Ocean Harbor Insurance: Reviews, Coverage, And Cost
Affordable premium pricing is important when looking for car insurance coverage, but provider Ocean Harbor Insurance may be inexpensive for a reason.
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Key Points:
- Ocean Harbor offers auto insurance in only Florida and California.
- Pearl Holding Group, Ocean Harbor’s parent company, receives low scores from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has mostly negative reviews from customers.
- Ocean Harbor carries a B, or Fair, financial strength rating from AM Best.
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When comparing car insurance options, it can be tempting to go with the cheapest insurer. But when it comes to Ocean Harbor Insurance, reviews are overall negative. Ocean Harbor provides low-cost options for minimum insurance coverage, but its poor customer feedback may give potential policyholders cause for concern.
Negative reviews for car insurance companies are common. When insurance works smoothly, drivers don’t usually take the time to leave a comment. But the claims process can be stressful, and policyholders are more likely to leave complaints. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look to see whether Ocean Harbor Insurance is worth it.
If you’re looking for the best car insurance coverage, you can enter your zip code into our easy-to-use tool above to get free quotes from top providers.
Ocean Harbor Insurance Overview
Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance Company is a home and car insurance company also known by its Texas-based parent company, Pearl Holding Group. Ocean Harbor offers home insurance policies in several states, but it only offers auto insurance in California and Florida and is headquartered in Tallahassee. It claims to specialize in offering homeowners insurance and auto coverage to those who live in coastal areas.
The car insurance company has an AM Best financial strength rating of B (or Fair), meaning that it isn’t likely to go out of business anytime soon, but it also doesn’t have the strongest finances in the industry. Some Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance reviews claim that the company is a scam, but it is a legitimate insurer with a stable revenue stream.
Ocean Harbor Coverage
Auto insurance coverage offered by Ocean Harbor includes:
- Liability coverage: Liability auto insurance pays for damages to vehicles in the event that you are responsible for a car accident. Most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage.
- Collision coverage: Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle in the event of a collision.
- Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive car insurance pays for damage to your vehicle that’s the result of non-collision events, such as severe weather or theft.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Ocean Harbor personal injury protection covers 80 percent of your medical bills and 60 percent of loss of income that results from an accident. It will also pay out a death benefit if necessary.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage will help pay for damages to your vehicle if you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance.
According to Ocean Harbor insurance reviews, coverage is very limited. Customers claim that Ocean Harbor doesn’t usually cover the full cost of damages. The company may meet its legal obligations to customers, but attempts to pay out as little as possible, according to some reviews.
Ocean Harbor Auto Insurance Cost And Discounts
There is no fixed insurance price for everyone. Depending on the state you live in, your premium rates may be based on some of the following factors:
- Age
- Vehicle make and model
- Gender on your driver’s license
- Marital status
- City
- Credit score
- Driving record
Based on Ocean Harbor Insurance reviews, the company offers relatively cheap auto insurance. Ocean Harbor seems to specialize in providing customers with the minimum legal insurance coverage at the lowest possible insurance rates.
Ocean Harbor doesn’t have any car insurance discounts listed on its website. To learn about discount eligibility, talk to an Ocean Harbor insurance agent. Its website lists phone numbers and other contact information for agents near you.
Your cost also depends on your coverage. How much car insurance you need is also different for everyone. Each state sets its own minimums for coverage, but they’re often low and may not provide enough protection in the event of a severe accident. While cost is certainly a factor, the whole point of auto insurance is to be protected.
Ocean Harbor Insurance Reviews
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates how well a company deals with customer complaints. The BBB gives Ocean Harbor a D rating, which is considerably low. Ocean Harbor has closed 288 complaints in the past three years, 75 of which were filed in the past 12 months. Parent company Pearl Holding Group Inc. also has a D rating with the BBB.
There are few positive Ocean Harbor Insurance reviews. We found one in which the customer seemed more satisfied with the mechanic that fixed his car than with Ocean Harbor itself. Other Ocean Harbor reviews commonly referred to the business as a “scam.”
Many Ocean Harbor reviews describe the claims process as long and challenging. Customers regularly encounter hour-long hold times and are ping-ponged between agents and adjusters for weeks. Some customers even had to leave multiple voicemails or wait for months before their insurance claims were processed.
On the Pearl Holding Group BBB page, a two star-rating (out of five) was the highest rating given by any reviewer.
Ocean Harbor Insurance Technology
Ocean Harbor Insurance doesn’t have a mobile app on which customers can review policy details and manage insurance claims. Today, such convenience is a standard offering among most major insurers. While not necessary, a policy and claims mobile app is a nice convenience that modern customers have come to expect.
Ocean Harbor Insurance: Our Take
We give Ocean Harbor car insurance 3.4 out of 5.0 stars. Ocean Harbor Insurance reviews indicate that the company is a cheap way to insure your vehicle in Florida, but the coverage is limited and reviews of the quotes and claims process are poor. There are certainly better options for cheap Florida car insurance.
We’ve reviewed the best auto insurance companies in the industry and have a couple of recommendations for you to consider over Ocean Harbor. There is no one best choice for everyone, which is why it’s a good idea to compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
To collect and compare free quotes from providers available in your state, use the tool below.
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USAA: 4.5 Stars
According to our research, USAA is one of the best low-cost insurance options. The only downside to USAA is that it is only available to military service members and their families. The J.D. Power 2023 Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM also awarded USAA a top score of 900 points out of a possible 1,000, and the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping StudySM gave USAA 874 out of 1,000 points (second among large insurers). Although technically unranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions, these scores paint a positive picture.
Read our USAA auto insurance review to learn more.
Progressive: 4.5 Stars
If you aren’t able to buy an insurance policy through USAA, Progressive is a great alternative. Progressive is a full-service company with strong customer service and easy claims filing services. Progressive also has a generous accident forgiveness program. Small accidents resulting in payouts of less than $500 will not increase your premiums. If you are a Progressive customer for five years and maintain clean records, you will also be forgiven for one accident over $500. Other Progressive discount options include the Snapshot® safe driving app, policy bundling, and a deductible savings bank.
Find out more about coverage in our full Progressive auto insurance review.
Ocean Harbor Insurance Reviews: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Ocean Harbor car insurance:
Is Equity Insurance the same as Ocean Harbor?
Ocean Harbor and Equity Insurance are both represented by Pearl Holding Group, but they are separate companies.
Where is Ocean Harbor Insurance headquarters?
Ocean Harbor Insurance Group is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.
How do I contact Ocean Harbor claims?
For auto claims in Florida, call (954) 587-2299. In California, call (714) 912-2484 or send an email to claims@afaclaims.com.
How We Rate Car Insurance Providers
Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
- Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
- Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
- Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.
*Data accurate at time of publication.