With so many large insurance companies in the market today, one of the biggest decisions in protecting your property is which company to work with. Choosing the right solution for you can be the hardest part of the whole process, but your bank account will appreciate your hard work in the end!
One insurer that many people don’t immediately think of is Ameriprise. But why not? They claim their low-cost insurance options could save you up to $ 565.78 a year on your policy. But are they right for everyone?
Here is my in-depth review of what Ameriprise has to offer.
What is Ameriprise Auto Insurance?
Since Ameriprise doesn’t spend much of its budget on marketing, they’re less well known in the insurance space. Just because they don’t advertise a lot doesn’t mean they don’t have great products to offer!
Their auto insurance is among the highest rated in the country by A.M. Best. Ameriprise is known for offering really good prices to drivers who have consistently good driving records and are willing to pool if possible. They are great for the budget conscious as they offer some of the lowest prices on the market with the best coverage.
How does Ameriprise car insurance work?
Getting a quote for Ameriprise is one of the easiest processes on the market today. On every page of their website you will find a blue box that you can click to start the bidding process.
To get the ball rolling, all you have to do is enter your zip code and the product you are looking for.
You will then be redirected to a page where you can enter your policyholder data. These details include:
- Your name.
- Date of birth.
- Address.
- The date on which you lived at your current address.
When you have entered all of this information, click Next and you will be directed to a page to confirm that you have entered your address correctly. If the information you entered is correct, click Next to move forward.
It takes a minute to set up your profile. Once that’s done, a page will appear asking you to select your vehicles from the vehicles registered at your address. I like that very much because I didn’t have to enter all of my vehicle information, which has saved me time!
Next, you will be taken to a page that will ask you to choose some more detailed information about the vehicles you are seeking cover for. This section gives you just a few options to change if you want. So it’s pretty painless.
This section provides more information on possible vehicle discounts.
If you would like to add additional vehicles to the policy, you can do so in this section. Once you click Next, you will be taken to a page where you can select the drivers that should be covered by the policy. This should include anyone who drives the vehicle and lives with you.
You will then be asked to provide additional driver details so that Ameriprise can provide a more accurate quote. This includes information such as:
- Your e-mail address.
- Gender.
- License status.
- Age and state approved for driving first.
- The vehicle you drive most often.
- Your marital status.
In the section below you will be asked for more information on accidents, incidents and violations. Once you’re done, you can click Next.
At last you will be taken to a page where you will be asked for some final details. These include:
- Your current insurer.
- Whether your rent or your own.
- If you have an active account with Ameriprise Financial.
- What Coverage Effective Date are you looking for?
If you own your home, it will ask if you currently have a homeowner policy with Ameriprise or if you would consider doing so in the future. Since they are known for their bundling discounts, I said yes here.
That’s it! You will now receive your 6-month premium offer for car insurance and its coverage.
At this stage you can change some of the coverage options to see how much they would each cost over the 6 month period in case you want to add / increase them.
What does Ameriprise car insurance cost?
This rate can vary widely based on age, location, driving history, and car. While the average Ameriprise rate is $ 1,183 per year, this is a generalization.
Their rates are much lower than most other insurance companies, but you can get a more competitive rate if you are between 30 and 75 years old and have had a clean driving record for at least three years.
Ameriprise auto insurance features
Ameriprise auto insurance offers some features that are standard across the board. If your current insurance carrier doesn’t have some of these, Ameriprise is definitely worth a look.
When you insure with them, you can expect some great features and fantastic coverage for almost anything that could happen.
Fully comprehensive insurance
Fully comprehensive insurance covers everything that happens to your car that is not due to a collision. These can be things like:
- Burglary or vandalism.
- Broken or cracked windshield / window.
- Damage from an animal striking your car (such as a deer or a bird).
- Fire or explosion.
- Natural disasters.
- Things that fall on your car (like a tree or a rock).
Collision protection
Ameriprise Collision Coverage covers repairing your car if you’ve been in a collision. If the car is classified as a total loss, the cost of replacing your vehicle will be paid at its current market value.
Roadside assistance and towing
Having roadside assistance and towing services available is a fantastic feature that not every insurance carrier has in their standard plans. With Ameriprise, Roadside Assistance and Towing Cover include:
- Towing to a gas station.
- Battery jumping.
- Flat tire repair.
- Gasoline is delivered to your car when you run out of gas (but you have to pay for the gas).
- Save when you’re stuck in the snow.
- Help get into your vehicle when you are locked out.
Rental car insurance
Rental car insurance is an optional addition to your insurance cover with Ameriprise. You will cover the cost of a daily rental car while your car is being repaired as long as it is due to a covered loss.
A covered loss is usually an accident, and not just when you need a car to rent for vacation. Depending on the daily dollar limit you want to cover for a rental car, you can choose different levels of coverage.
Personal injury insurance
This is the coverage for injury, illness or death to anyone you have injured in an accident that is considered your fault. Personal injury insurance may also cover amounts granted due to a legal dispute if you acquire sufficient coverage.
Property damage insurance
Property damage covers someone else’s property that you have damaged in an accident. Some examples are:
- Hit a parked car.
- Run into your neighbor’s house.
- Slide into a neighbor’s mailbox.
Uninsured car insurance
Uninsured motorist coverage is extremely useful when you have an accident with someone who is either underinsured or uninsured. Your uninsured car insurance will cover the gap and cover the remaining cost of injury or damage to you and your car.
Health insurance
Even if you have health insurance, you may want to sign up for Ameriprise health insurance. This is to help reduce the cost of things like:
- X-rays.
- Ambulance.
- Doctor visits.
- Hospital stays.
- Operations.
- Funeral expenses.
- Medicine.
This insurance can be used regardless of whether you are at fault or not. If not, the culprit’s insurance carrier may reimburse you for any medical expenses your insurance company paid before everything was settled.
PIP insurance
Personal protection insurance can be extremely helpful if someone other than you is injured in an accident. If you have a spouse, child or friend riding with you during an accident, this coverage will help with their personal loss or injury. It includes things like:
- Loss of wages.
- Medical treatment.
- Loss of services.
- Funeral expenses.
CAP insurance
GAP insurance applies to drivers who have bought new cars. When you buy a new car, the value drops pretty dramatically once you drive it out of the parking lot. And if you get into an accident with your new car, the amount the insurance company can reimburse you is only the current market value for your vehicle. Which in most cases is a lot less than what your vehicle loan is for.
This is where GAP insurance comes in, which covers the full cost of a new car replacement, up to 110% of the MSRP for the same make and model, provided that this is done within a year of purchase or 15,000 miles.
My experience with Ameriprise
When I tried Ameriprise, the process of applying for auto insurance was pretty straightforward. Ameriprise was a little below my regular insurance rate of $ 492.78, which definitely impressed me.
I found the application process easy and didn’t need to speak to a live agent. Although it does seem that the request to speak to you is more common when your information isn’t automatically pulled into my system, as it was mine.
Finally, I found the ability to adjust my coverage rates in different categories and see how that affects my rate to be a great feature.
Who Is Ameriprise Auto Insurance Best For?
If you’ve had a clean driving record for at least three years, then you should check out Ameriprise. They offer many discounts and benefits to those who are consistently considered to be safe drivers.
They also prefer drivers with a longer driving history. So if you are 30 or older you will almost certainly get better rates.
If you’re a homeowner and you’re ready to bundle your insurance products with it, you can expect an even bigger discount. This company is an excellent fit for anyone who is willing to join forces.
Who shouldn’t use Ameriprise?
If you’re thinking younger, teenage or early twenties, you should probably check out another auto insurer. Ameriprise usually wants a longer driving history with a safe record in order to get the best discounts.
They also offer much better prices for those who are willing to bundle. So, if you don’t want to use them for your home or renters insurance, you should probably look elsewhere as well.