Shelter Insurance Review 2022

Shelter Insurance is a Missouri-based insurance company that offers auto, home and life insurance policies as well as other types of coverage in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

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Shelter auto insurance coverage

In addition to typical car insurance coverage options, Shelter offers:

• New car replacement coverage. If you total a new car that you bought within the last year and it has less than 15,000 miles on it, Shelter will pay for a brand-new car of the same year, make and model. This coverage is included with every auto insurance policy on new vehicles, which is a rare perk.

• Disability income coverage. If you're in a car crash and can’t return to work because of your injuries, Shelter will provide a weekly stipend for up to one year. This coverage may not be available in all states.

• Accidental death coverage pays out if you or your spouse dies in a car crash. This coverage can be extended to additional family members.

• Gap insurance. Shelter will cover the cost difference if your collision coverage doesn’t cover the full amount you owe on your vehicle after it’s totaled.

» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates

Auto insurance discounts

• Safe driver discount.

• Good student discount.

• Discount if you pay your premiums in full every six or 12 months.

• Multi-car discount.

• Companion policy discount if you're at least 48 years old and own another qualifying Shelter policy.

• Discount if you have both a life insurance policy and a property policy along with your auto insurance.

• Safety discount if your car has factory-installed air bags or automatic seat belts.

• Discount if you pass an accident-prevention course.

• Military discount for active personnel based in Louisiana.

• Discount if every driver in your household younger than 21 has completed an approved driver’s education class.

• Anti-theft device discount (available in Kentucky and Illinois only).

• Discount on uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage when your household has at least two vehicles, motorcycles or motor homes insured with Shelter (Nevada only).

• Window identification discount if you have your car’s vehicle identification number etched into every window (Louisiana only).

Auto insurance buying guide

Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect some basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to determine which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.

When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to make your decision based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you'll receive.

Shelter home insurance coverage

Shelter’s home insurance policy offers the typical coverage to protect your home and property, as well as additional coverage such as:

• Debris removal. Shelter will cover the cost to remove debris after a covered claim.

• Necessary repairs after a loss. This coverage will repay you for repairs to protect your home from additional damage after an event, such as patching a hole to prevent rain or animals from entering your home.

• Fire department charge reimbursement. Shelter will reimburse up to $500 of fire department charges if they're called to protect your home.

• Trees, shrubs, plants and lawns coverage will reimburse you for damage to greenery on your property after a qualifying claim.

• Credit card fraud and check forgery will pay up to $1,000 if an unauthorized person uses your credit card or forges a check in your name.

» MORE: The best homeowners insurance companies

Home insurance discounts

• Multiple policy (bundling) discount.

• Protective devices discount if you have smoke alarms, security alarms and deadbolt locks.

• Claim-free discount if you don’t file a claim on your policy for six consecutive years.

• New home discount.

• Heating system discount if you don’t burn coal, wood or other solids.