When it comes to car insurance
, drivers nowadays have tons of options to choose from. Even if a company doesn't market itself strictly as an auto insurance
company, it probably offers policies for vehicles. Likewise, car insurance carriers like Progressive have grown to offer different types of insurance for all of life's possibilities. Travelers Insurance doesn't get as much attention as other providers with cute animal mascots or celebrity spokespeople. Still, Travelers is famous for a lot of industry-firsts that continue to keep the company relevant today.Travelers
tells us the history behind its 165+ years of success. How did Travelers get its name?
James G. Batterson founded the company because he wanted to provide people with accident insurance. This kind of insurance was one of the earliest forms of insurance for commuters and vacationers (i.e. travelers). In fact, Batterson even gave the company's first quote (albeit in jest) to a banker who wanted insurance on his walk home.
In 1887, Travelers became the first insurance company to offer insurance policies for automobiles. Almost 30 years later, the company would be the first in the industry to advertise aircraft liability insurance. In 1969, Travelers rolled out the first space travel insurance policy.
Around 2004, Travelers merged with the St. Paul Companies to provide more offerings for its customers. The group became collectively known as The Travelers Companies in 2007. Despite the merger, Travelers kept the iconic red umbrella (also known as "America's Umbrella") to represent the brand.
Going beyond auto insurance
True to its "transformative" promise, Travelers has continued to add innovative and useful offerings to its policyholders. For example, the Travelers CAT Van was created in the ‘60s to visit areas affected by natural disasters. Inside this mobile office, Travelers insurance agents can help affected policyholders manage their insurance or purchase new plans.
The company also offers cyber insurance products to cover businesses and individuals in the event of data leaks. Travelers recently became an Amazon partner
, so policyholders can now modify their insurance plans through Amazon devices. Travelers has also introduced a lot of technology to help with issues surrounding construction safety. Policyholders can see how vibrations from heavy equipment will affect their area with ZoneCheck. Travelers later created the first self-service tool to manage workers' compensation claims.
MORE:How Allstate Got Its Name, Are You Really In Good Hands?
How much is a Travelers insurance policy?
According to our data, the average Travelers insurance plan
is about $1,192 a year with minimal coverage. With more coverage options, you'll still only end up paying around $1,335 annually. Travelers also has a lot of great optional policies, such as new car replacement insurance with included gap coverage. Uber and Lyft drivers located in Colorado or Illinois can purchase specialized rideshare insurance.
Travelers has many discounts available to lower your monthly premiums. You can get cheaper coverage for being a safe driver, owning multiple policies, or being a homeowner. Insuring multiple cars also gets you a discount, especially if you own hybrids or EVs.
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Is Travelers auto insurance right for you?
Travelers premiums certainly seem enticing with their low costs and variety of available discounts. However, from our research, we found that Travelers doesn't have the greatest customer service scores compared to other insurance providers. Travelers also drastically raises its premium prices for drivers with poor credit.
Still, Travelers offers some of the lowest available premiums for younger or novice drivers. Most insurance companies charged inflated rates for these policies because of the increased liability.
If you need to shop around before you make your final decision, Jerry
can help. The app's search tool narrows down the most affordable coverage in your area from every highly-rated insurance carrier. If you don't know which policies you need, our support team of licensed agents can assist you even further! 
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