Is Penn National Good for Auto Insurance?
Last Updated on October 16, 2026
Penn National can be a good car insurance option if you live in its service territory and prefer working with an independent agent (instead of buying direct online). As a mutual insurer, it’s owned by policyholders—not shareholders—which often aligns the company’s focus with long-term stability and service.
Below is an updated look at where Penn National operates, what its auto policies typically include, and what to ask your agent before you buy.
Our Rating of Penn National
3.2
out of 5
★★★☆☆
Summary
Bottom line: Penn National is worth a quote for drivers in its service territory who want to buy through an independent agent, though it draws a few more complaints than average for a company its size.
Penn National (Penn National Insurance Companies) is a property and casualty insurer founded in 1919 and headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, selling coverage through independent agents across a multi-state regional footprint. Auto policies typically include standard protections like liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, roadside assistance, loan/lease coverage, and replacement cost options, with discount availability varying by state and policy form. The company also markets an add-on package (Auto PennPac) that may include extras such as travel interruption, locksmith services, personal effects coverage, and certain deductible waivers, so the most important step is confirming what’s offered in your state and pricing quotes with matching limits and deductibles.
Best for
- Drivers who prefer working with an independent agent instead of buying direct online
- Households that want optional “package” enhancements like PennPac-style benefits (where available)
- Shoppers who want a long-established, mutual carrier with a regional footprint
Not ideal for
- Drivers outside Penn National’s service territory or in states with limited product availability
- Shoppers who want a fully direct, online-first carrier without agent involvement
- Drivers who want rental reimbursement on their auto policy
About Penn National
Penn National (Penn National Insurance Companies) is a property and casualty insurer founded in 1919. A Pennsylvania farmers’ association set it up to offer workers’ compensation for farm work, and it has grown into a regional carrier offering personal and commercial insurance.
Penn National is a mutual insurance company, which means policyholders—rather than public shareholders—own the organization. In practice, mutual insurers often emphasize disciplined pricing, steady underwriting, and long-term claims-paying ability.
Penn National is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and sells through independent agents in 12 states. Its personal lines, which include auto, are sold in nine of them: Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. In Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, its affiliate Partners Mutual Insurance Company serves customers from a regional office in Waukesha. The other three states, Alabama, Delaware and South Carolina, are not on its personal lines list, so ask an agent there before counting on a Penn National auto policy.
| Penn National Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 N. Second St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-766-2245 |
| Contact Page | https://www.pennnationalinsurance.com/your-policy/contact-us/ |
| Website URL | https://www.pennnationalinsurance.com |
Penn National Insurance Products
Penn National’s core lines typically include personal auto, homeowners, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, and general liability. Product availability can vary by state and underwriting company, so an independent agent can confirm what’s currently offered where you live.
| Product | What It Covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Insurance | From basic liability coverage to full coverage car insurance | Often sold through independent agents; options and endorsements vary by state |
| Home Insurance | Homeowners, renters, condo, and related coverages | Common bundling opportunities with auto |
| Umbrella Coverage | Extra liability limits above auto and home policies | Useful for higher exposure households; see umbrella coverage |
| Business Insurance | Commercial packages that can include liability, workers’ comp, and commercial auto | Often targeted to small and mid-sized businesses across multiple industries |
In some states, Penn National writes both personal and commercial lines; in others, the company’s footprint may be commercial-only or handled through an affiliate. Availability is best confirmed at the quote stage.
How Does Penn National Auto Insurance Work?
Penn National auto insurance works like most standard personal auto policies: you choose liability limits, add physical damage coverage if needed, and select optional protections for medical costs, roadside needs, and loan/lease gaps.
Common Auto Coverage Options
| Coverage | What It Helps Pay For | When It’s Most Useful |
|---|---|---|
| Liability Coverage | Injuries and property damage you cause to others | Required in most states; higher limits help protect assets |
| Collision Coverage | Repairs to your vehicle after a collision, subject to your deductible | Commonly required by lenders/lessors when the car is financed |
| Comprehensive Coverage | Non-collision losses like theft, vandalism, hail, or animal strikes | Often paired with collision for “full coverage” protection |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Protection if you’re hit by a driver with too little (or no) insurance | Required in some states; strongly considered where uninsured driving is common |
| Roadside Assistance | Towing and common roadside services | Useful for older vehicles or long-distance drivers; review towing limits |
| Loan and Lease Coverage | May cover the gap between what you owe and what the vehicle is worth after a total loss | Most relevant for newer financed vehicles with small down payments |
| Replacement Cost Auto Coverage | Pays for damage without a deduction for depreciation on a car you bought within the last 30 days or are in the process of buying; fire and theft losses are paid at actual cash value | Most useful right after you buy a new car; confirm the exact conditions with your agent |
Quick tip: When comparing quotes, ask your agent to price the same policy with two deductible options (for example $500 vs. $1,000). It’s one of the fastest ways to see whether premium savings are worth the added out-of-pocket risk.
What Makes Penn National Unique?
Penn National’s main differentiators are its regional, agent-based model and certain package-style enhancements that may add “extra” protections beyond a basic auto policy. Availability varies by state and coverage form.
Auto PennPac
Penn National markets an add-on package called Auto PennPac. Depending on your state and the coverages you carry, PennPac includes pet coverage, a death benefit and a seat belt and restraint benefit. If you also carry collision and comprehensive, it adds towing and labor, travel interruption, locksmith services, airbag replacement, personal effects, non-owned trailer, sound equipment and deductible waivers.
| PennPac-Style Benefit | What It May Include | Related Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Towing and Labor | Expanded towing/labor coverage when you already carry physical damage | See how towing coverage typically works |
| Travel Interruption | Help with certain out-of-town expenses after a covered loss | Examples of emergency travel expenses |
| Locksmith Services | Assistance if you’re locked out (coverage details vary) | When locksmith services may be covered |
| Airbag Replacement | Additional coverage for airbag repair/replacement after a covered loss | How airbag replacement is typically handled |
| Personal Effects | Limited coverage for items inside the vehicle | How personal effects coverage works |
| Sound Equipment | Protection for certain installed audio equipment | When you may need special coverage for stereo equipment |
| Deductible Waivers | In limited scenarios, may reduce or waive a deductible | How a collision deductible waiver can work |
Penn National doesn’t publish the dollar limits, so ask your agent for the exact PennPac benefits and limits available in your state.
Penn National Auto Insurance Discounts
Penn National offers a typical set of discounts. Exact discount names, eligibility rules, and savings vary by state and by policy form.
| Discount | What Usually Qualifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bundling | Combining auto with home (or other lines) | See how to bundle auto and homeowners insurance |
| Paid in Full | Paying your premium in full upfront instead of monthly | May reduce fees and lower overall premium |
| Passive Restraint | Airbags and certain restraint systems | Often applied automatically based on vehicle data |
| Daytime Running Lights | Vehicles with daytime running lights | Discount availability varies by state and model year |
| Anti-Lock Brakes | Vehicles equipped with antilock brakes | Often small, but worth verifying on the policy |
| Good Student | Students on your policy with a B average or better | See the good student discount |
| Student Away at School | Students away at school more than 100 miles from home | See student away at school discounts |
| Driver Training | Completion of an approved course | How defensive driving discounts typically work |
| Multi-Vehicle | Insuring multiple vehicles on the policy | Discount can stack with bundling in some cases |
Penn National Reviews and Ratings
For regional insurers, the most useful signals are usually financial strength and claim handling consistency. AM Best affirmed Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company’s A (Excellent) financial strength rating on October 28, 2025, with a stable outlook.
You can check the current AM Best rating on the financial stability page of Penn National’s website.
If you want to review consumer complaint history, the Better Business Bureau keeps a profile and complaint log for Penn National. When we checked on October 14, 2026, it listed 22 complaints over the past three years, and Penn National is not BBB accredited. Complaint volume and BBB scoring can change over time, so it’s best used as one data point—not the only deciding factor.
Final Word on Penn National
Penn National is a regional, mutual insurer that is worth a quote for drivers who value an independent-agent experience and want coverage from a long-established carrier. It’s best evaluated by comparing quotes with identical limits and confirming which endorsements (like PennPac-style benefits) are actually available in your state.
To explore coverage options or request a quote, start with an independent agent or visit PennNationalInsurance.com.
My advice is to ask your independent agent to quote Penn National with and without Auto PennPac, and with collision and comprehensive, since most of the PennPac benefits only apply when you carry both. Have the agent quote one or two other carriers at the same limits so you can see whether the package is worth it.
FAQs on Penn National Car Insurance
Sources
Checked October 15, 2026
- Penn National Insurance — About Us
- Penn National Insurance — Regions We Cover
- Penn National Insurance — Who We Are: Personal Lines, March 2026
- Penn National Insurance — Auto Insurance
- Penn National Insurance — Additional Coverages
- Penn National Insurance — Discounts & Savings
- Penn National Insurance — Contact Us
- Penn National Insurance — Financial Stability
- AM Best — Credit Rating Disclosure: Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Co, October 28, 2025
