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Safety Insurance Reviews

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2024
Safety Auto Insurance Is More Expensive but Comes With Good Coverage Options and Great Claims Service, So Our Team Rates the Company 8.2 out of 10.0

Discover if you are overpaying for car insurance below.

Managing Editor RaShawn Mitchner Managing Editor RaShawn Mitchner Senior Editor

RaShawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team senior editor covering personal finance topics and insurance. She’s spent over a decade writing and editing articles about how to save money on travel, entertainment, household services and more.

Senior Editor
Daniel Robinson headshot
Managing Editor Daniel Robinson Managing Editor Daniel Robinson Writer

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

Writer
Daniel Robinson headshot
Managing Editor Daniel Robinson Managing Editor Daniel Robinson Writer

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

Writer

Our Research Process

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto insurance providers

Learn more about MarketWatch Guides
130 Providers Reviewed
Our team looked at over 100 of the top auto insurance providers in the U.S., from national providers like USAA, Travelers and State Farm to regional providers like Erie Insurance.
8,500 Data Points Analyzed
To properly score each auto insurance provider, we looked at cost data, claims processes, customer review scores, industry standing, available discounts, coverages and add-ons.
800 Research Hours
Our team put in the time so you don't have to, evaluating cost data, reading customer reviews and researching companies to determine the most reliable options for coverage.
12,500 Customers Surveyed
We asked thousands of customers to describe their experience with their auto insurance provider to understand how real customers feel about their insurers.

If you live in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine, you’ve probably heard of Safety Insurance. Safety Insurance is a local provider in New England, but is Safety auto insurance a good option?

In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will explain Safety auto insurance and compare it to other options. We’ve reviewed the best car insurance companies and will recommend some top picks too.

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Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.

Safety Auto Insurance Reviews

Safety Insurance is a reliable company for auto coverage, but it’s not always the most affordable on the market. We rate the company 8.2 out of 10.0 overall and recognize it has strong coverage options with good add-ons, as well as a helpful VIP claims service that customers appreciate.

Overall Rating8.2
Cost7.4
Coverage9.2
Reputation8.5
Availability7.3
Customer Experience7.7

*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.

Is Safety Insurance Good?

Safety Insurance focuses on customer service. As a smaller provider, it works with local agents in three New England states to provide personal service. The company has very few online complaints for its size.

Safety Insurance also offers a good selection of coverage add-ons. Options include full glass coverage, transportation expense and guaranteed replacement cost.

Pros and Cons of Safety Insurance

Below are the pros and cons of Safety Insurance.

Pros

Low number of complaints for its size A+ rating with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wide variety of coverage options and extras Financial strength rating of A from AM Best

Cons

Only available in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire More expensive rates than average in Massachusetts

Safety Insurance Company Reviews

Year founded: 1979
BBB rating:  A+ with accreditation
AM Best financial strength rating: A

Safety Insurance provides auto, business and home insurance through independent agents in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Boston. Safety Insurance provides a mobile app for customers to use, but the company doesn’t offer online quotes — you have to contact an agent to learn about your options.

Safety Insurance Customer Service

Positive Safety Insurance reviews praise the company for its customer service. Some reviewers say Safety Insurance agents make them feel cared for and understood. Others mention that Saferty’s VIP claims service works well and agents handle everything from start to finish.

But not all policyholders have great experiences. Negative reviews claim that some representatives don’t have good communication skills or are hard to reach during the auto claims process. The most common complaint is a lack of communication, though some customers mention rates increasing over time as well.

Our review team reached out to Safety Insurance for a comment on these reviews but did not receive a response.

Safety Insurance Complaints

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Safety Insurance has very few complaints for its size. In 2021, the provider received four complaints for car insurance service overall, while other companies received many times that number.

Safety Insurance Reviews: BBB

Safety auto insurance has an A+ rating with accreditation on the BBB, which shows it responds to complaints quickly. The company also has a 3.1-star rating out of 5.0 stars on Google. Most people have positive experiences with the company, but some don’t.


Safety Auto Insurance Coverage

Safety auto insurance offers the same coverage options in Maine and New Hampshire but slightly more choices in Massachusetts. Overall, the company provides a good selection of coverage options.

Standard types of car insurance options include:

  • Bodily injury liability insurance: Covers medical bills for other people when you cause an accident
  • Property damage liability: Covers car repairs for other drivers when you cause an accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Covers your medical bills and auto repairs if someone without enough insurance causes an accident
  • Comprehensive insurance: Covers damage from environmental events, vandalism, theft and collision with stationary objects
  • Collision insurance: Covers damage to your car from auto accidents
  • Personal injury protection (PIP insurance): Covers your medical costs after an accident no matter who caused the accident (required in Massachusetts)

Safety Add-On Coverage Options

Safety Insurance also offers add-on coverage options. In Massachusetts, drivers have two upgrade packages to choose from: Safety Shield and Safety Shield Plus. In New Hampshire and Maine, drivers can upgrade to Safety Shield only.

Here are the upgraded coverage options for Massachusetts drivers:

Safety Shield CoveragesSafety Shield Plus Coverages
Disappearing collision deductibleAccident forgiveness
Rental vehicle loss of incomeExpanded personal effects coverage
Guaranteed replacement costPet coverage
Personal effectsSeat belt coverage
Emergency road travel expensesBail bonds
Supplemental towing and labor
Air bag mechanical failure
Extended vehicle rental

And here are the Safety Shield upgrade options in New Hampshire and Maine:

  • Collision waiver of deductible
  • Full glass coverage
  • Emergency road travel expenses
  • Air bag coverage
  • Transportation expense
  • Guaranteed replacement cost

While there’s a good variety of coverage upgrades, Safety Insurance doesn’t offer rideshare insurance.

Drive With Safety

If you’re interested in telematics insurance, you can sign up for the company’s Drive with Safety program. This uses mobile app data to track your driving behavior. You could get a 5% telematics discount if you’re eligible.

Safety Insurance VIP Claims Service

One thing that sets Safety Insurance apart from mainstream providers is the network of VIP claims service centers you can visit. If your car is driveable, simply drop it off at one of these locations and Safety staff will handle the process from there. You’ll get a rental car when you arrive, and Safety will transport your car to a repair facility.

According to Safety’s website, most VIP claims repairs take less than a week. Safety handles the repair facility payments directly minus your deductible. There are about 20 shops across New England that participate in the VIP program. The VIP claims service doesn’t cost extra to use, and you have the option of using another in-network repair shop or a licensed repair facility of your choice instead.


Safety Insurance Pricing and Discounts

According to our cost data, Safety auto insurance costs an average of about $1,177 per year for full coverage, which is about 41% less than the national average of $2,008 per year. On the other hand, minimum coverage from Safety costs an average of $354 per year, which is only about 44% less than the national average of $627 per year.

Safety Insurance Annual Average CostState Annual Average Average Cost
Massachusetts full coverage$3,501$2,430
Massachusetts minimum coverage$822$754
New Hampshire full coverage$1,177$1,362
New Hampshire minimum coverage$354$415

Safety Auto Insurance Quote

Car insurance costs vary by state. Because of state regulations, population density and other factors, Massachusetts is generally much more expensive than New Hampshire for car insurance.

Safety Insurance Quote by Coverage Type

The table below shows how Safety Insurance’s average rates compare to average cost estimates in these two states. According to our data, Safety Insurance tends to be more expensive than average in Massachusetts but more affordable than average in New Hampshire.

Safety Insurance Annual Average CostState Annual Average Average Cost
Massachusetts full coverage$3,664$2,647
Massachusetts minimum coverage$967$873
New Hampshire full coverage$1,177$1,362
New Hampshire minimum coverage$354$415

Safety Insurance Quote by Age

Car insurance premiums vary greatly depending on your age. Below, you can see averages for Safety auto insurance in two states for a variety of ages. Keep in mind, teenage drivers and young adult drivers tend to join their parents’ policies to save money instead of getting their own plans.

AgeMassachusetts Safety Cost EstimateNew Hampshire Safety Cost Estimate
16$10,131$10,313
25$3,715$1,594
35$3,501$1,117
45$3,422$1,151
55$3,309$993

Safety Insurance Quote by Driver Profile

If you have an accident or violation on your driving record, you may be considered a high-risk driver by insurers, so you’ll pay more for car insurance. Below are average Safety auto insurance costs for drivers with a variety of violations and accident types. These averages are for full-coverage insurance for a 35-year-old male driver.

Massachusetts Safety Average CostNew Hampshire Safety Average Cost
DUI$7,708$3,458
One accident$6,668$2,401
Speeding$4,151$1,177

Safety Auto Insurance Discounts

Safety Insurance offers a variety of car insurance discounts to help drivers save money. Our rate averages don’t include discounts, so you may find a low rate with Safety depending on the discounts you qualify for.

The Safety insurance company offers more discounts in Massachusetts than in New Hampshire or Maine. This is fortunate because the cost of insurance in Massachusetts is higher than in the other two states. In particular, Safety offers a generous safe driver discount of up to 24% off if you haven’t had an accident or violation for six years.

Below are all the discounts Safety Insurance offers in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Safety Auto Insurance DiscountsDetails
Crash prevention trainingGet 5% off for participating in In Control’s crash prevention training.
e-CustomerGet up to 7% off for getting documents electronically if you also qualify for an account credit or multi-car discount.
Excellent DriverGet up to 10% off for having no accidents or incidents in the past five years.
Excellent Driver PlusGet up to 24% off for having no accidents or incidents in the past six years.
Good studentGet 10% off for having a B average or better or being on the dean’s list or honor roll.
LoyaltyGet up to 4% off for continuous years of being a Safety Insurance customer.
Multi-policyGet a 10% credit for bundling business insurance, umbrella insurance, homeowners insurance or commercial auto or fire insurance with an auto insurance policy. Get up to a 6% credit for bundling renters or condo insurance.
Multi-vehicleGet up to 10% off for insuring more than one personal vehicle.
Student away at schoolGet 10% off if a student attends college more than 100 miles from home without a car.

Below, you can see the policy discounts Safety Insurance offers in New Hampshire and Maine.

New Hampshire and Maine Safety Auto Insurance DiscountsDetails
e-CustomerGet up to 3% off for selecting electronic communication.
Good student discountThis discount varies for students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Loyalty discountGet up to 4% off for continuous years of being a Safety Insurance customer.
Multi-policyGet up to 15% off for combining auto coverage with another type of insurance product.
Student away at schoolThis discount varies for students who attend college more than 100 miles from home without a car.

Safety Auto Insurance Review: The Bottom Line

Overall, we rate Safety Insurance 8.1 out of 10.0. The company offers good coverage options and claims service, but other companies may be cheaper in Massachusetts. Regardless, it can be a good idea to get a quote from the company because rates are personalized for each driver.

Safety Insurance Alternatives

Comparing car insurance quotes online is a good way to see what rates you might get. We recommend comparing at least three providers each time you shop for coverage. Having ranked all major companies, we named Travelers and USAA two of our top picks.

Travelers: Best for Most Drivers

Travelers is our first recommendation for car insurance because it offers a wide variety of discounts, affordable rates and useful programs for students. The company has an A BBB rating and is known for its superb customer service.

Our rate averages show Travelers is about 21% cheaper than the national average for full-coverage insurance.

Read more: Travelers insurance review

USAA: Best for Military Members

If you’re in the military or have parents in the military, consider USAA for car insurance. According to our rate averages, full-coverage insurance from USAA is about 25% cheaper than the national average. The company scored 4.3 out of 5.0 for customer satisfaction in our insurance survey, and it regularly earns high scores in J.D. Power insurance studies.

Read more: USAA insurance review

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Safety Auto Insurance: FAQ

You can get Safety Insurance in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Safety offers slightly different car insurance add-ons depending on your state. Speak to an independent New England insurance agent to learn more.

To report a claim, you can call Safety Insurance at 1-800-951-2100 24 hours a day. Customer service representatives will answer the phone between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you’re calling outside of Massachusetts or New Hampshire, you can reach customer service at 617-951-0600.

To get a quote for Safety Insurance, reach out to an independent agent in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine. You can locate agencies with a tool on Safety’s website. The company doesn’t offer online quotes.

The four basic coverages of the standard auto policy are: 

  1. Liability insurance: Covers bodily injuries and property damages to other parties in an accident you cause
  2. Collision insurance: Covers repairs to your vehicle
  3. Comprehensive insurance: Covers stolen or vandalized cars plus damages caused by animals, falling objects or natural disasters
  4. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Covers your injuries and car damages after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver

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:

  • Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
  • Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
  • Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
  • Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.

Our credentials:

  • 800 hours researched
  • 45 companies reviewed
  • 8,500+ consumers surveyed

*Data accurate at time of publication.
**Average rates for Safety auto insurance in Maine were not available.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.

Meet the Team

RaShawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team senior editor covering personal finance topics and insurance. She’s spent over a decade writing and editing articles about how to save money on travel, entertainment, household services and more.

Learn more about RaShawn Mitchner

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

Learn more about Daniel Robinson
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