American Family vs Elephant: which is better for car insurance in 2026?
Across our six scoring categories, American Family comes out ahead in 1, Elephant in 0, with 5 too close to call. There is no overall score to compare, though: Elephant does not publish enough of the underlying data to earn one, and we would rather leave it blank than build a number out of the two or three figures that happen to exist. American Family is the better-documented of the two, which is not the same as being the better insurer for you. Judge these two on the categories where both have real figures — and on what they actually quote you.
American Family vs Elephant, side by side
Sources: average premiums from NerdWallet's August 2026 rate analysis (Quadrant Information Services), for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit in a 2023 Toyota Camry LE at 12,000 miles a year, 100/300/50 limits with $1,000 deductibles — national average $2,356. Claims satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (segment average 700). Complaint record from NerdWallet's analysis of NAIC complaint data, 2022–2024. Financial strength from AM Best. Discounts and app data from each carrier's published pages and the Apple App Store / Google Play, retrieved August 2026. Updated August 2026.
Category by category
Price
Too close to callElephant does not release public rate data, so there is no like-for-like premium to set against American Family's $2,785/yr. That is a real gap in the comparison, not a rounding error — treat Elephant's price as unknown until you have a quote in hand.
$2,785 a year for full coverage, 18% above the national average. American Family is priced above the market.
Elephant is not included in the rate study behind every other premium in this review.
Claims satisfaction
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on claims satisfaction: American Family posts 702/1,000 and Elephant Not rated, a difference too small to choose on.
702 out of 1,000, two points above the segment average. Essentially average.
Not in the J.D. Power claims study, which samples only the largest insurers.
Complaint record
American Family aheadAmerican Family takes complaint record on Fewer than expected against Elephant's More than expected.
Fewer complaints than expected for its size — its strongest measure.
More complaints than expected for its size — better than the other app-first insurers here, but still below par.
Financial strength
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on financial strength: American Family posts A and Elephant Not published, a difference too small to choose on.
AM Best A (Excellent).
No AM Best rating we could verify, and no alternative rating found.
Discounts
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on discounts: American Family posts 14 published and Elephant Not published, a difference too small to choose on.
Fourteen published discounts, including several unusual ones — a loyalty discount that rewards a parent's tenure, and a young-volunteer discount.
No discount list we could read on Elephant's own site.
Digital experience
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on digital experience: American Family posts 4.72 iOS / 3.0 Android and Elephant Not published, a difference too small to choose on.
4.72 on the App Store but 3.0 on Google Play. That Android score is among the lowest in this review and hard to overlook.
No app-store figures we could verify from a primary source.
So which one?
Pick American Family if…
- You are among midwest drivers who bundle and use telematics.
- You want the lower complaint record — American Family sits at Fewer than expected.
- Availability fits: 19 states, mostly the Midwest and West.
Pick Elephant if…
- You are among drivers in its eight states comparing it against other budget options.
- Availability fits: 8 states.
American Family vs Elephant, answered
The questions people ask before switching between these two.
Other comparisons
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Averages are a starting point. Your rate is the only number that decides it.