Western National Insurance auto insurance

Overview

Western National Insurance Group is a Minnesota-based group of property and casualty insurers led by Western National Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned mutual. It ranked #84 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $205.8 million in auto premium and a 0.06% national share.

Personal auto is one part of a broader business. The group reported $1.4 billion in total direct premium written for 2025, across personal lines, commercial lines, specialty programs and surety bonds, in 20 states plus Alaska. Every policy is sold through independent agents.

For drivers, Western National runs two quite different auto operations. Its standard and preferred personal auto program is sold in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and Alaska, where the NAIC's 2025 data rank the group ninth among auto insurers. Its subsidiary American Freedom Insurance Company, based in Mount Prospect, Illinois, writes nonstandard auto with mandatory minimum limits and SR-22 filings in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee; American Freedom's own site also lists Texas.

History

Western National began as the Mutual Creamery and Cheese Factory Fire Insurance Company of Minnesota, incorporated in St. Paul in late January 1900 to insure the buildings and products of creamery and cheese cooperatives. It was chartered and began operating in May 1901. A sister liability company followed in 1915 and a tornado company in 1925; the property and liability companies merged in 1953 as Mutual Creamery Insurance Company.

In 1955, after insuring more than 90% of its original creamery market, the company moved to Richfield, Minnesota, began selling personal auto and homeowners insurance to the general public and switched from company salespeople to independent agents. It took the name Western National Mutual Insurance Company in 1970, when it moved into its Edina headquarters. In 1974 it bought Cascade Insurance Company of Seattle, renamed it Western National Assurance Company and began writing in Oregon and Washington.

Between 2007 and 2016 a series of mergers and acquisitions added American Freedom Insurance Company, Pioneer Specialty Insurance Company and Umialik Insurance Company of Anchorage. Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Company of Lansing became an affiliate in 2015 and joined Western National's reinsurance pool on January 1, 2026. Western National bought Nevada General Insurance Company from Mutual of Enumclaw in 2016 and agreed to sell it to Southlake Specialty Insurance Company in February 2024.

Rick Long is President and CEO. For 2025 the group reported total assets of $3.2 billion, net income of $154.9 million and surplus of $1.3 billion.

Auto insurance coverage

Western National sells two personal auto programs:

• Signature Auto, for violation- and accident-free households, carries the Penalty-Free Promise®: you will never pay a higher rate because of future accidents or violations. The company says it has offered the promise for more than 50 years. It goes further than typical accident forgiveness, which usually covers only a first accident; see accident forgiveness explained.
• Select Auto offers broader options for customized vehicles and unusual vehicle use.

Coverages include bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection (no-fault) and medical payments, uninsured and underinsured motorists, collision and comprehensive. Options include audio, visual and data electronic equipment, auto loan/lease coverage, full glass, new vehicle replacement cost, rental reimbursement (transportation expenses), roadside assistance, towing and labor, and trip interruption.

Several features are included at no extra charge: a common loss deductible, customizing coverage, pet insurance, temporary transportation expense, car seat replacement, and a benefit for collisions with another Western National customer.

Discounts and programs

Published discounts are anti-theft devices, corporate vehicle, customer loyalty, defensive driver, full pay, good student, multi-policy, multi-car and family member. Western National does not advertise a telematics or usage-based program; its main pricing benefit for good drivers is the Penalty-Free Promise.

Claims

Auto, property and glass claims can be reported 24/7 at 855-921-3164, by email to [email protected], or through the customer portal at portal.wnins.com, which pre-fills policy details. Claims reported outside business hours get a response the next business day. The same number handles roadside assistance requests. Written correspondence goes to P.O. Box 1463, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1463.

Ratings and reputation

AM Best affirmed the group's A+ (Superior) financial strength rating on November 6, 2025, and in January 2026 upgraded affiliate Michigan Millers from A (Excellent) to A+ (Superior) after it joined the Western National pool. A+ is AM Best's second-highest rating; see AM Best ratings explained.

The group has been named a Ward Group Top 50 property-casualty company, most recently in July 2026. It is not among the regional leaders named in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where Erie Insurance led the North Central region. Policyholders can review complaint records through the NAIC's consumer insurance search or their state insurance department.

Who it suits

Western National suits Upper Midwest and Alaska households with clean records who want a strongly rated mutual and an independent agent, and who value a written promise that future accidents or tickets will not raise their rate. American Freedom serves a different buyer: drivers in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee who need minimum-limit or SR-22 coverage.

• Strengths: A+ (Superior) AM Best rating affirmed November 2025; Penalty-Free Promise on Signature Auto; no-charge extras such as car seat replacement, pet coverage and a common loss deductible; 24/7 claims line.
• Weaknesses: Standard auto sold in only five states; no telematics program; nonstandard auto limited to American Freedom's states; buying requires an independent agent.

How to contact Western National Insurance