Amica Mutual Auto Insurance Review

Company Background Information

Amica Mutual started selling insurance back in 1907 in Providence, Rhode Island and first sold auto, theft and fire insurance. It is currently headquartered in Lincoln, Rhode Island and employs over 3,200 people in 40 regional offices throughout the country. Amica Mutual does not sell its insurance through insurance agents and relies on its direct marketing and online presence to sell its insurance products straight to consumers.

The company has an A++ rating from A.M. Best as of January 2013 for its strong financial stability over a long period of time, and excellent operating performance. Amica was rated 4 out of 5 by J.D. Power in 2012 for auto claims satisfaction, and the company consistently ranks highly in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys. The company currently sells auto insurance to every state in the U.S. except Hawaii.

Pros of Amica Mutual Car Insurance

• High customer satisfaction ratings from independent rating organizations
• Wide range of insurance products and auto coverage available
• Multiple discounts available which can reduce premium costs

Cons of Amica Mutual Car Insurance

• Having no local insurance agents may impact customer experience
• Reports of being more selective than other companies about who they will insure
• A few customer complaints regarding claim payouts and customer service

Types of Insurance Offered

Amica Mutual sells auto, home, condo, renters, marine, life, retirement, and many other types of insurance through their website and on the phone. The company offers a wide range of options including liability only insurance, passenger coverage, comprehensive coverage, and the unique Platinum Choice insurance program. Amica offers deductible free coverage for glass or windshield repair in some states, however the deductible must be met if a windshield or window needs replacement.

Platinum Choice Plan

The Platinum Choice plan includes discounts for good driving, full glass coverage, rental car coverage, and new car replacement. Identity fraud monitoring, glass coverage, and rental coverage are available and can be added or removed as preferred from the plan. The rental insurance covers up to $5,000 toward the cost of a rental vehicle.

Also included in the Platinum Choice Plan is the Good Driving Reward program that allows customers to receive Amica Advantage points which reduce costs if a customer is involved in an accident. Advantage points are earned through good driving, referrals, renewing policies, adding new policies, or by staying with them over a long period of time. The points can be used to reduce or eliminate deductible costs if there is an accident.

Website

Amica has a modern and well-designed website where visitors can easily get a quote for insurance or find out more information about their insurance products. Customers can pay their premiums from the website or print their ID cards, and claims can be reported via the website. The Auto section of Amica’s website has plenty of information about the types of coverage offered, discounts, the auto repair assistance program, supplementary coverage, driving safety tips, and other information. There is also a detailed PDF catalog of the company’s insurance products.

Discounts

Amica offers a number of discounts for its policy holders. Auto and home bundled policies can save up to 15% off their premiums. Annual renewals for auto policies are eligible for a renewal discount, and there are the standard discounts available such as good driver discounts for a year of driving with no points. Purchasing policies for multiple vehicles will also result in a multiple policy discount. Similar to All State and other providers, Amica offers an accident forgiveness program that can eliminate premium increases as a reward for future good driving.

Vehicle discounts are available for cars equipped with anti-theft devices and safety features such as airbags and electronic stability control. Experienced drivers who have completed defensive driving classes and accident prevention classes are rewarded with lower premiums, but this discount is limited in some states. New drivers who take extra driving classes are also eligible for a discount. Students can receive discounts for good driving, and the parents of students can get a discount if their student is attending school more than 100 miles away without a vehicle.

Other unique discounts include:

• Paid in full ­ ­- discounts are offered for payment premiums in full
• Loyalty – customers are rewarded with lower premiums for staying with Amica
• Discounts for switching from other providers

Customer Reviews

Like most other large insurance companies there are a few negative reviews of Amica online, but there are also positive experiences reported on the company’s BBB pages and other review websites. The negative reviews report delays with claims processing and negative experiences with Amica’s customer support. Other customers reported lower claim payouts than they expected. These customers represent only a small section of Amica’s large customer base, and it should be noted that many J.D. Power studies have ranked them among the highest in the industry for customer satisfaction.

Recommendations

If you are shopping for auto insurance you should consider Amica because of the company’s high customer satisfaction ratings from independent review organizations and the large number of discounts offered to policy holders. Amica can be selective when it comes to auto insurance approvals, but there’s no harm in getting a quote. Amica might be the right auto insurance provider for you if you find the right rate and are approved. You can get a quote now from insurance providers like Amica just by entering your zip code below.

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