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You’ve narrowed your potential insurers to Esurance and Direct Auto. But which one should you pick?
Esurance is a relatively new player in the insurance market, founded in 1999. Since its inception, it’s gained a lot of traction through its accessible online insurance. Today, it’s owned by Allstate.
Founded in 1991, Direct Auto isn’t much older. It serves a different niche than Esurance, focusing on high-risk drivers. This may be a key reason why it’s received a terrible “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. If you can’t get insurance anywhere else, the insurer may be one of your few options.
Check out the comparison tables below to find the right insurer for you.
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Take advantage of this online company's low base rates and mobile tools like app-based telematics and teen safe driver programs. | Qualify for car insurance stacked with multiple discounts, whether or not you have a spotty driving record. |
All states except AK, DE, HI, MT, NH, VT, WY | AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA |
Included free | Optional |
Yes | No |
No | No |
Yes | No |
Yes |
Yes |
Online Phone In-person |
phone |
12 months monthly |
monthly custom |
Yes | Yes, up to 10% |
Yes | Yes, up to 10% |
Yes | Yes, up to 15% |
Yes | Yes, up to 25% |
Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes, up to 10% |
No | No |
Yes | Yes, up to 10% |
No | No |
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If you have no trouble finding insurance, consider passing on Direct Auto. The company scores atrocious ratings in customer service, and you can find a better experience with many other insurers.
Esurance fares much better in customer satisfaction, receiving an “A+” from the Better Business Bureau. However, it earns a middling score in claims satisfaction. Esurance comes out on top in coverage availability. It offers insurance in 43 US states, while Direct Auto covers only eight.
Direct Auto offers a surprisingly robust collection of insurance promotions, such as good-student, good-driver, senior-citizen and welcome-back discounts. Esurance’s discounts are nothing to sneeze at, either. Your family may qualify for cost reductions like good-student, defensive-driver and good driver discounts. Esurance also offers more vehicle discounts than Direct Auto does.
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