From car insurance to pet insurance and everything in between, Liberty Mutual has been a major player in the insurance market for nearly 100 years. While there are some questions surrounding the customer experience, the company is known for its affordable prices and offers good value for basic insurance coverage.
TIME’s Take
Liberty Mutual is a well-known insurance brand, particularly for auto insurance. Its affordable coverage includes bundling and other discounts, though other types of insurance, such as renters insurance, aren’t priced as competitively. If you’re considering Liberty Mutual, check to make sure it's active in your area, as its services aren’t available in all U.S. states.
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Liberty Mutual car insurance
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance
Liberty Mutual life insurance
Liberty Mutual renter’s insurance
Liberty Mutual pet insurance
Liberty Mutual car insurance
Liberty Mutual’s car insurance products are among its most popular—so much so that car insurance is the first option you’ll see when you begin the quote process on the company’s website.
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
Monthly premium
$90
AM Rating
A
JD Power Customer Satisfaction
870 (11)
NAIC Complaint Index
2.46
Liberty Mutual’s auto insurance stands out for its affordable price and plentiful features, but the company’s high National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index and low Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating indicate potential customer service issues. (See our full Liberty Mutual auto insurance review (here.)
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Affordable pricing.
- Includes popular features such as Usage Based Insurance (UBI), a deductible fund, and gap insurance (which can be harder to find among auto insurers).
Cons:
- Higher-than-average complaint index per the NAIC.
Cost
If you’re looking to save money on auto insurance, insuring your vehicle with Liberty Mutual may work in your favor.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the annual average cost of car insurance is $1,547—higher than the estimated $1,092 per year a 45-year-old would spend on Liberty Mutual car insurance.
(Note: That figure increases to $1,656 per year if that 45-year-old has a speeding ticket, and car insurance costs are always highly individualized based on your driving habits and history, vehicle type, age, location, and many other factors.)
Top features
Liberty Mutual like many other auto insurers these days, offers a usage-based insurance (UBI) program. It’s called RightTrack, which, the company says, could save you up to 30% on your auto policy as a whole. (You earn a 10% discount immediately upon enrollment.)
The company also offers a deductible fund—otherwise known as a vanishing deductible or disappearing deductible—which can lower the amount you’d pay toward your deductible in the event of a loss. Each year, you can pay $30 toward this fund, and Liberty Mutual will contribute $70 for up to five years, translating to $500 in potential deductible savings.
Additionally, Liberty Mutual offers gap insurance, which covers the amount you owe on your loan above the vehicle’s value in the event it’s stolen or totaled. Not every auto insurer offers gap insurance (Geico, for instance, does not), so if you need it, it’s a nice product to be able to bundle.
Where it falls short
Unfortunately, Liberty Mutual has garnered more than its fair share of complaints per the NAIC, with a complaint index of 3.12 at the time of writing. (The national average is 1.0, and Geico’s complaint index is 1.88.)
How it stacks up
| Liberty Mutual | Geico | Progressive | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual price (45 year-old, no ticket) | $1,092 | $1,250 | $1,540 |
Additional Features | Gap insurance, UBI, deductible fund, bundle discounts | UBI, bundle discounts | Loan/lease payoff coverage up to 25% of vehicle value, UBI, bundle discounts |
NAIC Complaint Index | 3.12 | 1.88 | 2.04 |
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance helps protect the four walls you call home—and Liberty Mutual offers this type of coverage. Again, the insurer stands out for its available discounts for eligible customers, and its wide range of additional coverage products.
Liberty Mutual Home Insurance
Liberty Mutual Home Insurance
Fees
$146 per month; $1,754 per year
Features
Standard, plus flood insurance
Note that California homeowners are ineligible for Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance, and other state-by-state limitations may apply.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple discounts (pending eligibility).
- Additional coverages, including flood insurance, blanket jewelry, and personal electronics, available.
Cons:
- Not available in all states.
- Customer service and NAIC complaints hold Liberty Mutual back.
Cost
Unlike auto insurance, average homeowners insurance quotes are not as available online—although according to an analysis by Policygenius, the average U.S. homeowners insurance policy is $146 per month, or $1,754 per year.
While costs vary depending on your home’s location, coverage amount, and other factors, Liberty Mutual’s prices are generally in line with its competitors, and the company offers discounts to qualifying customers, which can offset costs.
Top features:
Along with standard homeowners insurance—including dwelling, personal property, personal liability, wind/hail, hurricane damage, and additional living expense/loss of rent—Liberty Mutual offers flood insurance through a partnership with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), under FEMA.
You can also purchase personal property replacement cost coverage, blanket jewelry coverage, escape of water coverage, and personal electronics coverage through Liberty Mutual.
Again, bundling discounts are available for customers who take out multiple types of insurance policies (such as homeowners and auto insurance) with Liberty Mutual. And, depending on the state where you live and other factors, you may be able to score discounts with Liberty Mutual for having a new roof, signing up for paperless billing, buying your policy online, and more.
Where it falls short
Once again, the main thing holding Liberty Mutual back is its lackluster customer service reputation, as evidenced by its higher-than-average NAIC complaint index and lower-than-average BBB customer review rating (1.09 out of 5 stars at the time of writing).
How it stacks up
| Liberty Mutual | State Farm | Amica | |
|---|---|---|---|
Available Discounts | Above-average | Average | Average |
Additional Available Coverage | Flood insurance, personal property replacement, jewelry, electronics | Personal property replacement, keepsakes | Flood insurance, personal property, special computer coverage, water backup/sump overflow |
NAIC Complaint Index | 3.12 | 2.07 | 0.82 |
Liberty Mutual life insurance
While you can’t buy life insurance from Liberty Mutual directly, the company has partnered with TruStage to offer term, whole, and guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance to Liberty Mutual customers. The policy comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can cancel for any reason, within the first month of taking out your policy.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No-medical-exam life insurance coverage available.
- Term and whole life insurance options available.
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Cons:
- Death benefit limited to $300,000 for term and $100,000 for whole life policies.
- Death benefit limited during first two years of guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance policy.
- Policy is not offered directly through Liberty Mutual.
Cost
When TIME pulled a sample quote for a 34-year-old female, premiums hovered at $55 per month for a $250,000 term life insurance policy. According to data gathered by Progressive, these quotes are substantially higher than the national average; per their research, a $250,000 term life insurance plan might cost $15.01 per month for a 30-year-old female or $17.84 for a 40-year-old one. (Men's premiums are higher across the board.)
However, like all types of insurance coverage, life insurance premiums are calculated with a variety of factors in mind, including the health history of the applicant along with their age and sex. Additionally, Liberty Mutual’s life insurance products don’t require a physical exam, which may partially explain the elevated quote.
Top features
Guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance is ideal for those with complicated health histories or facing a tricky diagnosis. According to Liberty Mutual’s frequently asked questions, “If you’re between ages 45 and 80, you’re eligible, and you can keep it for life. You cannot be turned down, even if you have cancer or other health problems.”
In fact, all of Liberty Mutual’s life insurance policies are available without a medical exam—though the company doesn’t guarantee acceptance under its term life insurance coverage.
Where it falls short
Death benefit caps of $300,000 for term life insurance coverage and $100,000 for whole life insurance fall well below the needs of many people who may want a higher death benefit to help achieve larger financial goals, such as paying off a house or helping dependents pay for college.
How it stacks up
| Liberty Mutual | Ethos | Ladder | |
|---|---|---|---|
Coverage Caps | $300k term; $100k whole | Up to $2 million | Up to $8 million |
No-Exam Coverage Available? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Maximum Age | 80 | 85 | 60 |
Liberty Mutual renter’s insurance
Those who rent rather than own their homes can benefit from renter’s insurance, which covers your personal belongings in the event of a qualified loss, or offsets legal fees if someone is injured in your home. Renter’s insurance can also help cover temporary living expenses if you need to evacuate your rental.
Liberty Mutual Renter's Insurance
Liberty Mutual Renter's Insurance
Fees
$5 per month
Top features
Earthquake insurance coverage
Roommate coverage
Liberty Mutual’s renter’s insurance starts at $5 per month and, like its home and auto insurance policies, there are discounts when you bundle it with other coverages. Unfortunately, the coverage is not available in all U.S. states.
Pros:
- Starts as low as $5 per month.
- Bundling discounts make purchasing multiple policies attractive.
- Option to add earthquake coverage.
Cons:
- Costs ring in higher than the national average
- Not available in all states
Cost
When checking a sample premium for a single-family home in Portland, Oregon, covering $15,000 worth of personal property with no add-ons, TIME was quoted $19.59 per month—a price that included multiple discounts (claims-free discount, online purchase discount, early shopper discount, and preferred payment discount). According to data from USA TODAY Blueprint, the average cost in Oregon for such a plan is $12 per month, so Liberty Mutual came in a bit high.
Top features
Unlike many other renter’s insurance policies, Liberty Mutual does have the option to add earthquake insurance coverage—a must-have for those who rent in earthquake-prone areas. Additionally, roommate coverage is available, something not always included in renter’s insurance policies.
Where it falls short
Once again, Liberty Mutual’s renter’s insurance products are not available in all states, and may come at a higher cost than similar competitor policies.
How it stacks up
| Liberty Mutual | Lemonade | State Farm | |
|---|---|---|---|
Base Coverage | Personal property, liability, temporary living expenses | Personal property, liability, temporary living expenses | Personal property, liability, temporary living expenses |
Earthquake Coverage? | Yes (optional add-on) | No | No |
Roommate Coverage | Yes | No | Yes |
Liberty Mutual pet insurance
Keeping your furry family members cared for can come at a cost, especially at the vet’s office.That’s where pet insurance comes in. Liberty Mutual offers coverage for dogs and cats with customizable plans.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Planholders can use any vet they choose.
- Stackable discounts can reduce prices by up to 20%.
- Insurance is life-long, not automatically discontinued once pets reach a certain age.
- Customizable coverage helps pet owners avoid overpaying.
Cons:
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered and, for some treatments, waiting periods apply (although these are common clauses in pet insurance).
- A comprehensive physical exam within the last 12 months is required for enrollment.
- Liberty Mutual doesn’t pay vets directly; pet owners must pay up front and get reimbursed.
Cost
While costs will vary depending on the type of pet, breed, age, location, and more, Liberty Mutual’s pet policies start at less than a dollar a day. According to publicly available data about other pet insurers, Liberty Mutual’s rates are competitive, though perhaps not the cheapest.
With that said, pet owners can choose from several coverage tiers to ensure they don’t pay for services they don’t think they’ll need.
Top features
Liberty Mutual’s pet insurance allows you to work with any vet you choose—although this is because they run on a reimbursem*nt model rather than direct billing, meaning upfront costs for pet owners.
Tiers start at accident-only coverage, which reimburses policyholders for expensive emergency procedures and treatments, including anesthesia due to an accident or treatment for ingesting a foreign object. The accident-and-illness tier adds coverage for illnesses including cancer and kennel cough, and the accident, illness, and wellness tier includes preventive wellness exams, flea and tick medication, prescription medications, and more.
Where it falls short
For pet owners who wish to avoid pricey vet bills altogether, Liberty Mutual may not be the answer. Although up to 90% of your costs will be reimbursed, you’ll still be out of pocket in the intermittent period. (However, these sorts of policies can be hard to find—and a reimbursem*nt model gives pet owners the flexibility to choose whichever vet they like.)
How it stacks up
| Liberty Mutual | Lemonade | Metlife | |
|---|---|---|---|
Coverage Options | Accident, accident & illness, and accident, illness & wellness tiers | Base plan with diagnostics, procedures, and medications included; vet visit fee coverage, preventative care coverage, dental illness coverage, behavioral conditions, physical therapy, and end-of-life care available as add-ons | Basic coverage including diagnostics, accidents, and illnesses; standard wellness, Metlife’s preventative-inclusive coverage |
Additional Features | Bundling and other stackable discounts | Puppy- and kitten-specific plans, bundling discounts | Telehealth services available 24/7 |
Pays Vets Directly | No | No | No |
Liberty Mutual customer service
As mentioned multiple times above, Liberty Mutual has a concerningly high NAIC complaint index of more than 3.0—much higher than the average of 1.0. (Amica, by comparison, has an index of just 0.8, which is favorable.)
However, per a 2023 J.D. Power study, Liberty Mutual ranked second among auto insurers in “providing a satisfying purchase experience,” coming in second only to State Farm.
Liberty Mutual costs
While specific premiums and deductibles are always the result of complex algorithms insurance companies use to assess a policyholder’s risk level, Liberty Insurance’s products stack up well, price-wise, according to publicly available national averages. While less expensive insurance products may be available, it’s hard to beat Liberty Mutual for its available discounts, and since it offers so many different types of insurance, bundling is easy.
Methodology
We assessed Liberty Mutual’s various insurance products using publicly available data online to compare important customer considerations like cost, available discounts, additional features, and customer service reputation. Sources include WalletHub, U.S. News & World Report, NerdWallet, Policygenius, the NAIC, and J.D. Power, among others.
Bottom line
Given its more than 100-year history and vast array of insurance products, Liberty Mutual is a solid choice for anyone looking for a one-stop-shop for their insurance coverage needs—especially given the potential for bundling discounts.
Even standalone Liberty Mutual coverage products often include discount eligibility for certain customers. The company also stands out for its vast array of add-ons and features (among them, gap coverage for auto insurance customers and flood insurance for those buying homeowners insurance).
You can certainly find less expensive insurance products, and Liberty Mutual’s customer service reputation leaves something to be desired. But overall, Liberty Mutual is an insurer worth considering.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is Liberty Mutual an A-rated insurance company?
Yes. As per insurance credit rating agency AM Best, Liberty Mutual holds an A rating, which is an indicator of the company’s financial strength and ability to pay out claims. Liberty Mutual also maintains a rating of A- with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though its customer reviews on the site are considerably lower than average.
Is Liberty Mutual better than Geico?
While it’s impossible to issue a blanket response to such a question, both Liberty Mutual and Geico have their pros and cons, depending on the types of coverage you’re shopping for. Liberty Mutual, for instance, ranked more highly in J.D. Power’s 2023 survey of auto insurance customer satisfaction than Geico did, but Geico’s auto insurance prices tend, on average, to be lower than Liberty Mutual’s.
Why is Liberty Mutual so cheap?
As a well-established company with over 100 years in business and a wide variety of available financial products, Liberty Mutual can offer its customers lower prices because of economies of scale. In addition, Liberty Mutual often offers discounts based on factors that reduce the risk of loss, such as your home having a new roof (homeowners insurance), or you having a safer driving record (auto insurance).
Is Liberty Mutual an honest company?
Liberty Mutual maintains an A rating, according to AM Best, a credit rating agency specifically geared toward insurance companies, and an A-rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, it has a higher-than-average complaint ratio with the NAIC, and its publicly available customer service reviews tend to be quite low.
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