Is Save Max Auto Insurance Legit or a Scam? My Shocking Review of Their Services

I recently came across Save Max Auto Insurance while searching for cheap car insurance quotes online. Their website SaveMaxAuto.com promised instant quotes and big savings from trusted partners. It seemed too good to be true, so I decided to investigate further into real customer reviews to see if Save Max is legit or a scam.

What I uncovered shocked me. Keep reading for my in-depth review on whether you should trust Save Max Auto Insurance or not.

Overview of Save Max Auto Insurance

Save Max markets itself as an insurance marketplace that provides fast free car insurance quotes online. They claim to match you with top national and regional insurance carriers to get the lowest rates.

However, Save Max itself is not an actual insurance provider. They act as a middleman to hook you up with real insurers and agents so you can buy a policy through them.

Here’s a quick rundown of how their service works:

• You visit SaveMaxAuto.com and enter some basic info to get an instant quote comparison.

• Your details are forwarded to Save Max’s network of insurance partners.

• These partners provide real-time rate quotes tailored to your situation.

• Save Max presents these personalized quotes for you to evaluate side-by-side.

• If you find a suitable policy, you purchase it directly through the insurance company.

• Save Max receives a finder’s fee or commission from the insurer for sending you their way.

So in essence, they are a referral service aiming to simplify shopping for car insurance by compiling quotes in one place. But are they really finding you the best rates as advertised?

Abysmal Reviews from Customers

One of the first things I look at when assessing an insurance provider is their reputation based on real customer reviews. What I found for Save Max Auto Insurance was extremely troubling.

On Trustpilot, Save Max currently has a pitiful 1.4 out of 5 stars based on 29 reviews. Nearly 70% of reviewers left the lowest 1 star rating.

The most common complaints include:

• Quotes on website don’t match actual premiums
• Rates increased significantly after purchase
• Hidden fees and charges added
• Terrible customer service
• Misled into thinking Save Max was the insurer

Many reviews accuse Save Max of classic bait-and-switch tactics – advertising ultra low rates online to get your information, only to provide actual quotes much much higher than expected.

Others felt scammed into believing Save Max was the insurance provider versus just a “lead generation” site earning commissions.

Several people mention receiving nonstop spam calls after submitting their personal data. Others had policies immediately cancelled due to invalid driver’s license numbers and other issues.

While a couple positive reviews praise the quick quoting process, they are vastly outnumbered by negative experiences.

Similarly Abysmal BBB Rating

I next checked the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if Save Max’s rating was any better there.

Nope – once again a paltry 1 out of 5 stars based on 12 reviews. The vast majority provide the lowest 1 star rating.

The BBB complaints tell the same story of deceptive rate quotes, misleading business practices, and absolutely terrible customer service.

One review states:

“This company advertises low rates but when you actually get a quote it is 3 times what they advertise. When you call them out they say its because of your driving record – but they don’t even have access to that!”

Now Save Max does have an A+ BBB accreditation rating. However, this mainly indicates the business meets reporting standards – it does not account for their level of care for customers.

More Awful Reviews from Other Sites

Expanding my research to other review platforms painted the same dire picture:

• On Yelp, Save Max has a terrible 2 out of 5 star average across 6 reviews. Half the reviewers left just 1 star.

• ConsumerAffairs gives them 1.5 out of 5 stars based on over 50 reviews. An astounding 98% of customers rated their experience just 1 star.

• At Revdex, Save Max has a measly 1.2 out of 5 stars across 29 reviews. 79% are the lowest 1 star rating.

• Even on their own Facebook page, many angry customers detail being misled on pricing or receiving awful service trying to make a claim or cancel a policy.

The amount of 5 star reviews for Save Max Auto Insurance is miniscule compared to thousands of scathing 1 star reviews all citing very similar issues.

Lawsuits and Legal Actions

In researching online, I also uncovered some very unsettling lawsuits and legal actions against Save Max Auto Insurance and their parent company ByteMark:

• The Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner sued Save Max for illegal and deceptive business practices. This included misleading advertising, illegally obtaining customer data, and steering customers into unsuitable policies.

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a federal lawsuit accusing Save Max and ByteMark of illegally accessing and sharing consumer credit reports and sensitive personal information without consent.

• The Federal Trade Commission has over 300 public complaints filed against Save Max, primarily regarding deceptive pricing, fraudulent billing, and refusal to cancel policies or allow claims.

These legal proceedings further demonstrate the systemic issues with deception, privacy violations, and potentially illegal conduct by Save Max Auto Insurance.

Is Save Max Recommended?

Given the deluge of negative 1 star reviews from actual customers, combined with multiple lawsuits for unethical and illegal practices, I cannot in good faith recommend using Save Max Auto Insurance.

Their business model appears focused on earning commissions at the expense of providing accurate information and good service. Customers consistently describe being baited with false rate quotes then pushed into bad policies just to make a sale.

You will likely find much better options by getting quotes directly from top insurers like Geico, State Farm and Progressive who have excellent reputations. Or use an independent broker like Policygenius who shops rates for you while prioritizing your needs first.

While Save Max touts “finding you the lowest rates”, they clearly use deception and bait-and-switch techniques solely to make money off your information. I strongly advise avoiding Save Max Auto Insurance entirely.

Warning Signs of an Auto Insurance Scam

To steer clear of sites like Save Max Auto Insurance in the future, beware of these common red flags:

• Too-good-to-be-true rates – Legit insurers can’t defy actuarial rate tables. Super cheap teaser rates are likely bait-and-switch tricks.

• No reviews or terrible reviews – Lack of impartial feedback or overwhelmingly negative ratings signal poor service.

• Hard sales tactics – Constant upselling, spam calls, or high-pressure sales point to caring about commissions over your needs.

• Vague about licensing or policies – Shady brokers hide details on actual insurance partners and policy specifics.

• Refusal to provide complete rate breakdown – Legitimate quotes always itemize all components and fees clearly in writing.

Being alert for these warning signs can help you detect questionable providers using shady practices. Do your homework and pay attention to impartial customer reviews to guide you to the most trustworthy car insurance.

The Bottom Line

Based on deceptive marketing, extremely poor customer reviews, and multiple lawsuits, Save Max Auto Insurance appears to consistently put profits over ethics and customers.

I strongly recommend avoiding them entirely and considering top-rated insurers or brokers over Save Max for a much better insurance buying experience. Legitimate providers earn your business through transparent and honest practices – not bait-and-switch tricks or pushy sales tactics.