Auto-Owners Again Ranks Highest in J.D. Power and Associates Auto Claims Study

Auto-Owners attributes award to personal attention given to policyholders, and independent agent system.

LANSING, Mich., Nov. 6 -- For the second straight year, Auto-Owners Insurance Company ranked highest in customer satisfaction with the auto insurance claims experience in a nationwide study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates in 2009. Auto-Owners scored 883 on a 1,000-point scale.

"Auto-Owners is extremely honored to again be recognized by our customers through the J.D. Power and Associates study for the highest rank in satisfying auto insurance customers with the claim process," said Ron Simon, chairman & CEO of Auto-Owners Insurance Company. "Auto-Owners makes it our top priority to provide our policyholders the best in personal, timely, and professional service. This award recognizes every one of our Auto-Owners associates and our agents for their dedication to service and doing what is right."

The J.D. Power and Associates study measured the experience of people who file a claim for vehicle damage, typically caused by an accident, by examining satisfaction with the claims process. It is based on 11,616 responses from auto insurance customers who filed a claim within the past 12 months, and was conducted from June to July 2009.

Among the categories used for the rankings by J.D. Power and Associates in the study, Auto-Owners had its highest scores in first notice of loss, service interaction, and settlement. Auto-Owners also scored in the high satisfaction tier for repair process.

A Fortune 500 company, Auto-Owners Insurance is recognized for its exceptional financial strength and stability. It is among the nation's largest insurers and is comprised of five property and casualty companies and a life company. Auto-Owners employs more than 3,500 associates and writes business in 26 states through local independent agents. Auto-Owners was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan.

Independent Auto-Owners agent Mark Haubert said the customer satisfaction award provides his customers with confidence in choosing Auto-Owners for their insurance needs, knowing that the company provides high levels of customer satisfaction. The award shows that a customer's experience with the company can be positive when they need help.

"We are proud to represent Auto-Owners and are always confident recommending the company's insurance products to our customers here in Michigan," said Mark Haubert of the Ackley-Peters-Haubert Insurance Service, Inc., located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. "Auto-Owners takes the hassle out of the claims process by providing personal service and care to every claim. That's the kind of experience everyone who purchases insurance wants, anytime they have a claim."

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on cell phone ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.