Elephant Auto Insurance Review: Should you buy in 2024?

Elephant car insurance is on the smaller side compared to other companies, but you can still take advantage of an assortment of policies and discounts. It should be noted that Elephant insurance is only offered in eight states: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

There are both pros and cons to Elephant car insurance, such as the wide variety of policies versus the high number of complaints against the company.

You’re able to purchase either full coverage auto insurance or the minimum required by the state you live in, as well as additional helpful options such as roadside assistance or pet protection. However, Elephant does see a higher number of negative customer service reviews in comparison to other companies.

Shopping for the right auto insurance often means looking in-depth into a number of different companies. We’ll cover the details necessary to make an informed decision on whether or not Elephant car insurance is the right fit for you.

What You Should Know About Elephant Auto Insurance

If you’re in the market for affordable car insurance rates, Elephant might appear on your list of potential insurers. Along with cheap quotes, it offers enticing deals where customers can bundle their car insurance with non-Elephant companies or opt for mechanical diagnostics for their vehicles.

Elephant has both a website and an app. The website allows customers to customize their coverage, adjusting a policy as needed. You can also pay your bills and file claims from the website. The app allows you to upload photos for a claim in the event of an accident.

While Elephant offers affordable deals, customer service ratings seem to lower the overall score. Elephant has an A+ with the Better Business Bureau, but reviews regarding Elephant customer service come in at 1.1/5 stars.

In terms of financial strength, the company is too small to be considered by A.M. Best or Moody’s. However, Elephant is a subsidiary of Admiral Group, a U.K.-based insurer with an “A+” financial rating.

The company also continues to attract new investors and partnerships, recently teaming up with technology companies to streamline its mobile claims experience. This reflects a strong financial foundation for paying out claims but also hints at the fact that Elephant is working to improve its poor customer service.

Elephant Auto Insurance Coverage Options

When it comes to Elephant auto insurance, you have quite a variety of policy options to choose from. Depending on what you need, you can select a full coverage policy or buy the minimum auto insurance required by state.

With full coverage, you’re often better protected financially in the event of an accident, but you’ll have higher monthly rates. On average, minimum insurance costs $66/month, significantly less than full coverage at $166.

Elephant currently offers the following types of auto insurance coverage:

• Collision auto insurance. As the name implies, you’ll be protected in the event of a collision with another vehicle. Collision also covers damage done to property.
• Comprehensive auto insurance. Comprehensive auto insurance covers anything that hasn’t resulted from a collision, such as any damage caused by a flood, fire, or animal.
• Liability auto insurance. Liability covers other people rather than you, so you’re not responsible for medical bills or any property damage. Insurance companies often separate liability into two policies — bodily injury and property damage.
• Medical payments (MedPay). With MedPay, you’ll be covered for any medical bills accrued after an accident for yourself or any injured passengers.
• Personal injury protection (PIP).  PIP covers the same as MedPay and other expenses that aren’t medically related, such as funeral expenses or any lost wages. Additionally, both PIP and MedPay do not cover any property damage.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects you if the other driver involved in the accident doesn’t have any or enough insurance to pay for the damages.

The best part of having choices is that you can build your auto policy to include as much or as little as you want.

For example, your choices might be reflected by the type of car you drive or how long your commute is each day. State insurance laws also dictate the kind and how much coverage you need. You’ll be able to work with a representative to figure out how much or how little coverage you’ll need.

Does Elephant offer any additional coverage options?

There are other additional coverage options you can choose from as well. Some may be offered across the board with other insurance companies, while others are unique to Elephant insurance.

The following are optional choices offered by Elephant:

• Gap insurance. If your car is totaled during an accident, this coverage will pay the remaining amount on your auto loan or lease.
• Rental car reimbursement. This coverage can be helpful in the event that you need a rental while you wait for your vehicle to be repaired or if you need to make arrangements to replace your vehicle.
• Non-owner auto insurance. This is coverage if you drive a vehicle that isn’t yours and can help cover the costs of an accident.
• Custom parts and equipment coverage. If you have anything custom on your vehicle that would otherwise not be covered by insurance, this optional coverage covers custom mods.
• Legal assistance. Elephant will cover legal fees associated with one traffic violation per year, with 25% savings on other legal services.
• Diminishing deductible. Elephant reduces your collision insurance deductible by $50-$100 every year you remain accident-free, up to $500.
• Roadside assistance. The coverage helps if you have a breakdown, including towing, a battery jump, flat tire replacement, fuel delivery, and lockout services.

Elephant roadside assistance is offered 24/7 and in real-time, meaning you can see the progress of the provider coming your way. You’ll also be able to see their name and vehicle description.

Other services and benefits are offered, such as pet injury coverage, legal advice, or upgraded accident forgiveness. Elephant also offers guaranteed repairs for the life of your vehicle as long as your car is repaired at a shop listed in your policy.

With an Elephant auto policy, customers have access to YourMechanic, which provides diagnostic services for your vehicle at a discounted rate. This is unique to Elephant auto insurance and not something you see at other insurance companies.

YourMechanic gives you access to repair services such as oil changes, battery replacements, tire rotations, and brake pad replacements. Customers use the YourMechanic website to schedule services, which come right to your home so that you don’t have to take your vehicle to a service center.

What other types of insurance does Elephant offer?

Bundling is a great way of saving money and is generally one of the most popular discounts that car insurance companies offer. So if you need to insure more than just your vehicle, Elephant does offer more than just car insurance.

You can bundle your Elephant auto insurance with any of the following:

• Motorcycle insurance (this coverage is in partnership with Dairyland)
• Renters insurance
• Homeowners/Condo insurance
• Life insurance
• Umbrella insurance

Read more: Dairyland Auto Insurance Review: Should you buy?

What you choose will ultimately depend on which types of coverage you need and whether you’d prefer minimum or full coverage policies. You may also opt for collision rather than both collision and comprehensive coverage.

As previously mentioned, you can also get a discount by bundling your policies together. So if you need life, renters, and auto insurance, you can bundle them all together to save on your monthly rate.

The Bottom Line on Elephant Auto Insurance

Elephant offers rates lower than the national average but still higher than the two most popular companies — Geico and State Farm consistently offer lower rates than Elephant across all demographics.

However, Elephant offers more diverse auto policies, unique add-ons, such as YourMecahnic, and guaranteed repairs for life.

You can always request car insurance quotes from Elephant if you’d prefer to experience their customer service for yourself rather than base your opinion on their existing customer service reviews. Since Elephant offers a wide variety of coverage options — from a bare minimum policy to full coverage auto insurance — you’ll be able to tailor a policy that will fit neatly inside your budget.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates Breakdown

Car insurance rates are often determined using certain factors. Companies will often consider your age, where you live, how often you drive, and the type of vehicle you drive. Let’s take a look at how the average auto insurance rates differ by age and other demographics.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Teenage Drivers

Age is one of the biggest factors influencing your Elephant car insurance rates. Teens and young drivers are considered bigger risks than mature drivers, and companies charge teens the highest rates in the industry.

On average, teen drivers can expect to pay between $400 and $700 a month. A 16-year-old female will pay closer to $566, while a 17-year-old male driver will pay closer to $620.

Fortunately, Elephant rates are much lower than the competition. Compare Elephant car insurance quotes to other major companies:

Average Monthly Full Coverage Teenage Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies

The same 16-year-old drivers will pay around $450 per month for full coverage with Elephant, saving over $1,000 annually on car insurance. Only Geico and State Farm offer cheaper rates, around $300 and $350 per month, respectively.

If Elephant isn’t available in your state, find out how to buy cheap auto insurance for teenagers.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Young Adult Drivers

More experienced drivers will end up paying less for coverage, and young drivers will notice their rates start to drop when they turn 25.

With Elephant, a 25-year-old female driver can expect to pay $117.52 each month, and a 25-year-old male driver will pay around $122.

Average Full Coverage Monthly Rates for 25-Year-Olds with the Top Insurance Companies

Again, Elephant auto insurance rates are lower than the national average, with drivers saving around $20 per month on full coverage.

If you don’t live in one of the eight states where Elephant is available, don’t worry — you can still get cheap auto insurance for young adults. Geico offers young drivers average rates lower than $100/month and is available in all 50 states.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Adult Drivers

One of the reasons why an adult driver will pay less than a teenage driver is going to be based on experience.

Adult drivers have had more time on the road, and more time to accrue discounts based on their lifestyle. This could include getting married, taking defensive driving courses, or buying a newer and safer vehicle.

Take a look at the insurance quotes for drivers in their 40s and 50s to see how Elephant compares:

Monthly Full Coverage Adult Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies

A 45-year-old driver with a clean record will pay around $97 monthly for Elephant insurance, $20 less than the national average. Geico, State Farm, and Travelers are the only companies with cheaper rates.

These savings may not seem like much, but if you stack lower rates with additional discounts, you could save even more.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Senior Drivers

Senior drivers tend to see higher rates than middle-aged drivers due to increased health risks that can affect driving, including poor eyesight and slower reaction times.

However, not all companies treat senior drivings the same, and Elephant offers very affordable rates to drivers in their 60s.

Average Monthly Full Coverage Auto Insurance Rates for Senior Drivers

With Elephant insurance, a 60-year-old female driver will pay an average of $85 per month, while her 65-year-old counterpart will pay around $95. Senior male drivers in their 60s will pay around the same, between $85-$90 monthly.

Unfortunately, Elephant does not offer any senior discounts on auto insurance, which could help lower your rates even more. Find out how to buy cheap auto insurance for senior citizens, and remember to compare at least three different companies before choosing Elephant or another insurer.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with Speeding Tickets

Age isn’t the only factor used when determining what a driver will pay for auto insurance. Your driving record is taken into consideration, with accidents and other infractions counting against cheap rates.

Speeding tickets often denote a more reckless driver who will file claims and cost the insurance company money. For this reason, most auto insurance companies will charge a higher rate.

Learn more about high-risk auto insurance and use this table to see how much your rates increase with Elephant and other major companies after a speeding ticket:

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies for Drivers with a Traffic Ticket

Speeding tickets will significantly raise car insurance rates with most companies, but not Elephant. Rates only increase by about $20 on average after a speeding ticket for older drivers.

For example, a 45 year old with one accident will pay around $119 monthly with Elephant, while a driver with a clean record pays around $97.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with an Accident

Having an accident on your driving record will increase your car insurance rates. Learn how auto insurance rates change after an accident.

Which insurance company you use and the severity of the accident will determine how much and for how long your costs will go up, with Elephant, Geico, and State Farm among the cheapest.

Compare full coverage car insurance rates after an accident in the table below:

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies After an Accident

With Elephant, you’re likely to pay around $138 per month after an accident. This is around the same price as Geico. Only State Farm offers lower rates at $102 monthly.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for a Driver with a DUI

If you have a DUI on your record, you will also pay more when it comes to auto insurance. This time around, Elephant is cheaper than the national average, Geico, and most other national insurance companies.

You’ll pay around $167 with Elephant insurance each month if you have a DUI on your record.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies with a DUI

State Farm and Progressive offer lower rates, so it’s important to compare these quotes against other local companies in your area if you need high-risk insurance. Learn how to get auto insurance after a DUI.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with Poor Credit

Insurance companies can use your credit score to determine what your rates will be. It’s often recommended that you keep your credit score as high as possible. If it’s on the low side, make every attempt to raise it to save money on auto insurance.

With Elephant, a poor credit score is going to reflect rates that are higher than rates for drivers with higher scores.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Credit Score

Even though Elephant has higher rates than Geico when it comes to poor credit, companies such as Farmers and Liberty Mutual are still more expensive. That’s why you should compare multiple companies to find cheap auto insurance for drivers with bad credit.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Minimum Coverage

Another key point to take into consideration is the amount of coverage you’re looking to purchase. A minimum coverage policy is going to cost less than one with full coverage.

Compare Elephant rates for minimum coverage to other national insurers:

Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

Elephant minimum coverage will cost around $66 a month. People often choose minimum coverage to save money or because their vehicle doesn’t need anything beyond simple coverage.

The upside of having minimum coverage is the low price tag. However, remember that each state requires a minimum level of insurance, which could be more than what you were expecting to buy. You should also keep in mind that a minimum coverage policy does not cover all damages and injuries in the event of an accident, leading to more out-of-pocket expenses.

Elephant Auto Insurance Rates for Full Coverage

Full coverage is going to offer more security in the event of an accident. You’ll often have liability, collision, comprehensive, and generally other coverages, such as MedPay or PIP and uninsured motorist coverage.

Full coverage with Elephant is going to cost around $166 a month, more expensive than Geico or State Farm, but still cheaper than other companies on our list:

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

Full coverage may be more expensive, but you won’t be faced with out-of-pocket costs should you get into an accident. Comprehensive will also be useful against errant deer on the road, while having higher than the minimum requirement of liability or MedPay will protect you financially against any bills that might accrue due to an accident.

Elephant Auto Insurance Discounts Available

A common concern when shopping for insurance is how to keep your premiums at an affordable rate. Discounts are a great way to save money, as long as you know which ones are on the table.

Elephant offers the following auto insurance discounts:

• Multi-car discount. Insure all of your vehicles under Elephant, and you’ll save money on your policy.
• Auto insurance bundling discount. You can bundle your policies together to save money if you have multiple insurance policies through Elephant.
• Digital discounts. Going paperless, signing up for auto-pay, getting quotes online, and providing an e-signature will all grant you savings.
• Early bird discount. You’ll get an early bird discount when you switch to Elephant from another company before your current policy expires.
• Claims-free discount. Practicing safe driving habits and having a clean driving history can help you save money on your policy.
• Mature driver discount. Take an accident prevention course once you reach the age of 55 to earn this discount.
• Good student discount. If you’re a student or have a student on your policy, you can get discounts if you have good grades. The standard is a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better.
• Student away at school discount. You can also save if you’re a student away at school or if you have a student on your policy who lives more than 100 miles from home.
• Work from home discount. Working from home means you drive less, and Elephant offers a discount. This applies to the policyholder or their spouse.
• Pay in full discount. When you pay your policy all at once rather than monthly, you’ll be able to save a percentage off your premium.

You’ll want to let Elephant know if you qualify for any discounts that aren’t immediately applied. For example, if you’re a student or have a student listed on your policy, you’ll want to provide proof of good grades to get the good student discount.

Similarly, you’ll want to let Elephant know if you have a policy through another company that is eligible to be bundled with your car insurance.