Review
Updated
This auto insurer is a good fit for: Those seeking affordable rates and unique protections not available elsewhere
Best for affordable coverage and range of protectionsElephant
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Fair = PoorElephant Car Insurance Snapshot
Pricing
Elephant offers affordable rates to many drivers, especially those who qualify for several of its discounts. But drivers must get quotes to learn what it can offer them.
Discounts
The company offers more discounts than many other auto insurers. These include some rare discounts for students and remote workers.
Perks
Elephant policyholders can add some unique protections to their policies, including legal assistance if they're involved in an accident. The company also offers pet injury coverage and accident forgiveness that begins at signup.
Customer service
The company has received more complaints than other insurers of a similar size, but it's also received a large number of positive reviews from customers.
Full Elephant auto insurance review
Pros
- Excellent selection of driver discounts
- Unique coverage options
- Flexible policies
Cons
- Limited availability
- Unimpressive customer service
Elephant auto insurance at a glance
Monthly premium costs:
- 35-year-old female with clean driving record: $185
- 35-year-old male with clean driving record: $188
- 35-year-old female with one accident: $244
- 18-year-old male with clean driving record: $337
Coverage options:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Medical payments
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Loan/lease payoff
- Rental reimbursement
- Non-owner car insurance
- Custom parts
- Roadside assistance
- Pet injury
- Diminishing deductible
- Upgraded accident forgiveness
Top perks
Long list of discounts
Elephant offers an impressive list of discounts to suit all types of drivers. Several, like its online quote and paperless discounts, are available to nearly every applicant. There are also special discounts tailored to students, homeowners, and remote workers. That last discount is pretty rare in the industry, so Elephant could be worth a closer look for those who work from home.
Unique coverage options
Elephant offers all car insurance coverage required by law as well as several uncommon add-ons, including pet injury coverage and accident forgiveness that goes into effect as soon as the policy term starts. But its most unusual offering is its legal assistance service, which offers policyholders legal advice if they're involved in a car accident.
Flexible policies
It's simple for drivers to build a custom Elephant auto insurance policy that fits their needs and budget. Once they've filled out the quote form, they can easily adjust their policy limits and add or remove optional protections, with the price updating in real time. Then, once they're happy with their policy, they can purchase it directly online.
What could be improved
Service area
Elephant currently offers car insurance in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It may expand its services in the future, but for now, drivers who live in other states will have to explore other options.
Customer service
Elephant has received more complaints than other insurers of a similar size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This isn't a guarantee that drivers will have problems with Elephant, but it is a possibility to bear in mind when deciding whether it's the best option.
Alternatives to consider
2024 Award Winner
Best for price conscious consumersGeico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
2024 Award Winner
Best for bundling coverageState Farm
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
When looking for coverage in all 50 states: Geico is known for its affordable rates and it offers coverage in all 50 states. It's also noted for its above-average customer support. However, it lacks some of the extras that Elephant offers, like its legal assistance service.
When looking for excellent customer service: State Farm is one of the largest auto insurers in the nation, and this is thanks in large part to its excellent customer service. However, it doesn't offer as many discounts as Elephant.
Monthly premium costs
Elephant car insurance rates are fairly competitive, especially for drivers who qualify for several of its discounts. Male drivers tend to pay slightly more than female drivers, but the difference usually only amounts to a few dollars.
Keep in mind, exact rates vary depending on the driver's history, their vehicle make and model, their age, their zip code, their education level, and more.
| 35y, female, clean record | 35y, male, clean record | 35y, female, one accident | 18y, male, clean record |
|---|---|---|---|
| $185 | $188 | $244 | $337 |
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas
Discounts available
Elephant offers more car insurance discounts than many of its competitors, and a lot of them are pretty easy to achieve. As long as drivers are comfortable purchasing a policy online, they should be able to nab several of the discounts listed below. The company also stands out for its unique work-from-home discount, which few other car insurance companies offer.
- Automatic payment
- Claims-free
- E-signature
- Early bird
- Good student
- Homeowner
- Multi-car
- Multi-policy
- Online quote
- Paperless
- Pay in full
- Student away at school
- Work from home
Coverage options
Policy types
- Car
- Motorcycle
- Off-road vehicle
Elephant doesn't insure as many types of vehicles as some of its competitors, but this could change over time. The company is still pretty young and it may expand its services in the future to include some of its missing offerings, like boat and RV insurance.
Coverage types
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Medical payments
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Loan/lease payoff
- Rental reimbursement
- Non-owner car insurance
- Custom parts
- Roadside assistance
- Pet injury
- Diminishing deductible
- Upgraded accident forgiveness
Elephant offers all the essentials drivers need to protect their vehicles as well as some extras that set it apart from many of its competitors. Custom parts coverage, pet injury coverage, and diminishing deductibles are pretty rare in the industry, and while accident forgiveness is common, few insurers offer it to drivers immediately upon signup like Elephant.
Customer service and ratings
Elephant's customer service ratings have been mixed to date. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and there are many glowing reviews online. But the company also has an unusually high complaint ratio with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This suggests that it's received far more complaints than is typical for an insurer of its size.
It hasn't featured in large-scale customer satisfaction surveys, like those done by J.D. Power, so the complaint ratio is one of the only ways to compare its customer service to other auto insurance providers right now.
This auto insurer is best for:
Elephant car insurance is a good fit for:
- Drivers who are comfortable purchasing and managing their policy online
- Those seeking unique coverage options
- Students and remote workers looking to score special savings
But Geico is a great option for those seeking affordable rates in all 50 states and State Farm is a strong contender for those who put a premium on customer service.
Our Insurance Expert
Kailey Hagen has been writing about small businesses and finance for almost 10 years, with her work appearing on USA Today, CNN Money, Fox Business, and MSN Money. She specializes in personal and business bank accounts and software for small to medium-size businesses. She lives on what's almost a farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband and three dogs.
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