Esurance Review: Is It Right for You?

Esurance has been in business since 1999 and was based on the philosophy that buying car insurance shouldn’t be a painful experience. Until 2023, the company offered car insurance through a modern customer interface, including easy-to-use online tools and a robust mobile app.

And the insurance options didn’t stop there. You could also get home insurance, renters insurance, and motorcycle insurance through Esurance, helping you save time and money by getting multiple insurance policies in the same place.

But since its acquisition by Allstate in 2011, the Esurance brand has been in a state of flux. Allstate announced plans to shut down the brand in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic kept Esurance operating for a few extra years. Allstate officially shut down the Esurance brand in March 2023, but the company still manages existing policies through one of its current brands, including Allstate, National General, and Encompass.

Is Esurance a Good Choice for Auto Insurance?

You might be happy with the existing rates and service you’ve received from Esurance and its parent company, Allstate. Still, it’s a good idea to understand exactly how the company stacks up across the board. The table below highlights how the company fares in several important categories — cost, customer satisfaction, ease of use, availability, and overall industry reputation.

Because of its tech-focused approach and backing by Allstate, it’s no surprise Esurance scores high in ease of use and overall reputation. Still, its above-average rates (more on that later) and lack of availability bring the overall score down.

Is Esurance right for you?

If you’re a current customer who’s accustomed to tech-focused policy management and robust, customizable coverage, sticking with Esurance might be the best choice. But if your primary focus is saving money, you might want to start searching for a better deal. Esurance offers fairly reasonable rates, but most drivers can find a better car insurance policy with another company.

At the end of the day, the easiest way to find the best insurer for you is to compare personalized quotes from as many companies as possible. That way, you can weigh price against other factors, like available coverages, discount opportunities, existing customer reviews, and more.

Esurance Reviews: What Real Customers Are Saying

Online customer feedback for Esurance is mixed. The company only earned 1.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and 1.1 out of 5 stars on ConsumerAffairs. But it’s worth noting that low scores are somewhat typical in the insurance space.

The ratings are much higher when you look at customer feedback for Esurance mobile apps rather than insurance reviews. Esurance Mobile earned 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple App Store and 4.3 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store.

As part of the 2023 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power, Allstate — Esurance’s parent company — scored 814 out of 1,000 points. That’s just six points less than the industry average of 820, so it doesn’t sound any major alarms about the company. Plus, Allstate ranks among the best when it comes to claims satisfaction.

What You Can Expect to Pay for Esurance Car Insurance

The cost of car insurance is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean everyone pays the same rates. Here’s what you can expect to pay based on your age and other factors when you get insurance through Esurance, according to Compare.com data.

If insurers consider you a high-risk driver, then you can expect to pay more for insurance. Here’s how your driving record can affect your monthly premium, according to our research.

Of course, these are just averages. Since so many factors affect your personal car insurance costs, the best way to find out what you’ll pay for Esurance — or any other company — is to get a personalized quote.

Esurance Car Insurance Discounts

Getting a discount on your insurance premium could lead to significant savings. Here are a few discounts Esurance currently advertises on its website:

• DriveSense: If you sign up for the company’s usage-based insurance program, DriveSense, the app will track your driving and give you driving tips. As you practice safe driving habits, you’ll receive a customized good driver discount.
• Good student: Students who earn good grades may qualify for a discount on their car insurance premiums.
• Multi-car: If there are multiple vehicles on your insurance policy, you may be able to save with a multi-car discount.
• Multi-policy: Esurance offers homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and motorcycle insurance. You can bundle multiple insurance products with one insurance company to unlock savings.
• Paid in full: Instead of paying for your car insurance each month, paying for a full term in advance could lead to a significant discount. If you can afford to make your total payment up front, ask your car insurance company for a discount.
• Vehicle safety: Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you drive a vehicle with some common safety features. Check to see whether your car has what it needs to qualify for a discount.

If you think you qualify for any of these discounts, make sure you reach out to Allstate’s customer service to ensure the company adds them to your policy. Discounts can stack, so it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Esurance’s Available Auto Insurance Coverages

Esurance’s coverage options vary by state. Still, here’s a look at what coverage options you may be able to find through the company:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Medical payments (MedPay)
• Personal injury protection (PIP)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Emergency roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• Gap insurance
• Rideshare

The type of insurance coverage you need depends on your driving habits and location. For example, the minimum coverage requirements in your state won’t cover things like vandalism or natural disasters. For that, you’ll need a full-coverage policy that includes comprehensive insurance.

How to File a Claim with Esurance

With Esurance, the entire claims process happens online. You can file a claim through the company’s mobile app or website. From there, Esurance will help you locate an approved repair shop to get you back on the road ASAP.

Photo claims may help you get paid faster. If you choose to upload photos of the damage directly from your phone, you could receive a claim payment in as little as one day, depending on the extent of the damage.

Esurance Auto Insurance FAQs

Whether you’re an existing Esurance customer or someone looking for more information about the brand, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions to help you find the car insurance policy that best fits your needs.

Is Esurance a real insurance company?

Yes, Esurance is a real insurer. The company was founded in 1999, and Allstate acquired it in 2011. That said, Esurance no longer offers policies — the brand closed its doors for good in early 2023.

Is Esurance being phased out?

Yes. Allstate officially shut down Esurance in March 2023. But the company still manages existing Esurance policies through the Allstate brand or those of its subsidiaries, like National General.

How reliable is Esurance?

Prior to its closure in 2023, Esurance was a reliable insurance company with average ratings across reliable review sites. J.D. Power consistently scored the brand about average in customer satisfaction, and its parent company scores even better when it comes to claims.

What insurers are cheaper than Esurance?

It depends. Since so many factors affect what you pay for car insurance, a policy that’s cheap for one person may be expensive for the next. But at the end of the day, GEICO, Auto-Owners, and State Farm are among the cheapest insurers nationwide, according to Compare.com data.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Rating Methodology:

Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions about their personal finances. Our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary, objective rating formula — the Compare.com Rating — to make it easier for our readers to analyze and compare many of the industry’s most well-known insurers. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:

• Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
• Customer satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
• Ease of use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
• Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
• Industry reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best financial strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.

Sources:

1. J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,” accessed June 19, 2024.
2. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2019/2020 Auto Insurance Database Report,” accessed June 19, 2024.