Grinnell ranks 24th overall nationally, placing it outside the top tier of best car insurance companies. Despite this moderate ranking, the company excels in coverage options and customer experience, earning strong scores in these areas.
Grinnell Car Insurance Review
Updated: September 22, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Grinnell ranks 30th for full coverage affordability and 20th for minimum liability coverage with average monthly rates of $153 and $58 respectively.
Grinnell earns 11th place nationwide for customer satisfaction, standing out due to strong agent service and positive forum reviews from policyholders.
Grinnell claims the 8th spot for coverage options, offering unique features like farm and ranch protection and classic car coverage for specialized needs.
Grinnell Car Insurance Ratings
| Overall Score | 4.12 | 24 |
| Customer Experience | 4.50 | 11 |
| Coverage | 3.83 | 8 |
| Affordability | 3.98 | 28 |
Who Is Grinnell Car Insurance Best and Worst For?
Grinnell works best for senior drivers, those with accidents or speeding tickets on their record, and drivers with older vehicles seeking affordable coverage. Young drivers and those with DUIs should look elsewhere, as they'll face significantly higher premiums.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
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Age Group:Adult Drivers
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Gender:Female
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Coverage Level:100/300/100,000 - 1000 comp_coll
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Credit Alignment:Below Fair
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Driving Record:At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg)
| Overall Score | 4.32 | 12 |
How Much Does Grinnell Car Insurance Cost?
Grinnell car insurance costs range from $50 to $1,841 monthly, depending on your profile and coverage choice. We've broken down national costs by age group, gender, coverage type, credit score and driving record to help you make the best decision.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
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Age Group:Adult Drivers
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Gender:Female
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Credit Alignment:Below Fair
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Driving Record:At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg)
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Coverage Level:100/300/100,000 - 1000 comp_coll
| $242 | $2,909 | -12% | 19 |
Grinnell Car Insurance Rates by Driver Category
Grinnell ranks as much more expensive on average for all driver types, including young drivers, seniors and those with violations. You can review how affordable Grinnell is for your specific driving category below to compare rates with other competitors.
| Adult Drivers | $56 | $152 | 22% | 28 |
| Drivers With a DUI | $112 | $311 | 32% | 30 |
| Drivers With an Accident | $56 | $152 | -13% | 13 |
| Drivers With a Speeding Ticket | $56 | $152 | 1% | 19 |
| Drivers With Bad Credit | $109 | $297 | 18% | 29 |
| Drivers With Low Income | $68 | $184 | 17% | 28 |
| Drivers With Newer Cars | $85 | $232 | 39% | 31 |
| Drivers With Old Cars | $49 | $133 | 21% | 28 |
| Senior Drivers | $58 | $139 | -6% | 16 |
| Young Drivers | $117 | $310 | 12% | 23 |
*We modified all profiles based on a 40-year-old male driver with good credit and no driving violations, driving a 2012 Toyota Camry. Young drivers are 25 and under, adults 26 to 64 and seniors 65+. We changed the vehicle age to 2007 for older cars and 2025 for newer ones.
Grinnell Car Insurance Discounts
Grinnell offers 14 car insurance discounts, with average savings of up to 12% depending on your driving profile, involvement in programs and your area. Check out its offerings:
Multi-Policy/Bundle | Up to 18% | Bundle auto with home or other policies | Available in 12 states served |
Multi-Vehicle | Up to 20% | Insure multiple vehicles on same policy | Available in 12 states served |
Good Student | Variable | Student with qualifying academic performance | Available in 12 states served |
Safe Driver/Claim-Free | Up to 15% | Clean driving record with no at-fault accidents | Available in 12 states served |
Defensive Driving Course | Up to 10% | Completion of approved defensive driving course | Available in 12 states served |
Paid in Full | Variable | Pay policy premium annually in full | Available in 12 states served |
Small At-Fault Accident Forgiveness | Variable | At-fault accidents under $5,000 (Mile Marker program) | Available in 12 states served |
Minor Violation Forgiveness | Variable | One minor violation within past 3 years (Mile Marker program) | Available in 12 states served |
Low Mileage | Variable | Drive fewer miles annually | Available in 12 states served |
Safety Features | Variable | Vehicle equipped with qualifying safety features | Available in 12 states served |
Grinnell Car Insurance Customer Reviews and Reputation
Grinnell earned 11th place in customer satisfaction in MoneyGeek's comprehensive customer experience study. Customer feedback highlights the company's strong agent service and responsive support team, though some policyholders report longer-than-expected claim processing times.
Buying Process Experience
The buying process receives mixed feedback, with some customers appreciating the local agent support and rural focus. But customers report problems with billing errors.
Policy Management
Policy management problems include rate increases and billing issues. Customers report rates "more than doubled" at renewal time with little warning, and automatic billing continues even after policy changes or cancellations.
Claims Experience
Claims experiences vary but some show prolonged processing and poor communication. One customer reported their claim remained "open" for over a year. Some customers do report satisfactory local agent support and fair handling of routine claims, though processing times are noted to be slower than industry standards.
Grinnell Car Insurance Industry Customer Satisfaction Ratings
Grinnell ranks well for financial strength from all industry rating agencies, but in J.D. Power studies, the company finishes average or below average in most areas. Here are Grinnell's scores from industry agencies.
AM Best Financial Strength | A | A++ to D- | Excellent ability to meet financial obligations with stable outlook |
AM Best Long-Term Credit Standing | a+ | aaa to d | Excellent credit quality |
S&P Global Financial Strength | Not Available | AAA to D | Information not publicly available |
Moody's Financial Strength | Not Available | Aaa to C | Information not publicly available |
J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction | Not Rated | 1,000-point scale | Grinnell is included in J.D. Power studies but specific scores not disclosed |
J.D. Power Digital Service Experience | Not Rated | 1,000-point scale | Grinnell is included in J.D. Power studies but specific scores not disclosed |
J.D. Power Auto Insurance Shopping Study | Not Rated | Out of 1,000 | Grinnell is included in J.D. Power studies but specific scores not disclosed |
J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction | Not Rated | Out of 1,000 | Grinnell is included in J.D. Power studies but specific scores not disclosed |
NAIC Auto Complaints | Not Available | 1.00 is average | Specific complaint index not publicly disclosed in search results |
Grinnell Car Insurance Reddit and Forum Customer Satisfaction
Reddit users and forum members appreciate Grinnell Mutual's long history since 1909, competitive rates in select markets and unique Mile Marker loyalty program.
Common complaints include below-average customer service ratings, limited geographic availability and billing system issues.
Here's what real customers are saying about their experiences on forums:
Pricing and Value
General thoughts on pricing show competitive rates initially, but customers express concerns about sudden increases and billing system problems:
"Grinnell Mutual offers slightly higher rates than many other comparable insurers. Its liability-only policies average $55 per month, and its full-coverage policies average $114 per month."
"In July my rate went up to $_____ per month and the adjusted difference of $707.13 was automatically taken on July 17th. There was no notification or reasoning for the price change."
Claims Processing
Most customers have mixed experiences with claims, ranging from quick resolutions to prolonged disputes with unresponsive adjusters:
"When I was in my first major car accident in 2008, Grinnell worked with me to help in the quickest way possible. Not having to wait a long time to get a rental was a plus."
"The WORST customer service service ever, so rude, unprofessional, the adjuster never returns your phone call. In 2023 will be a year the claim is still open."
Customer Service
Agent service receives significantly below-average ratings compared to industry standards, with numerous complaints about responsiveness:
"Grinnell Mutual's customer service scores leave something to be desired. The company isn't accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and the reviews on the BBB website, Yelp, and Google range from 1.5 to 2.9 star ratings."
Digital Experience
Grinnell's digital platform receives mixed feedback, with some customers appreciating online bill pay while others report system change issues:
"Grinnell Mutual makes insurance easy. Pay your bill, check coverages, file claims, and change information all from your mobile phone or computer."
"Grinnell mutual ins has messed up my bill last 3 months they changed systems I thought I'd downloaded new one paid bill got conformation then got a letter ins.was canceled due to non payment."
Trust and Reputation
As a mutual company with over a century in business, Grinnell maintains decent financial stability but faces reputation challenges due to customer service issues:
"Grinnell has been in business for more than 100 years. While it's not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, it earned an A rating for AM Best for its financial stability."
Coverage Options
People appreciate the Mile Marker loyalty program and farm-focused options, but note the limited availability in only 12 states as a major drawback:
"Grinnell's Mile Marker Auto Loyalty program offers small at-fault accident forgiveness. You can take advantage of Grinnel Mutual's discounts to pay less in car insurance."
REVIEWS ON FORUMS AREN’T A PERFECT GAUGE
Negative reviews dominate forums and don't reflect overall service quality. For a complete picture, combine user reviews with industry resources like J.D. Power, independent agents, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Insurance Information Institute.
Grinnell Car Insurance Coverage Options
Grinnell provides standard coverages like other leading insurers, including liability, comprehensive and collision protection. The company also offers additional add-ons that include:
Auto Plus Endorsement | Comprehensive additional coverage package | Includes pet injury, airbag reinstallation, lock replacement, locked vehicle service, personal property, rental car loss of use |
Mile Marker Auto Loyalty Program | Loyalty rewards and benefits for long-term customers | Available after 5+ years; includes small at-fault accident forgiveness (under $5,000), minor violation forgiveness, waived deductible for Grinnell vs. Grinnell accidents |
Pet Injury Coverage | Protection for pets injured in vehicle accidents | Included in Auto Plus endorsement |
Airbag Reinstallation | Coverage for airbag replacement after deployment | Included in Auto Plus endorsement |
Lock Replacement Coverage | Replacement of vehicle locks and keys | Included in Auto Plus endorsement |
Locked Vehicle Service | Assistance when locked out of vehicle | Included in Auto Plus endorsement |
Personal Property Coverage | Coverage for personal items in vehicle | Included in Auto Plus endorsement |
Rental Car Loss of Use | Enhanced rental car coverage | Up to $750 for indirect loss of use; extends collision coverage to rental vehicles |
Mile Marker Towing | Emergency roadside assistance for loyalty program members | Up to $50 per tow, limited to 2 claims per 6-month term, 4 claims per 12-month term |
Safelite AutoGlass Program | Windshield repair and replacement service | Partners with nearly 9,000 repair shops in network; in-shop or mobile repairs |
Other Grinnell Insurance Coverage Options to Consider
Here are other insurance types you can bundle with auto coverage or buy on their own:
Who Offers It? | Insurance Products |
|---|---|
Grinnell (Directly Offered) | Auto insurance (through Grinnell Select subsidiary), home insurance (Home-Guard® policy), renters insurance, business insurance, farm insurance, cRV insurance, watercraft insurance, employment practices liability insurance, equipment breakdown insurance |
Third-Party Partner | None advertised |
Grinnell Auto Insurance Review: Bottom Line
Grinnell excels in affordability, customer experience and coverage, making it a strong car insurance option. It ranked 22nd overall for full coverage and 17th for minimum coverage. However, we recommend you compare quotes and coverages from multiple insurers.
Grinnell Car Insurance Reviews: FAQ
Below are MoneyGeek's expert answers to frequently asked questions about Grinnell car insurance:
Does Grinnell insurance have a good reputation?
Yes, Grinnell is a legitimate car insurance company that ranked 24th in our comprehensive car insurance provider analysis. The company particularly excels in coverage options, where it earned an 8th place ranking among all insurers we evaluated.
Where is Grinnell the best car insurance company?
Grinnell isn't a top option in either of the states it's ranked in for car insurance.
How much does Grinnell car insurance cost on average?
Adults pay an average of $701 annually for minimum coverage and $1,761 for full coverage through Grinnell. Annual premiums range from $604 to $6,285 for state minimum and $1,449 to $16,701 for full coverage.
Is Grinnell known for denying claims?
Customer reviews indicate Grinnell has mixed claim handling practices, with some policyholders reporting denied claims for water damage and property losses. However, comprehensive data on their overall claim denial patterns remains limited beyond individual consumer feedback.
Note: This represents limited information based primarily on forum reviews.
Is Grinnell a good option for high-risk drivers?
Grinnell offers competitive rates for drivers with accidents, ranking 13th overall for affordability, but isn't ideal for drivers with bad credit or DUIs due to higher costs.
Does Grinnell raise car insurance rates over time?
Yes, Grinnell and other insurers increase rates over time due to inflation impacting repair costs, rising claim frequencies from distracted driving and severe weather, plus expensive modern vehicle technology. Rate adjustments also reflect updated regional risk assessments, regulatory changes, and personal factors like credit score shifts or age-related risk category changes.
Is Grinnell good for young drivers?
No, Grinnell isn't ideal for young drivers, ranking 23rd for overall affordability with average monthly full coverage premiums reaching $310.
How We Rated Grinnell Car Insurance
MoneyGeek pulled auto insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services and compared prices from 79 insurers in every U.S. ZIP code.
Standard Driver Profile Used for Analysis
We used a baseline driver profile to ensure consistent rate comparisons. Our standard driver has these characteristics:
- Age: 40 years old, male
- Vehicle: 2012 Toyota Camry LE
- Driving history: Clean record
- Annual mileage: 12,000 miles
- Credit rating: Good
- License status: Valid and active
- Insurance history: Currently covered with no previous claims
We then modified specific variables, including age, driving record, credit score and military status, to determine which insurers offer the best rates for different driver categories. Our minimum coverage rates represent policies meeting state-required minimums. Full coverage includes 100/300/100 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision coverage with $1,000 deductibles.
Company Rating System
Our evaluation process weighted three key factors:
- Cost (60% weight): We compared quotes across multiple driver profiles within each city, measuring how competitively each insurer prices its policies against local competitors.
- Customer satisfaction (30% weight): We analyzed customer feedback from multiple sources, including Google reviews, J.D. Power ratings, AM Best scores and online forums like Reddit, to assess overall service quality and customer experience.
- Coverage variety (10% weight): We evaluated each provider's coverage options, considering the breadth of available policies and any unique benefits or features.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.