Updated: September 26, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
West Bend Mutual earns 6th place for full coverage affordability and 8th for minimum liability coverage with average monthly rates of $93 and $41, respectively.
The insurer ranks 12th nationwide for customer satisfaction, falling behind competitors despite having established agent networks and mixed consumer reviews across online forums.
West Bend Mutual takes 11th place for coverage variety, providing specialized options like farm and agricultural vehicle coverage plus vanishing deductible programs for claim-free drivers.
West Bend Mutual ranks 15th overall nationally, placing it as a moderately strong car insurance provider among the nation's best car insurance companies. The company stands out particularly in affordability and coverage options, offering competitive rates and comprehensive protection for drivers.
This only represents a 40-year-old male driver with good credit and no driving violations and the company's ranking for you will depend on your profile and coverage needs.
| Overall Score | 4.37 | 15 |
| Customer Experience | 4.46 | 12 |
| Coverage | 2.92 | 11 |
| Affordability | 4.57 | 11 |
West Bend Mutual works best for drivers seeking affordable coverage with bad credit, low income, newer vehicles and older cars. You shouldn't consider this regional insurer if you're a driver with an accident on your record.
Below, you can compare how West Bend Mutual stacks up for your unique profile.
| Overall Score | 4.40 | 8 |
West Bend Mutual premiums vary widely based on your profile, ranging from $35 to $578 monthly. Your age, gender, coverage choice, credit score and driving history all impact what you'll pay. We've analyzed car insurance costs across these categories to help you understand potential rates.
| $168 | $2,012 | -39% | 6 |
West Bend Mutual will be much more expensive on average for young drivers, those with accidents, DUIs, speeding tickets and adult drivers. Below you can review how affordable West Bend Mutual is for your driving category.
| Adult Drivers | $40 | $100 | -18% | 11 |
| Drivers With A DUI | $82 | $201 | -12% | 15 |
| Drivers With An Accident | $70 | $172 | 1% | 20 |
| Drivers With A Speeding Ticket | $53 | $130 | -11% | 15 |
| Drivers With Bad Credit | $59 | $132 | -45% | 6 |
| Drivers With Low Income | $46 | $102 | -32% | 6 |
| Drivers With Newer Cars | $52 | $127 | -21% | 6 |
| Drivers With Old Cars | $33 | $80 | -25% | 9 |
| Senior Drivers | $66 | $120 | -12% | 10 |
| Young Drivers | $101 | $204 | -20% | 13 |
*All profiles are modified based on a 40-year-old male driver with good credit and no driving violations, driving a 2012 Toyota Camry. Young drivers represent ages 25 and under, Adults 26 to 64, and seniors 65 and older. Older vehicles change the vehicle age to 2007, and newer vehicles change it to 2025.
West Bend Mutual offers five car insurance discounts, with average savings of up to 11% depending on your driving profile, involvement in programs and your area. Check out its offerings:
Multi-Policy/Bundle | 6% | Must have 2+ policies with West Bend | Available nationwide |
Multi-Car | 11% | 2+ vehicles on policy at same address | Available nationwide |
Good Student | 8% | Students aged 16-22, B average (3.0+ GPA), full-time enrollment | Unavailable in 15 states, including California, Hawaii, North Carolina |
Teen Driver | Variable | Driver 18 or younger, after 1 year with West Bend | Available nationwide |
Distant Student | Variable | Student 22 or younger, 100+ miles from home, no car at school | Unavailable in California, Hawaii, North Carolina |
West Bend Mutual ranked 12th in overall customer satisfaction in MoneyGeek's comprehensive customer experience study. Based on customer feedback across various platforms, the company receives praise for responsive agent service and helpful claims representatives.
Even so, some customers report longer-than-expected claim processing times and occasional communication gaps during complex claims. Below, we break down the buying, policy management and claims process experiences based on our research.
West Bend Mutual's purchasing process receives generally positive feedback from customers who appreciate working with independent agents and the company's regional focus.
However, some customers report policy management issues, particularly around payment timing and grace periods. One customer described being denied policy reinstatement after a payment was 10 days late, even though they paid the full year premium and had an incident the day after payment, leading them to warn others to "stay away from a company this shady."
The company offers modern features like a mobile app and online services, though availability is limited to specific Midwest and select other states.
Customer experiences with policy management are mixed, with some praising the company's long-standing reputation while others report frustrating billing and coverage issues.
Customers describe problems with rate increases that seem disproportionate to their driving records, with one customer reporting their rates increased to "the equivalent of a DUI" for a non-moving violation that shouldn't affect driving risk according to state statute.
Some customers appreciate the mutual company structure and independent agent relationships, while others report difficulties reaching customer service representatives during standard business hours for non-claims inquiries.
Claims handling shows the most huge disparity in customer experiences with West Bend Mutual. Some customers praise exceptional service, with one fire victim describing how the company "had someone out there immediately" and took care of 12 months of rental payments and home modifications for accessibility needs.
However, many negative reviews focus on prolonged claim delays and poor communication. Multiple customers report being unable to reach adjusters despite repeated attempts, with one customer stating they've been "living in limbo like a gypsy, in a makeshift rental" for over 500 days with "zero movement" on their claim.
Several customers involved in accidents with West Bend policyholders describe the company as "doing everything they could to delay estimates, repairs, reimbursement" and only paying partial settlements.
West Bend Mutual 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 West Bend Mutual's scores from industry agencies.
AM Best Financial Strength | A (Excellent) | A++ to D- | Excellent ability to meet financial obligations and pay claims |
AM Best Long-Term Credit Standing | a+ | aaa to d | Excellent credit quality |
S&P Global Financial Strength | Not Available | AAA to D | No public S&P rating available |
Moody's Financial Strength | Not Available | Aaa to C | No public Moody's rating available |
J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction | Not Available | 1,000-point scale | Regional insurer not included in national studies |
J.D. Power Digital Service Experience | Not Available | 1,000-point scale | Regional insurer not included in national studies |
J.D. Power Auto Insurance Shopping Study | Not Available | Out of 1,000 | Regional insurer not included in national studies |
J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction | Not Available | Out of 1,000 | Regional insurer not included in national studies |
NAIC Auto Complaints | 0.24 | 1.00 is average | Far fewer complaints than expected |
Reddit users and forum members share mixed experiences with West Bend Mutual Insurance's rates, claims processing, and customer service representatives. Many drivers appreciate competitive pricing and strong financial ratings but express concerns about claims delays and policy cancellation practices.
Common complaints include West Bend Mutual Insurance rate increases without adequate explanation, extended claims processing delays, and customers reporting strict policy reinstatement practices even after receiving payment.
Here's what real customers are saying about their experiences on forums:
General thoughts on pricing initially are positive, but substantial rate increases and policy cancellation practices impact long-term value, according to forum users:
"After 6 years with them and never making a claim my agent informed me they were upping my home and auto rates by 38%. So West Bend... In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight!"
"I have been with west bend for several years and claim free. When my policy renewed it sky rocketed. When I questioned the increase I was told it was due to my 'careless driving ticket'. I explained I've never been charged or convicted of such an offense."
Most customers report extremely mixed experiences with how West Bend handles claims, with some praising quick resolution while others face extended delays:
"Over 500 days since my claim was filed. Over 365 days since it has been stalled with zero movement. Living in limbo like a gypsy, in a makeshift rental, hoping each day we can begin the process to return to our family home. No solution, action, help, movement in sight. I hope no other family has to go through this experience."
"I have had them for years and made a few claims. Never a problem. I had a auto claim and received a quote for repairs that was less than then West Bend figured. They gave me their figure and I didn't have to pay the deductible. Never any problems."
"Right from the beginning West Bend had someone out there immediately assessing the damage and connecting us with our claim specialist Joe Rathsack. He helped us find a rental home and they took care of 12 months of rent right away so we didn't have to worry about anything."
Agent service shows notable inconsistency across different experiences, with particular issues noted in third-party claims handling:
"Customer service not only unresponsive but extremely rude. I would never use this company. They should not even be in business. The way that they currently do business is criminal and I hope that they go out of business soon based on the way they treat people."
"A West bend mutual insurance company client ran a stop sign and struck my vehicle. I have been dealing with this for going on six weeks. I have attempted to reach the insurance adjuster multiple times with no return phone calls."
"I was in an accident where the driver admitted fault (he had West Bend) and I had GEICO. Working with West Bend was a nightmare---they did everything they could to delay estimates, repairs, reimbursement, etc. They only paid up to 80% and said 'they would send that to me in the mail, if I didn't agree with it, what I do is up to me.'"
West Bend's online resources receive generally positive feedback, with customers appreciating mobile app features and online claim tracking capabilities:
"West Bend Mutual Insurance offers a user-friendly mobile app designed to streamline the insurance experience. While claims cannot be filed through the app, policyholders can use it to track the progress of their claims, upload pictures, and access policy information."
Regulatory data shows below-average complaint ratios, but customer experiences reveal concerning patterns regarding policy reinstatement and claims handling practices:
"We called our insurance company and made a payment for the full year on Friday 8/5/2022. On Saturday 8/6/2022 we had our first incident, which would not be considered major. West Bend will not reinstate our policy because the payment was 10 days late. I believe 120% that if we did not have an incident, they would have kept our money and continued to let the policy stay active."
"West Bend received an overall complaint index of just 0.24, notably less than expected" with regulatory data showing fewer complaints than their market share would predict."
People appreciate the coverage options available, but report issues with policy reinstatement practices and strict underwriting that may disadvantage customers during claim periods:
"Most insurance companies will give a past customer a grace period on late payment, or if payment is received, the policy will be reinstated. WARNING!!! Stay away from a company this shady."
"I specifically asked if I could get some advice without filing a claim and was told that yes, I could speak to an adjuster and no claim would be filed. An adjuster calls me back, we have a conversation, he answers my questions and then at the very end as I am about to hang up he says that he has to file a claim and investigate the accident."
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.
West Bend Mutual provides standard coverages like other top insurers, including liability, comprehensive and collision protection. The company also offers additional add-ons:
TravelNet® Roadside Assistance | 24/7 emergency roadside service including towing, flat tire change, battery jump start, gasoline delivery, and lockout assistance | Available to policyholders in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; no cash needed - sign and drive or pay and submit receipts for reimbursement |
Rental Car Coverage | Covers the cost of a rental car while yours is being repaired after an accident | You can increase the coverage amount if needed |
Gap Coverage | Ensures you don't lose money if your new car is totaled | Available for new vehicles to cover the difference between loan balance and actual cash value |
Classic Car Coverage | Coverage for collector and classic vehicles with special considerations | Lower premium, no deductibles, and flexibility to use your vehicle beyond the limits of a parade or exhibition |
Pet Injury Coverage | Coverage for veterinarian bills or the cost to adopt another pet if your dog or cat dies from injuries caused by a covered risk | Automatically provided under West Bend homeowners policy for accident-related pet injuries |
Claim Free Award | Returns a portion of earned premium for claim-free years | Unique feature that rewards policyholders for each year there are no claims on your policy |
Here are other insurance options you can bundle with auto coverage or buy on their own:
Who Offers It? | Insurance Products |
|---|---|
West Bend Insurance (Directly Offered) | Auto insurance, home insurance, condo insurance, renters insurance, personal umbrella insurance, sport and recreational vehicles insurance, business insurance |
Third-Party Partner | None advertised |
West Bend Mutual is a strong car insurance option due to its affordability, customer experience and coverage quality. It ranked 13th overall for full coverage and 15th for minimum coverage. However, we recommend you compare car insurance rates, do your own research and decide on coverage needs before buying to get the best deal.
Below are MoneyGeek's expert answers to frequently asked questions about West Bend Mutual car insurance:
Yes, West Bend Mutual is a legitimate car insurance company that secured 15th place in our comprehensive car insurance provider study. The insurer particularly excels in affordability and coverage options, both ranking 11th nationally.
In Wisconsin, West Bend Mutual car insurance ranks ninth overall for most drivers.
Adults pay an average of $497 annually for minimum coverage and $1,054 for full coverage through West Bend Mutual. Annual premiums range from $431 to $3,718 for minimum and $783 to $6,691 for full coverage.
West Bend Mutual’s claims reputation is mixed. Some customers report fair processing and reasonable settlements, while others describe extended delays and communication challenges during more complex claims.
Note: This represents limited information based primarily on forum reviews.
West Bend Mutual ranks well for drivers with bad credit, earning 6th place overall for affordability among insurers in this category.
Yes, West Bend Mutual raises car insurance rates over time due to inflation impacting repair and medical expenses, plus increased claims from distracted driving and severe weather. Rate adjustments also reflect updated risk assessments, regulatory changes, and individual factors like credit score shifts or age-related risk categories.
West Bend Mutual isn't the best choice for young drivers. The company ranks 14th for affordability among the insurers we reviewed, making it expensive for an age group that already pays high premiums.
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:
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:
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.
