Auto Insurance In 21St Century: California's Exclusive?

21st Century Insurance is an auto insurance company that provides coverage exclusively in California. The company has been in business since 1958 and is currently a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Group. 21st Century offers standard auto insurance coverage options, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. Their policies also include complimentary roadside assistance and coverage for classic and antique cars. While 21st Century Insurance has received positive ratings from industry organizations, it has also faced criticism for its limited coverage options, low customer satisfaction scores, and availability restricted to California.

21st Century Insurance: Only Available in California

History

21st Century Insurance, formerly known as 20th Century, was founded in 1958 by Louis W. Foster. The company initially provided car insurance directly to people living in California. Over the years, 21st Century Insurance underwent several acquisitions and changes in ownership. In 2009, Farmers Insurance purchased the company, making it a subsidiary of the Farmers Insurance Group.

Availability

Despite its expansion and changes in ownership, 21st Century Insurance has maintained its focus on serving the state of California. Currently, their car insurance policies are only available to drivers in California. This exclusivity has been a defining characteristic of the company since its inception.

Services

As a relatively small provider, 21st Century Insurance offers basic auto insurance policies with standard coverage options such as bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance. They also provide additional benefits like complimentary roadside assistance and rental reimbursement.

Customer Satisfaction and Ratings

21st Century Insurance has received mixed reviews and ratings from customers and industry organizations. While it holds positive ratings from entities like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and AM Best, it has also faced criticism for its customer service and communication issues. Some customers have expressed dissatisfaction with their interactions with customer service representatives and challenges with payments.

In conclusion, 21st Century Insurance, now a part of the Farmers Insurance Group, has a long history of providing auto insurance exclusively to California residents. While the company offers standard coverage options and additional benefits, its customer satisfaction ratings are lower compared to some of its competitors.

Discounts and Coverage Options

21st Century Insurance is a relatively small provider, offering auto insurance policies exclusively to drivers in California. The company is part of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies and markets itself as a low-cost car insurance provider.

Discounts

21st Century Insurance offers many of the same discounts commonly available from auto insurers. These include:

• Good Driver discount: Drivers with no tickets or accidents in the last three years are eligible for a discount of 20% or more.
• Superior Driver discount: Safe drivers with no tickets or accidents in the past four or five years may be eligible for an additional 10-20% off on top of the Good Driver discount.
• Good Student discount: Students under the age of 25 who maintain a grade of "B" or better may be eligible for a discount of around 15%.
• Mature Driver discount: Drivers aged 55 or above may be able to save 2% on liability coverages if they complete a defensive driving course recognised by the state.
• Multi-Vehicle discount: The discount for insuring multiple vehicles on the same policy varies.
• Anti-Theft Device discount: If your car is equipped with an active anti-theft device, you can receive a discount of 5% off your comprehensive coverage. With modern anti-theft systems, you may save an average of 15%.
• Driver Training discount: Drivers under the age of 21 who complete a state-approved driver training course are entitled to a 10% discount on bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, personal injury protection (PIP) and collision coverages.
• Teen Driver discount: Applies to licensed single drivers under the age of 19 who are the child/grandchild of the primary named insured and meet eligibility requirements.
• Away at School discount: Available to unmarried students who reside with the policyholder but attend school more than 100 miles away.
• Defensive Driver discount: If the primary driver takes a course, the discount will be applied to all vehicles on the policy, regardless of the number of drivers that take the course. Valid for 36 months.
• Early Shopping discount: Applies if the named insured purchases a policy seven or more days prior to the current policy effective date, provided there has been no lapse in coverage.
• New Car Credit: A one-term discount applied to vehicles with a model year equal to or greater than the current year. Credit removed upon first renewal.
• Alternative Fuel discount: Applies when the original factory-installed vehicle fuel type is electric, gasoline hybrid, electric, ethanol fuel only, methanol gas only, compressed natural gas or propane.
• Auto-Homeowner Policy discount: Applied to the auto policy if the person named on the policy, or their spouse, is also the person named on a Farmers Insurance homeowners policy.
• Auto-Renter Policy discount: Applied to the auto policy if the person named on the policy, or their spouse, is also the person named on a Farmers Insurance renters policy.
• Auto-Specialty Policy discount: Applied to the auto policy if the person named on the policy, or their spouse, is also the person named on a Foremost Specialty policy.
• Auto-Life Policy discount: Applied to the auto policy if the person named on the policy, or their spouse, is also the person named on a Farmers Insurance life policy.
• Transfer discount: Applies when the primary named insured has prior insurance with no lapse in coverage from certain standard carriers as determined by the company.
• Group (Occupation) discount: Applies when the primary named insured is employed with or retired from a company-approved occupation group.
• Paid in Full discount: Discount for paying for the policy upfront.

Coverage Options

21st Century Insurance offers the six standard coverage options:

• Bodily Injury (BI) Liability Insurance: Covers the medical expenses for other drivers and their passengers after an accident where you are at fault.
• Property Damage (PD) Liability Insurance: Pays for damages to other drivers' vehicles after an accident where you are at fault.
• Collision Insurance: Pays for damages that occur while your car is moving, either with another vehicle or a road hazard, or if you flip your vehicle.
• Comprehensive Insurance: Pays for damages to your vehicle caused by animals or natural disasters. It also covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it is stolen or vandalised.
• Medical Payments (MedPay): Covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Covers damages to your vehicle if you're hit by another driver who doesn't have insurance or does not have enough insurance to fully pay for the cost of damages.

The company also offers two additional coverage options:

• Rental Reimbursement: Covers $30 per day for up to 30 days ($900 maximum) for drivers who have been in a covered accident. Limits of up to $50 per day for up to 30 days ($1,500 maximum) are also available.
• Roadside Assistance: Provides towing, lockout service, and more 24 hours a day. This benefit is included with all auto policies, except for AAA and OnStar customers.

In addition, 21st Century Insurance offers coverage for classic and antique cars, as well as other types of insurance through third-party insurers, including motorcycle insurance, watercraft insurance, and personal umbrella liability insurance.

Customer Satisfaction and Complaints

21st Century Insurance has been providing auto insurance coverage to California residents since 1958. The company is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance and offers a range of standard insurance options, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

21st Century Insurance has received mixed reviews from its customers. On the one hand, the company has been praised for its quick and efficient service, with some customers specifically mentioning the ease of performing routine policy maintenance online. The company also offers complimentary roadside assistance, which is a valuable perk for its customers.

However, 21st Century Insurance has also faced criticism for its poor customer service. Numerous reports indicate that customers have struggled to reach the company in a timely manner, with some expressing disappointment and stating that they will not use their services again. This has resulted in a higher-than-average number of complaints lodged with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), leading to a poor rating from the organization.

The company's lack of a user-friendly mobile app and higher-than-average insurance rates have also been cited as areas of concern. Despite these issues, 21st Century Insurance maintains a strong financial strength rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best, indicating its ability to pay out claims.

21st Century Mobile App

21st Century Insurance, a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Group, offers a mobile app for its customers to manage their insurance policies. The app is available for Android, Amazon, and iPhone devices, providing a range of features to enhance the user experience.

One of the key features of the app is its convenience, allowing users to access their policy information, make payments, and even file claims from anywhere. The app also provides 24/7 roadside assistance, which can be especially useful in emergency situations. Additionally, users can access policy ID cards electronically, eliminating the need for physical documentation.

The 21st Century app also includes a collection of informative articles and videos on insurance-related topics, offering tips and insights to users. While the app is generally well-received, there have been some reports of bugs and compatibility issues with older Apple devices and Blackberries.

To utilise the app, users must be 21st Century members with a web account. The app is free to download, but certain features or content may require in-app purchases or subscriptions. It supports iOS and Android platforms and is regularly updated to introduce new features and address any reported issues.

Overall, the 21st Century mobile app provides a seamless and accessible way for customers to manage their insurance policies, connect with roadside assistance, and stay informed about their coverage on the go.

History and Parent Company

21st Century Insurance was founded in 1958 by Louis W. Foster as 20th Century Insurance, an inter-insurance exchange offering auto insurance in California. The company was initially based in Los Angeles, but later moved to Woodland Hills, California. Foster started the company with a one-room office and a secretary, marketing auto insurance by phone and mail. He believed that selling directly to customers would keep prices low, a philosophy that remains central to the company today.

In 2005, 20th Century Insurance was purchased by AIG and renamed 21st Century Insurance. Four years later, in 2009, Farmers Insurance acquired 21st Century Insurance from AIG for $1.9 billion. Today, 21st Century Insurance is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance and a member of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. It continues to focus on providing auto insurance to California residents, offering superior coverage and services, including complimentary roadside assistance and claims services.

Frequently asked questions