21st Century Auto Insurance Review (2024)

21st Century insurance is a small subsidiary company of Farmers Insurance. Currently, 21st Century only sells auto insurance in the state of California. If you live in California and are considering 21st Century to provide you with California auto insurance, it’s important first to do your research to make sure it’s the right company for you.

Our review does the hard work for you, as we’ve collected all the pertinent information about 21st Century car insurance. Continue reading to learn about 21st Century auto insurance, from its pros and cons to car insurance rates.

What You Should Know About 21st century insurance

21st Century was founded in 1958 in California to provide auto insurance to California drivers. In 2009, 21st Century was bought by Farmers Insurance but continued to sell solely in California. As it is now a subsidiary company of Farmers auto insurance, this smaller company has added financial stability as a large company backs it.

For a quick snapshot of how 21st Century fares, take a look at our quick lists of pros and cons below.

Pros and Cons of 21st Century

There are a number of pros to 21st Century to consider when looking at the company. Some of the top pros of 21st Century are as follows:

• It has SR-22 insurance for high-risk drivers.
• It has insurance coverages not always offered by every provider, such as classic car insurance.
• It has multiple perks, like a “good friend” program that rewards you for recommendations and roadside assistance.
• It has fairly economical rates for California drivers.

Of course, there are also some cons that go along with the pros of 21st Century. Some of the main cons of 21st Century are the following:

• It only sells insurance in California, so you will have to switch companies if you move out of state.
• It doesn’t offer insurance coverages like rideshare insurance or gap insurance.
• It has a high number of customer complaints, most of which are about handling claims, although this is common for most insurance companies.

We will go more in-depth into all these pros and cons as we go over our review of 21st Century car insurance.

21st Century Contact Information

You can reach out to 21st Century using the following 21st Century insurance phone numbers:

• Customer Service: 1-877-401-8181
• Sales: 1-877-310-5687
• Claims: 1-888-244-6163

These are the main numbers 21st Century has listed on its website for users to contact the company.

If you have an account and want to make simple changes like adding insurance coverage, you can use your 21st Century insurance login to sign into your account and manage your policy.

21st Century Insurance Customer Service and Financial Ratings

Ratings are one of the more important things you should consider before signing up with a company. Customer service ratings will give you an idea of a company’s customer service, such as how they handle claims and their general responsiveness to customers’ concerns.

On the other hand, financial ratings will let you know how efficiently a company handles its finances. Poor financial ratings are a red flag, sometimes indicating that a company may go under or be stingy with claims and should be avoided.

To give you a comprehensive look at 21st Century’s general customer service and financial ratings, we’ve gone in-depth into its ratings below.

Financial Ratings

21st Century isn’t among the top companies in the U.S. as it only holds a small share of the market because it sells only in California. However, its parent company, Farmers Insurance, does hold a large portion of the market.

A.M. Best, one of the leading financial strength rating customers, has not rated 21st Century. However, Farmers, its parent company, has a rating of A, which means it has an excellent score and is financially stable. Because 21st Century is a subsidiary company of Farmers, you can expect it to have similar financial strength.

21st Century Customer Service Ratings and Complaints

21st Century has a mix of positive and negative ratings. JD Power’s annual customer satisfaction study did not include 21st Century in its analysis of California, likely because it is a small company compared to other big names.

However, JD Power did rank 21st Century’s parent company. Farmers received a score of 809 for customer satisfaction in California, which was below the average of 820 in California. In other regions where Farmers is ranked, Farmers also ranked consistently below the regions’ averages.

So while the scores aren’t the worst, they are below the average, indicating that Farmers and 21st Century may not have the best customer service out of all the companies in your area.

As for customer complaint ratios, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) gave 21st Century a ratio above two. The average complaint level for a company is one, so 21st Century does have a higher-than-average complaint ratio.

Complaints against 21st Century included delayed claim payouts and low claim amounts. Because you depend on your auto insurance company to pay for your repairs after an accident, these complaints are worth noting.

21st Century Auto Insurance vs. Competitors’ Complaints

While 21st Century and its parent company didn’t rank fantastic overall for customer satisfaction, we want to compare their complaint ratios to other companies’ compliant ratios on the market. Take a look at the table below to see how other popular auto insurance companies companies.

A.M. Best and NAIC Complaint Index for Top Auto Insurance Companies

You can see that while 21st Century is above the national average, plenty of companies are below it. Companies like GEICO or State Farm also have better ratios than 21st Century.

If you can find a company comparable in price to 21st Century with a better complaint ratio and customer ratings, it may be best to go with that company over 21st Century.

21st century insurance Insurance Coverage Options

What auto insurance coverages a company offers is important, as you want multiple options available to fit your specific needs. All companies must offer the bare minimum insurance coverage required by the state, but not all companies offer many coverages beyond that.

21st Century offers the following basic coverages for drivers.

• Bodily injury liability insurance. If you cause an accident, bodily injury liability coverage pays for damages resulting from injuries to others  up to the policy limit.
• Collision insurance. If you crash into another vehicle or stationary object, such as a mailbox, collision insurance will pay for your car’s repairs..
• Comprehensive insurance. If you crash into an animal or your car is damaged from weather, theft, or vandalism, comprehensive insurance will pay for your car’s repairst.
• Property damage liability insurance. If you cause an accident that damages another person’s property, whether their car or fence, property damage liability insurance will pay for their repairs up to the policy limit.
• Underinsured motorist insurance. If the driver who hits you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all your accident bills, underinsured motorist insurance will cover the rest up to the policy limit.
• Uninsured motorist insurance. If the driver who hits you doesn’t have insurance, uninsured motorist insurance will cover your accident bills up to the policy limit.

21st Century has the majority of major auto insurance coverages that most drivers need.

Other Auto Insurance Coverages and Perks

In addition to the main auto insurance coverages, 21st Century has a few other auto insurance coverages and perks that drivers can add to their policies. They are as follows:

• Antique/classic car insurance. This insurance is intended solely for cars at least 19 years old and not used for regular driving but rather for hobby use, such as driving to a car show or a weekend drive.
• Rental reimbursement insurance. You must carry at least comprehensive insurance on your car to qualify for this coverage. It will help cover the cost of a rental car while yours is in the shop after a covered accident.
• Roadside assistance insurance. This 24/7 roadside assistance program is offered for free as a perk for 21st Century customers. It helps if you lock yourself out of your car, need a tow, and more.
• SR-22 certificates of insurance. If you are a high-risk driver that needs SR-22 insurance, 21st Century does offer this service to customers.

While the free roadside assistance insurance is a great option that 21st Century offers, 21st Century doesn’t offer nearly as many coverages as other car insurance companies. In the next section, we go over what auto insurance coverage 21st Century is lacking.

Coverages Not Offered by 21st Century

21st Century offers all the basic policy coverages drivers need for a full coverage insurance plan. However, it lacks the following auto insurance coverages that some drivers may want.

• Gap insurance. If you have a lease or loan on your car and it is totaled, gap insurance will help pay off the difference between what is left on your loan and the actual depreciated value of the car.
• Medical payments (MedPay) insurance. MedPay will cover your and your passengers’ medical bills if you are injured in an accident, regardless of who caused it.
• Modified car insurance. If you have made expensive modifications to your car, such as a custom paint job, modified care insurance will cover the cost of replacement or repairs if your car is damaged in a covered claim.
• New car insurance. If your new car is totaled, new car insurance will replace your car with the same make and model as the totaled car.
• Personal injury protection (PIP). PIP will cover your and your passengers’ medical bills if you are injured in an accident, regardless of who caused it. It will also cover household expenses, rehabilitation, and lost wages.
• Rideshare insurance. Rideshare auto insurance covers drivers who work for companies like Lyft or Uber and covers them when driving passengers.
• Umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance is extra liability insurance if you cause an accident, which can help cover legal expenses if you are sued.

These are some of the main auto insurance coverages that 21st Century doesn’t offer, which can be a dealbreaker for some drivers looking for these coverages. In addition, 21st Century is rather light on what coverages it offers, so if you have specialized coverage needs beyond a basic policy, 21st Century may not be the company for you.

The Final Word on 21st Century Auto Insurance

21st Century likely isn’t the best choice for most California drivers, as there are other companies with better average rates, more discounts, and better customer service ratings. While it isn’t a terrible choice for an insurance company, we recommend getting quotes from other companies before deciding on 21st Century.

If you are ready to start comparing rates today, you can use our free quote comparison tool. It will help you find the best auto insurance rates from companies in your area based on your personalized needs and driving record.

21st century insurance Insurance Rates Breakdown

The average cost of car insurance policies is one of the biggest deciding factors for most drivers when buying insurance. While the final price always depends upon the driver purchasing the policy, general rate averages can give you a good idea of how much a company will charge due to factors like vehicles and driving records.

Take a look at the table below to see the average rates for minimum coverage policies from top insurance providers.

Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

21st Century’s auto insurance rates tend to be below the national average, but this doesn’t mean it is the cheapest company available. Below, you can see how 21st Century’s rates compare to other major auto insurance companies’ rates for full coverage.

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

A few companies, such as GEICO or State Farm, will be cheaper on average than 21st Century. If you are getting auto insurance quotes from 21st Century, we recommend also getting car insurance quotes from a few companies to see how the rates compare. This will help ensure you get the cheapest rates in your area based on your driving record and coverage needs.

Rates By Driver Age

One factor that will influence how much you pay is your age. Below, you can see average car insurance rates by different driver ages and gender.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Age & Gender

Younger drivers will always pay substantially more than older drivers. This is due to younger drivers’ inexperience, making them more likely to crash and file a claim.

Rates for Drivers With an At-Fault Accident

21st Century doesn’t have accident forgiveness, which means that your first at-fault accident at the company won’t be forgiven. You can expect to pay the average rates listed below if you cause an accident or have an at-fault accident on your record.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies After an Accident

21st Century’s car insurance rates after an accident are slightly lower than the national average. Once again, though, this doesn’t mean that 21st Century is the cheapest company for you. If you have an at-fault accident on your record, getting a few different quotes is important to see what insurance company offers the best rates.

Rates for Drivers With a DUI

A DUI is another driving offense that will raise your rates substantially, no matter what company you choose. However, some companies are cheaper than others when it comes to rates for drivers with DUIs on their records. Take a look at the table below to see how much the top insurers charge on average for convicted DUI drivers.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies with a DUI

21st Century charges slightly less than the national average for DUI drivers, but it is not the cheapest company on the market. If you are looking for insurance after a DUI, you can likely find savings on your rates by looking at companies other than 21st Century.

Rates for Drivers With a Traffic Ticket

No matter what insurance company you choose, a traffic ticket for a moving violation will raise your car insurance rates. Some examples of traffic tickets that will raise your rates at 21st Century include the following:

• Driving without your lights on
• Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light
• Improper passing or passing a school bus
• Speeding
• Reckless driving

These are just some examples of the dozens of traffic tickets that can raise your car insurance rates. Non-moving violations, such as a parking ticket, won’t raise your car insurance rates. To see how much your rates will increase on average for a traffic ticket, take a look at the table below.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies for Drivers with a Traffic Ticket

21st Century’s average rates for a traffic ticket are slightly below the national average rates for drivers with traffic tickets. Bear in mind, however, that these rates are just averages. Some traffic offenses, like a severe reckless driving charge, will raise rates more than just a ticket for going five miles over the speed limit.

If you have a serious traffic violation on your driving record or you have more than one ticket on your record, the best way to reduce your rates is to keep a clean driving record in the future. A few years of clean driving will help get your rates back to where they were before you got the traffic tickets.

21st century insurance Discounts Available

Besides safe driving, auto insurance discounts are one of the best ways to reduce your rates. 21st Century offers the following discounts for 21st Century customers:

• Anti-theft discount. You can get an average discount of 15% if you have devices that deter theft, such as a GPS tracking system.
• Safe driver discount. You can get an average discount of 20% or more if you haven’t had any tickets or accidents within the last three years.
• Good student discount. You can get an average discount of 15% if you are under the age of 25 and have a “B” average or higher.
• Mature driver discount. You can get an average discount of 2% if you are over 55 and take a state-recognized defensive driving course.
• Multi-car discount. The average discount isn’t specified, but there is a discount offered to drivers who insure more than one car at 21st Century.
• Superior driver discount. You can get an average discount of 10 to 20% if you have had a clean driving record for at least four years. The amount will increase again after five years of clean driving at 21st Century.

This is the complete list of discounts available at 21st Century. You can qualify for as many discounts as possible, which means 21st Century won’t cut you off from more savings if you already have a few discounts applied.

However, it is a rather short list, and it is missing discounts that are available at other providers. Some examples would be student-away discounts, low-mileage discounts, bundling policies, and more.

Read more: How To Cancel 21st Century Auto Insurance

Refer a Friend Program

One perk that isn’t advertised on 21st Century’s auto insurance discounts list is the refer-a-friend program. 21st Century will give a $50 AMEX gift card for successful referrals, up to $400 per year. To qualify, customers must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a current and active member of 21st Century
• The referral must become a member of 21st Century and can’t have been a member already within the last 200 days.
• Company employees can’t participate in the program

There are a few other technical rules, such as providing verification information, but these are the main qualifications referrals must meet.

21st Century Mobile App Reviews

Car insurance companies must have good mobile apps and websites, especially because so many people prefer to access information from their smartphones. With 21st Century’s mobile app, customers can do all of the following:

• Access their ID cards
• Access and view their policy information, such as coverage details
• Call roadside assistance
• Contact customer support for assistance
• Pay and manage their auto insurance bills

While the app seems very practical, it has mixed reviews from users. The app averaged less than three out of five stars on the Apple Store. However, it did do better on Google Play, with almost four out of five stars.

If mobile app usage is important to you, then the 21st Century may not be your best company until it works out more of its app glitches and bugs for drivers.

21st Century Auto Insurance Claims

It is usually inevitable for even the safest drivers that they will someday have to make a car insurance claim. Filing a claim at 21st Century is fairly easy. You can choose to file either online or by phone.

When filing, you will need to give details of the accident, such as the date and time of the accident, how it happened, pictures of the damages, and more. If you call, the agent will guide you through the process. If you submit it online, the questions will cover all the details.