Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto insurance providers
GoAuto Insurance is known for its affordable car insurance rates, but does that mean it’s the best choice? In this review, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team will look at the company’s average prices, insurance products and customer reviews to see how it compares to the country’s best car insurance companies.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
GoAuto Insurance Review
GoAuto Insurance could be a good option for drivers in Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio or Texas who need basic and cheap car insurance. Still, other auto insurance providers with smaller numbers of complaints and more consistent reviews may be better choices for some drivers.
| Overall Rating | 7.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 7.5 |
| Availability | 7.3 |
| Coverage | 7.9 |
| Cost | 5.0 |
| Customer Experience | 7.7 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
GoAuto Insurance Pros and Cons
GoAuto Insurance Company: Overview
GoAuto Insurance is based in Baton Rouge, La., and has been providing cost-effective car insurance policies since 2009. Today, the company offers car insurance coverage in Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
Understanding how car insurance varies by state can help you see why GoAuto focuses on these specific regional markets.
Unlike many insurance agencies, GoAuto Insurance only covers vehicles. That means you’ll have to look elsewhere for homeowners insurance, renters insurance and life insurance.
GoAuto Insurance has not been rated by AM Best for financial strength, which may be worrisome for some drivers. However, the company is the eighth-largest auto insurance provider in its home state of Louisiana. While GoAuto Insurance may not have the most name recognition, it is a legitimate car insurance provider.
GoAuto Insurance Quotes
GoAuto Insurance promotes itself as a provider with bargain rates. Its slogan is simple: “Low Cost Car Insurance.” GoAuto appeals to many drivers searching for low-cost insurance. In fact, our consumer survey showed that cost was the most critical factor for people shopping around for car insurance. About 28% of respondents were concerned about the cost of car insurance, while 25% were concerned most about coverage options and 15% were concerned about the company’s reputation.
While it tends to offer competitive rates, the best way to find out if the company offers low-cost insurance plans for you is by getting a personalized free quote.
Here are some of the factors that influence your car insurance rates:
- Age: Teen motorists and older adults are usually charged more for auto insurance than other age groups. Understanding insurance rates for teen drivers can help you find the most affordable coverage for young motorists. Similarly, finding the right auto insurance for 25-year-olds can lead to more competitive pricing as drivers enter this age bracket.
- Vehicle type: Expensive vehicles and cars that get stolen more often receive higher insurance rates.
- Driving history: Recent accidents or traffic violations will usually make your rates spike.
- Location: Rates can vary widely by location, even within one state. Drivers in crowded cities like New Orleans usually pay more than those in rural areas.
- Credit history: Drivers with bad credit scores often pay higher rates than those with strong credit.
- Level of coverage: No matter the provider, full coverage car insurance and expensive add-ons lead to pricier rates.
GoAuto Insurance Discounts
GoAuto Insurance is known to offer discounts for drivers with good driving records and for cars with safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices. However, the company’s website doesn’t mention any car insurance discounts.
You may find some common savings opportunities such as a multi-car discount or a good student discount through GoAuto Insurance, but you’ll need to speak with a local insurance agent to find out more.
GoAuto Insurance Payments
To make a payment, you can sign in to your GoAuto Insurance online portal. You can make payments anytime through the website or mobile app. You can also call customer service or head to a physical location for help with monthly payments. If you’re wondering about getting car insurance without a license, you’ll want to explore your options with GoAuto or other providers.
GoAuto Insurance coverage
As a self-identified low-cost car insurance company, GoAuto offers basic auto insurance policies that satisfy minimum coverage requirements.
- Liability car insurance: Covers vehicle repairs and medical bills for other drivers involved in an accident in which you are at fault.
- Collision insurance: Pays for repairs to your car following an accident no matter who is at fault.
- Comprehensive insurance: Covers repairs for reasons other than an accident, such as theft, vandalism or weather damage.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Coverage you can purchase for your own medical bills.
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance (UIM/UM): Covers your medical bills and repairs if another driver who has no insurance or limited insurance hits your vehicle.
We found no additional coverage options, such as rental car reimbursement or roadside assistance, on the GoAuto Insurance website. However, it might be worth asking agents if GoAuto Insurance offers extra perks such as towing coverage or rideshare insurance in your state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiYyLELU5l4
Source: Allstate
GoAuto Insurance Claims
If you get into an accident, make sure you’re safe, exchange information with the other party and document the damage with photos if you can. Before filing a claim, familiarize yourself with the steps to get car insurance and understand your policy details. Then, use the form on GoAuto’s website to submit your claim information. Alternatively, you can contact the claims department at 833-700-0000 or use the GoAuto mobile app.
GoAuto Customer Insurance Reviews
GoAuto Insurance holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Reviews from customers are mostly negative, with consumers citing poor customer service and frustrations with communication. The company holds a 1.2 out of 5.0-star average customer score on the BBB website, though this is only out of about 30 reviews.
Our team reached out to GoAuto Insurance for a comment on these reviews but did not receive a response.
GoAuto Car Insurance: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about GoAuto insurance:
GoAuto Insurance is a good insurance provider for certain drivers. We gave the insurer a score of 7.0 out of 10.0. While the company holds an A+ rating from the BBB, it also has negative reviews online with few positive comments to balance them out.
We named State Farm car insurance our Best Customer Experience in our review of the nation’s best car insurance companies. The insurer has a wide variety of coverage options and is known for its great customer experience.
We named State Farm car insurance our Best Customer Experience in our review of the nation’s best car insurance companies. The insurer has a wide variety of coverage options and is known for its great customer experience.
GoAuto Insurance covers drivers in Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio and Texas. If you’re located in any other state, you’ll need to reach out to other car insurance providers.
GoAuto Insurance offers customers a grace period of 10 days to pay overdue bills.
Our Methodology:
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800+ hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
Studies and Ratings We Cite
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Our provider reviews cite several key industry studies and ratings, including:
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping Study measures customer satisfaction and purchase experience with auto insurance providers based on five categories: brand, price, distribution channel, quote process and policy offerings. The study average score is 676/1,000.
- J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study The annual J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Study rates the claims experience customers have with different providers based on eight categories: trust, fairness of settlement, time to settle a claim, people, communication, ease of resolving a claim, ease of starting a claim and digital channels. Car insurance providers are assessed at the national level. The study average score is 697/1,000.
- NAIC Complaint Index The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index is a representation of the number of complaints auto insurance providers receive relative to the average number of complaints for the industry based on their size. A score of 1 represents the average number of complaints for the industry.
*Data accurate at time of publication
