American National auto insurance review: Cheap basic coverage
At $57/month, American National offers full-coverage car insurance at a low average rate, but doesn’t offer many policy add-ons or discounts.
By
Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
4.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
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Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
Founded in 1905, American National offers basic car insurance at a lower-than-average rate. Although American National’s coverage options are limited (there’s no rideshare coverage, for example) the coverage it offers is robust, and gap insurance is available.
American National coverage comes with some perks you won’t find at other companies, like up to $2,000 of coverage for customized equipment on your vehicle as part of your comprehensive and collision coverage. American National auto insurance policies also include rental coverage as part of your comprehensive and collision at no additional cost, which covers part of the cost of a rental car when your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident.
American National has some of the lowest rates in the industry, which means customers who are looking for basic car insurance at an affordable price may find that American National is the right auto insurance company for their needs. American National offers auto insurance in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
American National offers all the basic types of auto insurance that most drivers need, including:
Liability coverage: Required in almost every state, liability insurance covers the costs if you damage someone else's car or injure another driver in an at-fault accident.
Personal injury protection: Also known as PIP coverage, this helps cover the cost if you or your passengers are injured in an accident, no matter who is at fault. PIP is required in no-fault states.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision damage to your car, like flood, fire, vandalism, theft, and animal-related damages.
Collision coverage: Covers the cost of the damage to your car in an accident, no matter who is at fault.
American National offers a small number of additional coverages, including:
Roadside assistance: American National offers 24-hour roadside assistance to help when your car breaks down, providing services like towing, fuel delivery, and changing a flat tire.
Gap insurance: Pays the difference between how much you owe and your car’s actual cash value (ACV) if your car is totaled in a covered accident. May be required by you lender if you have a car loan or lease.
ACE insurance: Also known as Added Coverage Endorsement, this covers replacement parts for damaged vehicles. Ask your agent for more specific details about ACE insurance.
American National doesn’t offer some endorsements you’ll find at other large car insurance companies, like rideshare coverage, new car replacement, or first accident forgiveness.
Ratings methodology
Price
5.0/5
We used data provided by Quadrant to compare the average cost of a full coverage policy from American National (50/100/50 coverage limits and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage) to competitor rates for the same coverage with the same driver profile (single drivers aged 30, 35, and 45 driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE about 10,000 miles per year.)
Customer experience
4.4/5
American National does not have a rating on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study or their 2022 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study. However, American National did have a lower-than-average number of customer complaints in 2021, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) National Complaint Index Report.
Coverage options
2.5/5
American National offers 9 different types of auto insurance coverage, giving it a low score when it comes to coverage options. Beyond the standard auto insurance coverage types, including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, American National offers a small number of add-ons like roadside assistance and gap coverage.
Financial strength
3.6/5
American National has moderate financial ratings, scoring an A with both AM Best and S&P. This means American National is in a decent financial position to pay out its customers’ claims.
How much does American National auto insurance cost?
American National auto insurance costs an average of $57 a month, making it one of the most affordable options on the market for a full-coverage policy with bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
Average cost per month
Average cost per year
American National
$57
$689
National average
$136
$1,638
What discounts does American National offer?
American National only has a few discounts listed on the company website, including:
Single deductible: Cover both home and auto with American National and pay only one deductible if both your car and your house are damaged in the same event, like a hurricane.
Deductible waiver: Your deductible could be reduced or waived completely if you are in a car accident with another American National customer.
American National Cashback: If you have both home and auto insurance with American National and go for three consecutive years without filing a claim, you’ll get a check for a percentage of your eligible home and auto premiums you’ve paid for the past 3 years. Better yet, you’ll receive a check every additional year you don’t file a claim.
Bundling discount: Save money if you purchase your home, auto, and life insurance through American National.
American National also doesn’t offer usage-based discounts; many car insurance companies have smartphone apps that track your driving and offer lower rates for drivers who demonstrate safe driving behavior, but American National isn’t one of them.
American National auto insurance state availability
American National auto insurance is available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
What to expect with American National auto insurance
How to get a quote: American National requires drivers to work with an agent when getting a quote or buying a policy, there’s no online quote tool. You can use American National’s website to find an agent in your area.
Customer service options: Customers can call 800-899-6519 to speak with an American National customer service representative or emailServiceCenter@AmericanNational.com for assistance.
How to file a claim: You can file an auto insurance claim with American National online, through the American National mobile app, or by calling the 24-hour claims hotline at 800-333-2860.
How to cancel your policy: American National auto insurance customers can cancel their policy by contacting their agent or calling the company directly at 800-899-6519.
American National vs other auto insurance companies
American National insurance earned a Policygenius score of 4.5. We rated auto insurance companies based on cost, coverage options, customer service, and financial stability. American National scored higher than many of its competitors, but drivers should still compare quotes from multiple companies to make sure they are getting the best coverage at an affordable price.
Who is American National Insurance owned by?
American National was acquired by Brookfield Asset Management Reinsurance in 2021. While this may seem strange, it isn’t uncommon for insurance companies to be purchased as a financial asset. For example, GEICO is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
What type of insurance is American National Insurance Company?
American National sells lots of different types of insurance, including auto insurance, homeowners and renters insurance, classic car coverage, farm and ranch insurance, recreational insurance, business insurance, and life insurance.
Rachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
