Selective car insurance review

Editors’ take: Selective car insurance is provided through a network of agents and offers a variety of discounts that could save you money. It’s got a well-reviewed mobile app that allows you to submit a claim, view and save coverage cards, and make payments. It’s only available in 15 states but has several additional coverage options so you can customize your policy to your liking.

Selective auto insurance at a glance

Pros

• Multiple discounts available
• Several optional benefits
• Powerful mobile app

Cons

• No online quotes
• Only available in 15 states
• Limited information online

What you need to know about Selective car insurance

The Selective Insurance Group is a holding company for 10 property and casualty insurance companies. Through a network of independent insurance agents, the company’s subsidiaries offer car insurance and other types of insurance in select states.

Before you purchase coverage, there are a few key details you should know.

You can add optional benefits to your policy

Besides the basic liability, comprehensive and collision insurance that most companies offer, Selective has other optional coverages you can include in your policy for an added cost. Some of these optional benefits can be valuable and useful.

• Accident forgiveness — With accident forgiveness, Selective will waive premium increases resulting from one at-fault accident.
• Diminishing deductible — If you add the diminishing deductible option to your policy, you will automatically receive a $100 credit on your deductible. Plus, you’ll receive an additional credit for every year you don’t submit a claim — up to a maximum of $500 in savings.
• Newer car replacement — If your car is a total loss and you have the newer car replacement option, you’ll receive the actual cash value for a car that is one year newer with 15,000 fewer miles than your current vehicle, making it easier to replace your vehicle.
• Selective Choice Replacement Cost — This benefit pays to replace your car with the latest model year available at the time of the loss. You can choose a coverage term of two, four or six years from the purchase date.
• Selective Edge — The Selective Edge gives policyholders a variety of extra coverages, including roadside assistance, key replacement and pet injury reimbursement.

Coverage is only available in some states

Selective only underwrites auto policies in select states. As of 2024, Selective offers car insurance policies in the following states:

• Arizona
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t qualify for coverage, and you’ll have to work with another insurer.

Policy details are limited

Selective has limited policy information on its website, so it’s difficult to compare its coverage limits, deductibles and benefits to the policies of other companies. The company doesn’t have an online quote tool either. The only way to get policy details or view potential rates is to contact an insurance agent.

There are several discounts available

If you plan on purchasing car insurance through Selective, ask your agent about available discounts. For example, if you have a current homeowners, condominium or renters policy with Selective, you could qualify for a multi-policy discount by adding an auto insurance policy which may save you money.

Plus, if you consistently pay your bill on time or have a vehicle with qualifying safety or anti-theft features, you could be eligible for additional savings.

It has a less-than-stellar reputation

In the Crash Network’s 2023 Insurer Report Card — a report that ranks companies based on responses from collision repair professionals — Selective was ranked 50th out of 87 companies. It was given a C+ rating because of how collision repair professionals rated the company based on their claims handling policies, payment practices and customer service.

A closer look at Selective auto coverage

Here are some additional details about Selective auto insurance.

• Agents — Selective car insurance policies are only sold through independent insurance agents that work on commission.
• Mobile app — Policyholders can manage their car insurance policies, submit claims and request roadside assistance through Selective’s mobile app.
• Financial stability — Selective has an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, a credit-rating agency that evaluates insurers. That rating means AM Best believes Selective is financially sound and can pay out future claims.

Is a Selective car insurance policy right for you?

Selective car insurance could be a good fit if you live in one of the 15 states where Selective originates auto insurance policies and you can take advantage of one or more discount programs.

But Selective does require customers to work with an agent to get quotes and purchase coverage. If you’d prefer a digital application experience, Selective is probably not the right company for you.

How to get an insurance quote from Selective

Selective doesn’t offer online quotes, nor can you purchase coverage through its website. Instead, you have to contact a local independent insurance agent to discuss your insurance needs.  Your premiums with Selective or another insurer depend on several factors — including your age, gender, location, driving record and vehicle value.

Not sure if Selective is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

If you don’t live in a state where Selective issues car insurance policies or you’re shopping around for the best auto insurance premiums, consider these other options:

• Geico: Geico insures vehicles in all 50 states, and it offers a broad range of insurance products, including auto, motorcycle and RV insurance.
• Progressive: With Progressive’s Snapshot tool, you could qualify for discounts based on your driving habits.