Auto-Owners Life Insurance Review

auto owners life insurance review

Written By Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA.  Doug has spent close to 30 years in the insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health.  Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

Holly Mitchell  &

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Rob Pinner   &

Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002.

Louis LaBash

Results-driven and innovative life insurance professional with 30 plus years of life insurance industry sales and marketing experience. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, leveraging phone and internet channels to exceed personal sales of over $100 million during the first decade of the 21st century. Creator of a highly effective intuitive IUL life insurance sales software that facilitated the sale of millions of dollars of indexed universal policies by numerous life insurance agents. Proven track record as a Managing General Agent (MGA), Life Agent, IUL Life Insurance Sales Software developer, and leading-edge creator of insurance marketing tools, educational content, and delivery systems.

Table of Contents

Last Updated: January 31st, 2026

Auto-Owners Life Insurance is a regional carrier offering term, universal, and whole life policies in 26 states. The company earns strong financial ratings (A+ from AM Best) but is primarily known for auto and home insurance. Their life insurance is sold exclusively through independent agents with no online quotes available. If you’re looking for competitive life insurance rates with a dedicated life insurance company, you may find better options elsewhere.

Auto-Owners Insurance has been around since 1916 and built a solid reputation in the property and casualty world. They’re best known for auto, home, and farm insurance.

Life insurance is part of their product lineup, but it’s not their main focus. This matters when you’re shopping for coverage because companies that specialize in life insurance often offer more competitive rates and more product options.

In this review, we’ll cover what Auto-Owners offers, their financial strength, and who their life insurance works best for. We’ll also explain the limitations you should know about before applying.

Company Overview

Auto-Owners Insurance is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The company has over 6 million policies in force and works with more than 48,000 independent agents.

Here’s what you need to know upfront: Auto-Owners only operates in 26 states. They serve Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The company sells all their insurance products through independent agents. There’s no way to get a quote online or manage your policy through a digital portal. If you prefer comparing rates online before talking to an agent, this could be frustrating.

Auto-Owners takes a “refreshingly human” approach to insurance, which means everything goes through local agents. This works well for some people but feels outdated for others who want quick online comparisons.

Financial Strength Ratings

Auto-Owners earns high marks from independent rating agencies. This matters because you want to know the company can pay claims decades from now.

AM Best Rating: A+ (Superior). Auto-Owners was recently downgraded from A++ to A+, though A+ still indicates excellent financial strength. The downgrade reflected industry-wide challenges with claims costs and inflation.

J.D. Power: Results are mixed depending on the study. Auto-Owners scored 719 (above average) in the 2025 Property Claims Satisfaction Study but below average in the 2024 Home Insurance Study with a score of 634 versus the 640 industry average.

Better Business Bureau: A+ rating with BBB accreditation since 2016.

NAIC Complaint Index: Auto-Owners’ 2024 complaint index of 0.39 is well below the 1.00 baseline, meaning they receive fewer complaints than expected for a company their size.

These ratings confirm Auto-Owners is financially stable. They’ve been in business for over 100 years and have the resources to pay claims. The question isn’t whether they’re reliable. It’s whether their life insurance products are the best fit for your needs. You can compare them against the best life insurance companies to see how they stack up.

Life Insurance Products Offered

Auto-Owners offers three types of life insurance: term, universal, and whole life. Here’s what each provides.

Term Life Insurance

Term life is Auto-Owners’ most straightforward product. You choose coverage for 10, 20, or 30 years. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit. If you outlive the term, coverage ends.

One notable feature: Auto-Owners allows term coverage up to age 95. Many companies cap term policies at age 80, so this could benefit older applicants looking for extended coverage.

Term life doesn’t build cash value, which keeps premiums lower. It’s designed for temporary needs like covering a mortgage, replacing income during working years, or protecting your family while children are young.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life provides permanent coverage with flexible premiums. You can adjust your death benefit and payment schedule as your needs change. These policies build cash value over time.

Auto-Owners’ universal life allows you to add family members to your policy without additional underwriting. You can later convert these riders into standalone policies.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life from Auto-Owners provides coverage until age 110 with guaranteed cash value growth. Premiums stay level for life, and the death benefit is guaranteed as long as you pay premiums.

The company mentions flexible payment options but doesn’t provide details on their website. You’ll need to contact an agent for specifics.

Who Auto-Owners Life Insurance Works Best For

Auto-Owners makes the most sense in specific situations.

You already have Auto-Owners for home or auto insurance. The company offers multi-policy discounts when you bundle coverage. If you’re happy with their service and live in one of their 26 states, adding life insurance simplifies your insurance relationships.

You prefer working with local agents. Some people want face-to-face conversations about their coverage. Auto-Owners’ agent network excels at personalized service. If you don’t want to compare quotes online, this approach might appeal to you.

You need term coverage past age 80. The option to extend term life to age 95 is unusual. If you’re older and need term coverage, Auto-Owners is worth considering.

Limitations to Consider

Before applying with Auto-Owners, consider these drawbacks.

Limited availability. Only 26 states have access to Auto-Owners products. If you move to a state they don’t serve, you may need to find new coverage.

No online quotes. You can’t compare rates without contacting an agent and sharing personal information. This makes it difficult to shop around efficiently.

P&C focus, not life insurance. Auto-Owners built their business on auto, home, and farm insurance. Life insurance is a secondary product line. Companies that focus primarily on life insurance often offer more competitive rates and more policy options.

Limited website information. Details about riders, underwriting guidelines, and specific policy features aren’t available online. You’ll need to rely on agents for basic information that other companies publish openly.

Agent-dependent experience. Your experience with Auto-Owners depends heavily on your local agent. Great agents provide excellent service. Less experienced agents may not help you find the best coverage for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Auto-Owners a good life insurance company?
 

Auto-Owners is financially stable with strong ratings from AM Best (A+) and the Better Business Bureau (A+). They’re a solid company, but life insurance isn’t their specialty. You may find better rates and more options with companies that focus primarily on life insurance.

What states does Auto-Owners Life Insurance serve?
 

Auto-Owners operates in 26 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Can I get an Auto-Owners life insurance quote online?
 

No. Auto-Owners doesn’t offer online quotes. All quotes and applications go through their network of independent agents. You’ll need to share your personal information before receiving any rate information.

What types of life insurance does Auto-Owners offer?
 

Auto-Owners offers term life insurance (10, 20, and 30-year terms), universal life insurance, and whole life insurance. Term policies can extend coverage up to age 95, which is higher than many competitors.

Does Auto-Owners offer no medical exam life insurance?
 

The company’s website doesn’t specify whether simplified issue or guaranteed issue products are available. Contact an independent agent directly to ask about no-exam options.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto-Owners is a financially strong company (A+ AM Best rating) with over 100 years in business
  • Life insurance is a secondary product line, as they’re primarily a property and casualty insurer
  • Coverage is only available in 26 states through independent agents
  • No online quotes available, so you must contact an agent for pricing
  • Term life can extend to age 95, which is higher than many competitors
  • Multi-policy discounts available if you bundle with auto or home insurance
  • For dedicated life insurance coverage with competitive rates, consider companies that specialize in life insurance

Looking for life insurance quotes from top-rated carriers? Use our free quote tool to compare term life and final expense rates in minutes, with no obligation.

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author avatar
Doug Mitchell, CLU
Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA. Doug has spent over 30 years in the life insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health. Some other notable items about Doug: Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table member (MDRT). (MDRT is a global, independent association of the world’s leading life insurance advisors) | Premier Partner with Lincoln Financial and Cabinet Member | Served two years as President of the Auburn/Opelika Association of Financial Advisors | Life Millionaire status at Horace Mann Insurance Company and was awarded the Life Agent of the Year Award | New York Life, Executive Council Member | Currently serves as President of Ogletree Financial, a life insurance General Agency. | Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

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