Is Elephant Good for Car Insurance?
Last Updated on January 7, 2026
Elephant is a legit insurance brand that’s built around a direct-to-consumer model: most customers quote, buy, and manage their policy online. That streamlined approach—plus a heavy focus on a handful of states—can help Elephant offer competitive rates for some drivers.
Below is what Elephant offers, where it’s available, why it can be cheaper, and what to know before you buy a policy.
Our Rating of Elephant Auto Insurance
3.9
out of 5
★★★★☆
Summary
Bottom line: Elephant can be a good fit if you want a mostly self-serve online experience and qualify for multiple discounts, but it may not work if you need broad availability or in-person service.
Elephant is a direct-to-consumer insurer where most customers quote, buy, and manage policies online, and its limited-state footprint can help it price competitively for some driver profiles. Availability is restricted (the company lists auto insurance in Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), so you’ll need to confirm eligibility by ZIP code. Coverage is generally built around standard options like liability, comprehensive, collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist (where available/required), medical payments or PIP (depending on the state), plus optional rental reimbursement and roadside assistance, with select markets offering add-ons such as legal services coverage, a diminishing deductible feature, and real-time roadside assistance tools.
Best for
- Drivers who prefer quoting, buying, and managing their policy online
- Discount-eligible drivers with clean records and lower-than-average driving patterns
- Shoppers who want access to optional add-ons like diminishing deductibles or legal services (where offered)
Not ideal for
- Drivers outside Elephant’s active states or who can’t confirm availability by ZIP code
- People who want an agent-led or in-person service experience
- Shoppers who want bundling fully in-house rather than through partner carriers
- Our Rating of Elephant Auto Insurance
- Elephant Insurance at a Glance
- Why Elephant Auto Insurance Can Be So Cheap
- How Elephant Auto Insurance Works
- Coverage Options You Can Typically Buy with Elephant
- What Makes Elephant Different
- Elephant Discounts That Can Move the Needle
- Customer Experience, Complaints, and Reputation
- How to Get a Quote, File a Claim, or Cancel
- Pros and Cons of Elephant Auto Insurance
- Final Word: Is Elephant Insurance Worth It?
- FAQs About Elephant Auto Insurance
Elephant Insurance at a Glance
Elephant Insurance launched in 2009 and is headquartered in the Richmond, Virginia area. It’s best known for auto insurance, but it also markets additional products (like home, renters, umbrella, and more) through partner providers in many cases.
Elephant’s auto insurance availability is limited. On Elephant’s consumer site, the company lists car insurance in Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. If you’ve seen Illinois mentioned elsewhere, the safest move is to confirm availability by entering your ZIP code when you quote.
If you want to bundle auto with homeowners for a discount, Elephant may still work—just keep in mind that bundling often involves a partner carrier. Here’s how bundling can work: receive a bundling discount.
Why Elephant Auto Insurance Can Be So Cheap
Elephant isn’t “cheap for everyone,” but it can be a great deal for the right driver profile. Here are the most common reasons Elephant’s rates come in low:
- Direct-to-consumer pricing: Elephant emphasizes online quoting and self-service policy management, which can reduce overhead compared to agent-heavy models.
- Limited-state footprint: Operating in fewer states can allow tighter underwriting focus and more targeted pricing.
- Discount-forward strategy: Elephant promotes several discounts (like early shopping, pay-in-full, and work-from-home/low-driving patterns) that can meaningfully lower premiums for eligible drivers.
- Pricing is individualized: Like any insurer, Elephant prices based on factors such as driving history, vehicle, garaging address, prior coverage, credit-based insurance score (where allowed), and expected mileage.
Bottom line: Elephant is often competitive for drivers who like online tools, maintain a clean record, qualify for multiple discounts, and don’t need in-person service.
How Elephant Auto Insurance Works
Elephant auto insurance works like any standard auto policy: you choose coverages and limits, pay a premium, and file a claim if you have a covered loss.
Like every insurer selling auto coverage, Elephant policies must comply with minimum insurance requirements in all states where the company writes business. You can usually purchase higher limits than the state minimum for better protection.
Coverage Options You Can Typically Buy with Elephant
Exact coverages vary by state, but Elephant generally offers the standard building blocks most drivers expect:
- Liability (bodily injury and property damage)
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist (where available/required)
- Medical payments or PIP (depending on the state)
- Rental reimbursement (optional)
- Roadside assistance (optional)
What Makes Elephant Different
Elephant’s core coverages aren’t radically different from other insurers. Where it stands out is a handful of add-ons and its online-first experience.
Legal Assistance Add-On
Elephant offers an optional legal services add-on (availability varies by state). It’s designed to help with certain everyday legal needs—like traffic matters and document prep—beyond what most auto policies cover. Auto insurance can help with certain accident-related legal situations, but it typically doesn’t cover general legal services. For background, see: any legal fees.
Diminishing Deductible
Elephant promotes a diminishing (or “disappearing”) deductible feature in many markets. The details can vary, but the basic idea is that your collision deductible may decrease over time if you maintain a good driving history. If you’re considering it, compare the added cost to the savings you’d actually receive at claim time. More on the concept here: diminishing deductible.
Windshield and Glass Claims
Some Elephant policies promote streamlined glass handling, and certain types of minor glass repairs may be handled differently than a full replacement (depending on the claim and state). If you’re shopping specifically for glass perks, it’s smart to verify how they apply to your policy: free windshield replacement.
Real-Time Roadside Assistance with Urgent.ly
Elephant has promoted real-time roadside assistance features through a roadside partner, including tracking for certain service calls. If you’re comparing roadside options, check limits, fees, and what counts as a covered event: Urgent.ly.
Elephant Discounts That Can Move the Needle
Discount availability varies by state and driver profile, but Elephant commonly advertises discounts such as:
- Early shopping (“early bird”) discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Paperless/autopay discounts
- Multi-car discount
- Good student discount
- Safety/anti-theft equipment discounts
- Work-from-home or low-driving patterns (where offered/eligible)
Want to make sure you’re not leaving easy savings on the table? Here’s a broader breakdown of what insurers commonly offer: the discounts offered by other insurance providers.
If you drive less than average, mileage can be a big deal in pricing. Not every company offers a formal “pay-per-mile” program, but many still rate based on how much you expect to drive. Here’s how low mileage can affect your premium: your mileage.
Customer Experience, Complaints, and Reputation
Because Elephant is smaller than national giants, it may not appear in every major customer satisfaction study. A practical way to judge any insurer is to look at:
- Complaint trends: Compare complaint data for private passenger auto when possible (not “all lines” data).
- Claims experience: Reviews often trend more negative when a customer has a complex claim, so weigh patterns (not just star ratings).
- Financial stability: For any carrier, it’s smart to check independent financial strength resources. Here’s how those ratings work: A.M. Best (for financial strength).
Elephant also maintains a Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. You can review the current business rating, customer reviews, and complaint history here: Elephant Insurance Services, LLC on BBB.
How to Get a Quote, File a Claim, or Cancel
You can quote and buy a policy online, and many policy changes can be handled through your online account. If you prefer phone help (including cancellations), this contact guide will point you to the right department: over the phone.
Common Elephant contact details (may vary by state):
- Main phone (855-ELEPHANT): 855-353-7426
- Claims (new claims): 844-937-5353
- Glass/windshield claims: 1-800-413-8860
- Customer service email: customerservice@elephant.com
- Claims email: claims@elephant.com
- Mailing address: Elephant Insurance, P.O. Box 5005, Glen Allen, VA 23058
Pros and Cons of Elephant Auto Insurance
Pros
- Often competitive pricing for discount-eligible drivers
- Strong online quoting and policy management tools
- Interesting add-ons like legal coverage and diminishing deductible (availability varies)
Cons
- Limited state availability
- Service and claims reviews can be mixed (as with many insurers)
- Bundling may involve partner carriers, not one in-house insurer
Final Word: Is Elephant Insurance Worth It?
Elephant is a legitimate insurer that can be a strong option if you live in one of its active states, you’re comfortable managing your policy online, and you qualify for multiple discounts. As with any carrier, it’s worth comparing apples-to-apples quotes (same limits and deductibles) from at least a few insurers before you choose.
If the quote is competitive and the coverages match what you need, Elephant can be a smart, budget-friendly choice—especially for drivers with clean records and lower-than-average driving habits.
