Lisa McArdle is an insurance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2023. She has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing and managing content in a variety of industries, including insurance, auto news and pop culture.
Lisa McArdle is an insurance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2023. She has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing and managing content in a variety of industries, including insurance, auto news and pop culture.
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have 9 licensed insurance agents on staff who have spent a combined 78 years in the insurance industry. While we adhere to strict
, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of
. Our content is backed by
Coverage.com LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our
.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU — the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Insurance Disclosure
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
At a glance
Bankrate's take
Based on Bankrate's Bear River Insurance review, policyholders in Utah who are looking for a local company that understands the needs of drivers and homeowners in the Beehive State might consider Bear River as their company of choice.
Local agents throughout Utah
Low complaint rating with NAIC
Few available car or home endorsements
Robust discount lists for car and home insurance
Discount for older vehicles
Discount for paid-off mortgage
New
What’s new with Bear River?
In 2021, Bear River added two home insurance endorsements to its portfolio: Buried Utility Line/Service Line coverage and Equipment Breakdown coverage. These options are becoming more widely available, and this change could indicate that Bear River keeps pace with the industry and the needs of its policyholders.
Bear River car insurance Review
For Utah drivers looking for a local insurance solution, Bear River may be worth considering. The company sells car insurance only in the Beehive state, and that suggests that its agents have solid on-the-ground knowledge of the challenges facing drivers in the state.
Bear River car insurance offers all the basic types of coverage you would expect to find at a full-service company, including liability, comprehensive and collision, personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. There are a few possible endorsements: roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement, and a number of discounts to help you save money on your policy. Although the company isn't featured on Bankrate's list of the best car insurance companies, that is largely due to its limited availability, and not to any major deficiencies in its products.
Pros and cons of Bear River car insurance
Like any company, Bear River Mutual has its perks and drawbacks. It can be helpful to understand these while shopping for coverage, especially if you are getting car insurance quotes from multiple carriers. Knowing the pros and cons of each company could help you make a more informed coverage decision.
Pros
Local agents available
Coverage is available for RVs, motorhomes and trailers
Offers online access to policy documents
Cons
Few endorsements
Limited third-party ratings
Digital tools are not as robust as some carriers
Bear River car insurance cost
Bear River average rates are not available. To find out what your rate would be with the company, you may request a quote on the Bear River website, however you will need to wait until an agent contacts you to receive your quote. You may want to consider shopping around and asking for quotes from several companies so you can compare rates.
To help you make your decision, you should know that the average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $2,692 for full coverage and $808 for minimum coverage. Utah's averages, meanwhile, are $2,136 for full and $815 for minimum insurance. Shopping around and asking for quotes from several potential insurers is one of the best ways of finding affordable car insurance in Utah.
Bear River customer satisfaction
Because Bear River is such a small carrier, it doesn’t have many third-party customer satisfaction ratings. In fact, it is not included in the 2024 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study or 2024 J.D. Power Property Claims Satisfaction Study. However, Bear River Mutual does have an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, which means that it has historically been capable of paying claims. In regards to service, though, it’s probably a good idea to talk to current clients to gauge satisfaction.
Bear River auto insurance customer complaints
Although Bear River is not scored by J.D. Power, it does have a rating with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This group assigns insurers a ranking on its Complaint Index. The industry average is indicated by a score of 1.0. Anything higher than this means a company has earned more complaints than average; anything below 1.0 indicates a company with fewer complaints than average. Since NAIC differentiates its complaint listings by individual product, it is possible to see how Bear River's customer complaints ranking was for auto insurance.
NAIC Complaint Index for auto insurance
Line chart with 3 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Year. Data ranges from 2021-01-01 00:00:00 to 2023-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Score. Data ranges from 0 to 0.1.
End of interactive chart.
Bear River car insurance discounts
Bundling: Bear River offers bundling and multi-policy discounts for drivers seeking more than one policy.
Non-owner student: If your household includes a high school or college student who does not own their own vehicle, they may be eligible for a discount.
Senior driving training: Seniors who agree to take a driver training course may earn a discount.
Older vehicles: If you own an older vehicle, you could earn this unique discount.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Get personalized auto insurance quotes
Answering a few quick questions to check your availability with Bear River
Your information is kept secure5 digit Zip code is required
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Bear River home insurance Review
Utah homeowners may find Bear River home or condo insurance one of the best home insurance companies in the state. It offers standard coverage options including dwelling coverage, coverage for personal belongings and loss of use coverage, which can help pay for hotels and meals if you are required to leave your home while it is being repaired. There are also a few options for customization, including equipment breakdown insurance and service line coverage.
Although average rates are not available for Bear River home insurance, the company does offer a fairly extensive list of discounts, so you may be able to save money on your policy by taking advantage of a handful of them. The company also offers coverage for renters, landlords, multi-family units and second homes.
Pros and cons of Bear River homeowners insurance
Just like its car insurance, Bear River’s home insurance product has its upsides and downsides. Comparing home quotes from several companies, including Bear River Mutual, might help you get a better idea if the company is right for you.
Pros
Coverage for secondary homes is available
Rates are based only on Utah risks
Local agents available to guide you
Cons
Fewer endorsements than some carriers
Only available in Utah
Online quotes not available
Bear River home insurance cost
Specific average rates for Bear River home insurance aren’t available. If you’d like to know how much your coverage would be with Bear River, contact an agent for a quote. There are a number of cheap homeowners insurance companies writing policies in Utah, so you should be able to ask for quotes from several companies, including Bear River, if you are looking for the most affordable rates. The average cost of a homeowners insurance policy in the U.S. in 2024 is $2,329 for $300,000 in dwelling coverage, while the Utah average for the same amount is only $1,268, for comparison's sake.
Bear River customer satisfaction
As is true for car insurance, Bear River's homeowners insurance is not rated by national organizations, such as J.D. Power, that look at customer experience. To get a sense of the quality of Bear River's customer service, you may want to talk to others who also have policies with the company.
Bear River home insurance customer complaints
Bear River's customer complaints are, however, logged by NAIC. As we noted before, the industry average for the NAIC's complaint index is 1.0. Anything less means the company has received fewer than average complaints. Bear River's home insurance scores very well with NAIC, ranking well under the industry average for the past three years. This suggests that Bear River is a company that places a high priority in maintaining excellent relations with its policyholders.
NAIC Complaint Index home insurance product
Line chart with 3 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Year. Data ranges from 2021-01-01 00:00:00 to 2023-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Score. Data ranges from 0 to 0.31.
End of interactive chart.
Bear River home insurance discounts
Claims-free: You may earn this discount if you have no claims or few claims in your insurance history.
High insurance score: If your credit-based insurance score is above average, you may qualify for a discount with Bear River.
Paid-off mortgage: If you've retired your mortgage, you could save money on your policy.
Non-smoker: If no one in your household smokes, you may be eligible for this discount.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Get personalized home insurance quotes
Answering a few quick questions to check your availability with Bear River
Your information is kept secure5 digit Zip code is required
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare Bear River with other insurers
If you are in the market for home or auto insurance in Utah and looking to compare quotes from more than one insurer, here are some other providers to consider that are comparable to Bear River Mutual.
Bear River vs. Electric Insurance
Electric Insurance offers similar coverage types to Bear River, like home, auto, renters and umbrella insurance. However, Electric Insurance is available nationwide and you can get quotes online. As a larger insurance company, Electric may have more perks and offer more digital tools than Bear River.
GAINSCO is a smaller insurance company that sells auto policies in Utah and several other states with a focus on personalized customer service. High-risk drivers may be able to get coverage with GAINSCO, too. Unlike Bear River, GAINSCO offers a mobile app which could be appealing to those looking to handle their policies digitally.
National General offers robust home and auto insurance policies. National General provides a wealth of information on its many savings opportunities, which can save you a considerable amount on your premium. The company is owned by Allstate, which could be appealing if you prefer to work with a larger carrier.
The insurance market can be complicated, but Bankrate's insurance editorial team used our unique perspective to bring readers the information they need to make educated decisions when shopping for a policy.
78
years of industry experience
9
licensed staff
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
120
carriers reviewed
Is Bear River a good insurance company?
Bear River may be a good option for Utah residents who prefer a company that has local agents with a deep understanding of the needs of drivers and homeowners in the state. As a smaller company, it does not offer some of the bells and whistles of the larger carriers, however. It offers a limited menu of endorsements to allow individuals to customize their policies, and its digital abilities are less robust than some other insurers.
Having said that, Bear River seems to excel in customer management, based on its excellent ratings with the NAIC's complaint index. If you are interested in a company that places a high value on its relationship with its customers, Bear River may be worth a look.
What are real-life customers saying about Bear River?
To get a better picture of customers’ experience with Bear River, we look at some real-life reviews on Reddit. In general, reviews tended to be mixed. Some customers had positive things to say, citing cheaper premiums and no issues. Others said the company raised their rates and that they preferred coverage from other companies.
Reddit User 1*
Jan 1, 2024
Been with BR for 25+ years
"Been with BR for 25+ years. Very few incidents. They are the cheapest (did my own research and also worked through an agent to find alternatives). Home + 3 cars + 5 drivers now. Never had a denied claim. They gave me a higher payout than I expected for a totaled vehicle a while back. Take this for what it's worth."
"I had them for many years because that's what my parents had. However, I wasn't impressed when I experienced their coverage when I had claims and decided they weren't worth the premiums I was paying. I ultimately ended up going with Farmers."
Payment mailing address: Bear River Mutual P.O. BOX 936761 Atlanta, GA 31193-6761
Claims mailing address: Bear River Mutual PO BOX 571310 Murray, UT 84157-1310
Claims physical address: Bear River Mutual 778 East Winchester St. (6600 South) Murray, UT 84107
State Availability
Bear River Mutual is only available in the state of Utah.
Bear River tools and benefits
Bear River Mutual Insurance Company advertises fewer perks and insurance policies than some of its competitors. However, the company does list a few other policies and benefits you may be interested in considering, which include:
Renters insurance: Covers your personal property and provides liability protection if you rent your home.
RV/motorhome/trailer insurance: If you have a recreational vehicle or mobile home, Bear River can write you a policy to protect your investment.
Dwelling insurance for rental properties: This type of policy covers the structure of your home as well as other structures on the property that are not directly attached to the main dwelling.
Umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy provides additional liability coverage for you if you file a claim on your auto or home insurance that exceeds the limits of your policy. Bear River writes umbrella policies up to $2 million.
Bear Care Direct Repair Program: If your car is damaged in a covered claim, you have the option to choose from one of the Bear Care program’s vetted auto body shops to provide repairs. You do not have to choose one of these shops — you have the right to have your car repaired at the shop of your choice — but work that is completed by a Bear Care Direct Repair shop is guaranteed by the insurance company for as long as you own your vehicle.
Bear Care Home Repair Program: Bear River’s Bear Care Repair Program is also available for home insurance claims, which is a fairly unusual feature among home insurance companies. If your home is damaged in a covered loss, you could hire a contractor through the Bear Care Home Repair Program to get repairs backed by a three-year guarantee. Just like with the auto insurance program, you do not have to choose a Bear Care-vetted company, but there are perks if you do.
Frequently asked questions about Bear River
Bear River may be a smaller company, but it does provide its policyholders with several easy ways to file claims, including:
You may be able to contact your agent directly to file a claim as well. However, Bear River notes that claims must be reported directly, so your agent may direct you to call one of the numbers listed above.
Although Bear River doesn't mention corporate philanthropy or sustainability efforts on its website, it does on its LinkedIn profile, where it states that it regularly organizes and participates in charitable events and activities throughout its community. This includes participating in blood drives, helping provide college scholarships to local students and donating vehicles to local families in need. Organizations it has partnered with in the past include Red Cross, Utah Food Bank, Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army.
Although Bankrate's insurance editorial team does the legwork to carefully assess all companies we review, some smaller companies do not earn a Bankrate Score. This is often because they do not provide enough information to allow for a thorough vetting, or, in some cases, because they work with third-party underwriters who may vary from policy to policy. In Bear River's case, the lack of available data on average cost, third party rankings and other factors meant that it was not possible to assign an accurate score to the company.
Yes, if you have the optional 24/7 roadside assistance endorsement on your policy, you are covered for towing, lockout and gas delivery. Keep in mind, however, that this functionality is not part of the basic policy and must be added on for an additional cost.
No, it is not. Bear River was founded in the northern Utah community of Garland in 1909, and has been based in Utah since then. It is Utah's oldest mutual property and casualty insurance company. Since its founding, it has focused solely on selling insurance products in the state of Utah and does not sell insurance in any other locations.
Methodology
Auto
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze May 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
40 year old
Single male and female driver
2023 Toyota Camry
Primary vehicle
Good credit score
Clean driving record
Commutes 5 days
Bodily injury liability
$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$50,000 per accident
Personal injury protection
$100,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist bodily injury
$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident
Collision deductible
$500
Comprehensive deductible
$500
Other profiles
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Home
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze May 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
40 year old
Married male and female homeowners
2017 build year
Primary home
Good credit score
Clean claim history
Dwelling coverage
$300,000
Other structures coverage
$30,000
Personal property coverage
$150,000
Loss of use coverage
$60,000
Liability coverage
$500,000
Medical payment coverage
$1,000
Additional profiles:
Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $350,000, $450,000
Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $35,000, $45,000
Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $175,000, $225,000
Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $70,000, $90,000
Coverage E, Liability: $500,000
Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU — the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Insurance Disclosure
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Edited by
