Elephant Insurance auto insurance

Overview

Elephant Insurance is a car insurer based in the Richmond, Virginia, area that sells mainly online and by phone. It ranked #88 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $168.8 million in auto premium and a 0.05% national share.

Elephant was created in 2009 as the U.S. arm of Admiral Group plc, a British FTSE 100 company that sells motor, household, travel and pet insurance. That relationship ended when Admiral sold its U.S. motor business, including Elephant Insurance Company and Elephant Insurance Services, to the private investment firm J.C. Flowers & Co. Admiral announced on January 5, 2026, that the sale was complete, effective December 31, 2025. Elephant continues to operate under its own name and existing management.

Elephant writes car insurance in eight states: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. As a direct writer it handles quotes and service itself rather than through captive agents, though it has also begun appointing independent agents in Virginia. Home, renters, condo, life, pet, umbrella, motorcycle and recreational vehicle policies are offered through partner insurers.

History

Admiral launched Elephant in 2009, with headquarters in Henrico County outside Richmond. Alberto Schiavon has been CEO since 2017. The company says it employs more than 400 people and covers more than 225,000 drivers.

In April 2025 Admiral agreed to sell its U.S. motor business to J.C. Flowers, a firm founded in 1998 that invests in financial services companies. Local press noted that the announcement came just over a year after Elephant had significantly reduced its office footprint in the Richmond area. Admiral said it would focus on its businesses in the UK and mainland Europe. When the deal closed, J.C. Flowers said it believed Elephant was well positioned to expand further in the U.S., and Elephant said it planned to grow in existing and new markets using AI-driven tools.

In Texas, its policies are underwritten either by Elephant Insurance Company or by Redpoint County Mutual, a Texas county mutual insurer.

Auto insurance coverage

Elephant's core coverages are liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments and personal injury protection (where offered or required). Optional coverages include loan/lease payoff, rental reimbursement, custom parts and equipment, and non-owner car insurance for people who drive but do not own a vehicle.

Optional add-ons include:

• Real-time roadside assistance, provided through Agero, with online requests and live tracking of the service truck.
• Legal coverage through a Legal Resources® plan.
• Upgraded accident forgiveness, which helps you avoid a rate increase after an accident (see accident forgiveness explained).
• Diminishing deductible, which lowers your deductible over time (see vanishing deductible programs).
• Pet injury coverage of up to $1,000 at no extra cost.

Discounts and programs

Elephant's discounts include multi-car, multi-policy, homeowner (automatic if you own a house or condo), early bird (buying ahead of your current policy's expiration), claims-free, student, pay in full, paperless account, electronic signature and online quote discounts. Its Work From Home Discount™ is aimed at people who drive less because they work remotely.

Elephant does not offer a telematics or usage-based program; the work-from-home discount is its main mileage-related saving.

Claims

Claims can be filed online 24/7 at Elephant's claims site, and new claims can be reported by phone at 844-937-5353 (the claims page also lists 855-ELEPHANT, 855-353-7426) Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern; existing claims are handled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Glass claims can be filed online or at 800-413-8860, and roadside assistance is available 24/7 at 877-321-9910. Customers track claim status in their online account.

Elephant's Repair Assistance Program uses a pre-qualified network of repair shops held to its quality standards. Phone service is weekdays only, with sales and customer service lines closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Ratings and reputation

Elephant does not publish a financial strength rating on its website; check AM Best or ask the company before buying (see AM Best ratings explained). It is not among the regional leaders named in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

On customer experience, Elephant was named to USA TODAY's list of America's Best Customer Service in Financial Services for 2026 (announced February 2026) and to Forbes' America's Best Insurance Companies list for 2027 (announced September 2026). It says it holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Drivers can check complaint records through the NAIC's consumer insurance search or their state insurance department.

Who it suits

Elephant suits self-directed drivers in its eight states who are comfortable buying and managing a policy online and who value extras such as legal coverage, diminishing deductibles and pet injury protection. Remote workers may benefit from its work-from-home discount. It is less suited to people who want a local agent, weekend phone support or the backing of a large national insurer, and it has been under new ownership only since the end of 2025.

• Strengths: Distinctive add-ons including legal coverage, pet injury protection and real-time roadside tracking; Work From Home Discount; 24/7 online claims filing; customer-service recognition from USA TODAY and Forbes in 2026.
• Weaknesses: Sold in only eight states; no telematics program; phone lines closed on weekends; new private-equity ownership since December 31, 2025, with no financial strength rating shown on its site.

How to contact Elephant Insurance