Is It Right for You? (2024)
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Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance offers a full range of personal insurance products, including auto insurance. It’s licensed nationwide, and despite higher rates than companies like GEICO or Progressive, it maintains a high market share. Customers can bundle home, auto, and other personal insurance, and Liberty Mutual car insurance can be quoted online or via captive or broker insurance agents.
Business Insider compared Liberty Mutual’s auto insurance products to the best auto insurance policies on the market and found it to be a solid choice for those who want personalized coverage and don’t mind paying higher premiums, as the company offers a variety of add-ons to tailor your policy to your needs.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Review
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Liberty Mutual has served its members since 1912. The company insures drivers nationwide, providing greater flexibility to insure drivers who may not have a perfect driving record while offering full coverage options.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance has an A rating from AM Best, an agency that provides credit ratings for the insurance industry, which means the company is financially capable of backing its plans and paying claims.
While the company offers a solid range of customizable coverage options, it ranks below the industry average on JD Power’s Auto Insurance Study, with a significant number of online reviews reflecting negative customer experiences. That said, Liberty Mutual is still one of our top picks for the best car insurance for teachers, as it offers a specialized educator policy with additional savings and added protection.
In terms of affordability, we found that Liberty Mutual’s rates tend to be higher than those of some competitors like GEICO and Progressive, so it may not be the first-round draft pick for shoppers seeking a budget-friendly policy.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Pros & Cons
Make sure you’re aware of these pros and cons before purchasing an auto insurance policy from Liberty Mutual.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Pros
- Customizable coverage options
- Variety of discounts
- Digital tools like RightTrack®
- Strong financial stability
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Cons
- Rates may be higher than some competitors
- Customer satisfaction ratings can be mixed
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Plans Available
Liberty Mutual’s auto insurance policies can cover state minimums, auto loan provider requirements, or comprehensive coverage for families who want to be prepared for just-in-case situations. A few of its coverage options include:
- Collision insurance: Collision coverage protects you if you collide with another car or into an object.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive coverage will pay to repair or replace your vehicle in ta noncollision event (theft, fire, vandalism, or hitting an animal).
- Uninsured motorist coverage: If another party is uninsured in an accident, this coverage will pay for your medical expenses.
- Bodily liability coverage: If you’re at fault in an accident, liability coverage pays for the medical costs of people who incurred injury from the accident (not including yourself). Most states require liability protection, but many insurance professionals recommend higher liability limits to protect you in a more expensive accident.
- Property liability damage coverage: If you’re at fault in an accident, this coverage pays for the other party’s vehicle repairs and property damage. State law will set your minimum coverage, but many professionals recommend higher limits to protect you after a significant accident.
- Medpay coverage: Medical payment coverage pays for you and any passenger’s medical expenses, regardless if you were at fault in an accident. Medical coverage is required in some states. Depending on where you live, it may be referred to as “personal injury protection” or “PIP.”
Additional Coverage Options (Riders)
Liberty Mutual car insurance offers several unique riders and discount options to enhance the policyholder experience. For some drivers, it will improve policy benefits or reduce price enough to make it the most competitive auto insurance option.
- Deductible fund: Paying $30 annually can reduce your deductible by $100 annually. The benefits can exceed your deductible if you continue to pay into the fund for more than five years.
- Lifetime repair guarantee: The company will connect you with an approved repair shop to fix your vehicle after an accident. If something goes wrong later because the repair was insufficient, it will pay to resolve the issue, but the guarantee does not transfer if you sell the car.
- New car replacement insurance: This optional coverage will reimburse you for the cost of a new car (not just the depreciated value) if you total your car in the first year of ownership.
- Better car replacement insurance: This optional coverage will reimburse you for purchasing a car one year newer than your totaled car with the added benefit of 15,000 fewer miles.
- Rental car reimbursement: If your vehicle is at a Liberty Mutual-approved shop for repairs after an accident, this coverage will pay for a car rental. Policyholders set a per-day limit. Particularly if you live in a more rural area, you may choose higher benefits for higher rental rates.
- 24-hour roadside assistance: If your car breaks down, the insurer will help you jump-start or tow your vehicle. Roadside assistance services can also bring you fuel and other routine services to get you back on the road.
- Original parts replacement: This coverage helps you replace any damaged vehicle parts.
- Gap insurance: Gap coverage will cover the difference between your car’s value and the remaining lease amount if your car is totaled. Many borrowers are underwater on car loans at some point, more so if they buy a new car. Gap insurance ensures you are not tied down by an old loan on a vehicle you no longer own.
- Teachers’ auto insurance: Teachers can get additional protection for their vehicles and teaching materials if damaged or stolen on school grounds.
- Mexico car insurance: This coverage protects your car across the border if you’re traveling to Mexico. Liberty Mutual partners with insurance provider MexPro, so MexPro would pay claims.
How Much Does Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Cost?
Several factors impact your car insurance premium, including location, gender, and vehicle type. Age will also determine the cost of your policy significantly. Liberty Mutual exceeds the average cost of car insurance for all ages and genders.
Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Discounts
Liberty Mutual offers the following discounts to help drivers save on their auto insurance policies.
- Homeowner Discount: Being a homeowner qualifies you for this discount.
- Military Discount: Those who are active, retired, or reserved in the U.S. Armed Force may qualify for this discount.
- Early Shopper Discount: You’re eligible for the early shopper discount if you get a quote with Liberty Mutual before your current car insurance expires.
- Good Student Discount: If you have a GPA of B or better at school, Liberty Mutual will give you a discount on your policy.
- Student-Away-at-School Discount: You’re eligible for this discount if your child is away at school and only occasionally drives your car.
- Claims-Free Discount: If you have a claims-free driving history, Liberty Mutual will reward you for it with savings.
- Violation-Free Discount: You’ll also get a discount if your driving history is violation-free.
- RightTrack: If you enroll in the RightTrack program, you can get rewarded for your good driving behavior.
- Multi-Policy Discount: You’ll get a discount for bundling policies.
- Multi-Car Discount: Saves you money if you insure multiple vehicles with Liberty Mutual.
- Preferred Payment Discount: You’re eligible for this discount if you enroll in automatic payment or pay for your policy in one or two payments.
- Online Purchase Discount: This discount applies when you buy your policy online.
- Paperless Policy Discount: This discount is available if you opt to receive your policy documents and statements electronically instead of by mail.
Who is Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Best For?
- Drivers who want personalized coverage: Liberty Mutual offers a variety of options to tailor your policy to your needs.
- Those seeking accident forgiveness: This benefit can provide peace of mind and potential cost savings.
- Individuals who are comfortable with digital tools: Liberty Mutual is also great for those comfortable with online tools like the RightTrack® program and online account management.
How to Purchase and Manage a Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Policy
You can purchase a Liberty Mutual car insurance policy online by getting a quote and providing some basic information, such as your ZIP code and the make and model of your vehicle. If you prefer to talk to someone before buying a policy from Liberty Mutual, you can call the company for a quote at 800-290-6150.
To manage your policy online, download Liberty Mutual’s mobile app, which is available both on the App Store and Google Play. With the app, you can pay your bills, file and track claims, view policy details, and update your policy on the go.
How to File a Claim with Liberty Mutual Car Insurance
The website has a step-by-step claims filing process. You’ll need your username and password, the date of the incident, and a description of the incident. If you’re not a policyholder and are filing a claim against a Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance member, you’ll need the at-fault party’s policy number and last name. It will guide you through a few questions in a matter of minutes to start your claim.
If you need help filing a claim online, speak to a live representative at 1-800-225-2467 or by texting 80361. The insurer will review your inquiry and respond in one to two business days. Keep in mind that customers who are at fault pay their deductible first. If your claim value is below or close to your deductible, you might want to consider if filing a claim is worth it.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance Customer Service and Support Experience
Unfortunately, Liberty Mutual isn’t the best when it comes to customer service and support experience. It holds a low 1.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on over 500 reviews, and a similar 1.1 rating on the Better Business Bureau with over 1,500 reviews.
While many of the negative reviews and comments were regarding Liberty Mutual’s other insurance products, like homeowners insurance, a decent number of them were directed at auto insurance. Many of the customer complaints centered around unexpected rate hikes, slow claims process, inaccurate quotes, and overall poor customer experience.
That said, there are still some 5-star reviews sprinkled in. It’s worth taking a look at both positive and negative comments to form a more balanced opinion and decide if Liberty Mutual is the right fit for you.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance vs. Its Competitors
See how Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance stacks up against popular auto insurance options.
Liberty Mutual vs. State Farm Auto Insurance
State Farm Auto Insurance‘s rates are cheaper, offering rates much lower than the industry average. State Farm also ranks high for claims satisfaction and has fewer complaints. Unlike Liberty Mutual, State Farm is only available through licensed captive agents. So whether by phone or in person, agents talk to you about your needs and run quotes, but only for State Farm. Agents are trained to ensure customers get all available discounts for competitive pricing, especially when bundling multiple policies.
While State Farm is a cost-effective option, Liberty Mutual offers many discount opportunities to offset your cost. It also beats State Farm in the volume of coverage options provided, from gap insurance and accident forgiveness to teacher’s car insurance to new car replacements.
Read our State Farm auto insurance review.
Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide Auto Insurance
Nationwide Auto Insurance scored higher in auto claims satisfaction and received fewer
complaints. It also offers rideshare insurance for policyholders who work for companies like Uber and Lyft. Additionally, Nationwide offers cheaper rates before and after discounts.
Nationwide works with some broker insurance agents to quote and bind insurance policies. However, most policies are sold online. It also does not offer specialty coverage for teachers, military members, and other groups you might get with Liberty Mutual.
Read our Nationwide auto insurance review.
Liberty Mutual vs. GEICO Auto Insurance
GEICO Auto Insurance has fewer complaints, and it operates solely online with some phone and email-based customer support for quoting. In addition, customers can bundle policies and manage them through its portal. Between the low prices and easy management, GEICO has many positive reviews. Many of its adjusters also use common industry tricks to lower deductibles and otherwise save consumers money, even when they don’t buy into a deductible fund or pay other fees.
However, GEICO may be slow to pay claims from other parties when its policyholders are at fault. In addition, GEICO doesn’t have local insurance agents comparable to Liberty Mutual’s. So, less tech-savvy consumers or those who need more personal support may prefer Liberty Mutual. Again, teachers and military members may also choose this insurer for its career-specific discounts and promotions.
Read our GEICO auto insurance review.
Liberty Mutual Car Insurance FAQ
GEICO offers cheaper car insurance rates. Thirty-year-old policyholders will pay an average of $103 at GEICO, while members at Liberty will pay $208. However, Liberty Mutual often provides a better claims experience, especially when its policyholder is at fault.
Liberty Mutual received 866 out of 1000 points in the latest JD Power auto insurance study. The insurer offers middle-of-the-road quality regarding customer service and claims satisfaction.
Insurance companies should accept a claim within 30 days and reimburse the policyholder promptly after the decision, according to Policygenius. However, the complexity of the claim may delay reimbursement, at which point the insurer must notify the policyholder of the reason for the wait. If you use a preferred auto repair shop, your claim may be paid and closed quicker.
Many factors affect your Liberty Mutual auto insurance rate, including your age, gender, location, marital status, credit history, driving habits, claims history, and your car’s make and model.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
We strive to deliver the most accurate and unbiased review to help you make the most informed car insurance purchase.
We rate insurance companies based on five pillars, affordability, customer service, the volume of complaints, financial strength, and the breadth of coverage. We conduct thorough research using verified, third-party rating agencies (AM Best, JD Power, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index) to assess an insurance company’s quality and answer your most pressing questions.
Learn more about how Business Insider evaluates auto insurance companies.
