Shelter Mutual Insurance Review

Key Points:

• Shelter Insurance offers a full range of coverage options in 15 states.
• Compared to other companies its costs can be higher than average.
• Shelter performs well in J.D. Power studies for service and claims experience.

To make comparing car insurance a little easier for you, we’ve researched dozens of the best car insurance companies, ranking them based on factors such as financial strength, customer service, affordability, and coverage. In this article, we will evaluate Shelter Mutual Insurance against the best car insurance companies so you can decide if this company is right for you.

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Rating

Overall, our Shelter Mutual Insurance review rates the company 4.2 out of 5.0 stars. It has a relatively strong reputation and a wide variety of coverage options but it is only available in 15 states. You can see our ratings in each category below.

Shelter Mutual Insurance Pros and Cons

Below are a few pros and cons we found in our Shelter Mutual Insurance review.

Shelter Mutual Insurance Overview

Shelter Mutual Insurance has been in business for almost 80 years and is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri. While the privately held company initially offered auto insurance only for residents of Missouri, it’s now a leading provider for home, auto, life, farm, and business insurance in 15 states:

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Coverage

Shelter Insurance provides several coverage options for car insurance buyers. Your basic Shelter Insurance auto policy will include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, roadside assistance, and new car replacement coverage. You can also buy policy add-ons such as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments coverage, rental reimbursement, accidental death, and more.

Here’s what each type of insurance covers:

• Bodily injury liability coverage: Covers the other party’s medical bills after an accident where you’re at fault.
• Property damage liability: Covers the other party’s repair bills after an accident where you’re at fault.
• 24-hour roadside assistance: Pays up to $100 per incident for services such as battery jump-starts and towing (provided by Agero for all Shelter Insurance customers).
• New car replacement: Helps you replace your new vehicle for a car of the same make, model, and year if you total it within one year/15,000 miles of original purchase.

The following are coverages you can add to your policy:

• Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Reimburses funeral and medical expenses due to auto injuries for yourself and your passengers.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: Offers benefits in the case of bodily injury and property damage caused by an uninsured motorist after an accident.
• Comprehensive car insurance: Pays for damages to your vehicle due to natural causes like storms and earthquakes, as well as fire, theft, vandalism, and more.
• Collision coverage: Pays to repair damage to your own vehicle after an accident.
• Personal injury protection: Covers medical expenses, loss of income, and other injury-related expenses.
• Accidental death coverage: Provides benefits if you or your spouse dies in an auto accident.
• Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage: Helps cover the amount you owe on your auto loan if your car is totaled in an accident.
• Rental reimbursement: Covers alternative transportation if your car is stolen or in the repair shop after an accident.
• Disability income coverage: Pays you a weekly stipend (up to one year) if you are unable to return to work because of your injuries from a car accident.
• Loss of use: Gives you a one-time payment if your car is in the shop after an accident

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Cost And Discounts

Our rate data shows good drivers pay an average of $837 per year or $70 per month for minimum coverage with Shelter Insurance. This is a bit higher than the national average of $798 per year. Similarly, full coverage costs an average of $2,443 per year or $204 per month with Shelter, which is higher than the national average of $1,968 per year.

Below, you can see Shelter Insurance average costs compared to the national average for different driving scenarios. Shelter tends to be a bit more expensive in most cases. Unless noted, the rates apply to a single 30-year-old male with a good driving record and good credit.

Shelter Mutual Insurance Cost By Age

Your age has a big impact on what you pay for car insurance. Below, you can see full-coverage rates by age for Shelter compared to national averages.

The cost of your Shelter Mutual Insurance policy will depend on several factors, such as your age, driving history, credit score, location, marital status, deductible, and more. Car insurance rates are highly personalized, so the only way to know how much a provider’s coverage would cost is to get a free quote. Shelter may end up being the cheapest option depending on your situation.

Shelter Mutual Insurance Discounts

Like most other auto insurance providers, Shelter Insurance offers multiple discounts for auto insurance, such as:

• Prior carrier tenure: Some customers get a discount based on the length of a previous policy.
• Prior coverage selection: Some customers get a discount based on previous coverage type.
• Continuous insurance: Some customers with active prior insurance get this discount.
• Loyalty discount: Get a discount based on your time with Shelter.
• Length of ownership: Some customers get this discount based on how long you’ve owned your vehicle.
• Companion policy discounts: Get a discount for bundling other auto, life, or property policies.
• Safe driver discount: Get a discount for being accident- and violation-free for three years (and a bigger discount for six years).
• Good student: Unmarried full-time students under 25 who have good grades can get this discount.
• Pay-in-full: You get a discount for paying for a six- or twelve-month policy at once.
• Passive restraint: Cars with airbags get this discount.
• Accident prevention course: Get this discount for taking an accident prevention course.
• Driver training course: You can get this family discount if everyone under 21 in your household has taken an approved driver’s ed course.

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Apps And Technology

Shelter Mutual Insurance has a user-friendly website through which potential customers can get free quotes by submitting the required information about themselves, their vehicle, and their driving habits.

Existing Shelter Mutual Insurance customers can use their accounts to pay bills and access their policies and other information on the website.

Shelter Mutual Insurance also has a mobile app that allows you to pay bills, access your insurance ID card, file claims, view your policy details, or find an agent. The My Shelter app has a 3.9-star rating on Google Play and a 3.8-star rating on the Apple App Store.

To file a claim with Shelter Mutual Insurance, go to the company website or call. If you want to cancel a Shelter Insurance policy, we recommend calling the company or talking to your agent rather than using the app or website.

Unfortunately, Shelter doesn’t offer a usage-based insurance program like Progressive Snapshot or State Farm Drive Safe & Save™. If you’re looking for a program to track your driving in real-time for discounts, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Reviews

Shelter Mutual Insurance has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though it’s not accredited. Companies are not obligated to get BBB accreditation, but it shows potential customers that the company is willing to make good-faith efforts to resolve any concerns.

Shelter Insurance has a 1.2-star rating from less than 30 customer reviews on the BBB. Customers mention having trouble getting claims covered or only receiving part of what the repair costs. Others say payment for claims is slow.

Shelter ranked first place for the Central Region in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠, which polls customers on their experiences with different aspects of service. Shelter also ranked above average on the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠. These studies include opinions of more customers than are represented on Shelter’s BBB page.

Shelter Mutual Insurance Complaints

Complaints on the BBB are separate from reviews. Our research revealed that over 80 customer complaints were closed with the BBB against Shelter Insurance in the past 3 years, most of which describe issues with service. The company has responded to each complaint and closed more than 40 in the last 12 months. In cases where the problem was caused by a company or agency error, Shelter Mutual Insurance has been willing to admit its mistakes and take quick action to find a solution.

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Review: Our Take

Overall, we rate Shelter Mutual Insurance 4.2 out of 5.0 stars. It is a good provider if you live in the central or southern parts of the U.S. However, since its areas of services are limited to midwestern and southern regions, you will have to look elsewhere if you live in a state not serviced by Shelter Insurance.

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Top Recommendations For Auto Insurance

Whenever you shop for car insurance, it’s smart to get quotes from multiple providers so you can compare coverage and rates. In addition to the insurance company you choose, factors such as your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect your premium, so what’s best for your neighbor might not be best for you.

State Farm: Best Overall Provider

State Farm is our top pick for the best car insurance provider. It offers a good combination of affordability, coverage, and service. You can get any standard coverage option plus a few extras from the company. It also offers helpful programs like Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear™, which can help different types of drivers save more money.

Learn More: State Farm Review

Travelers: Best Coverage Options

Travelers has the widest selection of coverage options, in our opinion. You can get anything from accident forgiveness and GAP insurance to roadside assistance and new car replacement. Travelers also has a solid reputation with an A rating on the BBB. 

Learn more: Travelers Insurance Review

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Shelter Mutual Insurance Review: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about Shelter Mutual Insurance.

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How We Rate Shelter Mutual Insurance

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.

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