Is PEMCO Good for Auto Insurance?

Last Updated on October 16, 2026

By James Shaffer Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 15, 2026 How we fact-check

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve probably heard of PEMCO Insurance. The name comes from Public Employees Mutual Casualty Company, which HistoryLink, the online encyclopedia of Washington history, says was organized in 1950 to sell insurance to public employees. Today PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company is a mutual insurer, meaning policyholders are effectively owners of the company.

PEMCO has deep Northwest roots. It grew out of an organization created to serve educators and public employees, and HistoryLink says it began offering discounted insurance to teachers in 1952. PEMCO says it has served the Pacific Northwest for more than 75 years, and today it writes car insurance for Washington and Oregon residents.

So, is PEMCO good for auto insurance? For many drivers in Washington and Oregon — especially those with clean records who value customer service — PEMCO can be a strong option. Below is a practical breakdown of PEMCO’s ratings, coverage, discounts, and who it’s best for.

Our Rating of PEMCO Auto Insurance

A Seattle-based regional mutual offering standard auto coverage and forgiveness benefits for Washington and Oregon drivers.

3.6

out of 5

★★★☆★☆

Checked October 15, 2026 · How we score insurers

Customer satisfaction: we couldn’t confirm a 2026 J.D. Power rating for PEMCO, so it gets an average score for this part.

Regional insurer Strong Northwest presence Member-focused Low complaint ratio

Summary

Bottom line: PEMCO is a good option for drivers in the Pacific Northwest who want coverage from a member-focused regional insurer, especially drivers with clean records.

PEMCO Auto Insurance primarily serves drivers in Washington and Oregon, offering standard auto coverages along with useful extras like towing coverage, a rideshare endorsement and accident forgiveness. Its regional focus allows it to tailor policies to local drivers, though availability is limited compared to national insurers.

Best for

Drivers in Washington and Oregon
People seeking a regional, member-oriented insurer
Drivers with clean records who can earn PEMCO’s forgiveness benefits

Not ideal for

Drivers outside the Pacific Northwest
Those who want nationwide agent access
Customers who prefer fully national brands

Table Of Contents

Our Rating of PEMCO Auto Insurance
PEMCO at a glance
Financial strength and third-party ratings
What does PEMCO auto insurance cover?
PEMCO discounts
Ease of use: claims, repairs, and online tools
Benefits of PEMCO auto insurance
Downsides to consider
FAQs on PEMCO Auto Insurance
So, is PEMCO good for auto insurance?
Sources

PEMCO at a glance

Where it’s available: Primarily Washington and Oregon (regional carrier).
What it sells: Auto plus homeowners, renters, condo, boat, and umbrella coverage.
Best fit: Drivers who want a local insurer with strong service in the Northwest, and who don’t have a lot of recent tickets/accidents.

Financial strength and third-party ratings

When you’re evaluating any insurer, financial strength matters — it’s a signal of whether a company can reliably pay claims, including during expensive catastrophe years. In its March 25, 2025 announcement, AM Best affirmed PEMCO’s Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) with a stable outlook. In the same action it lowered PEMCO’s issuer credit rating to “bbb” (Good), pointing to results that trailed its peers after weather losses and late rate increases, while calling its balance sheet very strong. AM Best’s rating disclosure shows the B++ (Good) rating affirmed again, with a stable outlook, effective April 9, 2026. B++ sits below the A-range ratings many larger insurers hold.

On the customer experience side, PEMCO has frequently performed well in Northwest-focused satisfaction results. PEMCO ranked first in the Northwest region in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, its eighth first-place finish there. It fell to eighth in 2025, and PEMCO says it climbed back to fourth in the 2026 study.

Using NAIC complaint data for 2023 through 2025, we calculate a complaint index of 0.32 for PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company, the company that writes PEMCO auto policies, based on 16 confirmed complaints. An index of 1.00 is what a company of that size would be expected to draw. This is a separate measure from the BBB rating below.

BBB note

PEMCO is not a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business, but when we checked on October 15, 2026, the BBB gave it an A+ rating. If complaint history matters to you, the BBB profile lists complaints on a separate tab.

What does PEMCO auto insurance cover?

PEMCO offers the standard coverages you’d expect from a personal auto policy, plus several optional add-ons. Coverage availability varies by state, policy tier, and underwriting approval, but common options include:

Liability (required in Washington and Oregon)
Collision and comprehensive (often required by lenders)
Medical payments coverage and/or personal injury protection (PIP) (PEMCO says PIP is required in Oregon and recommended in Washington)
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Rental reimbursement and towing & labor
GAP insurance (PEMCO lists loan payoff coverage, so ask how it works if you owe more than your car is worth)
Rideshare coverage (PEMCO offers a rideshare endorsement for specific vehicles if you drive for Uber or Lyft)
Occasional use of cars you rent in the U.S. and Canada, which PEMCO says its auto policy covers

PEMCO discounts

PEMCO offers a range of discounts, and what you qualify for depends on your driving profile, vehicle, policy tier, and whether you bundle policies. This overview of PEMCO car insurance discounts is a good starting point.

One example: PEMCO gives a defensive driver discount to drivers 55 and older who complete a certified defensive driving course. Here’s how defensive driving course discounts typically work.

PEMCO Discount	Discount Description
Accident forgiveness	If you’ve been a safe driver with PEMCO for five or more years, your rate won’t go up after your first accident. Each driver on the policy gets this benefit.
Advance quote discount	New PEMCO auto customers who get a quote at least one day before coverage starts receive a discount.
Spin-off discount	If you leave someone else’s PEMCO policy to start your own PEMCO policy, you can get a discount.
Auto plus home discount	Insure your car and a home you own or rent with PEMCO. PEMCO also lists Auto Plus Mariner (with a boat policy) and Auto Plus Umbrella discounts.
Defensive driver discount	If you are 55 (or older) and complete an approved course, you will receive an insurance discount.
Distant student discount	Discount for students who live more than 75 miles from home and do not have a car at school.
Educator discount	For employees of public or private schools, community colleges and universities, including staff who aren’t teachers. PEMCO says you keep it after you retire.
Good student discount	Full-time students ages 16 to 24 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Home ownership discount	If you own a house, condo, or mobile home, you’ll receive a discount on your PEMCO auto insurance.
Low mileage discount	If you drive less than 8,000 miles per year, you’ll get a discount.
Loyal auto customer discount	Policyholders who have stayed with PEMCO for longer than one year receive a discount.
Minor ticket forgiveness	If you haven’t had an accident or ticket in 5 years, your rates won’t increase if you do get a ticket.
New vehicle discount	Your car must be fewer than five model years old when the policy takes effect.
Paid in full discount	Pay your bill on PEMCO’s paid-in-full plan.
Leased auto discount	A discount on comprehensive and collision coverage for a leased car.
Paperless discount	Get your policy documents online through your PEMCO account, with an email alert.
PEMCODOMETER My Driving	A telematics program that rewards safe habits such as gentle braking and acceleration, staying within speed limits and leaving your phone alone while driving.

Ease of use: claims, repairs, and online tools

PEMCO’s online account lets you make coverage changes, pay your bill and handle other routine tasks, and its contact page lists 1-800-467-3626 for both customer service and claims. Many insurers also allow claims reporting outside of business hours, which can be helpful after theft, vandalism, or weather damage.

If you need repairs after a covered loss, insurers commonly offer preferred/partner repair networks. If you’ve never navigated this process, here’s a guide on how to use your insurer to find repair shops. Also, keep your deductible in mind — it’s often the deciding factor in whether a smaller claim is worth filing.

Benefits of PEMCO auto insurance

Strong regional focus: PEMCO is built around Washington and Oregon drivers, which can translate into coverage options and service tailored to the Northwest.
Pricing depends on your profile: PEMCO doesn’t publish rate comparisons, so price the same limits with at least two other companies before you decide.
Helpful if you want a smaller/regional carrier: If you’re comparing big-name insurers vs. smaller companies, PEMCO often appeals to drivers who like local brands and service.

Downsides to consider

Limited availability: PEMCO is regional — if you live outside Washington or Oregon, it’s typically not an option.
May be less forgiving with blemishes: Drivers with recent accidents, multiple claims, or violations may find better pricing elsewhere. Your price is heavily influenced by driving history.
Not always the cheapest for high-risk drivers: If you’re shopping after a violation, compare broadly — especially if you have recent tickets.

FAQs on PEMCO Auto Insurance

What states does PEMCO auto insurance cover?

PEMCO is primarily a regional insurer for Washington and Oregon residents. If you live outside those states, you’ll typically need to shop with a different carrier.

Is PEMCO financially strong?

AM Best affirmed PEMCO’s Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) with a stable outlook in March 2025 and again effective April 9, 2026. Financial strength ratings are one factor to consider when evaluating an insurer’s ability to pay claims, alongside your experience with service and pricing.

Does PEMCO have good customer service?

PEMCO ranked first in the Northwest in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, and PEMCO says it placed fourth in 2026. Still, it’s smart to check recent complaint trends and reviews, since customer experiences can vary by claim type, adjuster, and time period.

What coverages can I add to a PEMCO auto policy?

In addition to standard liability, comprehensive, and collision, many PEMCO policies can include options like towing & labor, rental reimbursement, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, rideshare and loan payoff coverage. Availability depends on your state, vehicle, and underwriting.

Does PEMCO offer rideshare coverage for Uber and Lyft?

Yes. PEMCO says you can add a rideshare endorsement for specific vehicles on your policy, which can help close the gap between personal auto coverage and the coverage provided by a rideshare company’s insurance. Always confirm what’s included for the specific driving “phase” you’re in (app on, waiting, en route, etc.).

How do PEMCO discounts work?

Discount eligibility varies by driver profile and policy details, but PEMCO lists bundling, educator and student, safe driving and forgiveness, low mileage, new and leased vehicle, loyalty, paid-in-full, paperless and advance quote discounts. The best way to maximize savings is to ask which discounts you qualify for before you bind the policy.

Is PEMCO a good choice if I have tickets or accidents?

PEMCO is often most competitive for drivers with clean records. If you have recent tickets or accidents, you should still get a quote — but it’s especially important to compare multiple insurers, since pricing can vary widely for non-preferred drivers.

So, is PEMCO good for auto insurance?

PEMCO can be a good choice if you live in Washington or Oregon and want a regional mutual insurer known for strong customer satisfaction in the Northwest. It’s often most competitive for drivers with clean records and steady insurance histories. If you travel frequently out of state or want the broadest national footprint, you may still want to compare PEMCO with larger carriers.

If you’re specifically shopping in Washington, you may also want to compare PEMCO to other top-rated options in the Washington area, and then choose the best mix of price, coverage, and service for your situation.

My advice is to get a PEMCO quote if you live in Washington or Oregon and have a clean record, and ask PEMCO to list every discount on it by name. Then weigh the B++ rating against the price. If PEMCO comes in close to a company rated A or higher, I would lean toward the higher rating.

PEMCO Contact Information	Details
Address	1300 Dexter Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98109-3571
Phone Number	1-800-467-3626 (customer service and claims)
Fax Number	206-268-2735 (customer service); 206-268-6512 (claims)
Website	https://pemco.com/

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026

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