Update, April 27, 2026: Liberty Mutual has officially retired the Safeco brand, completing a transition first announced in March 2025. Here’s what that means in practice:
- For current Safeco customers, your policy, premium, coverage, and independent agent stay the same through your current term. At renewal, your policy will be issued under the Liberty Mutual name. You don’t need to take any action, but it’s worth comparing your renewal rate against other carriers — brand transitions are a common moment for pricing to shift.
- For new shoppers, Safeco is no longer accepting new business. The closest equivalent is a Liberty Mutual policy through an independent agent, though Liberty Mutual’s pricing, discounts, and claims experience differ from what Safeco offered. We’ve kept this review live as a historical reference and to help current policyholders navigate the transition.
For a current buying recommendation, see our full Liberty Mutual review.
What happened to Safeco?
Safeco was founded in 1923 and acquired by Liberty Mutual in 2008. For most of its history, it operated as a distinct mid-market brand sold exclusively through independent agents: not the cheapest option, not the most feature-rich, but a reliable choice for drivers who wanted straightforward coverage at a reasonable price.
In March 2025, Liberty Mutual announced it would retire the Safeco brand and consolidate all personal lines products under the Liberty Mutual name. That transition became official on April 27, 2026.
This page is being maintained as a historical reference and as a guide for the millions of drivers whose policies are transitioning. For a current buying recommendation, see our Liberty Mutual review.
What this means if you’re a current Safeco customer
Your policy doesn’t change mid-term. Your coverage, premium, deductibles and any active discounts (including Right Track and diminishing deductible credits you’ve earned) remain in place through your current renewal cycle.
Your agent relationship continues. Safeco’s independent agent network is being absorbed into Liberty Mutual’s, so the local agent who’s been managing your policy should still be your point of contact.
Your renewal will look different. At your next renewal, your policy documents, billing and online account will carry Liberty Mutual branding. Liberty Mutual has stated that earned loyalty benefits like the diminishing deductible will carry over, but it’s worth confirming the specifics with your agent before renewal.
This is a smart moment to comparison shop. Brand transitions often coincide with rate adjustments, and Liberty Mutual’s pricing profile is different from Safeco’s (historically a bit higher on average). Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, getting a few competing quotes through Jerry before renewal is a low-effort way to make sure you’re not overpaying after the switch.
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Learn more: Full coverage vs. liability-only insurance
What this means if you’re shopping for new coverage
Safeco is no longer writing new policies. If you landed here looking for a Safeco quote, your options are:
- Get a Liberty Mutual quote through an independent agent. This is the closest direct successor, though pricing and discount structure differ from Safeco’s.
- Compare across carriers. Safeco’s appeal was below-average pricing and tolerance for imperfect driving records. Several other insurers compete in that same space, and the right fit depends on your specific profile.
Learn more: Best car insurance companies
Who Safeco served well (historical context)
A budget-conscious driver who shopped through an independent agent. Safeco’s rates ran below the national average across most profiles, and its agent-only distribution model meant policyholders had a local contact to help manage their policy.
A driver with recent violations or a lapsed policy. Safeco tended to be more accepting of imperfect driving histories than some major competitors, and its pricing for these profiles was often competitive.
Someone who valued a diminishing deductible. Safeco’s deductible reduced by $50 to $100 each claim-free renewal period, up to $500 — a long-term benefit for safe drivers who stayed with the carrier.
Drivers who prioritized claims satisfaction or wanted extensive policy customization (rideshare coverage, gap insurance, a long menu of premium discounts) generally found better fits elsewhere.
Industry ratings of Safeco at retirement
Safeco’s final-year industry ratings were a mixed bag: strong financial backing, but persistent weaknesses in claims handling and customer satisfaction.
| Rating | Safeco’s score |
| NAIC consumer complaint index (2025) | High (1.62). |
| CRASH Network report card (2026) | D+. |
| JD Power auto insurance shopping study (2025) | No. 17 of 18. |
| JD Power auto insurance claims study (2025) | No. 19 of 20. |
| AM Best (2025) | A (Excellent). |
These ratings are worth understanding because they likely informed Liberty Mutual’s decision to consolidate the brand, and because the Liberty Mutual claims and service experience your renewal transitions you to may differ meaningfully from what you experienced under Safeco.
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NAIC details
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CRASH Network details
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JD Power details
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AM Best details
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Safeco’s coverage options (what current policyholders have)
Active Safeco policies include standard coverage types: collision, comprehensive, bodily injury liability, property damage liability, medical expense, personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Optional add-ons that may be on your current policy:
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New vehicle replacement, for original owners of cars stolen or totaled within the first year. This pays the value of a comparable new vehicle rather than depreciated actual cash value (ACV).
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Rental car reimbursement for rental costs while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered loss.
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Roadside assistance covers towing, fuel and oil delivery, locksmith services and other on-the-road help.
Confirm with your agent how each of these will carry over to your Liberty Mutual renewal. Liberty Mutual offers similar coverages, but specific terms and limits may differ.
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Coverage Definitions
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Who it pays: The other person, for injuries when you’re at fault in a crash.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people injured in an accident you cause.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limits, shown as two numbers. For example, 50/100 means $50K per person and $100K per accident.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least 100/300.
Property damage liability (PD)
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Who it pays: The other person, for property you damage in a crash.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace another person’s car, fence, mailbox or other property you hit.
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How it pays: Up to your policy’s limit. For example, $50K.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least $100K.
*Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are typically shown as three numbers on your policy, like 100/300/100. The first two numbers represent your bodily injury limits per person and per accident, while the third number represents your property damage limit.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another car or object, like a guardrail or pole.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Damage from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, falling trees, fire or hitting an animal.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for injuries and property damage.
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What it covers: Your own injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs, including hit-and-runs in many states.
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How it pays: Up to your chosen limits, which often match your BI limits. There’s usually no deductible for UM, but UIM may have one.
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Do you need it? Required in some states, but Jerry recommends every driver get it, since about 1 in 8 drivers does not have car insurance.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills and lost income, no matter who caused the accident.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages, childcare, funeral costs and other expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limit. There’s usually no deductible, though this varies by state.
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Do you need it? Required in no-fault states. If available in your state, it’s worth considering.
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills.
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What it covers: Medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: No deductible. Pays up to your policy’s limit.
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Do you need it? Optional in most states, but can be valuable if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan.
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Safeco car insurance discounts: What to ask before renewal
If your current Safeco policy includes any of the car insurance discounts below, the dollar value of those benefits depends on how Liberty Mutual handles them at renewal. And the answers aren’t always obvious from your renewal paperwork.
Liberty Mutual offers similar but not identical programs, and the terms governing transferred credits are something to confirm in writing with your agent before you accept your first Liberty Mutual renewal.
Here’s a checklist of specific questions to ask, organized by discount:
- Diminishing deductible. Safeco’s program reduced your deductible by $50 to $100 per claim-free renewal, up to $500 total. Ask your agent: How much credit have I accumulated, and does the full dollar amount transfer to my Liberty Mutual policy? Will my deductible reset to its original level, or carry the reduced amount forward? Does Liberty Mutual offer an equivalent program that I’ll continue earning credit under going forward?
- Right Track telematics. Safeco’s program ran for 90 days and produced a final discount of up to 30%. Liberty Mutual operates its own telematics product (RightTrack) with different rules. Ask your agent: If I completed Safeco’s Right Track program, does my finalized discount transfer to my Liberty Mutual policy, and for how long? If I’m currently mid-monitoring, does my data transfer or do I have to start over? Will I need to re-enroll in Liberty Mutual’s program separately to keep earning telematics savings?
- Claims-free refund. Safeco refunded 2.5% per claim-free six-month period, up to 5% annually. Ask your agent: Does my claims-free history with Safeco count toward Liberty Mutual’s loyalty or claims-free programs? Is there an equivalent refund structure under Liberty Mutual, or is this benefit ending at transition?
- Accident forgiveness. Safeco waived the rate increase from your first at-fault accident. Ask your agent: If I had accident forgiveness on my Safeco policy and haven’t used it, does that protection carry over? If I had a Safeco-forgiven accident on record, will Liberty Mutual treat it as forgiven or factor it into my new rate?
- Multi-policy and other standing discounts. Ask your agent: Which of my current discounts are guaranteed to carry over, which are being recalculated under Liberty Mutual’s rules, and which are going away entirely?
A practical tip: get the answers in an email or written summary, not just verbally. Brand transitions involve a lot of moving paperwork, and having a written record of what you were told makes it easier to push back if your renewal documents don’t match.
If your renewal rate jumps significantly after these discounts get reshuffled, that’s your signal to comparison shop. Of course, you should do this anyway, since transitions are a common moment for pricing to drift.
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Filing a claim during the transition
For now, Safeco-branded claims are still being processed. File a claim through your independent agent, online at safeco.com (which is now redirecting to Liberty Mutual) or by calling 800-332-3226.
A few things to know:
Repair network guarantee still applies.
Work completed within Safeco’s preferred repair network comes with a repair guarantee. You may use any licensed shop you choose, but the guarantee only applies to network repairs. Liberty Mutual has its own preferred network, and post-renewal claims will go through that system.
Settlement and payouts.
For total losses, Safeco offers a settlement based on your car’s actual cash value (ACV). Original owners of vehicles less than one year old may be eligible for new vehicle replacement coverage instead.
Was Safeco a good insurance company?
For the right driver, yes. Safeco delivered consistently below-average rates, was accommodating to drivers with imperfect histories and offered a few genuinely valuable long-term benefits like the diminishing deductible and network repair guarantee.
Its weaknesses were also consistent: claims handling that ranked among the worst of any major carrier, a thin discount menu and limited customization. The pending brand retirement, announced more than a year ago, was the final variable that pushed many shoppers toward alternatives.
If you’re a current Safeco customer wondering what to do next, the most useful thing you can do is comparison shop before your next renewal. Use Jerry to see how your transitioning Liberty Mutual rate compares against other carriers; it takes a few minutes and tells you whether staying put is actually your best option.
See coverage options for your car.
How to contact Safeco/Liberty Mutual
Safeco policyholders should continue working with their local independent agent during the transition. The agent locator at safeco.com is being redirected to Liberty Mutual’s agent finder.
For customer service and claims, call 800-332-3226. This line is being maintained through the transition period.
Related guides
FAQ
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Is Safeco being discontinued?
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What happens to my Safeco policy?
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Will my rate change when I switch to Liberty Mutual?
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Do I keep my agent?
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Do I need to do anything?
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Did Safeco have a telematics program?
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Did Safeco offer rideshare insurance?
Drivers who switch with Jerry save an average of $54/mo on car insurance.
Methodology
We looked at over 400,000 actual policies quotes from real Jerry customers during 2026 across 24 different insurance companies. The pricing data included both those with clean driving records as well as those with a violation.
How we rate car insurance companies
Jerry’s team of car insurance expert writers and editors analyze real customer ratings and industry reports to get a holistic view of an insurer’s performance. Our rubric emphasizes the shopping and claims experiences, customer complaints and reviews, repair shops’ evaluations of insurers, policy and quote pricing, and state availability.
We regularly reassess insurers’ star ratings and fact-check these reviews to ensure they’re accurate and up-to-date.
These individual factors roll up into one weighting system as follows:
20% Financial strength.
20% Complaints.
20% Industry ratings.
20% Customer ratings.
20% Cost and discounts.
Stephanie Colestock is a professional writer, CFEI®, and licensed insurance agent specializing in personal finance. With over 14 years of experience, she crafts insightful and accessible content on a wide range of financial topics, including insurance, loans, credit/debt, investing, retirement planning, and banking.
Her bylines appear in top-tier publications such as TIME, Fortune, MSN, Business Insider, USA Today, Money, Fox Business, and CBS. Stephanie’s deep understanding of complex financial concepts and her ability to communicate them clearly have made her a trusted voice in the industry.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie enjoys SCUBA diving, reading a good book, and traveling the world with her family.
