Travelers Car Insurance Review

Travelers Car Insurance Coverage

As one of the largest car insurers in the country, Travelers offers all the standard coverage options that you will find elsewhere. They include:

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage will help to cover the expenses resulting from a car accident. So, if you are found responsible for causing an accident, then Travelers car insurance will pay for the resulting expenses.

Liability car insurance features two main coverages. These are bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

 As the name suggests, bodily injury liability insurance covers the expenses associated with injuries that you caused to other parties during a car accident. This coverage may also pay for your legal defense if the other party sues you in court.

So, if you cause a car accident that leads to injuries, then Travelers will help you to pay for the medical expenses, through your policy’s bodily injury liability coverage. Bodily injury liability coverage covers:

• Medical expenses
• Legal fees
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of income
• Funeral costs

You should remember that Travelers car insurance bodily injury liability coverage will only pay up to your policy limits. Hence, if the medical expenses are higher than your policy’s limits, then you may be forced to pay out-of-pocket to cover the deficit.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Property damage liability insurance will cover damage caused to another car or their property if you are held responsible for a car accident.

Apart from the damage caused to the other driver’s car, property damage liability insurance will also pay for their valuables in the car, at the time of the accident.

So, if you cause a car accident that damages another person’s car, then Travelers car insurance property damage liability coverage will help to cover the costs of repairing or replacing that car.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is a Travelers car insurance coverage, which will help to repair or replace your car, if it’s damaged during an accident, up to your limit.

So, if you hit another vehicle, a tree, or a fence, then Travelers will step in and help to repair or replace your car. Travelers car insurance collision coverage will cover damage caused by:

• A collision with another car or vehicle
• A collision with a stationary object like a tree or fence
•  Single-car accidents such as falling over or rolling

However, Traveler’s collision coverage will not cover damage to your car caused by non-related incidents like theft, vandalism, hail, riots, or fire.

Also, Travelers collision coverage will not pay for damage caused by wear and tear or mechanical breakdown.

Travelers will require you to have comprehensive insurance before you can add collision coverage to your Travelers car insurance policy.

The maximum collision coverage amount you will receive from Travelers will depend on the actual cash value of your car, minus the deductible.

Collision coverage is not required in any state. So, whether you decide to purchase it as part of your Travelers car insurance policy will depend on the value of your car.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is a type of car insurance coverage, which will help to meet your car’s repair or replacement costs in a non-collision-related incident or accident.

Travelers comprehensive car insurance coverage will cover damage caused to your vehicle by:

• Vandalism
• Theft
• Natural disasters like tornadoes and hail
• Fire
• Falling objects
• Civil disturbances like riots
• Hitting a wild animal

Comprehensive coverage comes with a limit, which is the maximum amount that your Travelers comprehensive car insurance will pay for a covered claim.

For instance, if your car is stolen and it’s not recovered, then Travelers will reimburse you for its depreciated value or actual cash value, minus the deductible.

Simply put, if you want to replace your stolen car with a newer make and model, then there is a high chance you will have to top up the amount you’ve received from Travelers.

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage

You may happen to be involved in a car accident, and the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough liability insurance or doesn’t have any car insurance at all. Also, the at-fault driver may opt to flee the scene.

In such a case, you may be forced to cover your car’s repair or replacement costs from your pocket.

And this is where Travelers underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage comes in. It will cover the difference between the at-fault driver’s coverage and your repair or replacement costs, up to your policy limits.

Apart from helping to pay for your vehicle’s repair or replacement costs, Travelers’ underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage will also help to pay for your medical expenses, caused by an underinsured or uninsured driver.

Travelers’ uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will extend to you, your family as well as passengers inside your car, at the time of the accident. It will also extend to you if you are hit as a pedestrian by an underinsured or uninsured driver.

Currently, 22 jurisdictions mandate uninsured motorist coverage while 14 states require underinsured motorist coverage. Whether to purchase it as part of your Travelers car insurance policy will depend on the state you live in as well as your coverage needs.

Personal Injury Protection Coverage

Personal injury protection or PIP coverage will cover your medical expenses if you have been injured during a car accident, regardless of whether you were at fault or not.

Also known as no-fault car insurance, personal injury protection will cover the following if you are injured during a car accident:

Medical Expenses

Travelers’ personal injury protection will cover your medical expenses, surgical treatment, optometric treatment, dental costs, EMT services, medication, nursing services, prosthetic devices as well as medical supplies.

Lost Wages

If the injuries you suffered during the car accident have made it impossible for you to engage in productive work, then your PIP may help to compensate for the lost wages.

Substitute Services

If you are no longer capable of performing household tasks like lawn maintenance, house cleaning, or laundry due to accident-related injuries, then your PIP can help to cover the costs of hiring someone to do these tasks.

No-fault insurance could also pay for funeral expenses if accident-related injuries cause death.

If you live in one of the 13 states that mandate PIP insurance, then you will have to include it in your Travelers car insurance policy.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments coverage is a type of car insurance coverage designed to pay for your medical bills, your family, as well as those of your passengers after injuries caused by a car accident.

Also known as MedPay, this coverage will take care of your medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault. And unlike PIP insurance, medical payment coverage is optional. It will pay for various expenses like:

• Hospital visits and stays
• EMT and ambulance fees
• Surgery and X-rays
• Doctor visits
•  Professional nursing care and services
• Dental procedures required after a car accident
• Prosthetic limbs
• Funeral expenses

Travelers MedPay coverage will follow you. So, whether you are traveling in another person’s car, walking, using public transportation, or riding a bike, this coverage will remain active, as long as you are in the U.S.

Additional Coverages

Apart from the standard car insurance coverages, Travelers also offers several optional coverages, which you can add to your Travelers car insurance policy. The additional coverages include:

Gap Insurance

Your car will start depreciating from the minute you purchase it. And if you are leasing or financing it and it gets totaled, then you may end up owing more than the car’s worth.

Travelers' gap insurance coverage is designed for such scenarios. It will pay for the difference between the actual cash value of your car and what you owe on its loan or lease.

For instance, if the car you purchased by financing is worth $10,000 by the time it gets totaled but you still owe $13,000 on your car loan, then Travelers gap insurance coverage will pay the remaining $3,000.

If you didn’t have Travelers' gap insurance coverage, you may have been forced to settle the balance out of pocket.

You must have collision or comprehensive coverage for you to purchase this coverage. Also, you must be the car’s original owner.

Furthermore, the leased or financed car must be bought from a new car dealer for you to be eligible for this coverage.

Rental Coverage

Also known as extended transportation expenses coverage, rental coverage will help to pay for a rental car, as your car is being repaired for a covered claim.

Travelers’ rental car reimbursement starts at $30, with a maximum available daily limit of $100.

Your car should be out of use for more than 24 hours for you to be eligible for this coverage.

Roadside Assistance

Travelers also offers roadside assistance services, as an optional coverage that you can add to your Travelers car insurance policy.

This service is available in two packages: basic roadside assistance coverage and premier roadside assistance.

Both packages offer towing services, jump-starting a car, flat tire change, fuel delivery, and roadside winching services.

What separates the two packages apart is that the basic package only offers towing up to 15 miles while the premier roadside assistance package offers towing up to 100 miles.

Also, the premier package adds trip interruption coverage of $200 per day up to a coverage limit of $600, which covers meals, lodging and alternative transport, if your car breaks down more than 100 miles from home.

New Car Replacement

If your car is damaged beyond repair during its first five years, Travelers new car replacement coverage will pay to replace it, with a brand new car of a similar make and model.

However, if the car is stolen and unrecovered or totaled due to damage caused by fire, flood, or larceny, then Travelers will not replace it, since such losses are covered under its comprehensive car insurance policy.

Traveler’s new car replacement coverage also comes with a glass deductible package, which lowers your deductible when it comes to glass-only losses.

So, if your car’s windows, exterior lights, mirrors or windshield are damaged, you will pay a lower deductible than you normally would when filing the claim.

It also includes lease or loan gap coverage, which functions in a similar way as if you were to buy it as a single endorsement.

What is the Cost of Travelers Car Insurance?

Travelers' car insurance costs approximately $1,800 annually, which translates to an average of $150 per month.

Compared to the national average of $100 per month and $1,200 annually, Travelers’ car insurance premiums are on the higher end.

What Determines Travelers Car Insurance Rates

While the average cost of Travelers car insurance is $150, the actual cost of premiums varies from one driver to the other.

So, you may end up paying lower or higher than $150 per month, depending on various rating factors. Some of the main factors that Travelers uses to determine your car insurance rates include:

Your Location

Travelers will first ask you to indicate your ZIP code when you are requesting for a quote. So, how does location affect your Travelers auto insurance premiums?

First, different states have different requirements pertaining to the type of car insurance that you should have and the minimum liability coverage. For instance, some states require PIP coverage, which may increase the cost of your premiums.

Second, if you live in an area that experiences high rates of car theft, vandalism or severe weather elements, then you can expect your Travelers car insurance rates to be on the higher end.

Third, if you live in a highly-populated area, then the chances of being involved in a car accident are high, which increases your likelihood of filing a claim. Consequently, your rates will be high.  

Age

Auto insurance data shows that younger drivers are highly likely to engage in risky driving behavior, thus increasing their likelihood of being involved in an accident. Also, elderly drivers have slower reflexes, which may lead to more accidents.

As you may expect, Travelers will charge younger drivers and elderly drivers higher rates, than those between the ages of 30 to 69.

Car Make and Model

Travelers will also require you to indicate the make and model of your car when you are requesting an online quote.

In most cases, if your car is expensive to repair or replace, then you can expect your Travelers car insurance premiums to be high.

Also, if insurance data shows that your car’s make and model has been involved in a higher number of accidents, then your rates will be on the higher end.

Driving Record

Careless or reckless driving habits can have a negative impact on your premiums. So, if your driving record shows that you’re prone to accidents or you have a record of numerous moving violations, then your Travelers auto insurance premiums will be high.

On the other hand, drivers with a clean driving record qualify for better rates. Also, Travelers awards discounts to safe drivers, which helps to push the rates lower even further.

Vehicle Use

Travelers will also want to know how you use your vehicle when calculating your car insurance rates.

Travelers will ask you to indicate whether you use the vehicle for pleasure, commuting to work or school, on a farm or for business purposes.

If you mainly use your vehicle for pleasure, then there is a high chance your rates will be lower, compared to someone who uses their car every day, for commuting to work or school.

Does Travelers Offer Car Insurance Discounts?

As noted earlier, Travelers’ car insurance rates are on the higher end, compared to some of its competitors. However, it offers its car insurance policyholders several discounts, which can help to lower the cost of car insurance premiums. Some of the available discounts include:

Multi-Policy Discount

According to Travelers, bundling your car insurance policy with your home insurance policy could earn you a discount of up to 10% on your Travelers car insurance policy.

You can also earn a discount on your car insurance policy when you buy both your car and renters insurance from this company.

Multi Car Discount

If you have more than one car, insuring all of them through Travelers can earn you a discount of up to 10% on your Travelers car insurance policy.

Homeownership Discount

Travelers may also give you a discount of up to 5% on your auto insurance policy if you are a homeowner or you own a condo.

This discount will be applicable, even if you opt to insure your home elsewhere. The reasoning behind this discount is that homeowners are considered safer drivers on the road, compared to people who don’t own homes.

Safe Driver Discount

If you go for 3 years without accidents, major comprehensive claims or serious violations, then you may be eligible for a discount of up to 10% when you renew your Travelers’ car insurance policy.

And if you go for 5 years with a clean driving record or without filing a major comprehensive claim, then you may be eligible for a safe driver discount of up to 23%.

Continuous Insurance Discount

If you have continuous insurance coverage at the time of purchasing a Travelers’ car insurance policy, then you may qualify for a discount of up to 15%.

New Car Discount

If you own a car that is less than 3 years old or you insure a new car with Travelers, then you may be eligible for a discount of up to 10%.

Early Quote Discount

If you switch to Travelers from another car insurer and you request a quote before your current one expires, then you may get a discount of between 3% and 10%.

The actual discount earned will depend on how early you shop for your Travelers car insurance policy before your current one expires.

Student Discounts

Travelers also offers several student-related discounts, designed for students enrolled in college or high school. They include the good student discount and student away at school discount.

Good Student Discount

The good student discount is available to college or high school students who maintain a B average in class or score an equivalent grade.

Students who rank in the upper 20% in their respective class during a nationally recognized exam may also qualify for this discount.

Home-school students are also eligible for this discount, as long as they produce a home-school certification, which has been signed by an approved certifying body.

Student Away at School Discount

If one of your children is schooling at least 100 miles away from home and they will not be driving your car, then you may earn a discount of up to 7% on your Travelers car insurance policy.

Paid in Full Discount

Travelers also offers car insurance discounts based on how well you pay for your premiums and the method used.

For instance, if you pay your Travelers car insurance policy in full, then you can earn a discount of up to 7.5%.

And if you pay for your premiums through electronic funds transfer or via payroll deduction, then you may earn a discount of between 2% and 3%.

Driver Training Discount

Young drivers who undertake and complete a state-approved driver-training course will earn a discount of up to 8%.

Accident Forgiveness Program

Just like the other major car insurance companies in the country, Travelers also offers an Accident Forgiveness program, designed for drivers with a good driving record.

The Accident Forgiveness is available in two plans: the Responsible Driver Plan and the Premier Responsible Driver Plan.

Responsible Driver Plan

Under this plan, Travelers will not increase your car insurance premiums if you are at-fault for an accident or you are cited for a minor traffic violation.

Travelers will forgive you for causing an accident or being cited for a minor violation, once every 36 months.

Premier Responsible Driver Plan

When you purchase this plan, Travelers will reduce your deductible by $50 for every 6 months that you remain accident-free or you are not cited for serious violations. The vanishing deductible will continue until you earn a credit of up to $500.

And if your car is totaled, then you will not be required to pay a deductible when filing your collision or comprehensive car insurance claim.

IntelliDrive Program

IntelliDrive is a usage-based discount program, which uses a smartphone app to collect data and analyze your driving habits.

Similar to other usage-based discount programs, this 90-day program will collect information related to your driving habits such as acceleration, braking, phone use while driving and time of day when you normally drive.

The program will then display a map of your driving route as well as your driving performance.

And if you are not satisfied with the program, then you can sign up within 45-days of joining. However, if you opt out of the program, then you will also have to forgo the discounts you’ve earned during this period.

Signing up for the program will automatically earn you a discount. And if you display safe driving habits through the program’s duration, then you may earn a discount of up to 30%, which will be applied when you renew your Travelers car insurance policy.

On the other hand, if you display risky driving habits during the program’s duration, then Travelers may increase your car insurance premiums.

Travelers Car Insurance Availability

As noted earlier, Travelers car insurance is not available in all states. Currently, it’s only available in 42 states and Washington D.C. It doesn’t write car insurance policies in Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Michigan.

Travelers Car Insurance Customer Support

Travelers offers several channels, which you can use to contact its customer support team.

First, you can get in touch by calling its customer service team, which is available 24/7 throughout the year. You can also contact the customer representatives via its website. If you intend to use this method, then you will first have to create an account.

Travelers also has a mobile app, which is available on both Android and iOS mobile platforms.

With this app, you can view and download your insurance IDs, report a claim, pay for your car insurance, request roadside assistance and contact your claims representative.

How to File a Car Insurance Claim with Travelers

When it’s time to file a car insurance claim with Travelers, you can do so using several methods.

You can file a claim via the mobile app, by calling its customer support team or doing so on the company’s website.

When filing the claim, you will be asked to provide your account or policy number, your contact information, date of the accident or incident as well as the description of the events.

Once you’ve provided that information, Travelers will immediately initiate the claim and you can track its progress by calling the customer support team or online through the website.

After filing the claim, one of the company’s claim professionals will guide you on how you will obtain an assessment of your car’s damages.

If your car is to be repaired, you have the liberty of working with your preferred auto repair shop.

And if your vehicle is deemed a total loss after the assessment, Travelers will guide you on how to proceed from there. Usually, you will surrender your car to Travelers, and you will be compensated based on the actual cash value of your car.

How Does Travelers Car Insurance Compare?

Travelers has been rated by several third-party rating companies like J.D Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and AM Best. So, how does Travelers car insurance compare?

Claims Satisfaction

According to the 2020 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, Travelers earned a score of 861 out of 1000.

The industry average for the same study was 872 out of 1000, which means that its performance for claims satisfaction is below average.

Complaint Index

When shopping for car insurance, you will need to know how a certain insurance company meets the needs of its customers. You will also need to consider the average number of complaints that customers have lodged against that company.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners or NAIC collects, analyzes and compares that data with the industry average.  

The industry average is always 1.0. In 2020, Travelers earned a complaint index of 0.43, meaning it received a significantly lower number of customer complaints, compared to other auto insurance companies.

Financial Strength

When choosing an auto insurer, you also need to check its financial strength. That information will help you to determine whether the company is in a financial position to meet its ongoing financial obligations such as paying out claims.

AM Best regularly rates insurance companies on their financial strength, and then awards them a score, with A++ being the highest score.

According to AM Best, Travelers earned a financial strength score of A++, which means its capable of meeting its ongoing financial responsibilities more effectively than the majority of its competitors.  

Travelers Car Insurance Pros

• Wide range of discounts
• Strong financial rating
• A low number of customer complaints

Travelers Car Insurance Cons

•  Not available in some states
•  Higher rates than most of its competitors
• Below-average claims satisfaction

Our Take

With its vast selection of both standard and optional coverages, Travelers will cover your bases when it comes to car insurance.

And while its rates may be slightly higher than some of its competitors, it offers numerous discounts, which can help you to save on your car insurance premiums.

Also, it’s in a robust financial situation, which means it’s adequately capable of paying out your claims, as long as they are valid.

On the other hand, it’s not available in all states, thus leaving some people out in the cold. Also, it’s quite choosy when it comes to customers.

Ultimately, whether you decide to purchase Travelers car insurance or not, will depend on whether it’s available in your state, your coverage needs, your budget as well as your personal preferences.