Shelter Car, Home and Renters Insurance Review
- Excellent home and auto insurance complaint ratings
- Best J.D. Power satisfaction score in the Central U.S. region.
- Cheaper-than-average car insurance in Arkansas and Missouri
- Kansas home rate is 25% less than the state average
- Expensive auto and home rates in some states
- Doesn’t have accident forgiveness
- Only available in 15 states
Is Shelter a good company?
Shelter is a good company to contact for car, home and renters insurance quotes. It’s expensive in some states, but its discounts can make it more affordable.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Shelter car insurance is especially cheap in Arkansas, where it costs 14% less than the state average. The company also has the best auto insurance satisfaction rating from J.D. Power
Shelter insurance ratings
| Rating | Shelter’s score | Industry average |
|---|---|---|
| NAIC auto complaints | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| NAIC home complaints | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| Overall auto satisfaction | 673 | 649 |
Shelter offers auto, home and renters insurance in 14 states
How much is Shelter car insurance?
Shelter charges an average of $197 a month for full coverage
Shelter car insurance rate comparison
| Company | Full coverage monthly rate | Liability monthly rate | LendingTree Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Travelers | $135 | $59 |  |
 | State Farm | $144 | $56 | |
 | American Family | $146 | $51 |  |
 | Progressive | $160 | $69 | |
 | Geico | $173 | $65 |  |
 | Nationwide | $190 | $76 |  |
| Shelter | $197 | $70 | |
 | Allstate | $248 | $104 | |
 | Farmers | $258 | $101 | |
Shelter is a better deal for car insurance in some states than it is in others. For example, its full coverage rate of $169 a month in Arkansas is 14% less than the state average. In Missouri, it is 5% less than the average.
In Kentucky, on the other hand, Shelter’s rate of $208 a month is 18% higher than the state average.
Shelter car insurance rates by state
| State* | Monthly full coverage | State average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $169 | $197 | -14% |
| Kansas | $207 | $199 | 4% |
| Kentucky | $208 | $176 | 18% |
| Mississippi | $192 | $176 | 9% |
| Missouri | $189 | $198 | -5% |
| Oklahoma | $215 | $193 | 11% |
Your actual rate depends on factors like your driving record, location and credit. Each company treats these factors differently, so their rates vary by customer. This is why it’s good to compare car insurance quotes from a few companies to find the best rate.
Is Shelter car insurance expensive with a bad driving record?
Shelter’s car insurance rates for a driver with a bad driving record are not expensive compared to U.S. averages. Its full coverage rate after a speeding ticket is $223 a month, which is just 2% higher than the national average. Its rate of $241 a month after an at-fault accident is 8% less.
Shelter’s rate for drivers with a DUI (driving under the influence) infraction average $285 a month. That is 13% less than the national average for DUI insurance.
Shelter auto rates by driving record
| Driving record | Shelter monthly average | U.S. monthly average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $197 | $177 | 11% |
| Speeding ticket | $223 | $219 | 2% |
| At-fault accident | $241 | $263 | -8% |
| DUI | $285 | $329 | -13% |
Is Shelter car insurance affordable for bad credit?
Shelter’s car insurance rates for bad credit average $423 a month. That is 23% higher than the national average of $345 a month. American Family, Travelers and other companies have cheaper bad credit car insurance than Shelter.
Bad credit car insurance rates
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $241 |
| Travelers | $249 |
| Progressive | $271 |
| Nationwide | $279 |
| Geico | $282 |
| Allstate | $402 |
| Shelter | $423 |
| Farmers | $473 |
| State Farm | $593 |
Does Shelter have cheap car insurance for teens?
Shelter has cheap car insurance for teens who only need minimum coverage. Its liability rate for young drivers averages $179 a month, which is 14% less than the national average.
Teens who need full coverage will pay an average of $492 a month with Shelter. That’s just a little less than the national average of $497 a month.
Shelter auto rates for young drivers
| Policy type | Shelter monthly average | U.S. monthly average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability only | $179 | $208 | -14% |
| Full coverage | $492 | $497 | -1% |
How to save with Shelter’s car insurance discounts
Shelter offers several car insurance discounts that can make its rates more affordable. Most are pretty standard, like a discount for bundling
You can also save by switching to Shelter from another company. For example, they offer a “tenure” discount, which is based on how long you’ve been with your current company.
Other ways to save include taking an accident prevention course and paying in full for your policy upfront. Young drivers can get discounts by earning good grades and passing a driver’s education course.
Shelter auto discount comparison
| Discount | Shelter | State Farm | Allstate | Travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundling | ||||
| Safe driver | ||||
| Tenure | ||||
| Accident prevention / Defensive driving course | ||||
| Good student | ||||
| Driver training |
How do Shelter’s car insurance coverage options work?
In addition to normal coverages like liability
However, the coverage only applies to cars less than a year old with fewer than 15,000 miles. New car replacement programs at other companies often cover slightly older cars, but may cost more.
Shelter’s temporary transportation coverage pays for a rental while your car is in the shop after an accident. It offers add-on coverage for roadside assistance with a $100 payment limit. This may be enough for a battery jump or short tow, but not much else.
Shelter also offers gap insurance
Shelter auto coverage comparisons
| Coverage | Shelter | State Farm | Allstate | Travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New car replacement | ||||
| Gap insurance | ||||
| Temporary transportation / Rental reimbursement | ||||
| Roadside assistance | ||||
| Accident forgiveness |
How much is Shelter home insurance?
Shelter charges an average of $3,949 a year for home insurance, or $329 a month. This is 50% higher than the national average of $220 a month for a typical home. State Farm and Allstate are among the companies with cheaper rates.
Shelter home insurance rates vs. other companies
| Company | Annual rate | Monthly average | LendingTree Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,761 | $147 | |
| Allstate | $2,352 | $196 | |
| Farmers | $2,895 | $241 | |
| Progressive | $3,084 | $257 | |
| Travelers | $3,216 | $268 | |
| American Family | $3,423 | $285 | |
| Nationwide | $3,490 | $291 | |
| Shelter | $3,949 | $329 | |
Your location, credit and other factors affect your home insurance rate. As with car insurance, each company’s homeowners insurance rates vary by customer.
It’s always a good idea to compare home insurance quotes from a few companies. Depending on your situation, Shelter may be cheaper for you than other companies.
Shelter home insurance rates by state
Shelter has especially affordable home insurance in Kansas. There, its rate of $3,381 a year is 26% less than the state average. Shelter’s home insurance is also cheaper than the state averages in Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee and Louisiana.
However, its rate in Arkansas is 27% higher than the state average.
Shelter home insurance rates by state
| State | Shelter annual average | State annual average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $4,943 | $3,902 | 27% |
| Colorado | $4,237 | $4,722 | -10% |
| Iowa | $2,868 | $3,492 | -18% |
| Kansas | $3,381 | $4,595 | -26% |
| Louisiana | $2,704 | $2,903 | -7% |
| Missouri | $3,178 | $2,936 | 8% |
| Oklahoma | $6,864 | $6,113 | 12% |
| Tennessee | $3,417 | $3,757 | -9% |
Saving money with Shelter home insurance discounts
Shelter offers about a half-dozen discounts that can make its home insurance more affordable. These include discounts for bundling more policies and having protective devices like smoke detectors and dead-bolt locks secured in your home.
You can also get a discount for moving into a new home and not filing a home insurance claim for at least six years.
Make sure to ask about these and other discounts when you get your home insurance quotes.
What does Shelter home insurance cover?
Shelter offers flexible coverage options beyond the normal protections for your home and belongings. These include add-on protections for some home-based business and farming activities. Shelter also offers insurance coverage for watercraft like boats and Jet Skis.
Standard home insurance usually doesn’t provide these types of coverages. With other companies, you may need to buy separate insurance for them.
Shelter’s add-on coverages tend to be cheaper than separate policies. However, they may have fewer protections than stand-alone insurance for businesses, farms and/or watercraft.
Shelter also offers add-on coverage for sewer and drain backups. This pays for cleanup and repairs if one of these systems fails.
How does Shelter renters insurance work?
Shelter’s renters insurance provides the basic coverages most renters need. These include protections for your belongings and temporary living expenses after a disaster. Its policies also come with personal liability
Shelter covers your belongings at their value after age and wear, or depreciation. You can pay extra for restoration cost coverage. This replaces damaged or stolen items with comparable new ones, without a deduction for depreciation.
You can also add personal articles coverage to your policy to protect valuables like jewelry and fine art.
Shelter offers renters discounts for bundling their auto with their renters policy and for having protective devices in your unit. You can also get a discount by avoiding claims for at least six years.
How does Shelter compare to other insurance companies?
Shelter tends to be more expensive than other companies for home and auto insurance. However, its excellent complaint scores make it worth considering if you get an affordable quote.
A good complaint score shows that a company meets customer expectations when it comes time to file a claim. Shelter has a better complaint score than many larger, better-known insurance companies.
Shelter complaint score comparison
| Company | Auto complaint score | Home complaint score |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| American Family | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Farmers | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Nationwide | 0.7 | 1.2 |
| Progressive | 0.7 | 1.8 |
| Shelter | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| State Farm | 0.6 | 1.4 |
| Travelers | 0.4 | 0.7 |
Shelter vs. State Farm
State Farm is cheaper for most customers than Shelter for home and auto insurance. If you get comparable quotes from both companies, Shelter’s excellent complaint ratings may make it a better choice.
Shelter also offers a few coverages that State Farm doesn’t have. These include gap insurance and free new car replacement for your car. State Farm doesn’t have the protections for home-based business and farming that Shelter has, either.
Shelter vs. Allstate
If you only need car insurance, Shelter is usually a better deal than Allstate. It charges 21% less than Allstate for full coverage and offers a few more discounts. Shelter is also a good choice if you need gap insurance, which Allstate doesn’t have. On the other hand, Allstate has accident forgiveness, which you can’t get from Shelter.
Allstate’s low home insurance rates usually make it a better deal for home and auto insurance bundles. However, Allstate doesn’t offer the protections for home-based businesses and farming that Shelter has.
Shelter vs. Travelers
Travelers typically has cheaper home and auto rates than Shelter, which can make it a better choice. However, Shelter’s better complaint rating gives it the edge over Travelers for customer service.
Like Shelter, Travelers offers gap insurance and new car replacement coverage, though both cost extra. Travelers new car replacement program will cover a car up to five years old, not just one year like Shelter’s program.
Frequently asked questions
Shelter’s insurance rates can get expensive, but they vary by state. In Kansas, the company charges 26% less than the state average for car insurance. However, it charges 27% more than the state average in Arkansas.
Yes, Shelter’s excellent complaint rating shows that it’s generally good at paying claims. The ratings are based on complaints that lead to a finding of fault. Shelter has less than half as many home and auto insurance complaints as average.
Shelter is generally more expensive than State Farm. However it has a few home and auto coverage options that State Farm doesn’t have, including gap insurance. Shelter also has better home and auto complaint ratings than State Farm.
Methodology
LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of insurance quotes for typical drivers and homeowners. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.
Unless noted otherwise, quotes are for a full coverage policy for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean driving record who drives a 2018 Honda CR-V EX.
Car insurance coverage limits
Minimum-liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.
Full coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Personal injury protection: minimum limits, where required by law
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Home insurance coverage limits
Homeowners insurance rates are based on policies with the following coverage and deductible amounts:
- Dwelling coverage: $400,000
- Other structures: $40,000
- Personal property: $200,000
- Personal liability: $100,000
- Medical payments: $5,000
- Deductible: $1,000
How we evaluated Shelter and other insurance companies
Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third-party customer service ratings and app/website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.
For third-party customer service ratings, we included Complaint Index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and financial strength ratings from AM Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from AM Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.
Read our editorial guidelines here.