Acceptance Auto Insurance: Detailed Review

When you’re shopping for car insurance coverage, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. That said, Acceptance doesn’t provide a lot when it comes to auto insurance.

Its standard offerings include comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, rental car and roadside assistance coverage. However, in most areas, you can increase your liability limits beyond state-mandated minimums.

Acceptance insurance is tailored toward high-risk drivers who might have difficulty finding insurance, but conveniently offers home, life and other types of insurance you may need, as well.

Overview of Acceptance auto insurance

Acceptance Insurance provides a range of auto insurance lines for drivers in 17 states. While uncompetitive compared to most major auto insurers in terms of price, Acceptance stands out for its coverage of high-risk drivers. Individuals who struggle to get auto insurance elsewhere due to age, poor credit scores, DUIs, and other traffic infractions may have an easier time obtaining a policy through this carrier.

Acceptance stands out as a top pick for high-risk drivers. These drivers may struggle to qualify for auto insurance policies from other major insurance providers due to past traffic infractions, such as speeding tickets, reckless driving citations or DUIs. Very young drivers and drivers with bad credit scores may also find it easier to qualify for an auto insurance policy.

However, this comes at a premium. In exchange for insuring high-risk drivers, Acceptance offers lackluster rates. It also provides weak customer service according to numerous review websites. Consider Acceptance Insurance an option of last resort for car insurance.

While Acceptance may prove a strong choice for high-risk drivers, there are likely safer coverage options available to others. It’s generally easier for those with poor driving records to get insured by Acceptance rather than other providers, so the company may make sense for certain motorists.

Here are the states where Acceptance auto insurance is available:

Alabama	Illinois	Pennsylvania
Arizona	Indiana	South Carolina
California	Mississippi	Tennessee
Florida	Missouri	Texas
Georgia	Ohio	Virginia

Acceptance auto insurance plans and offerings

Acceptance has a number of different insurance plans and offerings. In this section, we’ll go over several of the most popular auto insurance options.

Keep in mind that state-level auto insurance requirements vary. Before making your purchase decision, double-check your state’s plan and minimum auto insurance coverage requirements.

Bodily injury liability car insurance

If you cause a car accident, bodily injury coverage will pay for various costs associated with the other party’s injuries. These include:

Medical care
Legal expenses
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Funeral expenses

Your bodily injury insurance will not pay for injuries that you sustained if the other party is at fault. In that case, you would have to rely on the other party’s insurance or on your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy.

Many states legally require drivers to purchase bodily insurance. Plan holders can extend coverage limits with an umbrella policy.

For example, if your bodily insurance policy has a maximum limit of $250,000, you could buy an umbrella policy that would raise the coverage limit to $1,000,000. If an accident occurs, your primary policy will cover the first $250,000 and your umbrella policy will cover the remaining $750,000.

Property damage liability insurance

This type of liability insurance pays for property damages that the other party sustains in an auto accident when you’re found at fault. It does not cover damage to your own property, nor does it pay for medical bills. However, it may pay for legal fees and other costs associated with your accident.

For example, if you crash into a storefront, your coverage may pay both to repair the physical damage and to reimburse the owner for lost revenue caused by your accident. Virtually every state requires drivers to carry this form of insurance.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle after a collision. Going back to our earlier example, after running into a storefront, your collision coverage would kick in to cover the cost of fixing your car.

Lenders often require borrowers to carry collision coverage. However, if your car is paid off, this form of insurance may be optional.

Medical payments coverage

This coverage option will pay for various medical costs incurred by you and sometimes passengers within your car even if you were at fault. Medical payment insurance may also cover funeral expenses.

Most states do not require drivers to purchase coverage. However, purchasing medical payment coverage may prove financially savvy in the event of an accident.

Personal injury protection

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage covers medical expenses for all passengers in the policyholder’s vehicle regardless of who caused the accident. Drivers living in one of the 12 states that require PIP insurance will have to purchase coverage before legally getting on the road.

Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage

As the name suggests, this form of auto insurance coverage protects policyholders from collisions with drivers who either don’t have auto insurance or have inadequate coverage. Uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may be sold separately or together.

They may also be separated by the type of liability covered. For example, in some states, you will have to purchase uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage separately from uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), while in other states, you can purchase them bundled together.

UMBI covers expenses related to injuries suffered by you and any passengers in your car at the time of the accident. UMPD pays to repair or replace your vehicle.

Many states legally require uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Even if you live in a state without a legal purchasing mandate, you should still consider UM and UIM coverage to protect against costly vehicle repairs and unexpected medical bills.

Additional products from Acceptance Insurance

If you’re looking to bundle coverage, it’s worth noting that Acceptance auto insurance can be combined with other types of protection. These are the most common choices:

Homeowners insurance
Renters insurance
Motorcycle insurance
Life insurance
Travel insurance
Commercial insurance
Pet insurance

Bundling insurance coverage can save you money on types of protection beyond a standard Acceptance auto insurance policy.

Acceptance auto insurance pricing

Insurance quotes from Acceptance are higher than the industry average. Even for auto insurers that accept individuals with poor credit, Acceptance stands out as uncompetitive.

It is recommended that you shop around before committing to an insurer. Acceptance may prove the best option for certain high-risk individuals, but if you qualify for coverage from a major insurer, you’re probably better off going with the competition.

Auto insurance discounts from Acceptance

Acceptance offers a wide variety of discounts, but not all are available in every state or from every company Acceptance represents. Depending on the policy, you may be able to save on your car insurance by:

Being a military member.
Insuring more than one vehicle.
Buying more than one insurance product from Acceptance.
Renewing your auto insurance policy.
Setting up automatic payments.
Receiving paperwork electronically.
Being insured with your previous company for at least six months.
Owning a home.
Paying your bill in full upfront.
Discount for affiliations with certain clubs or organizations.
Switching car insurance carriers, but staying within the agency (still have an Acceptance insurance agent).
Discount for signing up for a policy online.
Getting a quote before your policy expires.
Taking a defensive driving course.
Meeting Acceptance’s standards for a good driver.
Participating in a telematics program that tracks your driving habits (only available through third-party carriers).
Earning good grades.
Owning a car with anti-theft equipment.

Acceptance auto insurance benefits

Many commercial auto insurance companies will refuse to cover at-risk drivers. Acceptance excels in providing coverage to drivers who won’t qualify elsewhere. It also provides numerous discounts, including ones for students, members of the military and customers who set up automatic payments.

Excellent for at-risk drivers

Acceptance Insurance specializes in helping customers with a checkered driving history or who are otherwise considered at-risk. If necessary, Acceptance will file an SR-22 form, which proves that you meet the requirements for car insurance, on your behalf. Drivers found guilty of certain traffic infractions may have to file this form with their state in order to drive legally. Not all auto insurance companies will file an SR-22.

Additionally, Acceptance has a TicketProof coverage option that offers up to $650 in reimbursement annually for select legal fines and fees.

Applications likely to get accepted

Acceptance’s lenient standards make it likely that your application will be accepted. For example, if you have a DUI or a reckless driving charge, many large insurance companies may choose not to issue a policy in your name.

While Acceptance doesn’t approve all applicants, it certainly accepts more high-risk applicants than many other major insurance companies.

Acceptance auto insurance drawbacks

While Acceptance is a solid choice for individuals who would struggle to find auto coverage elsewhere, the company does have its drawbacks. Its weak financial position and low customer satisfaction ratings are chief among them.

Low financial strength

According to AM Best, a large credit rating group that specializes in insurance, Acceptance Insurance suffers from financial instability. AM Best recently downgraded Acceptance from a B, or fair rating, to a C++, or marginal rating. This reflects Acceptance Auto Insurance’s weak balance sheet and marginal operating performance.

For consumers, this means that Acceptance has a greater risk than other insurers of becoming financially insolvent. This could negatively impact its ability to pay out insurance claims.

Low customer satisfaction

Online reviews from platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) indicate low levels of customer satisfaction with Acceptance. Many reviewers complain about poor over-the-phone service and mishandled claims by adjusters. The company has a 1.3 average star rating from the BBB and a considerable number of complaints lodged with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for a company its size.

Acceptance auto insurance accessibility

Compared to most major auto insurance companies, Acceptance provides lackluster accessibility. Although it offers two toll-free lines, a texting service and online contact methods, a lack of 24/7 phone support may impact your chances of speaking with a real human.

Customer complaints also suggest poor communication with claims adjusters.

Availability

Acceptance auto insurance locations can be found across the 17 states in which the company operates. This includes:

Illinois
Ohio
Alabama
Arizona
California
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia

As you can see, Acceptance is not confined to any one region of the country. However, it’s mostly clustered in the South and Midwest, with a presence on both coasts.

Contact information

You can file a claim or sign up online at any hour of the day through the Acceptance website. You can also:

Call the toll-free customer service line at 1-800-321-0899 from Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. CST (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday)
Receive a quote by calling 1-877-405-7102 from Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. CST (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday).
Text Acceptance at 615-912-9200
E-mail Acceptance at [email protected]

User experience

Reviewers on most major consumer feedback platforms report a poor user experience. While the sign-up process is easy, numerous customer complaints about the claims process and bad customer service on the BBB website suggest Acceptance may not be the most user-friendly insurance provider.

The company’s lack of a 24/7 toll-free line also may pose difficulties for some customers.

Acceptance auto insurance financial stability

Acceptance’s shaky financial standing should concern any existing or potential customers. AM Best’s recent downgrade of Acceptance’s credit rating suggests the company may experience financial difficulties in the near future. AM Best cited issues like:

Inflationary pressures
Labor shortages
Supply chain problems
A weak balance sheet
Increased competition
Geographic and product concentration

Acceptance Auto Insurance: Detailed Review

Overview of Acceptance auto insurance