You found a cheap auto insurance quote from Go Auto. Before you pull out your card, you searched “is Go Auto Insurance legit” — and that was the right move.
Here’s the direct answer: Go Auto is a real, licensed insurance company. It is not a scam in the sense of taking your money and vanishing. But whether it’s a smart choice for you is a different question, and the honest answer is more nuanced than most review sites will tell you.
Yes, GoAuto Is a Real Insurance Company — With Caveats
Go Auto Insurance (also written as GoAuto) is a licensed auto insurer headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. BBB records show a license number of 10685, issued by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The company operates across six states: Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and Nevada. It has physical office locations — 68 locations listed with the BBB — and has been in business for over two decades.
So no, it won’t disappear with your premium payment. The concern isn’t whether it exists. The concern is what happens when you actually need to use the insurance.
Who Go Auto Is Actually Built For
Go Auto targets what the industry calls the “non-standard” or “non-preferred” market. That’s a polished way of saying: drivers that mainstream insurers either refuse or price out of the market.
This includes drivers with:
- A DUI or multiple violations on their record
- Poor or no credit history
- Gaps in coverage history
- SR-22 filing requirements
- New or young drivers with limited driving records
One Reddit user noted that Go Auto was the only insurer that would cover them after a DUI without charging an exorbitant rate. That’s the real niche here. If you have a clean record and good credit, Go Auto is almost certainly not your best option — you’d be overpaying relative to what you could get elsewhere.
GoAuto is best suited for drivers who prioritize low premiums over access to additional features like roadside assistance.
What the Ratings Actually Show
This is where you need to pay attention.
Go Auto has a rating of 1.09 out of 5 stars on the BBB website and 1.3 out of 5 stars on Yelp. Those are not minor dips — they signal a consistent pattern of dissatisfied customers.
According to BBB data, 59 complaints were filed against Go Auto in the last three years, with 42 complaints closed in the last 12 months alone. Of those 59 total complaints, 46 relate specifically to customer service issues.
On top of that, GoAuto has an above-average number of complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC complaint index benchmarks a company against the industry average for its size — being above average is a red flag.
The financial strength angle is also worth noting. Go Auto does not carry an AM Best rating, which is the standard financial strength measure used across the insurance industry. According to Weiss Ratings, the company received a B financial strength rating, which indicates good overall financial performance, though the rating also notes a high loss ratio. This doesn’t mean Go Auto is about to collapse, but the absence of AM Best means you have less independent verification of its ability to pay large claims over time.
The Real Pattern Behind the Complaints
Volume of complaints alone doesn’t tell the full story. What matters is what people are actually complaining about.
Claims Handling
This is the most consistent issue across every review platform. Multiple BBB reviews describe adjusters who don’t return calls or emails, with one customer writing that the company would not speak to them regarding their claim at all.
One policyholder described filing a Nevada Division of Insurance complaint and taking Go Auto to Small Claims Court just to receive payment for Tesla-certified repairs and diminished value after their parked car was hit by a Go Auto customer. That’s not a minor inconvenience — that’s the worst-case scenario playing out.
Customer Service Accessibility
Multiple customers report being on hold for over 30 minutes to an hour, with the chat feature described as rarely available and emails going unanswered. The pattern across platforms is clear: it’s easy to buy a policy, and very hard to get help once you have one.
GoAuto’s mobile apps also have low user satisfaction — averaging 2.1 out of 5 on the App Store and 2.6 out of 5 on Google Play.
Billing and Refund Issues
Customers report late fees, missing refunds, and poor follow-up on payment issues. One complaint involved a customer being charged for a vehicle they never took possession of and struggling to reach anyone to process the refund.
What Go Auto Does Well
To be fair, Go Auto is not entirely without merit.
- It covers people others won’t. For drivers who genuinely cannot get standard coverage elsewhere, Go Auto provides a legal path forward.
- Premiums start low. Liability quotes start at $42/month, which is meaningful for someone on a tight budget just trying to stay insured and legal.
- Some local office experiences are positive. Several users comment positively on local Go Auto agents, reflecting the company’s focus on personal service at the branch level. The problem appears to scale — local offices get better marks than the centralized claims and customer service operations.
When to Use Go Auto — And When to Avoid It
| Situation | Go Auto: Right Call? |
|---|---|
| Clean record, good credit, full coverage needed | No — better rates available elsewhere |
| DUI/violation history, need SR-22 | Possibly yes — limited alternatives |
| Just need minimum liability to stay legal | Maybe — price is competitive |
| You expect to file a claim | High risk — service record is poor |
| You need reliable roadside/emergency support | No — limited add-ons |
| New driver needing an affordable entry-level policy | Possibly, but compare first |
The core trade-off is simple: Go Auto trades service quality for price accessibility. If you never file a claim and just need proof of insurance, you may never experience the problems customers complain about. If something happens on the road and you need responsive, professional claims support — the data suggests you’ll struggle.
What to Do If You Have a Stalled Claim
This is something competing reviews rarely address. If you’re already a Go Auto customer and your claim is stuck, here’s a practical path forward:
- Document everything. Keep a log with dates, names, and summaries of every call and email. Screenshot the claim portal.
- Send a formal written demand. A certified letter to the claims department creates a paper trail and often gets a faster response than repeated calls.
- File a complaint with your state insurance department. Every state has a Department of Insurance that regulates how quickly claims must be handled. Go Auto is bound by those deadlines. Filing a complaint costs nothing and often accelerates resolution.
- Contact the NAIC. You can file through naic.org. This creates a formal record and adds to the public complaint index.
- Consult a public adjuster or attorney. If the claim involves significant money and Go Auto is stonewalling, a consultation with a lawyer — often free for the initial session — may be worth it.
FAQs
Is Go Auto Insurance a scam?
No. Go Auto is a licensed, regulated insurance company, not a fraudulent operation. The company has no history of involvement in scams or fraudulent practices. The complaints about it involve poor service and claims delays — real problems, but not fraud.
Does Go Auto actually pay claims?
It does pay claims, but the process is frequently reported as slow and unresponsive. Many customers describe having to escalate to state regulators or file lawsuits to receive payments on legitimate claims. Outcomes appear to vary by location and complexity of the claim.
What states does Go Auto operate in?
GoAuto sells auto insurance in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and Nevada. It is not available in most of the country.
Does Go Auto have an AM Best rating?
No. Go Auto has not been rated by AM Best. This limits your ability to independently assess the company’s long-term financial ability to pay claims. Weiss Ratings gives it a B, indicating adequate but not exceptional financial health.
Is Go Auto a good option for high-risk drivers?
It may be one of the few available options, which is not the same as being a good option. If you have a DUI, multiple violations, or an SR-22 requirement, Go Auto may be one of the only companies willing to insure you at a price you can afford. Just go in with clear expectations about service limitations and keep emergency numbers from your state insurance department on hand.
Bottom Line
Go Auto Insurance is legitimate in the legal sense — licensed, regulated, and operational. But “legitimate” and “reliable” are two different things. Its low premiums come with real trade-offs: poor claims responsiveness, an above-average complaint volume, and no major financial strength rating.
If you have other options, use them. If Go Auto is genuinely your only realistic path to coverage, it can work — but protect yourself by documenting everything, understanding exactly what your policy covers, and knowing your rights through your state’s Department of Insurance before you ever need to file a claim.