Travelers Auto Insurance: Rated And Reviewed

Travelers Insurance is one of the largest providers of auto insurance policies in the United States. It offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help customers customize their car insurance policies. The company has a fair number of discounts, plus a safe driving app that can help motorists save money.

Travelers earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance in a 2024 review by NerdWallet. It was also rated the Best for Most Drivers by MarketWatch, which gave it a score of 9.5 out of 10. Forbes Advisor gave it 4.7 stars out of 5, praising its low-cost car insurance for many types of drivers, including those with speeding tickets on their records. U.S. News gave it a positive review, highlighting its new car replacement insurance and roadside assistance coverage.

However, Travelers Insurance also has its drawbacks. It is not available in every state, and it received a below-average score in the 2023 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Its collision repair process also received only a C grade from collision repair experts.

Discounts and add-ons

Travelers Insurance offers a wide range of discounts and add-ons to help you customise your car insurance policy. Here is a comprehensive list of the discounts and add-ons available:

Discounts

• Multi-policy discount: Save up to 13% by bundling multiple types of insurance, such as car, home, and condo insurance, with Travelers.
• Multi-car discount: Insuring more than one car on the same policy can save you up to 8%.
• Home ownership discount: Owning your home instead of renting can get you a discount of up to 5%.
• Safe driver discount: If you have no accidents, violations, or major comprehensive claims for at least three years, you can save up to 10%.
• Continuous insurance discount: Maintaining car insurance consistently without any gaps in coverage can save you up to 15%.
• Hybrid/Electric vehicle discount: Owning a hybrid or electric vehicle can get you a discount on your insurance.
• New car discount: Insuring a brand-new car or a car that is less than three years old can save you up to 10%.
• EFT discount: Setting up auto-pay for your premium can save you 2-3%.
• Paid-in-full discount: Paying your entire premium upfront can save you up to 7.5%.
• Good payer discount: If you haven't been charged any late payment fees within the past 12 months, you can save up to 15%.
• Early quote discount: Getting a quote before your current policy expires can save you 3-10%.
• Good student discount: Students who are fully enrolled in high school or college and maintain a "B" average or better may qualify for a discount.
• Student away at school discount: If you have a dependent who attends school at least 100 miles away and won't be driving your car, you may qualify for a discount of up to 7%.
• Driver training discount: Completing an approved driver education course can save you up to 8%.
• IntelliDrive discount: Enrolling in the IntelliDrive program, which tracks your driving habits, can save you up to 30%.

Add-ons

• 24/7 roadside assistance: Two levels of roadside assistance are available, including services like towing, changing a flat tire, refueling, and jump-starting a dead battery.
• Rental car coverage: This covers the cost of a rental car or other transportation expenses if your car is unusable due to a covered accident.
• Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance: This covers the difference between the amount you owe on a loan or lease and the value of your car if it is totaled.
• Accident forgiveness and minor violation forgiveness: These options ensure your rates won't increase after an accident or a minor traffic violation.
• New car replacement coverage: This helps with the purchase of a new vehicle if your car is totaled within the first five years of ownership.
• Rideshare coverage: Currently available in Colorado and Illinois, this covers you from the moment you turn on the rideshare app until you pick up a passenger.

Customer satisfaction

Positive Reviews

Some customers have shared positive experiences with Travelers Insurance, highlighting the following strengths:

• Great customer service: Some customers have praised Travelers for its responsive and helpful customer service representatives. They mentioned that the company's claims professionals were easy to work with and provided timely updates on the status of their claims.
• Competitive pricing: Several customers have noted that Travelers offers competitive rates and discounts, making its insurance policies more affordable than those of some competitors.
• Wide range of discounts: Travelers offers a variety of discounts on auto and home insurance policies, including multipolicy, safe driver, and continuous insurance discounts. These discounts can help reduce the overall cost of insurance for eligible customers.
• Comprehensive coverage options: Travelers provides a broad range of coverage options for both auto and home insurance, allowing customers to customize their policies to meet their specific needs.

Negative Reviews

On the other hand, some customers have expressed dissatisfaction with Travelers Insurance, citing the following concerns:

• Claims handling: A common complaint among negative reviews is the company's claims handling process. Some customers have reported delays, lack of communication, and difficulty in reaching claim adjusters.
• Unexpected rate increases: Several customers have mentioned unexpected and significant rate increases, even when they have a clean driving record and no claims. This has led to frustration and a sense of being penalized for loyalty.
• Poor customer service: Some customers have described their interactions with Travelers' customer service representatives as rude, unprofessional, and unresponsive. They have reported long wait times, difficulty in reaching the right department, and a lack of empathy when dealing with sensitive issues.
• Limited availability: Travelers Insurance is not available in all states, and some customers have expressed disappointment that they are unable to access the company's services in their region.

Cost

The cost of car insurance depends on a variety of factors, including the type of car, where you live and park your car, your age, and your driving history.

The Type of Car You Drive

The cost of car insurance is influenced by the type of car you drive. Higher-end cars tend to be more expensive to insure due to the higher price tag associated with repairs or replacements.

Where You Live and Park Your Car

Auto insurance rates vary from state to state, and your premium can be higher or lower depending on your location.

Your Age

Age plays a role in determining insurance premiums, as younger drivers, particularly teens, are considered to be more costly to insure due to their lack of driving experience.

Your Driving History

If you have been involved in accidents or have traffic violations on your record, your insurance premium is likely to be higher than that of a driver with a clean record.

Discounts

There are several ways to reduce your insurance premium by taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance companies. These include bundling your car, home, and other policies; maintaining a safe driving record; and having continuous coverage with the same carrier.

Coverage Options and Limits

The cost of car insurance is also influenced by the coverage options and limits you choose. A higher coverage limit and lower deductible typically result in a higher price tag, while lower coverage limits and a higher deductible may help lower premium costs.

Average Cost of Travelers Insurance

According to MarketWatch, the average cost of full coverage auto insurance from Travelers is around $1,595 per year, while minimum liability coverage is about $648 annually. This is slightly cheaper than the national average for full coverage, which is $2,008 per year.

Factors Affecting Premium Increases

It's important to note that auto insurance premiums can increase due to various factors, including the severity of accidents, increased vehicle value, and a higher number of claims in your area.

Ways to Reduce Your Insurance Rates

To counter these increases, you can practice safe driving habits, sign up for telematics programs, change your preferences to digital, review your coverage, raise your deductible, and look for applicable discounts.

Optional Coverage Packages

Travelers offer additional coverage options, such as Premier Responsible Driver Plan®, Premier New Car Replacement®, and Premier Roadside Assistance®, which provide benefits like accident forgiveness, new car replacement, and enhanced roadside assistance, respectively.

Availability

Travelers Insurance is available in 42 states and Washington, D.C. It is not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Travelers Insurance is one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in the United States. It has 30,000 employees and 13,500 independent agents and brokers serving customers for personal, business, and specialty insurance.

The company offers a range of coverage options in the states where it is available. These include the standard types of car insurance, such as bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, medical payments, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Travelers also offers optional coverage, including accident forgiveness, gap insurance, new car replacement coverage, rental car reimbursement, and ridesharing coverage.

In addition to auto insurance, Travelers offers other types of insurance, including homeowners, boat and yacht, wedding and events, and renters insurance.

Claims

Travelers' claims process has received mixed reviews. On the one hand, some customers have praised the company for its handling of their claims, with one reviewer stating that the company did "an excellent job" and that they were "very good". Other positive reviews have emphasised the company's quick response times and good communication.

However, there are also several negative reviews, with some customers reporting unexpected claim denials and delays. One reviewer described their experience as "absolutely unbearable", and another claimed that the company was "rude, noncommunicative, dishonest, [and] authoritative".

Travelers' performance in the J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study has been mixed, with the company scoring below the industry average in 2023. In the 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Shopping Study, Travelers ranked 6th out of 17 companies for overall customer satisfaction.

The company's NAIC rating is 0.42, which means that it has received fewer complaints than the industry average.

Frequently asked questions