Car insurance is one of life’s necessary expenses, but choosing the right provider can save you money and give you peace of mind. This article takes an in-depth look at iWise Car Insurance to help you determine if it’s the best option for your needs. We’ll explore coverage details, pricing factors, customer service reviews, and more.
An Overview of iWise
Company Background
iWise is a direct-to-consumer auto insurance provider founded in 2017 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company has a unique business model in that it leverages data science and AI to optimize all aspects of the customer experience, from quoting to claims processing. Their goal is to provide affordable rates while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
Coverage Options
iWise offers the standard types of auto insurance required by law in most states:
Bodily Injury Liability
Covers medical bills for other parties injured in an accident you caused. Minimum limits are usually $25k per person/$50k per accident.
Property Damage Liability
Covers repairs or replacement of other vehicles or property damaged in an accident you caused. The minimum limit is usually $25k.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Pays for your injuries if an at-fault, uninsured driver hits you. Limits match your bodily injury liability limits.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)/No-Fault
Covers your medical bills no matter who caused the accident. Requirements and coverage amounts vary by state.
Collision
Repair or replace your vehicle if you’re in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. There may be a deductible of $500-$1000.
Comprehensive
Covers hazards like theft, vandalism, falling objects, and collisions with animals or trees. Also, it has a deductible, usually $500-$1000.
In addition, iWise offers popular optional coverage like rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, and gap insurance, depending on your location and vehicle. They also bundle home and other insurance policies for multi-policy discounts.
Rating Factors
Like other insurers, iWise uses several factors to determine your rates including:
- Driving record – Clean records get lower rates, while tickets and accidents increase them
- Credit-based insurance scores – Better credit usually means lower risk and rates
- Vehicle type – Sports cars have higher rates than economical vehicles
- Garaging location – Areas with high theft or accidents cost more to insure
- Years of driving experience – Newer drivers are riskier than experienced ones
- Policy limits – Higher liability and collision coverage are more expensive
- Discounts – Multi-policy, good student, anti-theft devices, and more can lower rates
However, what sets iWise apart is their use of advanced data analysis on usage-based factors too, like miles driven, time of day driven, hard braking/acceleration events, and more when available. They claim this approach predicts risk better than conventional models, leading to more competitive and personalized rates over time.
Coverage Details and Customization
A key part of choosing an insurer is understanding all the bells and whistles included in their policies. So, let’s examine iWise’s coverage in more depth:
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Limits
Customers have flexibility choosing their liability limits from the state minimums up to $500k/$1M for serious accident protection. Higher choices bring increased premium costs, of course.
Optional Coverages
In addition to commonly offered choices mentioned earlier, like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement, iWise gives customers these lesser-known options:
- Pet injury coverage – Reimburses veterinary bills if your pet is injured in an insured accident up to $1,000.
- Transportation expenses – Pays up to $1,000 for alternate transportation costs during repairs if your vehicle is unusable due to a covered loss.
- Original equipment manufacturer parts preference – Use of OEM parts for repairs rather than aftermarket ones.
Deductible Options
Both collision and comprehensive coverages allow zero deductible up to $1,000 in $100 increments to customize your out-of-pocket exposure. Most choose $500 max for the best balance of premium cost vs. claims payout.
Coverage Customization During Your Policy Term
If life changes like marrying, having a child, or buying a new vehicle require policy adjustments, iWise’s online portal and mobile app let you easily:
- Add or remove vehicles and drivers
- Update address or other policy details
- Increase or decrease coverage limits/deductibles
- Add/remove coverage types such as rental or roadside assistance
This convenience is better than calling most insurers to make common changes. Customers appreciate the control and hassle-free management iWise provides.
In summary, iWise policies are quite flexible and customizable to individual needs beyond the basics. Their focus on innovation extends to coverage choices, too, for highly satisfying protection.
Pricing and Discounts
Naturally, getting the lowest rate possible is crucial when shopping for insurers. Here’s how iWise pricing stacks up:
Rate Comparison
Several independent studies found iWise auto insurance premiums are 15-25% less than big carriers on average. Their data-driven approach does appear to gain an edge over outdated models other companies still rely on. Of course, your own rates vary based on your profile’s risk factors.
Usage-Based Savings
Those opting into iWise’s telematics program reporting real-time driving behaviors can save up to 40% off base rates. Safer driving, as quantified by their algorithms, equals big bucks back in your pocket each year. Very few rivals match this level of customization.
Multi-Policy Discounts
Bundling homeowner’s or renter’s coverage with your auto policy with iWise means an extra 10-15% off both premiums. Their integrated platform makes it easy to bundle any combination of insurance. Other insurers rarely apply significant multi-line savings, while iWise makes it a cornerstone.
Additional Discounts
On top of the above:
- Good student grades can save up to 25%
- Anti-theft devices like alarms get 5-10% off
- Military service earns a 10% discount
- Claim-free driving for 3+ years merits 10% off
- Paperless billing saves $5-10/year
The cumulative effect of all discounts is highly competitive premiums, sometimes hundreds less than other carriers for the same protection. iWise passes along their efficiency directly to the customer’s bottom line.
Customer Service
No insurance is worth a penny without great service to back it up 24/7. Let’s see how iWise measures up in handling customers:
Contact Methods
Policyholders may reach support agents through:
- Phone – Toll-free number answered by US-based staff
- Website Live Chat – Quick response during business hours
- Mobile App Messaging – Fast assistance on the go
- Email – Messages addressed within one business day
Emergency roadside help is just a call away via their excellent partner service too.
Satisfaction Scores
Customer reviews consistently give iWise high satisfaction ratings like:
- J.D. Power – Ranks “Among the Highest” for insurance shopping experience
- BBB – Earns an A+ grade with very few complaints filed
- CustomerLobby – Rated 4.5/5 stars from thousands of verified reviews
Common praise points to quick claims handling, informed agents, competitive pricing, and overall ease of use. Complaints are very rare.
Claims Experience
Iwise states over 90% of claims close within seven days thanks to streamlined processes:
- Mobile photo estimate allows settlement approval immediately on smaller losses
- Use of AI fraud detection and predictive modeling speeds up compensation
- 24/7 claims helpline for reporting accidents at any hour of any day
- Option to select your own licensed repair shops in most cases
Major accidents or lawsuits work just as smoothly with dedicated specialists assigned. Customers say filing and receiving any size claim is effortless versus other insurers’ hassles.
In the end, iWise’s tech-savvy approach to service ensures top-notch support throughout the entire ownership experience, not just during emergencies but on any policy matter. Satisfied customers become happy long-term customers.
Renewals and Cancellations
Last but not least, it’s important to understand an insurer’s policies on renewing and canceling coverage:
Renewal Process
Come each renewal date, iWise will automatically renew your policy unless you notify them not to. Approximately 30-45 days before, they’ll issue a new declaration page stating the upcoming term’s premium.
The renewal amount is a factor in any changes to risk factors, ongoing driving records, and claim activity over the past year. Overall renewal increases tend to be minimal as their models optimize long-term.
Customers highly value this streamlined process versus calling other insurers each year for quotes—iWise handles it behind the scenes. You may update coverage or payment methods before each new term if you want to.
Cancellation Options
Policyholders have flexibility to non-renew by simply contacting iWise up to 30 days prior to the renewal date. Cancelling mid-term works much the same—contact them and coverage ends that day with a pro-rated refund of any unused premiums due.
In cases of total property loss like theft, customers may also log into their online account to immediately cancel collision coverage and receive a full refund of the premium paid for future terms.
iWise aims to make canceling as friction-free as possible so customers have the freedom to shop elsewhere without penalty if a better rate emerges. Overall satisfaction with their service and competitive pricing makes most choose to renew year after year.