Travelers car insurance coverage options
Travelers is competitive with other big-name insurance companies, offering the standard collision, comprehensive and liability coverage — along with personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured and underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage. Let's review some of the additional features and insurance options that may come in handy in the future, and can be added to a Travelers auto insurance policy.
Accident forgiveness
Travelers auto insurance offers two levels of coverage that include accident forgiveness, which shields your premium by forgiving one accident every 36 months. Travelers' Responsible Driver Plan℠ includes minor violation forgiveness in addition to accident forgiveness; this forgives one minor traffic violation every 36 months and protects your premium from increasing by doing so.
You can take your coverage a step further by enrolling in their Premier Responsible Driver Plan®, which includes accident forgiveness and minor violation forgiveness, but also adds two additional benefits: Travelers' Decreasing Deductible® gives a $50 credit (up to $500 and will be applied toward your deductible in a covered loss) for every six months that all drivers on the policy are free of accidents or major violations. The second added benefit waives your deductible if your car is totaled.
Lease/loan gap insurance coverage
Typically, if your leased or financed car is deemed a total loss in an accident, your insurance company pays you the actual cash value of your vehicle which deducts for depreciation. This potentially leaves you in a situation where you still owe money on your loan or lease because of the gap between the actual cash value of your car and the remaining unpaid balance with your lender. Gap insurance covers the remaining amount so it doesn't have to come out of pocket.
New car replacement
This coverage will replace your new car with the same make and model if it's totaled within the first five years of ownership. Many insurers offer this coverage but it usually only applies for one to three years of ownership. Travelers bundles this option with the lease/loan gap insurance mentioned above, along with a lower auto glass deductible.
Rental car coverage
If your car is damaged in a covered loss and will be out of commission for more than 24 hours while it's being repaired, Travelers will cover rental car expenses.
Roadside assistance
Travelers auto insurance has two plans to choose from when it comes to roadside assistance: basic coverage and Premier Roadside Assistance®.
At the basic level, towing is covered up to 15 miles and includes standard roadside assistance, including jumpstarts, flat tire assistance and lockouts. However, if you opt for their Premier Roadside Assistance®, Travelers bundles a few features — in addition to roadside assistance, the company will cover towing expenses for up to 100 miles, and also include trip interruption coverage and personal property coverage. Trip interruption coverage reimburses you for meals and lodging if your vehicle breaks down at least 100 miles from your home and is out of commission for over 24 hours. Personal property coverage comes with a $500 limit and replaces stolen or damaged personal property in the event of a covered loss during your trip.
Travelers insurance discounts and rewards programs
Depending on your driving history and location, premiums can be pricey. But they don't have to be. You should always look into policy discounts offered by most insurance providers when you're looking for new a car insurance policy. Along with some standard discounts, Travelers offers policyholders some unique ways to save on your monthly premium.
