West Bend Mutual Insurance is a Wisconsin-based company that has provided personal and business insurance coverage for more than 125 years. As a mutual insurance company, West Bend Insurance is wholly owned by its policyholders, and independent agents sell its policies.
Though its reach is limited and regional, and it only offers a handful of insurance products, West Bend has solid financial strength ratings and a lower-than-expected number of complaints on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. Here’s what you need to know about West Bend Insurance customer reviews, ratings, average costs, comparing rates, and more.
West Bend Mutual Insurance offers fewer policy options than many competitors and is available in only six states: Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
However, West Bend’s average auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper than its competitors, and it has plenty of discount options. Other car insurance companies may also have similar customer service reviews, but West Bend’s financial strength rating is better.
The average cost of a West Bend Mutual Insurance liability-only policy is $102 per month, which is similar to the national average of $103 per month. A West Bend full-coverage policy costs $150 per month, compared to the national average of $182 per month.
Overall, West Bend may be the cheaper option for auto insurance, but your rates may differ based on your driving record, age, gender, location, and more.1
Customers have many ratings and reviews to consider when evaluating an insurance company’s operational and financial strength. Reviews from existing customers can also offer insight into what your experience will be when managing coverage or filing a claim.
West Bend Insurance holds an A+ rating and is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, the company currently has 20 customer reviews, culminating in an average rating of 1.63 out of 5 stars. Nearly all the recent negative reviews mention the claims process following an auto accident with a West Bend customer.
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A company’s NAIC complaint index gives insight into how many formal consumer complaints it received in a given year, compared to how many were expected for its size and market share. A 1.00 is considered average or expected; in 2022, West Bend received an overall complaint index of just 0.24, notably less than expected.
West Bend also has an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best.2 This indicates that the insurer is likely to remain financially solvent and able to pay out future claims.
AM Best: A (Excellent)
NAIC Complaint Index: 0.24
West Bend Mutual Insurance company offers the required state-minimum auto insurance coverage, which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage in most states.
Customers can also add on TravelNet coverage, which is West Bend’s 24/7 emergency roadside assistance coverage. But because West Bend doesn’t advertise many coverage options, it may not be the best auto insurance company for drivers who want specialty, customizable car insurance.
Car insurance requirements vary by state, which can affect your car insurance costs. Other factors that affect your car insurance costs include discounts, coverage selections, policy limits, age, gender, driving history, vehicle age and mileage, and even credit history.
West Bend auto insurance costs are similar to state averages, so you may find cheap rates with this company. The table below shows average West Bend auto insurance costs by state.
Drivers with a clean driving record pose less risk to insurance companies, so they typically pay cheaper rates as a result. However, drivers with negative events on their record — such as speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, driving under the influence (DUI) convictions, or other moving violations — typically pay higher rates for coverage.
Here’s a look at the average cost for West Bend Insurance liability-only and full coverage by driving history.
Teen drivers have less experience on the road and pose a higher risk of claims to insurance companies, which is why young adults and teens tend to pay the most expensive car insurance rates. However, as drivers age and get more experience, they’ll pay cheaper rates — as long as they maintain a clean driving record.
Here are the monthly average premiums for West Bend liability-only coverage based on driver age.
Many insurance companies offer auto insurance discounts, which can help drivers save money on their insurance premiums. Some discounts are based on the driver’s activity, such as those for safe drivers or customers who don’t file a claim.
Here are some of the discounts that West Bend Mutual Insurance offers:3
Safe/accident-free driver
Multi-car
Good student
Resident student
Vehicle equipment
Professional group memberships
Claim-free award
Drivers have many auto insurance companies to choose from when shopping for coverage. The right one for you depends on many factors, including your location, coverage needs, and budget.
Here’s how West Bend Mutual measures up against other auto insurance companies.
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Hallmark specializes in writing state-minimum liability coverage policies in one- or six-month terms. Drivers can choose between liability, full-coverage, and non-owner auto insurance policies, with the option to add coverages like towing and labor, medical payments, and rental car reimbursement.
Both companies have an A+ rating from the BBB and offer discounts to drivers insuring multiple cars or buying multiple policies. Hallmark also offers discounts to drivers with a foreign driver’s license or who sign up for automatic payments.
If you want to purchase state-minimum coverage, need SR-22 insurance, or have a driver’s license from another country, Hallmark may better cater to your needs.
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First Chicago Insurance Company is an Illinois-based insurer offering personal and commercial auto and liability insurance coverage in 11 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. As with West Bend, First Chicago provides personal auto coverage for bodily injury liability, property damage liability, comprehensive and collision coverages, medical payments coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.
Both companies offer discounts for good students, multi-car policies, good drivers, and vehicle owners with certain equipment. First Chicago also has discounts for drivers who pay for their policy in full, take a defensive driver course, or get an advance quote.
While West Bend holds an A financial strength rating from AM Best, First Chicago only holds a B (Fair) rating. First Chicago also has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau and an auto insurance complaint index of 2.65 from the NAIC — indicating that the insurer received more than twice as many claims in 2022 than were expected for the company’s size and market share.
You have four options for filing an auto insurance claim with West Bend, depending on your preferences.
Call West Bend’s claim reporting service at 1 (877) 922-5246. This 24/7 line, called DirectConnect, connects you with a representative to file an auto coverage claim or, if you have coverage for windshields or roadside assistance, request reimbursement for covered damage.
Use the West Bend policyholder portal online or through the mobile app. Either option allows users to submit claims and documents quickly. You can also use the website or portal to pay bills or view insurance policy documents, if needed.
Submit a claim via email to [email protected]. To use this option, you’ll need to include information about your claim (including the date and a description of the loss) as well as your personal information.
Contact your insurance agent. During business hours, you can also reach out to your personal agent to file a claim, ask questions about your coverage, or even make changes to your policy.
Read Insurify’s guide on switching your car insurance, and check out the answers to common questions about West Bend insurance below.
West Bend Mutual Insurance is a legitimate company that has been in business since 1893, offering personal and business insurance coverage across 14 different states. It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, holds an A financial stability rating from AM Best, and has a lower-than-expected number of complaints through the NAIC.
The average cost of auto insurance through West Bend Mutual Insurance is $102 per month for liability-only coverage and $150 per month for full coverage.
West Bend holds an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating that the company has a good financial outlook and is likely to remain solvent and able to pay claims in the future.
As a mutual company, West Bend is technically owned by its policyholder members. This allows the insurer to keep premiums competitive and make policy decisions based on the needs and desires of the independent agents, insured customers, and company associates.
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