State Farm vs. Travelers Auto Insurance: Which should you buy in 2024?

It’s nice to have options in life, and there are so many auto insurance companies to consider.

You probably know the basics now that you have landed here ready to narrow down your two best contenders and choose the auto insurance company that will have your back when you need it: State Farm vs. Travelers auto insurance.

State Farm and Travelers are both on the list of the best auto insurance companies, but how do they stack up when it comes to rates, discounts, consumer satisfaction, complaints, mobile apps, and financial strength?

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Is State Farm or Travelers auto insurance cheaper based on age?

Wouldn’t you agree that as we age, we become more experienced?

Auto insurance companies believe this, especially when it comes to determining your auto insurance rates. They believe the more years of experience driving we have, the more cautious and safe we are as drivers.

I think we can all agree on that. However, I doubt we will all agree that it’s fair to base auto insurance rates on gender and marital status. Some states have outlawed this discriminatory practice, but not all.

State Farm vs. Travelers Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Age, Gender, and Marital Status

Travelers’ auto insurance rates are only 5 percent cheaper than State Farm’s auto insurance rates for drivers 25 and older.

However, Travelers is 66 percent higher than State Farm for teen drivers.

Is State Farm or Travelers auto insurance cheaper based on driving record?

No matter what auto insurance company you select, it’s a widely accepted fact that your rates will increase if you get a speeding ticket, cause an accident, or get a DUI. The riskier a driver you are, the more of a liability you are. State Farm and Travelers are no exception to this.

State Farm vs. Travelers Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

In general, State Farm has cheaper auto insurance rates than Travelers for drivers with any type of driving record.

However, Travelers is much more punitive with their customers if you get a speeding ticket, cause an accident, or get a DUI.

If you get a speeding ticket or cause an accident while with Travelers, expect your rates to increase by 24 percent. If you get a DUI, your auto insurance rates will increase by 67 percent.

If you get a blemish on a clean driving record with State Farm, your rates will not increase as much as with Travelers. Your State Farm auto insurance rates will increase only 13 to 29 percent no matter the type of traffic violation.

Is State Farm or Travelers auto insurance cheaper based on credit score?

Your credit score reflects your prior ability to manage your finances and make good choices, as well as pay your bills on time. Auto insurance companies assume that the more financially responsible you are, the safer the driver you are.

We can all agree that a traumatic financial life event like a divorce or unexpected medical costs is likely to decrease your credit score.

Are those always personal choices? Not exactly.

Just the same as gender and marital status, some states have banned auto insurance companies from basing rates on credit history. Let’s take a look at how State Farm and Travelers compare when it comes to rates based on credit score.

State Farm vs. Travelers Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Credit History

Again, State Farm auto insurance rates come in cheaper than Travelers if you have bad credit.

If your credit score tanks while with State Farm, expect to pay more than twice as much as drivers with good credit. On the other hand, Travelers auto insurance rates will increase by only 27 percent.

When it’s time to renew your six-month policy and you notice your rate has gone up, it could be because your credit score dropped.

Use your State Farm or Travelers login to make adjustments to your deductible and coverage levels, temporarily, if needed, to reduce your rates for the next six months while you work to improve your credit score.

It’s good practice to check your credit report every six months anyway. Otherwise, it may be a good time to consider a different insurance provider.

State laws determine much of how you will experience obtaining auto insurance coverage, so where you live is a very influential factor in determining your auto insurance rates.

Be sure to check your state auto insurance guide before judging State Farm and Travelers auto insurance rates based on credit score alone.

Does State Farm or Travelers have better auto insurance discounts?

Every auto insurance company has its brand, and this tends to stem from its history. Similarly, the values and philosophies of an auto insurance company can influence what discounts an auto insurance company will offer.

This is why it pays to shop around. Let’s take a look at State Farm auto insurance discounts and Travelers auto insurance discounts.

State Farm vs. Travelers Auto Insurance Discounts

When comparing all discounts that the companies offer, State Farm has a total of 16 auto insurance discounts while Travelers has 17 discounts. However, Travelers’ auto insurance discounts are not as hefty.

State Farm’s best discounts range from 30 to 50 percent. These include keeping low mileage, driving a new vehicle, having air bags, and using their driving app or device.

Travelers’ best discounts range from 23 to 30 percent. Both State Farm and Travelers offer the same discount amount for being claim-free (15 percent) and being a safe driver (23 percent). Compared to State Farm’s 50 percent discount for using their driving app or driving device, Travelers offers only a 30 percent discount.

What types of auto insurance coverages are offered by State Farm and Travelers?

Since both State Farm and Travelers are on the big contender list for market share, they both likely offer the standard six coverages that are listed below in addition to much more.

• Liability auto insurance coverage – bodily injury and property damage
• Comprehensive auto insurance coverage
• Collision auto insurance coverage
• Uninsured/Underinsured auto insurance coverage
• Medical Payments (MedPay) auto insurance coverage – particularly important in states that require no-fault auto insurance
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage

However, be sure to take a closer look at any specialty coverages such as rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, guaranteed auto protection (GAP), mechanical breakdown, and insurance for recreational vehicles such as ATVs or boats.

Does State Farm or Travelers have better auto insurance mobile apps?

Most of the top 10 auto insurance companies have mobile apps to make payments, adjust coverage levels, or show electronic verification of auto insurance coverage. However, most auto insurance companies have a separate app that is used for their usage-based auto insurance programs.

Usually, your State Farm or Travelers insurance login will work with both the general app and the driving app.

Read our State Farm’s Auto Insurance review or learn more about usage-based auto insurance before deciding if State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save or Travelers’ IntelliDrive better fits your needs.

Read More: Travelers IntelliDrive Review: Should you buy?

How do State Farm and Travelers compare in financial strength and customer satisfaction?

If auto insurance companies can judge their customers based on gender, marital status, and credit score, then it’s only fair customers get to judge them as well. We list ratings for State Farm and Travelers from the top agencies that judge the credibility of all auto insurance companies.

A.M. Best scores companies based on their ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations such as balancing premiums collected and claims paid. The highest score A.M. Best awards is Superior A++.

Consumer Reports collects annual data from its subscribers regarding customer satisfaction of the State Farm claims process and Travelers claims process, step by step. In their 2017 survey, 27 insurance companies were rated, and scores ranged between 86 to 96.

And the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) calculates a complaint ratio based on the total number of customers against the total number of complaints. In 2017, the national average complaint ratio was 1. The lower the ratio, the better.

State Farm vs. Travelers Company Ratings

State Farm earns the highest rating (A++) from A.M. Best, and both State Farm and Travelers are on top of things when it comes to external ratings by government and consumer agencies.

You’ll have a good experience with State Farm and Travelers customer service, and you can expect both to handle your complaints with regard.

When you’re unsure which company to choose, you can always use our free comparison tool to compare affordable auto insurance quotes in your area.