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Erie Insurance Review

Are you considering purchasing homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, or business insurance from Erie Insurance? Below, we offer an overview of the company, answer the most common questions that potential customers have about Erie Insurance, and provide our honest review so that you can make a more informed decision.


The Early Days

Since 1925, ERIE has been providing quality protection the service you expect – all at a great price, all while maintaining 90% customer retention year over year – they’re doing it right!

The two founders – H.O. Hirt and O.G. Crawford – had a plan, which they wrote on a 10-cent tablet  (not an iPad), but they needed money. It took 3 months and 20 days – about the length of one Erie winter – to raise the $31,000 they needed, winning over 90 stockholders with their hand-written business plan, their tenacity and their true belief in what they were about to do.

On April 20, 1925, the Erie Insurance Exchange was born – one of the first policies written was on H.O.’s own Dodge touring car. The company’s mantra became “The ERIE is Above all in SERvIcE,” with the “erie” raised in the word service. That still serves as the company’s tagline today.

A copy of H.O. Hirt’s 1920 Dodge auto policy — one of the first written with the new Erie Insurance Exchange. His annual premium was $34!

Evidence of this service was that customers were encouraged to call collect. And if a policyholder had a problem with a claim, he or she could make a phone call directly to H.O. Hirt.
After only three years, ERIE was already expanding. A second office was opened in Pittsburgh in 1928. The company took its first steps outside of Pennsylvania in 1953 when it opened a branch in Silver Spring, Maryland.

At the same time ERIE was expanding its territories, it also expanded its product offerings. In 1934, ERIE introduced the “Super Standard Auto Policy.” It included many features that have since become industry standards. Fire insurance was added in 1940, and inland marine in 1954. As ERIE expanded, the product offerings did too.

In 1961, it introduced its first homeowners insurance policy, the Pioneer Home Protector policy, and was officially considered a multi-lines insurance company. The Pioneer Business Protector policy was created two years later. And Erie Family Life Insurance Company was born in 1967. CEO at the time, F. William Hirt, H.O. Hirt’s son, referred to it as his “million-dollar baby.” The company tracked its success by what H.O. Hirt called “The Pyramids of Progress,” which showed the year, net premiums, policyholder surplus and assets. For example, in 1925, net premiums were recorded at $29,790, compared to more than $3 billion in the 2000s. More offices opened across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and South. Erie Insurance now operates in 12 states, including Wisconsin.


What we like about Erie Insurance

  • ERIE is one of the largest and most well-known insurance companies in the US, with a 100+ year history.
  • ERIE maintains an A+ rating with AM Best.
  • ERIE offers both home and auto insurance, allowing for bundling.
  • ERIE also offers renters, condo, landlord, boat, motorcycle, business, workers compensation, commercial auto, making them an all-in-one stop for your insurance needs.
  • ERIE offers a variety of discounts that can lower your premiums.
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Customer Reviews
5/5

Nate provided excellent service and was very knowledgeable. Nate took the time...

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Ken K
5/5

Nate made the insurance process extremely easy. I messaged on Facebook and...

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Nate is THE guy to work with! I thought I was doing well on my insurance...

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Nate was quick to respond to my questions, updated me when he was waiting on...

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Nate was extremely helpful and knowledgeable throughout the whole process!...

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