Erie vs. Auto-Owners: Auto and home insurance bundling

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Erie and Auto-Owners are both major super-regional insurance companies; neither offers coverage in all states, and both work solely through independent agents, not offering quotes online. Both are solid companies with good reputations, and both offer home and auto bundling.

Erie offers cheaper bundled rates thanks to a larger discount; when combined, Auto-Owners rates are actually lower before the discount. As a result, which company is cheaper for you will likely depend on where you live and other factors that impact your rates.

Keep reading to compare Erie and Auto-Owners for auto and home bundling based on rates and more.

Key Takeaways

Erie’s bundled auto and home insurance is cheaper than Auto-Owners due to a larger discount; before the discount, Auto-Owners’ combined rates are lower.
Erie scored very high in customer service and claims satisfaction.
Auto-Owners offers coverage in more states than Erie.

Insure.com compares Erie vs. Auto-Owners for auto and home bundling

Erie has fantastic customer satisfaction ratings and higher claims satisfaction ratings than Auto-Owners. In addition, Erie’s bundled auto and home rates are cheaper because they offer a higher multi-policy discount.

Auto-Owners, with its superior financial stability rating, offers a wide range of coverage. It is available in 26 states, compared to 12 states where Erie offers coverage. It has lower average combined rates before the bundle discount is applied; because discounts vary by state, it could be cheaper for you.

Insure.com rating comparison for Erie vs. Auto-Owners

Both companies are solid choices, but each excels in certain areas. Erie earned a higher Insure.com rating in the 2024 Best Home Insurance Companies ranking at 4.63, compared to the Auto-Owners rating of 4.51. Erie comes out on top for cheaper bundled rates and customer satisfaction. However, Auto-Owners has a better financial rating and complaint ratio.

Comparison metrics	Erie	Auto-Owners
Insure.com overall rating	4.63	4.51
Best for	Cheaper bundled auto and home insurance rates	Availability in more states
Customer satisfaction rating	4.43	3.86
NAIC rating	0.38	0.34
AM Best rating	A+	A++
State availability	IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WI	AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NC, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WI

Erie vs. Auto-Owners: Pros and cons

The table below compares the pros and cons of Erie and Auto-Owners insurance. For example, Erie provides cheaper average bundled insurance rates but only offers coverage in 12 states. Also, Auto-Owners offers cheaper average home insurance rates, but quotes aren’t available online.

Erie	Auto-Owners
Pros:	Pros:
Lower bundled auto and home insurance rates	Higher financial ratings
High customer and claims satisfaction ratings	Lower average home insurance rates
Cons:	Cons:
No online quotes	No online quotes
Only available in 12 states	Smaller bundling discount

Erie vs. Auto-Owners: Which has the most affordable rates?

Erie offers cheaper average auto insurance rates and bundled home and auto coverage with an average discount of $616. This discount is a result of Erie’s multi-policy discount, which is higher than Auto-Owners.

However, Auto-Owners offers more affordable home insurance and rates when home and auto coverages are not bundled.

“When comparing insurance rates, it is most important to understand what isn’t covered, what categories have limitations, and if certain types of claims have a separate deductible,” says Zack Pope of David Pope Insurance.

“Deductibles are important to know as I’ve seen people purchase a home insurance policy where they’re told it’s a $1,000 deductible, but not making it clear that the deductible for wind and hail is 5% of the home value (5 figures),” he says.

Company	Avg annual auto premium	Avg annual home premium	Total without bundle	Total with bundle	% discount	$ savings
Erie	$1,570	$2,378	$3,948	$3,332	15%	$616
Auto-Owners	$1,789	$2,097	$3,887	$3,417	12%	$470

Erie vs. Auto-Owners: Customer satisfaction

According to our survey of insurance customers, 90% of Erie’s customers are satisfied with their service, compared to 69% of Auto-Owners customers.

Company	Percentage of customers who are satisfied
Erie	90%
Auto-Owners	69%

Erie vs. Auto-Owners: Claims handling

Erie also excelled at claims handling. While 85% of Erie customers are satisfied with how their claims were handled, 75% of Auto-Owners customers said they are satisfied.

Company	Percentage of customers who are satisfied
Erie	85%
Auto-Owners	75%

The bottom line: Erie vs. Auto-Owners auto and home bundling

Erie Insurance is a good option if you live in a state where coverage is available. Erie not only offers cheaper bundled auto and home insurance than Auto-Owners, but it also has high customer and claims satisfaction ratings. This should instill confidence in your choice.

Auto-Owners insurance is available in more states than Erie but doesn’t offer nationwide coverage either. Home insurance and unbundled auto and home coverage are also cheaper on average with Auto-Owners.

However, it’s important to note that neither Auto-Owners nor Erie quotes aren’t available online. To get a quote, you’ll need to contact an agent who can provide you with a personalized quote based on your specific needs and circumstances. It’s important to get personalized quotes to compare rates for your needs.

How to choose the right insurance bundle for you

Finding the right bundle really comes down to what you need most. If you value convenience, bundling home and auto under one insurer can save you time by cutting down on paperwork and giving you a single point of contact for claims. If your top priority is saving money, look closely at the discount being offered and compare it to stand-alone policies — sometimes bundling saves a lot, and other times the savings aren’t as big as they sound.

It also helps to think about your long-term plans. If you expect to add another car, move, or buy a second property, a bundle could make those changes easier to manage. On the other hand, if you like to shop around every renewal, you’ll want to make sure a bundle doesn’t limit your flexibility.

Pros and cons of bundling home and auto insurance

Bundling comes with some clear upsides. You can often qualify for a solid discount, and managing your policies through one company makes life simpler. You might even get perks like a single deductible if the same event damages both your home and car.

But there are trade-offs to keep in mind. Bundling can sometimes lock you in with one insurer, even if their rates creep up over time. And while the discount is nice, it’s not guaranteed to be the lowest price available — splitting policies with two different insurers could still come out cheaper.

Bundling is worth considering, but it’s smart to compare bundled and separate quotes before you decide.

What to know before bundling home and auto insurance

Before you commit, take a close look at the details. Ask how much the bundle actually saves compared to buying policies separately, and check whether that discount lasts beyond the first year. It’s also worth asking about claim handling — some insurers make bundled claims smoother, while others keep the processes separate.

Don’t forget to review coverage itself. A bundle should still meet your needs for both home and auto, not just deliver a discount. If one policy looks weaker than what you could get elsewhere, the bundle may not be the better deal.

Tonya Sisler