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Ameriprise checks off everything we recommend for great car insurance: well-rounded coverage, reasonable pricing, and customer service that will have your back. Plus, the company earned an “A” financial strength rating from A.M. Best, meaning you can count on it if you need to file a claim.
All of that may seem pretty boilerplate, but there are a few things that make Ameriprise stand out from the competition. For example, it offers some rare coverages — like windshield repair, stolen key replacement, and travel accident protection — at no extra cost to the policyholder. It also has a long roster of discounts for things like safety features, a clean driving record, and bundling, so most drivers will be able to save a few bucks on their policy.
So, is Ameriprise the best car insurance company for you? We stand by its solid, high-value coverage and reputable customer service — but remember, auto insurance rates are incredibly personal. You’ll have to compare quotes from multiple providers to find your best offer. We suggest including Ameriprise on that list.
The Claim
Ameriprise gets down to basics with its messaging: “When you buy your auto insurance, you want a great price. When you need to use your auto insurance, you want great service.”
Customers should expect coverage that’s not comprehensive and affordable, plus customer support that makes claims filing painless.
Is it true?
Yes.
What Ameriprise promises in terms of coverage, it delivers. We’re impressed by the company’s range of policy options, which include basic liability and medical coverage as well as some unique extras (like windshield repair and stolen key replacement with no deductible). It also offers gap insurance and new car replacement, which are great for covering a new vehicle on which you’re still paying off loans.
As far as customer service, Ameriprise puts up a strong showing. It took first place in J.D. Power’s 2018 customer satisfaction study for the California region, with policyholders giving it top scores for policy options, price, billing, and service. The company received high marks from Consumer Reports, too, scoring an 89 out of 100 for claims process and reliability. These rankings leave us confident that claims will be handled quickly and effectively, without too much headache on your part.
Ameriprise also has a reputation for being exceptionally affordable. Reasonable premiums, coupled with a long list of available discounts, mean that many drivers will be able to save on their car insurance. Keep in mind that low cost is never guaranteed; prices depend on your car, driving history, location, and many other factors. We recommend getting a quote from Ameriprise as well as a few other providers to see how options stack up before buying.
Product Overview
Best for
Great car insurance coverage on a budget
Not for
Drivers in Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Wyoming
Features
| Price | Quotes differ from person to person |
| In business since | 1894 |
| Number of states served | 44 |
| Standout features | Gap coverage and new car replacement Windshield repair with no deductible Key replacement with no deductible Lifetime renewability for Ameriprise Financial clients Accident forgiveness and merit ratings |
| A.M. Best financial strength rating | A |
| Moody’s financial strength rating | A3 |
| S&P Global financial strength rating | A |
| J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating (California region) | 862/1,000 (above industry average) |
| Discounts | Accident-free and merit-based Good student and student away at school Safety features on your car Loyalty and bundling |
Good range of coverage
Our baseline standard for the best auto insurance: It must cover injury and property liability, collision and comprehensive, uninsured or underinsured motorists, and personal injury protection. Ameriprise checks all of these things and then some.
We’re impressed with Ameriprise’s selection, which goes beyond basic liability to protect all passengers and cars — new, old, or rented. As a bonus, it includes a few free add-ons that most providers charge for (e.g., accident forgiveness and accident travel expense coverage).
Ameriprise car insurance coverage options:
- Comprehensive insurance
- Collision insurance
- Roadside assistance and towing
- Rental car insurance
- Bodily injury insurance
- Property damage insurance
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Medical expense coverage
- PIP insurance
- Gap insurance
- New car replacement coverage
- Accident forgiveness
- Accident travel expense coverage
Excellent discounts
Ameriprise has a well-deserved reputation for offering consistently affordable prices. It’s able to maintain this rep in part thanks to a long, generous list of discounts. Customers can save by staying accident-free, installing safety features like airbags and anti-lock brakes on their car, insuring multiple vehicles, and more. There are enough discount opportunities with Ameriprise that we’re confident most people will qualify for savings.
Ameriprise car insurance discounts:
- Accident-free
- Accident (Merit) rating
- Vehicle safety features
- Defensive driving course
- Education
- Garaging
- Good student
- Loyalty (bundling)
- Multi-vehicle
- Safe driving
- Student away at school
- Tenure (as an Ameriprise customer)
Protection for new cars
Ameriprise offers some harder-to-find coverage options that are great for insuring new cars. Our favorite: gap insurance. If you recently bought a new car, there’s a chance you may owe more on your loan than the vehicle is worth. Some providers only pay up to ACV (actual cash value) after an accident — meaning if your car gets totaled, you’re in the hole. With Ameriprise gap insurance, you’re insured for up to 120% of the car’s ACV, covering the difference between the car’s value and your loan amount.
Gap coverage from Ameriprise also includes new car replacement during the first year. This is just what it sounds like: If your new car is totaled in the first year (or within the first 15,000 miles), Ameriprise will pay to replace it with a new vehicle of the same make and model.
Generous accident forgiveness
Typically, if you’re at fault in an accident, your insurance premium will go up. The same is true for Ameriprise, though with one notable exception: If you’ve been accident-free on your policy for three years or longer, your first at-fault accident won’t affect pricing. What’s more, most companies charge extra for this privilege — Ameriprise includes it for free.
Unfortunately, accident forgiveness isn’t available in every state. To make up for that, Ameriprise uses a merit-based discount program in states where it can’t offer accident forgiveness. Here’s how it works: If you originally qualified for a safe driver discount but later get into an accident, your premium will still increase. But rather than keeping prices up for multiple years, Ameriprise brings it down with each subsequent year of safe driving until you’re back to the original, discounted price.
Windshield repair with no deductible
Sometimes, a tiny pebble can cause a tiny windshield crack, which eventually leads to a not-so-tiny repair bill. Ameriprise understands this. As a protective measure, the company includes glass repair deductible waivers with all of its policies for free. If your windshield can be repaired rather than replaced, your policy will foot the bill and waive the deductible — meaning no out of pocket costs for you.
Key replacement with no deductible
A stolen car key is a big hassle, and an expensive one. Car keys with a fob (the button that unlocks your door remotely) start around $120 to replace and only go up from there. That’s why Ameriprise includes stolen key expense coverage with its comprehensive insurance at no extra cost. Even better: If the total replacement price is under $250, there’s no deductible.
Possible drawbacks
Not available in every state
Between its two underwriting companies — IDS Property Casualty and Ameriprise Insurance — Ameriprise covers almost every state. There are just six states where Ameriprise car insurance is not available: Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. If you live in one of these, you’ll have to look elsewhere for auto insurance.
No mobile claims filing
Ameriprise’s mobile app is geared toward the company’s financial services; insurance is only included as an overview along with your accounts, credit cards, and investments. We missed the full-fledged insurance apps that many other companies offer. These make it easy to view and manage your policy and get in touch with your provider in an emergency. Allstate and Progressive’s mobile apps, for instance, let you report accidents on-scene, snap pictures with your phone, and upload them directly to your claim. Ameriprise only lets you file online or over the phone, which is much less convenient and streamlined.
The Competition
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Ameriprise Financial vs. Progressive
Progressive is available in all 50 states, which makes it a great option for drivers that don’t have access to Ameriprise. It also has a few unique coverages that we didn’t see with other companies. Most notably, Progressive offers custom parts and equipment coverage, meaning it’s the best choice for cars that have been modified post-manufacture. It insures rideshare drivers, too, footing the bill for some accidents that Uber or Lyft won’t.
Still, Progressive isn’t likely to be your cheapest option, with fewer discounts than Ameriprise (although it includes some super easy savings for things like paperless billing, autopay, and signing up online). Our suggestion? Consider Progressive for its specialized coverage, but make sure to request quotes from other companies, too, and find your best offer.
Ameriprise Financial vs. State Farm
State Farm falls on the pricier end of car insurance compared to Ameriprise. It has fewer discount opportunities and generally turns up higher-than average prices in our quote comparisons. That said, it’s still worth a look for a few reasons. First: State Farm is known for excellent customer service. Consumer Reports gave it top marks in some hard-to-nail categories, like “ease of reaching an agent,” “agent courtesy,” and “timely payment.”
In addition, State Farm shares some of the less common coverage options that we loved from other providers. Like Ameriprise, it protects road trippers with emergency roadside service, travel accident coverage, and rental reimbursement. It’s also one of the few companies — along with Progressive — that covers rideshare drivers on the job.
Ameriprise Financial Auto Insurance FAQ
The Bottom Line
Consider Ameriprise if it’s available in your state. This company offers truly comprehensive coverage with plenty of discounts, backed by tried-and-true customer support. Just make sure to request quotes from a few other companies, too — you won’t know who offers the best deal on the coverage you need until you’ve compared personalized offers.
About the Authors
Maggie is a former lead insurance editor at Reviews.com. She's written more than 70 insurance articles covering homeowners, auto, life, motorcycle, travel, and more.
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