State Auto Insurance Company Review

Pros, cons and all you need to know.
Christine Lacagnina Written by Christine Lacagnina
Christine Lacagnina
Written by Christine Lacagnina

Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.

Updated

State Auto Insurance Company at a Glance

  • Founded in 1921
  • Offers a variety of insurance products
  • Offers personal and business coverages
  • Coverage available in 33 states
  • “A-” (excellent) rating by A.M. Best
  • “A+” (excellent) rating by Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Network of independent insurance agents
  • Online claims reporting
  • Several discounts available
  • Strong financial stability

State Auto pros: Nearly a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry. High ratings through A.M. Best and the BBB. Strong financial stability. Several discounts available. Large selection of coverages for individuals and businesses including umbrella insurance, auto insurance, renters insurance, etc. Offers online claims reporting and live chat with customer service representatives.

State Auto cons: Coverage not available nationwide. Large volume of complaints filed through the BBB.

To find insurance in your state, use our national insurance company directory to find the best company to meet your needs. You can locate insurance companies that specialize in your specific coverage needs and get connected to an agent near you.

What Type of Insurance Does State Auto Offer?

State Auto offers a wide variety of coverage solutions for individuals and businesses. Their products include the following.

  • Homeowners insurance
  • Auto insurance
  • Renters insurance
  • Condo insurance
  • Umbrella insurance
  • Business property insurance
  • Commercial liability insurance
  • Business auto insurance
  • Business owners policy insurance
  • Commercial umbrella insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • Employment practices liability insurance
  • Data breach insurance
  • Cyberattack insurance
  • Cyber liability insurance
  • Farm and ranch insurance
  • Farm auto insurance
  • Farm umbrella insurance

Your independent insurance agent can help you decide if State Auto has the right type of coverage to best meet your needs.

What to Know about State Auto Insurance

The State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company was founded in 1921, giving the carrier just under a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry. The insurance company offers several forms of coverage for individuals and businesses such as umbrella insurance, auto insurance, farm and ranch insurance, and more. The carrier was founded with the mission to provide affordable coverage and fair claims settlements. The insurance company is headquartered in Columbus, OH.

Today, State Auto has expanded to offer its products in 33 states across the country. State Auto has grown from a starting revenue of $15,000 to $4.6 billion in assets today. The insurance company works with independent insurance agents to help bring their customers the right coverage for them, and provide them with the best overall experience throughout the life of their policies. There are more than 2,500 employees found on the carrier’s LinkedIn network.

Thanks to its longstanding history, increasing financial strength, and catalogue of coverages available in personal and business lines, State Auto has become known as a financially sound insurance company with a strong outlook for the future. A.M. Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives State Auto an “A-” rating, indicating the carrier is an excellent choice for insurance customers. High ratings from A.M. Best assure customers that State Auto is capable of offering guaranteed, secure coverage from a trustworthy and reputable insurance 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 who remains a strong, financially sound insurance company in the long term.

What Discounts Does State Auto Offer?

State Auto offers many competitive discounts on their coverages, including the following.

What Discounts Does State Auto Offer?
  • Fortified home or business discount: Offered to customers whose home or business’s construction can protect against severe weather and meets official fortified home program standards.
  • Multi-policy discount: Offered to customers who have more than one type of coverage through State Auto. 
  • Advanced quote discount: Offered to customers who contact an agent to get a quote at least eight days before the policy’s start date.
  • Smart home discount: Offered to home insurance customers who purchase homes with modern technology like smart smoke alarms and smart lights. 
  • Protective devices discount: Offered to home insurance customers who have burglar alarms, fire alarms, etc., installed in their homes. 

An independent insurance agent can help you find more information about further discounts and additional ways to save with State Auto, as well as provide you with quotes and help answer any other questions you may have.

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Connect with a State Auto Agent Today.

Shopping for insurance? State Auto has you covered.

State Auto Customer Service

State Auto allows their customers to file claims online anytime. The carrier provides the following customer service options.

  • Online claims reporting
  • Online bill pay
  • Snail mail contact option
  • General contact form on website
  • Live chat with customer service through website
  • Customer service department has the following hours restrictions


Hours (EST)


Monday-Friday 8 am - 7 pm

The best way to handle your customer service needs is to work with an independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents help make customer service easier for you by handling claims and other concerns.

State Auto FAQ

What is State Auto's average claim response time frame?

State Auto allows customers to file claims at any time online. The carrier’s official website does not make a specific claims response time frame promise, however.

What is State Auto's customer service availability?

State Auto provides online claims reporting for its customers, but no phone claims reporting. The customer service department is available at generous hours on weekdays, and offers a live chat option with customer service representatives through the website at slightly more restricted hours, Monday-Friday. The carrier also has a comprehensive social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, making them even more accessible to customers.

What is State Auto's claims process?

State Auto’s official website details the process for auto insurance claims as follows.

What are the steps to a car insurance claim?
Once you contact your insurance company, your case will go through the following steps.

  • Case assignment to a professional at State Auto who will work on your claim.
  • Discussion with your claims professional about your coverages and the situation. This is where you will give most of the information about your claim.
  • Evaluation by your claims professional. This can include inspecting your car, examining evidence of any injury claims, and the payment of your deductible.
  • Resolution of the case, including getting your car back in tip-top shape. You can even pick your own repair shop. 
  • Closing of the case but, keep copies of your paperwork just in case you need to refer back to them.”

Customers can get in touch with their independent insurance agent or the carrier to check on the status of an existing claim.

Does State Auto create a user-friendly experience for customers?

State Auto’s website has a clean layout and is simple to navigate. Customers can locate important information quickly. The carrier provides a broken down claims process and makes filing simple. The insurance company offers modern customer service options such as online bill pay and find an independent insurance agent features. State Auto also has a strong presence on social media, overall making for a good user-friendly experience.

Does State Auto have good cyberattack insurance?

State Auto provides a good selection of coverages, including cyberattack insurance. The carrier’s cyberattack insurance policies offer the following features and coverages.

  • Data restoration
  • System restoration
  • Data recreation
  • Loss of income
  • Public relations
  • Cyber extortion

Your independent insurance agent can help you find even more information about State Auto’s cyberattack policies, as well as their many other available coverages.

Is State Auto a good insurance company?

State Auto has been around for a century now and is highly rated by A.M. Best and the BBB. However, the carrier has had a high volume of complaints filed against them through the BBB. That being said, State Auto provides a large selection of coverages for individual and commercial customers and many folks seem pleased with their coverage and interactions with the carrier alike. The carrier also offers a good user-friendly experience for its customers and works with independent insurance agents. Overall, State Auto does qualify as a good insurance company.

State Auto Customer Reviews

Clearsurance
5 Stars
“Easy to work with, highly reachable, personable employees. I recently had an issue after refinancing my home, but their support line took care of everything and even reached out to my new lender to make sure everything was square.”
Clearsurance
5 Stars
“Always responsive to messages and assuring customers are satisfied. Prices are affordable. I have been a customer for over 10 years.”
Clearsurance
5 Stars
“Had no issues when filing a claim with this company. Made the call after being rear-ended by another motorist, the claim was filed quickly.”
Clearsurance
5 Stars
“My experience has been very good with State Auto, my premiums have been consistently low with little variation and payment methods are agreeable to me. Making policy and car changes has been effortless and smooth. Ate my age, 65+, I have discounts as well as for claim-free driving and a lifetime guarantee of renewal. Agent is good and cooperative, too”
Clearsurance
5 Stars
“Good company. I haven't had any issues with the insurance company. They sent my renewal information with ID cards two months in advance.”

TrustedChoice.com's Final Review

4.5/5 stars

We award State Auto Insurance a final rating of 4.28 out of 5 stars. State Auto has been around in the insurance industry for nearly a century and has high ratings through A.M. Best and the BBB. While the carrier has had quite a few complaints filed against it through the BBB in recent years, there are many glowing customer reviews spotted across the web as well. Customers can take advantage of several discount options on State Auto’s large selection of coverages for individuals and businesses. The carrier has demonstrated solid and increasing financial strength and provides quality coverage to folks in 33 states across the US. We also love that the carrier works with independent insurance agents to provide their customers with the best overall insurance experience possible. State Auto provides modern services such as online claims reporting and a match with an agent feature on its website. Overall, if you live in an area where coverage is available, we recommend looking into State Auto Insurance with your independent insurance agent to be your next trusted carrier.

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