Grinnell Mutual Insurance Review & Complaints: Auto, Home, Business & Farm Insurance (2024)

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One of many insurance companies with a history in the farm insurance business, Grinnell Mutual is a large Iowa-based insurer. They write personal property & casualty insurance and are still active in farm insurance.

About Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual started out in 1909 as the Iowa Farmers Mutual Reinsurance Association. After several name changes similar to the original, the company changed its name to Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in 1963, after the town where they had established headquarters in 1933. In 2017, they dropped the name down to simply Grinnell Mutual.

Grinnell is a major reinsurance company, particularly for farm mutual insurance companies. They sell auto insurance coverages in several states through a subsidiary, Grinnell Select. They also write home insurance, business, and farm insurance. Their reinsurance arm operates under the name Grinnell Re.

Today Grinnell products are sold in 15 states through a network of local agents. The company headquarters remain in Grinnell, Iowa.

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What are Grinnell Mutual products?

Grinnell’s products are basic property and casualty insurance options for individuals and businesses. Not all products are offered in every state.

Auto Insurance

Grinnell’s auto insurance policy is advertised as a comprehensive and customizable product that provides all of the basic insurance coverage, many options, and added benefits with their Auto Plus endorsement. Some unusual additional protection is also offered to the policyholder with pet injury coverage, airbag replacement, and lock replacement.

Grinnell also offers their Mile Marker loyalty program. This program includes accident forgiveness – no surcharge for an accident with less than $5,000 in damage – as well as minor violation forgiveness, where there is no surcharge for a minor traffic violation. The company also waive the deductible when two Grinnell insured drivers are involved in an accident.

The Mile Marker plan also offers discounts at one, two, and three years, along with added free benefits in later years.

Grinnell’s auto program also extends to other vehicles, with a specific farm truck policy as well as an RV policy available. They also cover watercraft, and these various vehicles can be covered under the OnePolicy plan that includes a single deductible.

Home Insurance

Grinnell writes both homeowners and renters insurance policies.

Their Home-Guard® homeowners insurance policy includes all of the basics – structures, personal property, and liability, and offers a range of options as well. These include coverage for special items, equipment breakdown, and identity theft.

Renters insurance is also available for those who do not own their home, providing coverage for personal property and liability. This section of the website offers less detail regarding the products than the auto insurance section.

Business Insurance

Grinnell’s Business Insurance is targeted to specific markets, with the particular needs of each addressed in the coverage for each. These include coverage for churches, restaurants, retail stores, and a variety of other small businesses from auto repair to Veterinarians.

Package policies include property, equipment breakdown, building coverage, and can also include specific liability beyond general to cover the particular needs of each industry.

Farm Insurance

Grinnell’s original product, farm policies, are offered as comprehensive, customizable packages. Coverage is available for crops, livestock, equipment, structures, and various types of liability depending on the type of farm.

Grinnell also offers farm truck coverage, as noted in the auto section, and umbrella insurance for farmers as well. They write policies for farm operations large and small.

How to Get Rates

Grinnell does not offer online quoting, and quotes are only available by contacting a representative of the company. This is common among agent-driven insurance companies.

The insurance carrier was named the best value in car insurance by ValChoice for both North Dakota and Missouri, which indicates that their rates – at least in those states – are competitive. Good value includes more than just the rates, however, as service, coverage, and of course claims handling are all factors.

Grinnell Mutual Insurance Claims Process

Ease of Filing a Claim (Online, Over the Phone, Mobile Apps)

Grinnell Mutual Insurance offers multiple convenient options for filing a claim. Policyholders can choose to file a claim online through the company’s website. This online claims filing process is user-friendly and allows customers to provide all necessary information and documentation electronically.

Additionally, Grinnell Mutual Insurance provides a toll-free claims center phone number, ensuring that customers can easily report their claims over the phone. This 24/7 hotline is available for policyholders seeking immediate assistance with their claims.

While Grinnell Mutual Insurance offers digital options for claims filing, it’s important to note that they do not currently have a preferred repair network program for certain types of repairs, such as auto glass claims, which are handled by a third-party service.

Average Claim Processing Time

Grinnell Mutual Insurance doesn’t specify an exact average claim processing time on their website. Claim processing times can vary depending on the complexity of the claim and the documentation provided. To get more precise information about the average processing time for a specific claim, customers should reach out to the claims department or their assigned claims adjuster directly.

Customer Feedback on Claim Resolutions and Payouts

Customer feedback on Grinnell Mutual Insurance’s claim resolutions and payouts appears to be generally positive. The company has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has only three complaints on file in the past three years, with no complaints closed in the past 12 months.

While there are limited online reviews, the absence of significant complaints suggests a decent customer service experience in terms of claim resolutions and payouts. However, it’s always advisable for potential policyholders to research and read reviews to assess the overall satisfaction of Grinnell Mutual Insurance’s customers.

Digital and Technological Features of Grinnell Mutual Insurance

Mobile App Features and Functionality

Grinnell Mutual Insurance provides a mobile app to enhance the customer experience. While specific details about the app’s features and functionality may vary, typical insurance mobile apps offer services such as policy management, claims reporting, digital ID cards, and bill payment. Customers can download the app on their mobile devices to access these convenient features on the go.

Online Account Management Capabilities

Grinnell Mutual Insurance offers online account management capabilities to its policyholders. This feature allows customers to log in to their accounts through the company’s website and access various services. Policyholders can view policy details, make payments, review claim status, and update personal information—all from the convenience of their online accounts.

Digital Tools and Resources

In addition to the mobile app and online account management, Grinnell Mutual Insurance may provide digital tools and resources to assist customers in understanding and managing their insurance needs.

These resources may include educational articles, calculators, coverage guides, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help policyholders make informed decisions about their insurance coverage.

What are the ratings and consumer reviews?

Grinnell Mutual has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with only three complaints on file in the past three years. There have been no complaints closed in the past 12 months.

There are four reviews on Yelp, one of which is very positive and the other three negative. Few of them seem to be related to personal insurance, and two are not from Grinnell customers.

Overall, there is little in the way of complaints about this company, suggesting a decent customer service experience.

What’s the bottom line?

Grinnell Mutual has a long history and appears to enjoy a good reputation. They may be worth considering for those who like to work with an insurance agent and are looking for a more regional insurance company. Those who are seeking the best rate and prefer to do all of their insurance shopping online may be inclined to look elsewhere.

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