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Esurance vs. Shelter Insurance
Which insurance provider is right for you? Compare pros & cons, savings, and quotes from Esurance and Shelter.
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Esurance vs. Shelter: What You Need to Know
Founded in 1999 and purchased by Allstate in 2011, Esurance has the spirit of a startup but the backing of Allstate as a multiline insurance company with an A+ financial rating. Using state-of-the-art technology, Esuranceoffers online and mobile services that enable a more efficient payment and claims process. Esurance sells the vehicle and property insurance around the county, and they are still growing. In 1999, Jean-Bernard Duler, Jeffrey L. Goodman, Huyen Bui, David Griffin, and Charles Wallace found Esurance as one of the first insurance companies to sell policies directly to consumers online, without the need for in-person meetings or telephone calls.
Shelter Insurance company is a mutual insurance company that focuses on auto, property, business and life insurance. In, when the company was founded and called MFA Mutual Insurance Company. Its focus was to provide farmers access to reliable insurance protection at prices that they could afford.
Below is a list of average rates, rankings, products, and discounts for the two companies. For full company overviews, you can visit Esurance Overview and Shelter Overview.
Esurance vs. Shelter: How much are the Average Rates?
Below is a list of the average rates that drivers typically pay with Esurance and Shelter. On average, Esurance charges approximately $195.92 per month while Shelter comes in at around $207.25 per month. For Esurance, the cheapest state average is California at $137.40 per month and the most expensive is Maryland at $377.84 per month. For Shelter, the cheapest state average is Arkansas at $161.99 per month and the most expensive is Kentucky at $278.18 per month.
Average Rate
Average Rate
Average Rate
| State | Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $152.83 | - |
| Arkansas | - | $161.99 |
| California | $137.40 | - |
| Colorado | $209.40 | - |
| Kansas | - | $250.39 |
| Kentucky | - | $278.18 |
| Maryland | $377.84 | - |
| Michigan | $214.38 | - |
| Mississippi | - | $206.54 |
| Missouri | - | $210.46 |
| Nebraska | - | $242.61 |
| New Jersey | $222.39 | - |
| New York | $343.25 | - |
| Oklahoma | - | $206.76 |
| Pennsylvania | $219.26 | - |
| Texas | $178.32 | - |
Esurance vs. Shelter: Rates by Number of Vehicle
Drivers will typically get a discount if they insure multiple vehicles. Here is a list of average rates that Esurance and Shelter typically charge for drivers who have more than 1 vehicle.
| Number of Vehicles | Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Vehicle | $182.94 | $199.62 |
| 2 Vehicles | $270.48 | $254.54 |
Esurance vs. Shelter: Rates by Homeownership
Drivers who own their home rather than rent can sometimes get a small discount. We found that on average Esurance charges $208.64 per month and Shelter charges $196.39 per month for customers who own their home.
| Own/Rent | Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Own | $208.64 | $196.39 |
| Rent | $192.94 | $211.81 |
What is Esurance and Shelter Insurance Rating?
Which car insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Esurance and Shelter ranked among the industry ratings.
| Comparison | Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1946 |
| BBB Rating | A- | A+ |
| Financial Strength | Above Average | Excellent |
| NAIC Complaint Ratio | 1.14 | 0.36 (2013) |
| S&P Rating | AA- |
Esurance or Shelter: Insurance Products Offered
What coverage is available through Esurance and Shelter? Both insurance companies offer Auto, Commercial, Condo, Home, Life, Motorcycle, Renters, RV, and Umbrella insurance. Additional products from Esurance insurance also includes Health and Pet insurance. Considering these two top insurance providers? Check out the list below. To view a full list of products that are available, visit Esurance and Shelter Insurance page.
| Insurance | Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Commercial Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Condo Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Farm Insurance | ✔ | |
| Health Insurance | ✔ | |
| Home Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Life Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Motorcycle Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pet Insurance | ✔ | |
| Renters Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| RV Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Umbrella Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
Esurance or Shelter: Ways To Save
Shelter offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Anti-Theft - Kentucky and Illinois Residents, Companion Life, and Companion Policy discounts. Whereas, Esurance also offers a few discounts that Shelter doesn’t, including Switch & Save®, Safety Device, and Renters Plus® discounts. Start taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers like Shelter and Esurance insurance and save yourself some money. You can review the full list of discounts that these two companies offer below.
| Esurance | Shelter |
|---|---|
| Anti-lock Brakes Discount | Accident Prevention Course Discount |
| Anti-theft Discount | Anti-Theft Discount - Kentucky and Illinois Residents |
| Claim-free Discount | Companion Life Discount |
| Defensive Driver Discount | Companion Policy Discount |
| Emergency Road Assistance Discount | Driver Training Course Discount |
| Fast 5 Discount® | Good Student Discount |
| Good Driver Discount | Military Discount |
| Good Student Discount | Multi-car Discount |
| Homeowners Discount | Multi-coverage Discount - Nevada Residents |
| Multi-car Discount | Passive Restraint Discount |
| Multi-policy Discount | Pay in Full Discount |
| Online Shopper® Discount | Safe Driver Discount |
| Paid-in-full Discount | Window Identification System Discount – Louisiana Residents |
| Renters Plus® Discount | |
| Safety Device Discount | |
| Switch & Save® Discount |
Pros & Cons of Esurance & Shelter
Pros
Esurance
- Very few complaints from customers.
- It has fewer customer complaints than the industry median, relative to its size.
- Backed by Allstate, a large insurer that is financially sound.
- Esurance is available in most states.
Shelter
- Shelter Insurance offers personalized service through a network of more than 1,400 agents.
- The company has a few customer's complaints, which indicates high satisfaction.
- You can start your claims online or by phone.
Cons
Esurance
- Does not score very high on the repair process
- Prices are a bit higher than other budget insurers like Progressive and Geico
Shelter
- The company covers only 15 states. If you don’t live in the Midwest, you’ll need to look for another carrier.
Esurance or Shelter Mobile Apps Options
The Esurance mobile app is available for iOS and Android.
The Shelter Insurance Mobile app is available for iOS and Android. With the app, you can access your ID cards, report a claim and upload photos, view coverages and policy details, obtain roadside assistance, get in touch with your agent and pay your bill by credit or debit card.
| Esurance Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 4.8 | 1,194 user reviews |
| Android | 4.7 | 8,655 user reviews |
| Shelter Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 2.3 | 35 user reviews |
| Android | 2.3 | 240 user reviews |
Esurance & Shelter Contact Info
| Esurance Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 650 Davis Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 |
| Phone | 1-800--378-7262 |
| Website | https://www.esurance.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/Esurance/ | |
| https://twitter.com/esurance | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpp4vbWpy_aTBhmhigENpHw |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/esurance/ | |
| Shelter Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1817 West Broadway - Columbia, MO 65218 |
| Phone | 1-800-743-5837 |
| Website | https://www.shelterinsurance.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/ShelterInsurance/ | |
| https://twitter.com/Shelter_ins/ | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelter-insurance-companies/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/ShelterIns |
| https://www.instagram.com/shelter_ins/ | |
| https://www.pinterest.com/shelterins/ | |
| Vimeo | https://vimeo.com/user48805731 |
Methodology
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.
Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School. She writes books under her given name, Afarin Majidi.
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