Selective Car Insurance Review

Customers often praise the company’s competitive rates at first, but concerns about value tend to surface after going through the claims process:

"They saved me a bunch of money on my home insurance. Great hard working folks. Thank you!"

"Selective is a nice company to work with and they gave me great pricing. Flexible payment options. Hopefully I'll never need them but I've heard they are good with claims too."

"After I signed up for home and auto insurance in 2023, the rate proposal for 2024 was well over a thousand dollars more than the previous year. So, I switched to another company."

Claims handling receives the most criticism, with customers reporting systematic denial tactics and extreme delays:

"This is by far the worst insurance company I have ever dealt with in my life. They WILL NOT pay out claims. We had major hail damage 3 years ago and had several estimates to get repaired. Selective sends their guy out - says nope not related to this storm. W T F??"

"Then last year 1 month after open heart surgery one of my basement walls collapsed. What does Selective do in our desperate time of need - DENIED. Says that our house was to blame. That shifting dirt cause the collapse as well as the old building material from when they built the house in 1906!! So they did not cover one red cent to replace a foundation wall collapse!!!"

"Selective is a nightmare to deal with in every way. I have had insurance with them for a decade with no claims. I filed a hail claim last summer which they denied based on drone photos they took. They don't even send an adjuster; they send a drone pilot."

Customer service experiences vary dramatically, but negative experiences often involve rude or dismissive representatives:

"I found Ms. Capone's rude attitude and lack of customer service disheartening when trying to file a claim. She was cold and dismissive, as if I was disturbing her. While I could understand a claim being denied, her matter-of-fact and curt attitude was unacceptable."

"Horrible experience with them. Very unprofessional and just fed me a lot of bs instead of answering my questions and getting the information needed. I especially had a hard time with an employee Ms. Cammarato. She was unprofessional and rude and shouldn't have a job working there the way she spoke."

"Selective insurance is full of bs I waited a month and someday to get payed they don't call back and the people I talk to was nasty this insurance company us trash."

Limited feedback on digital platforms, though billing practices raise concerns:

"Then Selective had the audacity to send me a bill for $6.00 for mailing the paperwork for the 2024 insurance quote. When I tried to contact the company to understand why I was being billed $6.00, I couldn't find a phone number."

"Then I received a notice that if I didn't pay, they would send my $6 bill to a collection agency. Really ???!!!! What a small-minded, greedy, nickle-and-dime company this is."

Trust issues are significant, with long-term customers feeling betrayed after filing claims:

"Selective was all too happy to take my money for THIRTY-FIVE years, but when we filed an auto claim it took over two months for them to determine the car was totaled. So cheap they do not even hire their own adjusters to make a quick assessment for a policy holder in need. It sat at a shop for TWO months!!"

"Be careful - they will steal from you. Selective was the only company I had access to a specific bank account. More than $500 was illegally withdrawn before I realized what had happened."

"Following this, I had roofers who are also lawyers submit a new estimate, and Selective changed their stance, suddenly agreeing that there was hail damage. The entire process was a nightmare. They are disorganized internally and still have not paid my roofers in full six months later."

Coverage options are generally viewed positively, though claim payment becomes the real issue:

"Selective offers standard coverage options, including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. They also offer customized coverage options that can be added by endorsement to your policy."

"Recently dealing with a claim where the Selective's insured merged into my lane and t boned me. INSURED FLED SCENE WITHOUT POLICE REPORT. Yet somehow the claims adjuster denied the claim without once getting my side."

"I was rear ended two months ago by their client and they are refusing to pay damages and trying to blame me for being rear ended in stop and go traffic they are not a good company anyone dealing with them should immediately get a lawyer."

Yes, Selective is a legitimate car insurance company that places 17th in our comprehensive car insurance provider analysis. The insurer excels in coverage options, ranking second among all providers we evaluated.

Selective is the fourth best car insurance provider for drivers in New Jersey.

Selective charges adults an average of $807 annually for state minimum coverage and $1,438 for full coverage. Rates span $742 to $8,545 for minimum and $1,342 to $13,315 for full coverage.

Selective has been criticized for denying claims, often tied to disputes over damage assessments or coverage details. Complaints also mention slow processing times, though most of this feedback comes from online forums rather than broad industry data.

Note: This represents limited information based primarily on forum reviews.

No, Selective isn't ideal for high-risk drivers. The company ranks 29th overall for drivers with an accident, making it a poor choice for this group.

Yes. Selective rates tend to rise over time because of inflation in repair and medical costs, more claims from severe weather and distracted driving and the added expense of vehicle technology. Increases may also result from updated local risk assessments, regulatory changes, or personal factors such as credit score and age.

Selective raises rates over time and isn't ideal for young drivers, ranking 28th for affordability with monthly premiums averaging $320.