Fred Loya Auto Insurance Review 2022: Pros and Cons – NerdWallet

Fred Loya Insurance specializes in providing minimum levels of auto insurance to high-risk drivers — typically those with poor credit or those who are required to file an SR-22 form due to traffic violations or DUIs. The company is operated by EP Loya Group, a Texas-based auto insurance company, which also owns Loya Insurance Company, Young America Insurance, Rodney D. Young Insurance and National Insurance — companies that may offer policies from both Fred Loya and other insurance providers. Depending on your location, Fred Loya Insurance may be marketed using one of these names.

While Fred Loya offers some unique features, such as complimentary rental car coverage and convenient office locations in grocery stores and Walmart stores, its policies can be confusing. The company also has a high number of customer complaints and has faced legal troubles in the past.

If you have a hard time finding coverage, Fred Loya can likely issue you a policy. However, consider other options available for high-risk drivers before choosing Fred Loya as your auto insurance provider. If you simply want to purchase a policy that meets your state’s required minimum coverage levels, there are alternative options available to you.

Fred Loya auto insurance coverage

When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require car insurance in order to drive a vehicle. Although minimum coverage requirements vary from state to state, they generally include liability insurance and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

If you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Full coverage isn’t a specific policy type; it’s a combination of coverage types, like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.

Check out the most common types of car insurance coverage below to see how they work:

Coverage type

What it pays for

Required?

Bodily injury and property damage liability

Costs for injuries, deaths or property damage from an accident you caused.

Typically required.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who has insufficient insurance or none at all.

Often required.

Collision coverage

Repair expenses from traffic-related accidents, regardless of who’s at fault.

A car loan or lease may require it.

Comprehensive coverage

Repair costs from events outside of your control, including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism.

A car loan or lease may require it.

In addition to these coverage types, Fred Loya also offers rental reimbursement coverage, which will pay for a rental while your car is in the shop for covered repairs.

Fred Loya offers policies for high-risk drivers, which often includes those with poor or no credit. Fred Loya’s policies can be issued with or without a credit check, and SR-22 forms may be available.

Some policy coverage types and exclusions are unconventional and may not be clear, so it’s important to carefully read the fine print. For example, Fred Loya offers “complete coverage” — a combination of both comprehensive and collision coverage — but only for vehicles that are free of any damage. And once a policy is purchased, any changes, including address and phone number updates, must be made over the phone or in person.

Fred Loya doesn’t offer online car insurance quotes. To get a price estimate, you must either call the Fred Loya hotline or visit a location. You can look up nearby offices using the website’s location finder. Some are in readily accessible retail spots like grocery stores and select Walmart stores.

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Auto insurance discounts

Fred Loya discounts may include:

• Multiple car discount.

• Air bag or automatic seat belt discount.

• Anti-theft discount.

• A discount if you have completed a defensive driving course.

• Driver’s education discount.

• A discount for completing an alcohol and drug awareness course.

Auto insurance buying guide

Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect some basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to determine which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.

When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to make your decision based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you’ll receive.

Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.

Complaints

Relative to its size, Fred Loya had far more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

More about Fred Loya auto insurance

Website: The Fred Loya website has limited information on coverage options and offers few features. Current customers can access their policy and make payments online, while new customers can use the site’s location finder to look up the nearest agency.

Mobile alerts: Fred Loya Insurance offers the ability to sign up for text alerts that can provide policy information.