Otto Auto Insurance Review

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• Reviews insurers to find the best fit
• Quick sign-up process
• Easy-to-use website

• No insurance quotes
• Limited information about coverage
• Shares personal information with third-party sites

Available coverages

Liability, comprehensive, collision, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, gap insurance, rideshare coverage, rental car reimbursement, and glass coverage

Otto Insurance is an online marketplace that searches through a database of car insurers to help you find the best option. The website is easy to use and allows you to start searching for car insurance. But you can’t finish the process with Otto. To view quotes and finalize coverage, you have to leave the site and complete the application process with an insurance company. 

Otto aims to simplify the insurance-buying process, making it a good starting point for some drivers. But most drivers will have more success getting quotes directly from insurance companies. Here’s everything you need to know about Otto Insurance. 

How does Otto insurance work?

Otto Insurance is a lead-generation site that helps insurance companies find new customers. You can’t buy insurance from Otto or view quotes on the company’s website. Once you complete a questionnaire and provide your address, Otto picks a “winner,” which is the best insurance company in your area. 

But since you can’t view quotes on the website, it’s hard to know how Otto’s selection process works. To view a quote, you have to click on the link, visit the insurer’s site, and complete the sign-up process, which makes it more complicated. 

Otto can be a helpful tool for drivers because it offers a starting point when shopping for insurance and can help you find new companies. However, you can probably save time and avoid unwanted outreach if you get a quote directly from the insurance company. 

What auto coverages does Otto insurance offer?

Otto doesn’t sell insurance and doesn’t provide policies. Instead, Otto is an insurance marketplace that connects drivers with insurance companies. Once you complete the sign-up process with Otto, you receive a recommendation for an insurance company. The coverage types and amounts depend on which insurer Otto recommends. 

Otto partners with legitimate insurance companies, including Allstate, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual. The insurance companies that partner with Otto offer liability-only and full-coverage car insurance that meets the minimum requirements for your state. 

Here are the most common types of car insurance you can get from Otto’s insurance partners. 

• Liability: Most states mandate liability-only car insurance, which helps pay for the other driver’s injuries and repairs when you cause an accident. It meets the minimum car insurance requirements but doesn’t cover your repairs. 
• Comprehensive coverage: Helps pay for repairs if your car is damaged by a natural disaster, theft, or vandalism. 
• Collision: If you cause an accident with another car or hit an object, collision helps cover the cost of your car repairs. 
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Some states require PIP, which helps pay for medical expenses if you are injured in an accident. 

Otto insurance additional options

You can’t purchase car insurance coverage through Otto. The extra coverage options depend on which insurance company Otto recommends. If you need a specific type of coverage, you can’t use Otto to search for it. You must complete the sign-up process with the recommended insurer to view the options, making it a longer process. 

But most insurance companies, including some of Otto’s partners, offer the following optional insurance coverages:

• Rental car reimbursement: This policy helps pay for the cost of a rental car when your car is in the shop for repairs due to an insurance claim. 
• Roadside assistance: If you need help with a tire change or a dead battery, you can use roadside assistance to have a technician meet you.  
• Gap insurance: If your car is totaled, this policy covers the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what the adjuster says it’s worth.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Even though car insurance is a legal requirement, some drivers don’t have it. This policy pays for your repairs when an underinsured or uninsured driver causes an accident. 
• Glass coverage: Most policies don’t include coverage for glass repair for windows or windshields, but you can add an extra policy that covers it. 

Does Otto insurance offer any discounts?

Otto Insurance helps determine which discounts you’re eligible to receive. For example, the site’s questionnaire asks whether you have a connection to the military since most insurers offer discounts for military members.

Otto provides the questionnaire information to the insurer. Your quote from the insurance company includes the discounts you listed on Otto. But you have to leave the Otto Insurance website to finish the application process. You can also work directly with the insurer to qualify for extra discounts that Otto doesn’t screen for. 

But the site doesn’t offer unique or special discounts you can’t access directly from the insurance company.

Pros and cons of Otto auto insurance 

Otto might be a helpful tool for some drivers who want help getting started. But it’s impossible to compare quotes with Otto, which makes it less helpful than other insurance marketplaces. You’re probably better off getting a quote directly from one of the best insurance companies.

Here’s what to consider when deciding whether Otto is the right fit. 

Pros

• Searches multiple insurers to find the best fit

  Otto partners with various insurance companies to help you find a match. It simplifies finding an insurer and might help you discover a company you didn’t know about.

• Quick sign-up process

  Completing Otto’s intake questionnaire takes a few minutes, and you don’t need to provide your Social Security or any other sensitive information.

• Easy-to-use website

  The website is straightforward and streamlined, making it easy for new users to start getting quotes.

Cons

• No insurance quotes

  Otto won’t show you any insurance quotes, making it impossible to compare companies accurately. You have to leave the site and complete the sign-up process with the company Otto selects as the “winner.” Even then, you can only view one quote.

• Limited information about coverage

  Otto asks a few basic questions about coverage options and your driving history, but that’s it. You can’t select your coverage or learn more about your options on the site.

• Might share personal information with third-party sites

  Otto shares your sign-up information with insurance companies and other services. Because of that, you might get unwanted calls or emails from multiple companies.

Is Otto insurance legit? 

Otto is a reputable company. It’s a legitimate business with headquarters in Miami, Florida. But it’s not an insurance provider, which is a confusing distinction for some users. 

Otto is an insurance marketplace and lead generation site that helps insurers find new customers. Because of that, some customers report issues with receiving too many calls and emails after signing up.

Some users have success using Otto, especially drivers who can save money by switching to a new insurer. However, most Otto users seem dissatisfied with the site’s experience. As a result, customer reviews on every major review site are lower than expected. 

Source	Customer rating	Number of reviews
Trustpilot	2.2/5	47
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	1/5	7

Even though the company is legitimate and connects drivers with insurance companies, most users are unhappy with how the process works. Many reviewers caution against sharing personal information with the site and report receiving hundreds of spam emails, calls, and texts after signing up.

How to get car insurance through Otto 

Otto is easy to use, and the website is intuitive. However, once you finish the questionnaire on Otto’s site, you must provide additional information on the insurer’s website, making the process longer and more complicated. 

Here’s how to get started with Otto. 

1. Visit the site or call: To get started, visit the Otto website or call 1-855-994-1488 to speak with an Otto representative. 
2. Choose auto insurance: Otto helps users with different types of insurance, including pet, home, life, and auto. Select “auto” to get started. 
3. Complete the questionnaire: You need to complete a questionnaire on Otto and provide information about your driving history, location, age, and potential discounts. 
4. Visit the insurance company’s site: Once you complete the questionnaire, Otto presents you with an insurance company that is the “winner.” However, you can’t view your quote yet. You must visit the insurance company’s site to learn more about pricing. 
5. Complete the sign-up process: You must provide additional information to the insurer before viewing your quote. 
6. View your quote: After you finish the insurer’s sign-up process, you can view your quote and select coverage options. 

FAQ

Who owns Otto Insurance?

Otto Insurance is owned by Otto Holdings, a company specializing in innovative insurance solutions.

What auto insurance companies does Otto work with?

Otto partners with various auto insurance providers to offer competitive rates and coverage options. The specific companies can vary based on your location and needs.

How can Otto car insurance save me money?

Otto car insurance can save you money by using advanced technology to analyze driving habits and offer personalized discounts. Otto’s partnerships with multiple insurers also allow you to compare rates and choose the best coverage for your budget.

Does Otto offer other coverages besides auto insurance?

Yes, Otto offers a range of insurance products beyond auto coverage, including home, renters, and life insurance. It aims to provide comprehensive insurance solutions to meet various needs.