Safeway Insurance auto insurance

Overview

Safeway Insurance is a family-owned auto insurer based in Westmont, Illinois, in the western suburbs of Chicago. It specializes in affordable coverage for drivers who may struggle elsewhere. It ranked #59 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $383.7 million, or 0.10% of the national market.

Safeway describes itself as the largest privately held, family-owned insurance company in the United States and says it serves more than 300,000 customers. It sells auto insurance in 12 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Policies are sold only through independent agencies, and service is handled through a network of regional offices. Safeway says it will consider drivers with a less-than-perfect record and drivers with no prior auto insurance in the United States. That puts it squarely in the nonstandard market, including recent arrivals to the country. Its website offers translation into Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Hindi and Chinese.

History

Safeway was established in 1959 and describes itself as family owned. It is a stock insurance company, as its Illinois policy form states, but its shares are privately held. The company emphasizes a "personal touch" through regional offices across the country, and it says much of its staff has been with the company for many years.

The group operates through state-specific companies and offices. These include Safeway Insurance Company of Alabama (Birmingham), Safeway Insurance Company of Georgia (Alpharetta) and Safeway Insurance Company of Louisiana (Lafayette), with additional offices in Monrovia, California; Mesa, Arizona (also serving Colorado and New Mexico); and Flowood, Mississippi. Its locations page also lists a Safeway Insurance Company of Arkansas, served from the Lafayette office, although Arkansas is not among the states in its agency locator.

Auto insurance coverage

Safeway's policies are built for drivers who want coverage that meets state law at a low price, with options to add more. Its auto page says a policy can pay for vehicle repairs and medical expenses, and optional coverage can protect you against an uninsured driver, cover theft of your car and help with legal actions after an accident. The Illinois personal auto policy, effective July 1, 2025, shows the structure:

• Part I, Liability: bodily injury and property damage you cause to others.
• Part II, Uninsured motorist: injuries caused by an uninsured driver, with uninsured motorist property damage available for an added premium.
• Part III, Underinsured motorist: injuries caused by a driver without enough insurance.
• Part IV, Medical payments.
• Part V, Physical damage: collision and comprehensive, including theft.

The policy excludes coverage while the car is driven by an excluded driver listed on your declarations, a common feature of nonstandard policies. Before you sign, check who is listed and what that means for your household. If your policy includes rental coverage, Safeway tells you the daily amount and number of days it will pay.

Discounts and programs

Safeway's website does not list specific discounts or a telematics program. Your agent quotes the available savings. Payments can be made online through the MySafeway portal, which also provides ID cards, or by phone through the billing line. For tips on keeping a low-cost policy useful, see how to find cheap car insurance without dangerous gaps.

Claims

New claims go to Safeway's claims line at 888-203-5129. It is open 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. After hours, you can leave a message and Safeway returns the call the next business day. You can also call your nearest Safeway office, use the number on your ID card, or start through the MySafeway portal. Have your policy number, the date, location and facts of the accident, the names of those involved and the police report. Safeway assigns a claims representative who inspects the car and writes a repair estimate. If repairs would cost more than the car's fair market value, the car is declared a total loss. When another vehicle or an injured person is involved, Safeway says it contacts you within 48 hours of your first report.

Ratings and reputation

Safeway's website states that AM Best rates the Safeway Insurance Group A (Excellent). That rating was displayed on its site as of October 2026. Safeway is not among the brands ranked in J.D. Power's regional auto insurance studies.

Who it suits

Safeway fits budget-minded drivers in its 12 states, including people new to the U.S. or without continuous insurance history, who want to buy through a neighborhood agent and pay online. Drivers with clean records may find more discounts with standard carriers.

• Strengths: Accepts drivers with imperfect records or no prior U.S. insurance; A (Excellent) AM Best group rating per the company; long family ownership since 1959; multilingual website and regional offices.
• Weaknesses: No published discount list or telematics program; claims line not open around the clock; available in only 12 states; little public financial detail because it is privately held.

How to contact Safeway Insurance