Auto Insurance In The Modern Age: Does 21St Century Provide Coverage?

21st Century Insurance offers auto insurance exclusively to residents of California. It is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance and has been in business since 1958. The company markets itself as a low-cost car insurance provider and includes complimentary roadside assistance with its policies. However, 21st Century has received a high number of complaints regarding claims handling and unsatisfactory settlements. It offers standard coverage options such as liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, as well as antique and classic car insurance.

Discounts for good and superior drivers

21st Century Insurance, now part of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, offers auto insurance exclusively to residents of California. The company markets itself as a low-cost car insurance provider with free perks, such as complimentary roadside assistance.

21st Century Insurance offers a range of discounts for good and superior drivers. Here are some of the key discounts offered:

• Good Driver Discount: Drivers with no tickets or accidents in the last three years may qualify for the Good Driver Discount. To be eligible, drivers must be licensed for three consecutive years and have no more than one point for moving violations during that period. The average discount for this category is 20% or more.
• Superior Driver Discount: If you qualify for the Good Driver Discount, you may also be eligible for the Superior Driver Discount, which offers additional savings for maintaining a safe driving record for four or more years. The average discount for this category is 10% to 20%.
• Defensive Driver Discount: This discount is available to mature drivers aged 55 and above who complete a state-recognized defensive driving course. The discount is applied to all vehicles on the policy, regardless of the number of drivers who take the course.
• Multi-Car Discount: This discount applies when you insure multiple vehicles on the same 21st Century Insurance policy. The savings can be up to 30%.
• Anti-Theft Discount: If your vehicle is equipped with modern anti-theft systems, you may be eligible for an average discount of 15%.
• Safe Driver/Safe Boater Discount: 21st Century Insurance also offers a Safe Driver/Safe Boater Discount, although the details of this discount are not specified.

In addition to these discounts, 21st Century Insurance also offers various other discounts, such as the Good Student Discount, Away at School Discount, and Early Shopping Discount.

Antique and classic car insurance

Classic car insurance is similar to traditional auto insurance, offering standard coverages such as liability, collision, and comprehensive. However, classic car insurance has its own eligibility requirements and specialty coverage options. For example, some insurers impose a maximum driving limit of 3,000 miles per year, require that the car is stored in a covered space, and only insure drivers with clean driving records.

Some of the leading companies that offer classic car insurance include State Farm, Farmers, Progressive, and Nationwide. There are also smaller, niche companies that specialise in insuring only classic, antique, and collectible vehicles, such as Hagerty and American Collectible.

Classic car insurance rates are often lower than standard car insurance rates due to the decreased risk of accidents and incidents. This is because classic cars are typically driven fewer miles each year and are usually driven on special occasions or for leisure purposes, resulting in lower annual mileage and a reduced likelihood of accidents.

Complimentary roadside assistance

21st Century Insurance offers complimentary roadside assistance to its policyholders. This benefit is automatically included in the insurance policy at no additional cost, which is unusual when compared to other big-name insurers. The roadside assistance program provides 24-hour services such as towing, locksmith services, flat tire assistance, and battery jump starts. Policyholders can access these services by calling the 24-hour hotline.

The roadside assistance is limited to five service calls per vehicle per calendar year and covers labor only, with a limit of $75 in roadside services. It is important to note that this service does not apply to motorcycles or "stored" vehicles, and accidents and comprehensive losses are not covered.

Overall, 21st Century Insurance's complimentary roadside assistance can provide peace of mind to drivers, knowing that help is just a phone call away in case of an emergency.

• The services are provided by and/or through Cross Country Motor Club of California, Inc.
• The service applies to licensed four-wheel private passenger cars, pickup trucks, and vans listed on the 21st Century Auto Policy at the time of disablement.
• While every attempt will be made to provide prompt service, 100% service within a specified time frame cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances.
• Policyholders who are also AAA or OnStar members are not eligible for this benefit.

High level of complaints

21st Century Insurance has a high level of complaints relative to its size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The company has a rating of 2.22, nearly double the industry average of 1.0. Most of the complaints concern delays in paying claims and unsatisfactory settlements and offers.

The high level of complaints against 21st Century is reflected in customer reviews, which report a significant decline in customer service. Hundreds of customers have reported being unable to reach the company in a timely manner, if at all. This has resulted in a high number of complaints being lodged against the company with state insurance departments, primarily related to claims handling.

The high volume of complaints against 21st Century suggests that customers may find better service elsewhere. The company's ratings from insurance rating organizations are also relatively low, further indicating that there may be better alternatives available.

In addition to the high level of complaints, 21st Century also has limited availability, as it only offers auto insurance in California. The company also has slim optional offerings and does not offer perks such as vanishing deductible, accident forgiveness, or gap insurance. Overall, while 21st Century may be a good option for some drivers in California, the high level of complaints is a significant factor to consider when choosing an auto insurance provider.

Coverage options

21st Century Insurance, now part of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, offers auto insurance exclusively to residents of California. The company markets itself as a low-cost car insurance provider with free perks like roadside assistance.

Standard Coverage Options

21st Century offers the following standard coverage options:

• Liability coverage for expenses resulting from an incident where the insured is legally responsible, such as medical or car repair costs and attorney fees.
• Collision coverage to repair or replace a vehicle damaged or totaled in an accident, regardless of who caused the crash.
• Comprehensive coverage for damage to a vehicle caused by something other than a collision, such as vandalism, fire, hail, flooding, natural disasters, collisions with animals, and vehicle theft.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for medical costs after an accident caused by a driver with insufficient or no insurance.
• Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage for repairs to the insured's vehicle if they are hit by an uninsured driver, with a limit of $3,500 in California.

Additional Options

In addition to the standard coverage options, 21st Century offers the following:

• Roadside assistance is included with all policies at no extra cost, providing 24-hour services such as towing and lock-out assistance.
• Rental reimbursement is available if the insured's car is undrivable due to a covered accident. This coverage pays a certain amount per day, up to a preset maximum, for up to 30 days, with higher limits also available.
• Classic and antique car insurance is offered for vehicles over 19 years old, provided they meet certain requirements, such as being in good condition and kept in a locked garage.
• SR-22 insurance filings are available for those who need proof of the state's minimum car liability insurance requirements.
• New car replacement coverage pays the value of a new car of the same make and model if the insured's car is totaled in an accident.
• Equipment coverage of up to $1,000 is included for customers who buy comprehensive or collision insurance.

Frequently asked questions