Fred Loya Insurance auto insurance

Overview

Fred Loya Insurance is the retail brand of Loya Insurance Group, a privately held auto insurer based in El Paso, Texas. It ranked #43 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $805.1 million in auto premiums and a 0.22% national share, reported under the NAIC's Loya Group.

Loya is a nonstandard, price-focused insurer. It sells mostly basic liability policies through more than 800 company storefront offices, many of them inside Walmart Supercenters and Hispanic grocery chains, and it markets same-day policy issuance with no credit check. Policies are underwritten by Loya Insurance Company, and the group's claims department also handles business for Fred Loya Insurance and Young America Insurance. The company's website lists offices in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas; its home page also lists Tennessee.

Loya is sometimes mentioned alongside Freeway Insurance, but they are separate businesses: Freeway is an insurance agency that describes itself as part of the Confie family of brokers, while Fred Loya offices sell Loya's own policies.

History

Fred Loya Sr. opened the company's first office, a single storefront in El Paso, in 1974. The business grew by placing small offices where its customers already shop, an approach summed up in its motto, "Where Being Local Matters." Today the company says it has more than 800 offices, more than 3,000 employees and more than 4.5 million policies sold.

Its retail footprint is distinctive. Loya lists offices in Walmart Supercenters in 10 states (California, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Colorado, Alabama, Arizona, Ohio, Georgia and Oklahoma), along with grocery chains such as Cardenas, Superior, El Super, Vallarta and Fiesta Mart in California and Texas, and La Michoacana in Oklahoma. The group employs its own claims adjusters, staff appraisers and in-house attorneys, so sales, service and claims all stay inside the company.

Auto insurance coverage

Loya's product is built around state-required liability coverage, with optional physical damage and add-ons:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability
• Comprehensive coverage for theft, vandalism, fire, hail and other non-collision losses
• Collision coverage
• Medical payments coverage in states that do not use personal injury protection, and PIP where it applies
• Rental reimbursement when your car is out of service for more than 24 hours after a covered accident
• Roadside assistance for towing, fuel delivery and flat tires

Many Loya customers buy minimum coverage, which keeps premiums low but can leave you personally responsible for damages above the limits; the guide to minimum versus full coverage explains the trade-off. Loya also files SR-22 certificates for drivers whose state requires proof of financial responsibility after a DUI, a suspension or driving uninsured.

Discounts and programs

Loya advertises a short list of discounts, which vary by state:

• Multi-car discount for insuring more than one vehicle in the household
• Prior insurance discount if your car has been insured for the past 12 months
• Homeowner discount
• Good driver, safe driver and claim-free discounts
• New car discount
• Good student discount
• Electronic funds transfer discount for automatic monthly payments

Loya's website does not list a telematics or usage-based program, and it does not advertise bundling auto with home or renters insurance.

Claims

Claims are reported by phone at 800-880-0472. The claims line is staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain time; it is not a 24-hour line, and the website does not offer online claim filing. Claim status is also checked by phone.

Loya says a liability adjuster is assigned to each loss report and makes contact within 24 hours. The adjuster reviews the policy, takes statements from everyone involved (usually within the first day), prepares a damage estimate from photos, and gathers police reports, scene photos and witness statements before deciding fault and settling. The group runs three claim branches with its own adjusters and staff appraisers. Keep in mind that a liability-only policy pays for damage you cause to others; it does not pay to repair your own car.

Ratings and reputation

Customer satisfaction is Loya's weakest point. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Fred Loya Insurance scored 570 in the Texas region, last of the 10 brands ranked and 78 points below the 648 regional average; the Automobile Club of Southern California led the region with 673. Loya is not ranked in J.D. Power's national auto claims satisfaction study.

Loya's website does not cite a financial strength rating from AM Best, so shoppers who weigh financial ratings should ask the agent which company will issue the policy and check that company with the state insurance department. Complaint data for the underwriting company can be looked up through the NAIC, as described in the guide to the NAIC complaint index.

Who it suits

Fred Loya Insurance suits drivers who mainly need legal, low-cost coverage quickly, including those with tickets, lapses or an SR-22 requirement, and who prefer to buy and pay in person at a nearby store. Drivers who want broad coverage, digital tools, around-the-clock claims service or a top satisfaction score will likely find better fits elsewhere.

• Strengths: More than 800 walk-in offices, many inside Walmart Supercenters and grocery stores; same-day policies with no credit check; SR-22 filings; a focused discount list for continuous coverage, good drivers and students.
• Weaknesses: Lowest score among ranked brands in the 2026 J.D. Power Texas study; claims reported only by phone during business hours; no telematics or bundling program advertised; no AM Best rating cited on its website; sold in only about a dozen states.

How to contact Fred Loya Insurance