Freeway Car Insurance Review

Freeway Insurance is a national chain that focuses on car insurance for drivers considered “high risk,” such as those with at-fault wrecks, tickets or DUIs on their records. Freeway isn’t an insurance company and doesn’t underwrite its own insurance policies. Instead, Freeway’s insurance brokers check with several insurers to get quotes for you.

Freeway advertises that it helps people nationwide find the best policy for their needs. It could be a good company for you if you need an SR-22 or are looking for high-risk insurance. The company also notes that its agents are bilingual, so if you are more comfortable handling your business in Spanish, you may want to consider it.

Having someone shop for insurance on your behalf can be convenient, especially if you’ve had trouble finding an insurer that will accept you. However, you may find more options and avoid extra fees by comparing quotes from several companies yourself.

Overview of Freeway Car Insurance

Freeway Insurance was founded in 1987 by Kelly Turton in Orange County, California. Initially, the company’s focus was private passenger automobile insurance, which was then acquired by Westline Corp. The latter was itself then acquired by Confie, one of the largest privately held insurance brokers in the United States and a portfolio company of private equity firm ABRY Partners, in 2008.

Freeway Insurance has expanded through acquisitions made by Confie, including Colyer Insurance, DeFranco Insurance, CW Baker Insurance, and Lewiston Insurance. It predominantly sells within the non-standard auto insurance market.

As of 2020, it sells homeowners and renter’s insurance, health insurance, and motorcycle insurance.

Freeway Insurance also provides insurance to high-risk drivers with poor driving records. There are 503 Freeway Insurance locations in the United States, with retail offices in 22 states.

Since 2008, Freeway Insurance has operated in English and Spanish, and nearly 50% of its customers identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Freeway reports that nearly 70% of their insurance agents are multilingual. Freeway predominantly sells within the non-standard auto insurance market.

In 2021, Freeway Insurance announced it would begin offering franchise opportunities to further develop its retail locations in the United States.

While perhaps not as well known as some competing insurance companies, Freeway has been in business for more than 30 years. The company has more than 400 offices in 23 states and claims to write more than one million new policies each year. A subsidiary of insurance broker Confie Seguros, Inc., since 2008, Freeway describes itself as the largest privately held insurance company in the United States.

How Freeway car insurance works

Freeway is an insurance brokerage, which typically means you pay the company a fee to find a policy that fits your needs.

In most states, brokers must disclose fees. Still, before you buy, always ask about extra charges on top of your premiums. Freeway operates in multiple states, each with its own laws, so fees will vary.

Broker fees are often nonrefundable. That means if you end up canceling your policy, you may not get back any of the money you paid the brokerage to find insurance for you.

To avoid a broker fee, consider buying auto insurance directly from a carrier or through an independent agent. A car insurance comparison tool can help you get multiple quotes.

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. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance.

Freeway auto insurance coverage

Freeway says it will provide auto insurance coverage to any driver, including those with a less-than-stellar record. That includes drivers with multiple accidents or DUI, or who are required to have an SR-22 certificate of insurance. The SR-22 document is typically required for drivers deemed a high risk following an alcohol-related offense, uninsured motorist conviction, or other violations.

Freeway also works with drivers with poor credit scores, and others who might have difficulty finding insurance elsewhere. For financially strapped drivers, it offers month-to-month payment plans with the option of paying in cash at any of their local offices.

By working with a number of different insurance companies, Freeway says it can custom tailor a policy and offer competitive rates to drivers regardless of their record or financial status. Policy documents specify the name of the carrier, along with an agency broker agreement outlining Freeway services.

Freeway policies can be purchased online, over the telephone, or through any over their local offices.

Freeway sells policies from several large, well-known auto insurers as well as smaller companies that focus on coverage for high-risk drivers. Among its carrier partners for car insurance are:

Dairyland.
Kemper.
National General.
Progressive.
Safeco.

Freeway Insurance may not give you quotes from all of these companies. The lineup of insurers available to you through Freeway depends on where you live. Your coverage options and discounts will also vary, depending on which carrier you choose.

Keep in mind, too, that some of Freeway’s carrier partners have solid financial strength ratings and draw relatively few consumer complaints to state regulators. Other Freeway partners, however, have high rates of complaints and questionable financial strength. When you’re offered a policy from a broker or agent, it’s important to make sure the carrier is a company you can trust.

Freeway car insurance discounts

You can lower the cost of your insurance premiums by taking advantage of discounts.

Freeway auto insurance offers similar discounts to those found with other insurance companies, including reduced rates for good drivers, students, members of the military, and drivers or families with more than one vehicle. You can also get reduced rates for bundling an auto insurance policy with other coverage offered by Freeway, such as a homeowners or renters policy.

Freeway offers a good student discount, which is common among car insurance companies. However, unlike most insurers, the company does not offer multiple car, safe driving, anti-theft, pay-in-full, paperless, defensive driving or airbag discounts.

Freeway does offer more unique discounts, including locked garage, military background, homeowner and continuously insured discounts, which are not typically offered by most other insurers.

Pros and cons of Freeway Insurance car insurance

Before you purchase a car insurance policy through Freeway Insurance, it may be a good idea to consider the pros and cons of working with the broker company.

Pros

Policies sold in all 50 states
Advertises affordable premiums
Offers SR-22 filings for high-risk drivers
A variety of add-on coverage is available

Cons

Freeway doesn’t underwrite its own policies
Fewer discounts than competitors
Local offices are not in every city

Other insurance offerings from Freeway

As a brokerage, Freeway sells many other types of coverage in addition to auto insurance. Coverage types include:

Business insurance. Covers businesses in the event of employee injury, natural disasters and accidents. Commercial auto insurance covers business owners in the event that an employee’s vehicle (used for work purposes) is in an accident and the business owner is held liable.
Homeowners insurance. Compensates homeowners for losses related to their home or possessions stored within.
Landlord insurance. Covers property damages, damages you would otherwise be liable for and legal counsel and fees.
Life insurance. Can provide your family with income and debt-coverage in the event of death.
Motorcycle insurance. Protection for those who drive or own motorcycles, ATVs, racing bikes and similar vehicles.
Identity theft insurance. A plan which monitors your credit report and personal information, and gives you a heads up if there’s suspicious activity.
Renters insurance. Protects renters in the event of a fire, theft, water damage and other covered events.
Others include Commercial auto insurance, Motorhome insurance., ATV and snowmobile insurance, Watercraft insurance, and Health insurance.

What online auto insurance tools does Freeway offer?

Freeway Auto Insurance prides itself on its ability to provide low-cost, high-quality insurance to all who need it. It also offers free roadside assistance to some California drivers. So if you live in the state, it’s worth inquiring if you qualify for that free service.

Online Price Quotes. You can easily figure out how much you would pay for Freeway Auto Insurance by getting a quote through their site.
Online Bill Pay. Customers in Illinois and Indiana are guaranteed this option; others will have to check with their specific insurance provider about their payment options. All customers may pay by phone.

Why do you need car insurance?

Car insurance covers unforeseen bills and liabilities arising from an accident. It protects you from hefty out-of-pocket expenses, provided you don’t exceed the coverage limit. Without it, you risk paying out-of-pocket to settle legal claims, medical expenses, and damages if you’re at fault. Here are some other reasons you need auto insurance:

Legal Requirements

Most states require basic liability coverage before you can legally register and drive a car. Driving without valid car insurance may lead to fines or even license suspension.

Car lease or financing

Banks, credit unions, and other lending institutions will require valid insurance to finance a car purchase. Likewise, car dealers will require you to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage before leasing a vehicle. Car insurance protects the company against financial losses if you file a claim after an accident.

How to save on car insurance

Although car insurance can be expensive, there are many ways that you may be able to lower your rate. Here are some potential options for getting a cheaper car insurance premium:

Shop around and compare quotes

Since the price of car insurance varies by insurer and each company has its own proprietary rating algorithm, your premium may vary greatly depending on the company you choose. To find the cheapest company for your specific circumstances, you may want to compare quotes across various carriers.

Most insurance professionals recommend comparing quotes for the same coverage types and limits across carriers to get the most accurate comparison.

Apply discounts

Almost every insurance company offers discounts that might lower your premium. Some discounts are more significant than others. You may want to review the discounts each carrier offers when comparing quotes. Discounts are commonly available for being a good student, remaining claims-free, driving a car with strong safety ratings and bundling your insurance policies.

You may also qualify for a discount if you pay your premium in full, enroll in paperless billing or set up autopay.

Check your coverage

There are many different types of car insurance coverage, and the more you have, the higher your insurance premium typically is. Higher coverage limits also typically increase your premium. If price is a concern, you may want to review your policy to ensure you’re only paying for the coverage types that you need and check for duplicate coverage.

For instance, you might already have roadside assistance through your credit card provider.