Selective Auto Insurance Review for 2024
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Automatio...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Jun 20, 2022
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Selective Insurance Review
It appears as though Selective has some fairly high ratings in a couple of different categories. For starters, their financial strength has earned an A rating from AM Best, which means they are considered financially stable. They also have an A+ rating from the BBB. However, their complaint ratios are less than perfect, and despite their perfect rating from the BBB, the three customer reviews logged onto the website are all negative.
Ratings Agency | Rating |
AM Best Financial Strength Rating (2016) | A |
Complaint Ratio per Vehicle (NJ, 2012) | 2 / 47,133 (Higher than Average) |
NAIC Complaint Index (2012) | 1.67 (Worse than Average) |
Better Business Bureau (2016) | A+ |
Selective Insurance Discounts
Some automotive insurance companies are less than enthusiastic about advertising their available discounts for new customers to see. Selective Insurance falls into this particular category. But if you get in touch with a Selective insurance agent, be sure to ask them about the following potential discounts that you might qualify for:
- Bundling discount for also carrying a homeowner’s, condominium, or renter’s insurance policy from Selective
- Safety and/or Anti-Theft discounts
- Defensive Driving Course discount
- Paid In Full discount
- Good Student Discounts
- Driver Training Course discounts
Selective Auto Insurance Options
Selective claims to offer flexible coverage options for their motorists, but doesn’t really go into too much detail about them. Obviously, Selective has to offer you the coverage options and the dollar amounts of coverage necessary to drive legally in your state. Beyond that, you can look forward to choosing from the following optional coverages:
- Bundled Coverages – Includes towing & labor, pet coverage, and key replacement
- New Car Replacement – if your vehicle gets into a total loss accident, this coverage pays the actual cash value of your vehicle but one model year newer and with 15,000 fewer miles
- Accident Forgiveness – if you are involved in an at-fault accident, your premiums will not increase
- Selective Choice Replacement Cost – replaces your total loss vehicle with the latest model year and provides the option for 2, 4, or 6 more years of coverage
- Diminishing Deductible – Receive a $100 credit towards your deductible each claim-free year (for a maximum of 5 years/$500 credit)
Comparing Selective Insurance Quotes
Knowing what Selective charges its customers, based on their risk profile, can help you a great deal when it comes to deciding whether or not they are the right insurance provider for you:
Based on our estimated quotes in the chart above, it seems as though Selective has some very unorthodox practices as far as determining premiums is concerned. On a per-person basis, it appears as through married individuals who own their own home are charged some of the most affordable rates offered by Selective. While this is not an unusual automotive insurance business practice, married drivers with the same risk profile who happen to be farther along in age are charged more, which goes against conventional wisdom. Similarly, single drivers who don’t own property are somehow charged more than a motorist with a similar risk profile who happens to be under the age of 25, which is usually considered riskier.
Pros and Cons of Selective Insurance
Pro | Con |
Their business model is dedicated to face-to-face business practices | Lack of information or transparency |
Some local agents may not be as well-versed about coverage options as others |
The best way to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your automotive insurance premiums is to compare multiple quotes from different providers who are servicing your area. Some of those will be more expensive, while others will be comparatively cheap. But you also have to take factors – such as the company’s financial strength and customer service rating – into account, too. For more information on whether or not Selective is the right automotive insurance company for you, compare their rates to their local competitors using our quote generator.
Corporate Headquarters40 Wantage Avenue
Branchville, NJ 07890
www.selective.com
Phone: 973-948-3000
Fax: 855-540-6760