the Safe, Secure, Smart Home discount.
American Family renters insurance
American Family renters insurance cost
American Family's renters insurance rates are higher than average. We collected quotes from five renters insurance companies and found that American Family's average rate is $229 per year — 18% more than the overall average, which is $193 per year.
American Family renters insurance rates vs. competitors
Company | Annual rate | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | $121 | $10 |
| Progressive | $153 | $13 |
| Travelers | $216 | $18 |
| American Family | $229 | $19 |
| Farmers | $247 | $21 |
Renters insurance prices vary considerably by home location, building type and the levels of coverage you choose, so always gather quotes from multiple companies before committing to one insurer over another.
American Family renters insurance coverages
American Family renters insurance includes the standard coverage options, along with a few optional coverages.
Optional coverage | Description |
|---|---|
| Identity theft protection | Provides credit monitoring and covers financial losses as a result of identity theft |
| Travel protection | Covers unexpected costs while traveling, such as flight cancellation and global medical insurance |
| Pet insurance | Pays for up to $1,000 in veterinary costs and possible funeral costs if your pet (dog, cat, fish or bird) is injured as a result of a covered loss |
| Home business | Extends your liability and personal property coverage to your home business |
Renters insurance discounts
American Family offers a fairly standard list of discounts to renters. You can save an especially large amount if you bundle with an AmFam auto policy.
Discount | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Multiproduct | Buy both renters and automobile insurance from AmFam |
| Smart home | Use smart home tools that monitor things such as break-ins and basement flooding |
| Claim-free | Go five years without making a claim on your renters policy |
| Payment | Use automatic payments, or pay your bill in full or using paperless billing |
| Loyalty | Renew your policy with American Family multiple times |
| Generational | Eligible if your parents are also insured by American Family |
American Family Insurance reviews
American Family Insurance customers can expect quality service for most types of coverage. The company earned above-average scores from J.D. Power for overall customer service in homeowners insurance and auto claims. It scored slightly below average for renters insurance customer satisfaction but still ranked seventh out of 18 insurers included in the study.
American Family also ranks well on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, which rates companies based on the number of complaints that they get in relation to their size. American Family got ratings below the 1.0 average for home and renters insurance (0.83) and auto insurance (0.59), which means that it had fewer complaints than its average competitor. The majority of complaints are in regards to unsatisfactory claim settlement offers, adjuster experience and delays in the claims process.
American Family Insurance customers have a reason to be confident about the company's ability to pay insurance claims. The company was awarded an A rating for its financial strength by AM Best, an insurance rating agency. The high rating means that the company has "excellent" financial stability, which translates into a high ability to pay customer claims, even in difficult economic situations.
American Family Insurance claims
The fastest way to file a claim with American Family Insurance is through the MyAmFam app, where you can keep track of your claim status every step of the way. American Family customers can also log in to their online portal to file a home, auto, business or life insurance claim.
Customers who prefer to file a claim over the phone can call 800-MYAMFAM (800-692-6326) or speak directly with their insurance agent. Storm claims can also be initiated by texting STORM to 26326 (AMFAM).
Frequently asked questions
Is American Family Insurance good?
American Family is a good insurance company for people who can take advantage of the wide range of optional coverage add-ons. It has fewer complaints than average with the NAIC and good customer service scores from J.D. Power, but you can probably find cheaper homeowners and renters insurance elsewhere.
What types of insurance does American Family offer?
American Family Insurance can help customers with a wide variety of insurance needs, including car insurance, home insurance, renters insurance, condo insurance, commercial and small business insurance, life insurance, health and Medicare Supplement insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance and more.
Does American Family Insurance cover towing?
AmFam offers emergency roadside assistance as an optional auto insurance coverage, which does include towing. Drivers can request roadside assistance by calling 800-MYAMFAM (692-6326), through the MyAmFam app or via American Family's website.
Does American Family Insurance cover rental cars?
Whether your rental car is covered depends on the coverages included in your insurance policy. The liability coverage on your existing auto insurance policy should cover you when you drive other vehicles, and the same is true for medical expense coverage. If you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, it may cover repairs to the rental car or a replacement if it's stolen, but it won't cover the rental company's lost income. You should call your insurance agent to confirm the specifics of your policy before assuming that your coverage will transfer.
Does American Family have gap insurance?
Yes, AmFam offers gap insurance, which it also refers to as auto loan or lease assistance coverage.
Methodology
To compare American Family's auto, homeowners and renters insurance rates, we used the following sample profiles.
For our auto insurance review, we compiled quotes for a 30-year-old male living in Wisconsin and operating a 2015 Honda Civic EX, based on the following coverage levels:
Coverage | Minimum coverage | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000/$50,000 | $50,000/$100,000 |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000/$50,000 | $50,000/$100,000 |
| Underinsured motorist bodily injury | not included | $50,000/$100,000 |
| Comprehensive deductible | not included | $500 |
| Collision deductible | not included | $500 |
For our homeowners insurance review, we collected quotes for $200,000, $300,000 and $400,000 of dwelling coverage. Rates are for a 45-year-old married man who lives in a house in Wisconsin built in 1977. He has been claim-free for five years and has an average credit score.
For our renters insurance review, we compiled quotes from five major insurance companies in Wisconsin across 15 cities. Our sample renter is an unmarried 30-year-old male, with no pets or roommates, living in a multiunit building, with the following limits:
Coverage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Personal property | $30,000 |
| Personal liability | $100,000 |
| Medical | $1,000 |
| Deductible | $500 |
Home and auto insurance quotes used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may differ.