Travelers offers more auto coverage options and insurance discounts than some of the other major car insurers. However, it also offers lackluster customer service, if you go off the various customer satisfaction metrics we review when assessing insurers.
Of particular concern is its performance in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, which shows that the company receives nearly four times the amount of consumer complaints as one would expect based on industry-wide complaint levels.
But Travelers is one of the oldest insurance companies on the market and scores well on financial strength, per AM Best. With that in mind, Travelers could be a good option if you're after a highly customizable auto policy. It also offers many discounts that may help you get more affordable rates. But Travelers' below average performance on customer satisfaction is reason to be wary.
How we evaluate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
Travelers pros and cons
- High financial strength ranking
- Many auto policy customization options
- Long list of potential discounts
- Lackluster customer satisfaction ratings
- Rideshare coverage only available in limited states
- Several discounts aren't available in California and other states
How much does Travelers cost?
Travelers Insurance was founded in 1864 in Hartford, Connecticut, as an accident insurance company. Today it's one of the oldest and largest U.S. auto insurance companies, with around 30,000 employees and more than 15,000 independent insurance agents in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the U.K.
While auto insurance rates can be highly variable based on driver type and record, you can see from the data below that Travelers, in general, is cheaper than many of its competitors, coming in under the national average across most driver and record incident types.
Driver type | Travelers liability-only monthly premium | Travelers full coverage monthly premium |
Clean driving record | $88 | $186 |
Speeding ticket on driving record | $109 | $229 |
At-fault accident on driving record | $114 | $240 |
DUI on driving record | $144 | $303 |
Teen driver | $175 | $369 |
Senior driver | $65 | $137 |
Data sourced from Insurify |
Compare these numbers to the data below to get an idea of how just how affordable Travelers is compared to industry averages:
Driver type | National average liability-only monthly premium | National average full coverage monthly premium |
Clean driving record | $105 | $192 |
Speeding ticket on driving record | $141 | $265 |
At-fault accident on driving record | $146 | $274 |
DUI on driving record | $166 | $313 |
Teen driver | $194 | $364 |
Senior driver | $85 | $160 |
Data sourced from Insurify |
Is Travelers car insurance good?
Company ratings:
- AM Best: A++
- J.D. Power claims satisfaction: 684/1,000 (study average of 697)
- BBB: A+
- NAIC complaints: 3.96
Travelers performs slightly below to significantly below average on the various industry metrics we review when assessing insurers, though the company gets an A++ for financial strength from AM Best and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
However, Travelers registers significantly more customer complaints than expected per the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. The NAIC complaint index compares insurance providers based on how many complaints they receive relative to a given year's study average across the industry.
The NAIC calculates this by dividing the company's share of complaints by the total countrywide, with the national index set at 1.00, which means that a company with an index of 2.00 would have twice the expected number of complaints. Travelers comes in at 3.96, which indicates it receives a rather noteworthy volume of complaints.
Likewise, it ranked below average on the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, scoring 684 out of 1,000 against the study average of 697. For comparison, the top-scoring company, NJM, got a 782 out of 1,000.
Discounts
As with all insurance companies, Travelers Insurance doesn't have a one-size-fits-all auto insurance rate. There are many factors that affect car insurance rates, such as your location, coverage, credit score, age, and more.
However, Travelers offer an extensive list of discounts that can help reduce your insurance premium.
Discount | Does Travelers have it? | Progressive | GEICO |
Loyalty | Yes | Yes | No |
Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multiple vehicle | Yes (select states) | Yes | Yes |
Airbag | No | No | Yes |
Anti-lock brakes | No | No | Yes |
Anti-theft | No | Yes (select states) | Yes |
Safe driver | Yes (select states) | Yes | Yes |
Good student | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Away-from-home student | Yes | Yes | Yes |
New car | Yes (select states) | No | Yes |
Pay in full | Yes (select states) | Yes | Yes |
Automatic payments | Yes (select states) | Yes | Yes |
GAP insurance | No | No | No |
Senior | No | No | No |
Military | No | No | Yes |
Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes (select states) | Yes |
Hybrid/electric vehicle | Yes | No | No |
Homeownership | Yes (select states) | Yes (select states) | Yes |
Early quote | Yes (select states) | No | Yes |
Good payer | Yes (select states) | No | No |
Affinity programs | Yes | No | Yes |
Intellidrive app
IntelliDrive is Travelers' telematics insurance program. The program requires that you download an app to your mobile device that records your driving habits over three months. You get a discount when you first sign up and another discount when you renew your rates.
Your total discount can be up to 30% if the app determines you're a safe driver. Keep in mind that recorded bad driving habits can increase your premium.
Heads-up
IntelliDrive, safe driver, new car, multi-car, early quote, loyalty, electronic funds transfer, pay-in-full, homeownership, and good-payer discounts are not available in California. Early Quote, Safe Driver, Good Payer discounts are not available in New York. Good Payer Discount is not available in Maryland or Washington.Coverage
Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance, which Travelers can provide. On top of the required auto coverage, Travelers offers a wide range of insurance options.
- Liability protection
- Non-owner insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance
- Medical payments
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Umbrella insurance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Rideshare insurance
- Loan/lease gap insurance
- New car replacement
- Accident forgiveness
- Roadside assistance
Keep in mind
Some Travelers coverage options may not be available in some states. Contact Travelers Insurance or a local representative to confirm the options available to you.Travelers vs. competitors
When you look at Travelers alongside national averages and most of its competitors, its rates are more affordable than most, but not by a huge margin. Regardless, your personal rate is going to be unique to you based on the discounts you qualify for and your record of accidents, speeding tickets, and other incidents. But comparing Travelers' rates to its competitors shows that you're likely to get a decent deal.
Company name | Average monthly full coverage | Average monthly liability-only coverage |
USAA | $99 | $46 |
GEICO | $118 | $55 |
State Farm | $119 | $55 |
Allstate | $132 | $62 |
Progressive | $148 | $101 |
American Family | $157 | $72 |
Nationwide | $181 | $85 |
Travelers | $191 | $90 |
National average | $199 | $105 |
Farmers | $236 | $110 |
Liberty Mutual | $250 | $169 |
Data sourced from Insurify |
Travelers vs. Progressive
Like we said, your final rate will vary based on your driving record and the types and levels of coverage you need, but getting insurance from Travelers could be cheaper or more expensive than getting it from Progressive, depending on what coverage level you choose.
Travelers' monthly average premium for full-coverage auto insurance is $186, according to Insurify, versus Progressive's $142. While Travelers is more expensive than Progressive here, both are cheaper than the national average of $199 per month, though.
Travelers' monthly average for liability-only coverage is just $88, compared to Progressive's $98, though. That's quite a bit lower than the national average of $105 as well.
Travelers vs. GEICO
GEICO comes in a fair bit cheaper than Travelers on premiums, averaging just $55 per month for liability-only coverage, according to Insurify, and $114 per month for full-coverage insurance.
GEICO really pulls ahead of Travelers, though, when you look at its rates for drivers with a spotty record. GEICO quotes an average $145 per month for full-coverage insurance if you have an accident on your record, while Travelers quotes $240. Drivers with a ticket on their record are also likely to get a better deal with GEICO, where the average rate for full-coverage with a ticket is $138 compared to Travelers' $229.
Other Travelers insurance products
Travelers offers several insurance products other than car coverage. These products can help cover other assets and situations you want to protect. Bundling some of these insurance products with your car insurance may qualify you for a discount.
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Condo insurance
- Landlord insurance
- Pet insurance insurance
- Travel insurance
- Umbrella insurance
- Business insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Boat and yacht insurance
- Valuable items insurance
- Wedding and event insurance
FAQs
How do I contact Travelers?
You've got a couple options for contacting Travelers. If you download the MyTravelers mobile app, you'll be able to chat live with a company representative or contact your agent directly. Alternately, you can connect via the following channels:
- Call 1-855-485-8066 to get a quote
- Speak to an agent using the find a local agent tool
Is Travelers insurance good at paying claims?
Travelers auto insurance has below-average ratings for claims satisfaction, which reflects the issues its customers face to get their claims paid. Many customer complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau indicate that claims are frequently denied..
What types of insurance does Travelers have?
Travelers offers a wide range of auto insurance options, including rideshare coverage, loan/lease gap insurance, new car replacement, and more. Travelers also offers pet insurance, travel insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, landlord insurance, and more.
Bottom line
Travelers Insurance stands out for its breadth of coverage options, add-ons, and discounts. These options and discounts can help you get the exact coverage you need while keeping your premium affordable.
Unfortunately, that customizability and savings come at a price. Many policyholders complain about Travelers' poor customer service and feel dissatisfied with its claim process. Although this may not be enough reason to avoid this insurer, it's something essential to keep in mind when shopping for the best car insurance for you.