Going Digital With Esurance

Owned and backed by insurance giant, Allstate, Esurance specializes in affordable auto and property insurance. The company, which is known for its user-friendly, interactive digital tools, currently offers policies in 43 states and promises customers a hassle-free experience.

About Esurance

Esurance, which was founded in 1999, is part of the Allstate family of businesses. As one of the first companies to let consumers purchase insurance policies online, Esurance values innovation and forward-thinking, using technology to enhance operational efficiency and create a positive customer experience that emphasizes online and app-driven services. The company aims to minimize overhead costs by conducting most of its business online and to pass the savings on to its customers.

What Insurance Products Does Esurance Offer?

Esurance offers several categories of insurance products to individuals and families, including auto, motorcycle, rideshare, renters and homeowners.

Auto Insurance

Esurance offers versatile automobile insurance plans that include essential and nonessential options for drivers, including coverage for:

• Collisions
• Property damage
• Personal injuries
• Bodily injuries to other drivers
• Emergency roadside assistance
• Loan/lease payments if your car is totaled
• Damage done by uninsured or underinsured motorists

Auto coverage requirements vary by state, so what's considered essential will likely depend on where you live. Consumers may choose deductibles and maximum coverage amounts, which affect the cost of policies. Safe drivers may save on insurance coverage through Esurance’s app-driven DriveSense program, which tracks driving habits and patterns and offers tips for safer driving. Auto insurance policies may also be bundled with other types of plans for multi-policy discounts.

Motorcycle Insurance

Esurance’s motorcycle insurance program offers coverage for bodily injuries and property damage, which are required for cyclists in most states. Other coverage requirements typically vary by state, and Esurance also sells optional comprehensive and collision insurance.

Cyclists may save on motorcycle insurance by completing a safe driving course or by bundling their motorcycle and car insurance to earn a multi-policy discount.

Rideshare Insurance

For drivers who work for Lyft or Uber, rideshare insurance bridges the gap between your personal auto coverage and insurance supplied by the rideshare company. As of 2021, Esurance’s SmartShare insurance is available to rideshare drivers in California, Illinois and New Jersey, and the company plans to broaden its coverage areas.

Rideshare insurance covers the periods when you’ve turned on your rideshare app but haven’t yet accepted a passenger request and when you’ve accepted a request but haven’t yet picked up the passenger. These periods are often considered gray areas where your personal car insurance is no longer in effect because your car is being used for business, but your rideshare company’s policy may not be fully effective because you don’t yet have a passenger.

Insurance for Other Types of Vehicles

In some states, Esurance and its partners also offer insurance policies for other types of vehicles, including:

• Scooters
• Segways
• Snowmobiles
• All-terrain vehicles

Home Insurance

Depending on the policy you select, home insurance from Esurance provides coverage for your home, your belongings and other structures on your property, such as gazebos or sheds. It may also cover some or all of the medical bills of visitors who sustain injuries while on your property.

Esurance’s home insurance policies may provide protection in the following situations:

• Fires
• Vandalism
• Explosions
• Theft of property
• Damage from falling objects
• Weather-related damage
• Vehicle impacts with your home

Renters Insurance

Esurance renters insurance protects tenants from losses caused by fire, burglary and other incidents. It typically covers:

• Personal liability
• Damage to personal property
• Living expenses incurred if your property becomes untenable
• Medical payments for visitors who sustain injuries at your rental

Purchasers may choose their ideal level of coverage and applicable deductibles, which affect the price of the policy. Esurance renters insurance policies aren’t currently available in all states. These policies may be bundled with auto insurance for a multi-policy discount.

Life Insurance

Although Esurance doesn’t sell life insurance policies directly, the company’s website includes a marketplace where visitors can click through to other providers for a quote.

The Pros and Cons of Esurance

The upside of purchasing a policy through Esurance is its suite of digital tools. Esurance has a user-friendly website and a convenient mobile app that make it easy for customers to pay premiums, view ID cards, and file and track claims. The company also has flexible billing options, lets customers bundle policies for cost savings and offers plenty of opportunities for policyholders to secure discounts.

However, Esurance doesn’t sell life insurance policies directly, so consumers who want one-stop shopping won't find it with Esurance. Plus, although Esurance does have a customer service telephone number so you can speak to a live operator, the company doesn’t deliver a traditional customer service experience for individuals who prefer to do business face to face.

Esurance Reviews: What People Are Saying

Esurance reviewers often praise the company’s suite of digital tools and find it to be reliable and easy to work with. Many reviewers also note the affordability of Esurance’s coverage. However, some reviewers cite difficulties reaching customer service and a lack of responsiveness in handling complaints.

Is an Esurance Policy Right for You?

With its comprehensive suite of digital tools, Esurance is a great choice for tech-savvy consumers and individuals who prefer to manage their own insurance plans. The company is also a good choice for rideshare drivers who want a supplemental policy that can fill in the gaps between their personal auto insurance policy and the rideshare company's coverage.