Based in California, Explorer Insurance Company provides auto insurance to high-risk drivers that may be experiencing difficulty getting insured elsewhere.
In an effort to find the best car insurance providers in the industry, we research companies across the United States. This article will look at Explorer Insurance Company to see how its coverage, cost, claims, and customer reviews stack up to the competition. Whether you decide to go with Explorer or not, we recommend getting quotes from several car insurance companies so you can compare coverage and rates. Follow the link below or call (844) 246-8209 to get started.
In this article:
- Explorer Insurance Company Overview
- Explorer Insurance Coverage
- Cost And Discounts With Explorer Insurance Company
- Explorer Insurance Claims Process
- Explorer Insurance Company Reviews
- Our Verdict On Explorer Insurance Company
- Other Car Insurance Recommendations
Explorer Insurance Company Overview
Explorer Insurance Company sells personal auto insurance products in California. The provider based in Santa Clarita also offers earthquake insurance and workers compensation insurance through parent company ICW Group.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong financial status (A- AM Best rating) | Only available in California |
| Bilingual customer support | Poor customer reviews |
| Covers salvaged vehicles | Outdated claims filing process |
| Difficult to get a quote with policies only sold through independent brokers |
Explorer Insurance Coverage
Because Explorer Insurance Company sells products through a network of independent agents and brokers, coverage is flexible. In most cases, you can get the following types of standard auto insurance coverage:
- Bodily injury liability (BI): Covers the injuries of other drivers and their passengers in accidents where you are at fault
- Collision coverage: Covers repairs to your vehicle after an accident no matter who is at fault
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers costs associated with environmental damage to your vehicle or theft
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Covers repair costs when you are involved in an accident with a driver who has little or no coverage
There is no mention of property damage liability or medical payments coverage on the Explorer Insurance Company website. However, Explorer does highlight the following extra types of coverage:
- Towing and rental reimbursement: Provides in-network towing up to 15 miles and a $50 reimbursement for out-of-network towing
- Glass repair deductible waiver: No deductibles for windshield repair
- Permissive driver: Covers drivers that you allow to borrow your car
- Salvaged vehicles: Covers cars marked as “salvaged” on the title, which are those that have suffered extensive damage
- 24/7 emergency roadside assistance: Covers things like towing, jump starts, and lockout services through a partnership with Nation Safe Drivers
- Out-of-state licenses: Provides insurance to drivers with licenses issued outside the state of California
Explorer may offer additional options beyond those mentioned above. You will have to talk to a broker to learn more about the coverage options in your area.
Cost And Discounts With Explorer Insurance Company
It’s difficult to get a quote from Explorer Insurance Company, especially compared to other auto insurance providers. Explorer does not provide quotes itself – customers must instead reach out to individual private brokers.
When we contacted Explorer, we were referred to a broker. After calling the broker, we were told that the company hadn't sold Explorer insurance since 2015. It seems that Explorer Insurance Company representatives don’t know which agents and brokers sell Explorer policies, so we were unable to get a price for auto insurance.
With most car insurance companies, your premium will be affected by many factors, including:
- Your driving record
- City you live in
- Age
- Vehicle make and model
- Marital status
- Credit score
- Gender
Explorer Insurance Company claims to offer a variety of discounts but does not specify further. Though you must purchase Explorer car insurance through a broker, payments can be made directly to Explorer online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The company also offers an automatic recurring payment service, but some customers have complained about difficulties in cancelling automatic payments after ending their policies.
Explorer Insurance Claims Process
To report claims to Explorer Insurance Company, you can call the claims service number: 877-849-4678. Claims service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Explorer does not have a mobile claims process, which has become an industry standard. In this regard, the car insurance provider is behind the times.
Explorer Insurance Company Reviews
Parent Company ICW Group is a national company that has an AM Best rating of A (Excellent). This means Explorer Insurance Company should have no problems paying out claims.
Explorer has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though it is not accredited. It has no customer reviews through BBB and just 15 reviews on Google, all of which are one-star reviews. Customers complain about long claims processing times and rude customer service.
“I cancelled my insurance years ago, had everything paid off when I cancelled. Now looking at my credit report, they put a $64 fee into collections from [five] years ago. This is ridiculous! If I owed something more, why would I not be sent a bill?”
-Koda G. via Google
“Worst insurance company there is. Have to get the state insurance commissioner involved anytime I have to deal with these con artists. They move [at] a snail’s pace, [and] the claims people seem to only work part time…”
-via Google
On the plus side, according to the California Department of Insurance, the number of complaints against Explorer Insurance Company overall has declined in the past two years.
Our Verdict on Explorer Insurance Company
From quotes to claims, it seems like everything is more difficult than it should be with Explorer Insurance Company. The car insurance provider doesn’t have modernized processes and is plagued by poor customer reviews. While complaints have gone down in recent years and the company is rated highly by the BBB, we aren’t completely sold on Explorer.
Other Car Insurance Recommendations
If you are looking for auto insurance in California, Explorer Insurance Company isn’t your only option. We recommend State Farm and Geico, two providers that also performed highly in our nationwide review. It’s never a bad idea to compare quotes from multiple providers, which is easy to do with our quote comparison tool. Follow the link below or call (844) 246-8209 to get started.
State Farm: 4.6 Stars
The largest car insurance company in the nation is our top choice for California drivers. From extensive coverage to great discounts for students in particular, there’s a lot to like about State Farm.
We especially like the insurer’s safe driving programs. Drive Safe & Save™ can save you money by monitoring your safe driving habits, like braking early and not accelerating too quickly. For younger drivers, there’s Steer ClearⓇ. The driver safety refresher course gives motorists under the age of 25 the opportunity to save on car insurance premiums.
Geico: 4.6 Stars
Unlike Explorer Insurance Company, Geico has a proven track record of quality customer service, having scored 881 out of a possible 1,000 on J.D. Power’s 2021 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠ based on customer satisfaction. It also ranked fourth-highest among large insurers in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. The insurer is highly rated by the BBB and AM Best. With Geico, you can get coverage like roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown insurance, and the quotes and claims processes are simple.
Read our review of the 10 most popular California car insurance companies to learn more.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
- Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
- Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.
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