Commerce Auto Insurance Review

Company Background Information

Commerce Insurance Company is a subsidiary of MAPFRE, U.S.A. and was founded in 1972 in Webster, MA. The company was acquired by MAPFRE, U.S.A. in 2008, a global insurer in over 40 countries throughout the world. Commerce is currently the largest provider of auto insurance in the state of Massachusetts, and Commerce with all of its MAPFRE subsidiaries ranks as the 18th largest auto insurer in the United States. It is also the second largest commercial auto insurance provider in the state of Massachusetts. The company currently employs over 1,800 people at their Webster, MA headquarter facilities and makes its insurance available through over 600 independent insurance agents.

AM Best has rated Commerce A+ for its strong financial outlook and financial stability, whereas J.D. Power rated Commerce 2 out of 5 for auto claims satisfaction in 2012. Commerce started out offering its insurance products exclusively in Massachusetts and later New Hampshire. In 1995, the company acquired Commerce West, and in 1999 it acquired American Commerce. Both acquisitions have remained separate entities that sell auto insurance in various other states. The original Commerce Insurance Company still offers insurance primarily to the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Other MAPFRE subsidiaries operate in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington.

Pros of Commerce Car Insurance

• Financially stable insurance company backed by a global insurance leader
• Several different auto coverage options
• Multiple unique discounts can reduce auto premium costs
• A modern and high quality website

Cons of Commerce Car Insurance

• Some reports of communication problems during claims and customer support issues
• Some reports of slow claims processing
• Only available in select states

Website

Commerce’s website is hosted by MAPFRE and is a modern and well-designed website with all the standard capabilities one would expect an insurance company to have along with a library of useful insurance related information. Auto, glass and homeowners claims can all be reported in separate parts of the website, and there are extensive details about claims included such as frequently asked questions and more. Information about the different products offered for Massachusetts and New Hampshire are included, along with detailed information about available discounts for each type of policy, information about natural disasters specific to the region and coverage options, and more.

Discounts

A variety of discounts are offered by Commerce insurance for each of their insurance products. The homeowners policies offered by Commerce are popular because of the combined discounts that homeowners receive when they purchase both an auto and homeowners plan with them. The multiple insurance discount offers up to 20% lower premiums, and the discount is so popular that 85% of the company’s customers have both a home and auto policy with them. Commerce offers a number of group affiliate discounts as well as discounts for drivers with low annual mileage, cars equipped with safety and anti-theft devices, and several other unique discounts such as the educators’ discount which is offered to many educational institutions in Massachusetts.

The Shop Smart MA discount offers a reduction of up to 8% for policy seekers who purchase coverage with Commerce one week prior to the termination date of their current policy. AAA members in Massachusetts can also save up to 10% on their premiums if they have a good driving record with the Loyalty Plus program. Members who maintain their coverage can also receive similar loyalty discounts. The Safe Driving Insurance Plan reward drivers who drive safely and avoid at fault accidents. There are a number of other discounts offered such as paid in full discounts, discounts for electronic billing, good student discounts, driver training discounts, and senior discounts.

Types of Insurance Offered

Along with auto insurance, Commerce offers homeowners, earthquake and flood, personal umbrella, and business insurance for New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In the state of Massachusetts 4 types of auto coverage are required, with an additional 8 being optional. The 4 that are required are: bodily injury to others, bodily injury from an uninsured automobile, personal injury liability protection, and damage to property. The optional coverage options include: limited and comprehensive collision, rental car reimbursement, towing, bodily injury from an under-insured vehicle, optional bodily injury to others, and medical coverage.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews of Commerce Insurance are mixed, with some people reporting various difficulties with customer support representatives, unexpected increases in premiums, difficulties with qualifying for auto and homeowners insurance, and communication problems during claim settlement. Some customers report that Commerce is not as involved and proactive as it should be in regards to handling claims issues quickly. There are also a number of positive reviews with some customers mentioning that when the proper accident filing procedures are followed, the company is very good at getting claims settled and paid in a timely manner.

Recommendations

Residents of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other states where MAPFRE offers insurance should contact Commerce for a quote, and may save money with the company’s many unique group and other available discounts. Even though there have been some negative reviews about claims processing, communication and customer support problems, and other issues, it is still worth the time to at least check and see if their rates would be better than what you currently have. If you are looking for auto insurance now, you can get a quote just by entering your zip code into the form on this page, and you will receive instant quotes from multiple providers.

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