Learn About Elephant Car Insurance Options

What Is Elephant Car Insurance and How It Works

Elephant Car Insurance is a car insurance company that operates primarily online and through phone-based customer service. The company was founded in 2016 and is owned by HCI Group, an insurance holding company based in Tampa, Florida. Unlike traditional insurance companies with physical office locations, Elephant operates as a direct insurer, meaning customers purchase policies directly from the company rather than through an insurance agent or broker.

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The company offers standard auto insurance coverage types that most drivers need. These include liability coverage, which covers damage or injuries you cause to other people or their property; collision coverage, which pays for damage to your own vehicle from accidents; and comprehensive coverage, which covers non-collision damage like theft, weather, or vandalism. Elephant also offers uninsured motorist protection, which covers you if hit by someone without insurance, and medical payments coverage, which helps with medical bills after an accident.

Elephant operates in multiple states across the United States, though availability varies by location. The company uses an online quoting system where you enter your vehicle information, driving history, and coverage preferences. Based on this information, Elephant generates a quote showing the estimated monthly or annual premium. If you choose to purchase a policy, you can manage it through the company's website or mobile app, file claims online or by phone, and make payments electronically.

The company focuses on offering competitive rates by keeping operational costs low through its digital platform. This direct-to-consumer model reduces overhead expenses compared to traditional insurers, and these savings may be passed along to customers through lower premiums. However, rates vary significantly based on individual factors like age, driving record, location, vehicle type, and coverage selections.

Practical takeaway: Understanding that Elephant is an online-based insurer with standard coverage options helps you determine if their service model fits your preferences. Before considering Elephant, research whether they operate in your state and what types of coverage align with your vehicle and driving needs.

Coverage Options and Types Available

Elephant Car Insurance offers the main coverage types required or recommended for most drivers. Liability coverage is mandatory in virtually every state and covers bodily injury and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and legal costs if you injure someone in an accident you cause. Property damage liability covers repairs to someone else's vehicle or other property. Most states require minimum liability limits, often expressed as numbers like 25/50/25, meaning $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.

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Collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle if you hit another car, a pole, a tree, or another object. This coverage has a deductible, typically ranging from $250 to $1,000, which is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in. Collision is optional if you own your vehicle outright, but lenders and lease companies require it as a condition of financing.

Comprehensive coverage protects against non-collision events. This includes theft, vandalism, weather damage like hail or flooding, animal strikes, and falling objects. Like collision, comprehensive has a deductible. Comprehensive is also optional for vehicles you own outright but required if you're financing or leasing.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if another driver causes an accident but has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover damages. This coverage applies to your medical bills and vehicle damage. In states where it's available, uninsured motorist property damage specifically covers vehicle repairs from an uninsured driver.

Medical payments coverage, also called MedPay, helps pay medical and dental bills for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who caused it. This covers hospital stays, surgeries, ambulance fees, and necessary dental work. Medical payments coverage typically ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 in limits.

Practical takeaway: When exploring Elephant's options, determine which coverage types are legally required in your state, which are mandated by your lender if applicable, and which optional coverages make sense for your situation. Higher-value vehicles benefit more from collision and comprehensive; minimum liability alone leaves you exposed to large out-of-pocket costs if you cause an accident.

Discount Opportunities and Rate Factors

Insurance companies use many factors to calculate your premium, and understanding these factors helps you see how different choices affect your rate. Age is a major factor; statistically, drivers under 25 and over 70 have more accidents per mile driven, so insurers charge them higher rates. A 19-year-old driver typically pays two to three times more than a 40-year-old for the same coverage. Drivers between ages 40 and 60 usually receive the lowest rates.

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Driving history significantly impacts your quote. Insurance companies review your record for accidents, traffic violations, and claims within the past three to five years. A clean driving record with no accidents or tickets results in lower rates, while accidents or violations increase your premium. For example, a single at-fault accident might raise your rate by 25 to 40 percent, while a DUI conviction can increase rates by 100 percent or more.

Vehicle type affects insurance costs because repair expenses, safety ratings, and theft rates vary by model. Sports cars and luxury vehicles typically cost more to insure than sedans or minivans. A 2023 Tesla Model 3 might cost less to insure than a 2023 Dodge Challenger due to differences in repair costs and safety technology. Annual mileage also matters; people who drive more miles annually face higher risk, so low-mileage drivers may receive better rates.

Location influences rates because accident and theft rates vary by area. Urban areas typically have higher premiums than rural areas due to more traffic and accidents. Some zip codes with high theft rates have higher comprehensive coverage costs. Credit score, where the insurer uses it to predict claim likelihood, also affects pricing in many states.

Many insurers, including Elephant, offer discounts that reduce your base rate. Common discounts include multi-policy bundling (combining auto with home or renters insurance), good driver discounts for clean records, safety feature discounts for anti-theft devices or advanced safety technology, completing a defensive driving course, and paperless/automatic payment discounts. Some insurers offer usage-based programs where you install a mobile app or device that monitors your driving habits; safe drivers may receive discounts of 10 to 30 percent.

Practical takeaway: When getting a quote from Elephant, ask about all available discounts and which ones you might be eligible for. Bundling policies, maintaining a clean driving record, and choosing a safer vehicle can meaningfully reduce your insurance costs over time.

How to Get a Quote and Compare Options

Getting a quote from Elephant begins on their website or mobile app, where you enter basic information about yourself and your vehicle. The process typically asks for your name, address, date of birth, driver's license number, and state of residence. You'll then provide details about your vehicle, including the make, model, year, and vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN, a 17-character code found on your dashboard or insurance documents, contains detailed information about your vehicle's specifications and history.

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Next, you'll enter information about your driving habits and history. This includes your current insurance status (whether you're currently insured or uninsured), when your current policy started or ends, and your driving record details. You'll indicate how many miles annually you drive and the primary use of your vehicle (commute to work, pleasure use, etc.). Some companies ask about parking location and whether your vehicle is garaged overnight.

The quote process includes selecting your desired coverage levels and deductibles. You'll see the liability limits available in your state (the minimum required and higher options), and you can choose collision and comprehensive deductibles. The system then shows you a premium quote—usually monthly and annual pricing—with a breakdown showing base rate, any applicable discounts, and the final total.

To compare Elephant fairly against other insurers, gather quotes from at least two or three other companies using identical coverage selections and deductibles. This ensures you're comparing the same protection level, not just different prices. Keep your information consistent across quotes—don't change coverage limits or deductibles between companies, as this makes comparisons meaningless. Most major insurers like State Farm, Geico, Progressive, and local companies offer online quotes within minutes.

When comparing, look beyond the price. Consider the company's customer service