Is Frontline a Good Insurance Company? Evaluating Pros, Cons, and Reviews

Finding the right insurance company for your needs can feel overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, how can you tell if an insurer like Frontline is the right fit?

When shopping for insurance, it’s important to look beyond premium prices and dig into a company’s financial strength, customer service reputation, coverage options, and more.

Below we’ll take an in-depth look at Frontline insurance to see how they stack up on key criteria that matter most to policyholders.

Overview of Frontline Insurance

Frontline Insurance is a property and casualty insurance provider that offers home, condo, renters, and business insurance policies across 5 southeastern states:

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina

The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. They provide insurance specifically tailored for coastal regions prone to hurricanes and severe storms.

Frontline sells policies through local independent insurance agents. They do not sell directly to consumers online.

Pros of Choosing Frontline Insurance

Here are some of the advantages that Frontline insurance offers policyholders:

Specialized hurricane coverage: Frontline offers policy options like hurricane deductibles, coverage for screened enclosures, and post-hurricane reimbursements that benefit homeowners in storm-prone coastal areas.

High value home coverage: Frontline provides dwelling coverage limits up to $3-$5 million for high-end luxury homes. Their “high value” home insurance program is designed for homes worth over $750k.

Strong financial rating: Frontline has an A- rating from AM Best, indicating excellent financial strength to pay out claims even after major catastrophes or losses.

Positive customer feedback: Review sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau give Frontline overwhelmingly positive ratings and reviews from policyholders.

Rewards loyalty: Frontline offers a “stepdown deductible” on hurricane policies that decreases your deductible each year you go claim-free, rewarding loyal customers.

Local agents: Frontline operates through local independent insurance agencies, providing personalized local service.

Cons of Choosing Frontline Insurance

However, there are some potential downsides to weigh as well:

Limited availability: Frontline only operates in 5 southeastern states, so it’s not an option for most homeowners elsewhere.

Few discounts: Frontline only advertises 4 standard discounts, while some insurers offer a dozen or more potential ways to save.

Website lacks details: Frontline’s website provides limited information about specific policy options, coverage details, and quotes.

Mixed claims reviews: While most reviews praise Frontline’s customer service, some complaints cite claims delays or unsatisfactory claims resolutions.

No bundling discount: Frontline doesn’t offer bundled pricing for combining home and auto policies, unlike some insurers.

Frontline’s Financial Strength and Claims-Paying Ability

One of the most important factors when choosing an insurance provider is their financial strength. You want to be sure the company will have the ability to pay out claims even after major catastrophes or widespread losses.

Frontline scores very well in this category, with an A- rating from AM Best. This means they have an “excellent” ability to meet their ongoing policy and claims obligations.

AM Best bases ratings on comprehensive financial analysis of factors like the company’s:

  • Balance sheet strength: How robust a company’s capital reserves and assets are for paying claims.
  • Operating performance: How well they generate profits from premiums while managing risks.
  • Business profile: Experience in their markets, management expertise, and business models.

In addition to the strong AM Best rating, Frontline Insurance is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating. This further indicates their financial health and commitment to ethical, transparent business practices.

So from a financial standpoint, Frontline appears to be a stable and reliable insurance carrier with the ability to pay out policyholder claims.

Frontline Customer Reviews and Complaint Ratios

In addition to financial strength, it’s insightful to look at actual customer experiences with Frontline Insurance. What do policyholders have to say about their customer service, claims experiences, and more?

We examined data and reviews from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power, Consumer Affairs, Trustpilot, and other sources. Here’s an overview of how Frontline fares on customer satisfaction:

  • NAIC Complaint Index: Frontline received 0.18 complaints per 1,000 premium dollars written, significantly lower than the industry median of 1.11. This indicates a relatively low volume of complaints proportional to their size.

  • J.D. Power Rating: In J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Frontline scored 838 out of 1,000 points, higher than competitors like Allstate, State Farm and Progressive.

  • ConsumerAffairs: 74% of ConsumerAffairs reviewers rate Frontline “4 stars” or better out of 5.

  • Trustpilot: 93% of Trustpilot reviewers give Frontline “Excellent” or “Great” ratings.

  • Google Reviews: Over 1,900 Google reviews averaging a 4.5/5 star rating.

  • BBB: Accredited with BBB with an A+ rating and over 130 reviews averaging 4.5 stars.

The overwhelming majority of reviews for Frontline insurance are positive across nearly every source we checked. Most compliments cite great customer service and a smooth claims process. Negative reviews are limited and commonly cite claims delays, though Frontline has responded to them.

Frontline Insurance Coverages Offered

Frontline offers a range of standard home insurance coverages as well as optional add-ons to expand protection.

Included coverages:

  • Dwelling coverage
  • Other structures
  • Personal property
  • Loss of use
  • Personal liability
  • Medical payments

Optional add-ons:

  • Water backup
  • Scheduled personal property
  • Flood insurance
  • Increased ordinance or law
  • Mold coverage
  • Golf carts
  • Home systems protection
  • Identity fraud expense

For homeowners in storm-prone coastal areas, Frontline also provides options like hurricane deductibles, coverage for screened enclosures, reimbursement of hurricane deductibles, and more.

They have programs tailored specifically for renters, condos, high-value homes over $750k, and residential properties held for rent. Business owners can also get commercial policies through Frontline.

Is Frontline a Good Choice for You?

At the end of the day, whether Frontline is the right insurer for you comes down to your individual needs and priorities.

If you own an expensive, coastal home and want strong hurricane coverage from a financially stable company, then Frontline is likely a great fit.

However, if you want the ability to bundle home and auto policies or are looking for lots of discounts, then you may find a competitor like State Farm or Allstate better meets your needs.

We recommend starting your search by getting quotes from Frontline and other top insurers in your area. Compare costs, coverages, and insurer ratings side-by-side. This will ensure you find the right provider for your situation.

The Bottom Line: Is Frontline a Good Insurance Company?

Considering Frontline’s financial strength, positive customer feedback, and specialty coastal homeowner coverage options, we would rate them as a good insurance company for homeowners in the Southeast coastal states they operate in.

They have a long track record of providing quality service and reliability to policyholders in hurricane-prone regions. If you’re looking for strong storm coverage and high liability limits on an expensive home, Frontline deserves a close look.

Just be sure to weigh your personal priorities and get multiple quotes before making a decision. But overall Frontline scores very well on the metrics most important for judging an insurance provider.

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FAQ

How reliable is Frontline Insurance?

Company
Policygenius rating
AM Best rating
Frontline
4.1/5
A-
Auto-Owners Insurance
5.0/5
A++
Auto-Owners Insurance
5.0/5
A++
Kin
5.0/5
NA

Is Frontline Insurance being downgraded?

Lake Mary, Florida-based Frontline Insurance has maintained its A, exceptional financial stability rating (FSR) from rating agency Demotech despite the company being notified last month it was due to be downgraded to S, substantial.

What is the credit rating for Frontline Insurance?

KBRA affirms the BBB+ insurance financial strength ratings (IFSR) for First Protective Insurance Company and Frontline Insurance Unlimited Company. The Outlook for both ratings is Stable.

How long has Frontline Insurance been around?

How long has Frontline been in business? Founded in 1998, Frontline serves customers in the Southeast United States.

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