21st Century Car Insurance Review: Is It the Right Choice for You?

21st Century Insurance has been in business since 1958 and has over six decades of experience in the car insurance industry. However, the company stopped selling new policies in 2023, and many current customers have since been transitioned to another Farmers brand, Toggle.

If you’re a current 21st Century customer trying to decide if it makes sense to switch insurers, this guide is for you.

Is 21st Century a Good Choice for Car Insurance?

Here’s how the company stacks up across five important categories, including price, customer satisfaction, and more.

Benefits of 21st Century Insurance

So what are the perks of taking out a car insurance policy with 21 Century Insurance? Here are a few things that set it apart from other insurance companies:

• Financial strength: 21st Century has been highly rated for financial strength due to its backing by the Farmers Insurance Group. This means that the company will likely have sufficient funds to pay out claims.
• Free roadside assistance program: Some insurance companies charge extra for roadside assistance, but 21st Century offers it for free. You’ll get free towing, lock-out service, and other assistance around the clock.
• Self-service portal: Policyholders get a self-service portal, available 24/7, 365 days a year. In the portal, you can add or change drivers, e-sign your documents, enroll in automatic payments, and more.
• Mobile app: You can also service your policy by downloading the 21st Century mobile app. You can view your policy information, pay a bill, file a claim, and access your ID card entirely on your smartphone.
• SR-22 forms: Not all insurance companies offer policies to drivers with a DUI or who’ve been caught driving without insurance. But 21st Century offers relatively affordable policies for these drivers, and it can even file your SR-22 form to show proof of financial responsibility.
• Flexible repair policy: 21st Century offers a flexible repair policy, which means you can pick the repair shop of your choice. Its network of over 10,700 claims professionals is ready to help you and offer fast, hassle-free service.

21st Century Auto Insurance Reviews

The general consensus among current and past 21st Century customers seems overwhelmingly negative, looking at online reviews. On ConsumerAffairs, the company has more than 250 reviews, and nearly all of them are just one star.

Nearly all the recent reviews talk about customer service representatives who are nearly impossible to get a hold of.

Other reviewers — like the one below — complain about sky-high rate increases alongside those excruciating wait times.

Still, some reviewers praise the company’s “competitive” pricing, but the most recent five-star reviews are from nearly five years ago.

21st Century Auto Insurance Coverage Options

So, what kinds of insurance policies can you take out with 21st Century insurance? The company offers the same types of auto insurance coverage as other companies, including:

• Liability insurance: Covers injuries and property damage when you cause an accident (required in most states)
• Collision insurance: Covers the cost of repairs and bodywork on your own vehicle in some types of accidents
• Comprehensive insurance: Covers additional situations not covered by collision insurance, such as theft and natural disasters

Of course, the level of coverage you need will depend on several factors, including the make and model of your vehicle. If you have a new car, you may want to take out a full-coverage policy that includes all of the above. In fact, if you’re leasing or financing a car, your lender probably requires it.

On the other hand, if you have an old car that’s declined in value, you may be able to get by with less robust coverage. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money, but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you get into an accident.

Still, you’ll have to look elsewhere for rideshare or gap insurance. That said, 21st Century offers classic car insurance, which comes with special coverage considerations.

21st Century Car Insurance Discounts

The best way to get a great deal on car insurance is to qualify for a discount. Many car insurance companies offer generous discounts, and 21st Century is no exception. Here are just a few of the car insurance discounts you might qualify for:

• Multi-car: If you have more than one car on the same policy, you could be eligible for a discount averaging 15%.
• Superior driver: If you’ve had a clean driving record for four years or more, you could get a good driver discount of 10%–20%.
• Anti-theft: If your car has modern anti-theft devices built in, you could save up to 15% on your policy.
• Good student: Students younger than 25 who maintain B grades or better may qualify for 15% off their premium.
• Mature driver: Drivers older than 55 can save 2% by taking a defensive driving course recognized by their state.

There’s no limit to how many discounts you can get, so you may qualify for more than one. It’s also worth noting that, unlike some insurance companies, 21st Century doesn’t consider your credit history when determining your premium.

21st Century doesn’t offer life insurance, renters or homeowners insurance, or other types of insurance, but several of its partner companies do.

More About 21st Century Insurance

21st Century Insurance FAQs

If you still have questions about 21st Century, check out the answers below.

Does 21st Century have cheap car insurance?

Generally, no. The company’s average rates are $202 per month, according to Compare.com data, but that varies by several factors, such as your age, driving record, location, and more. The only way to know which company has the cheapest insurance for you is to compare quotes from as many as possible.

Is 21st Century a good company?

It depends on what you look for in an insurance company. 21st Century is a reliable brand that’s been in business for more than 60 years, and with the backing of Farmers Insurance, you can trust 21st Century to pay out claims. Still, the company boasts middling customer satisfaction scores and has reasonably high rates for many drivers.

Is 21st Century the same as Farmers?

No, 21st Century is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance, but it’s not the same company. Recently, Farmers has transitioned many 21st Century customers and prospective buyers to a newer brand, Toggle.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Rating Methodology:

Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions when it comes to their personal finances. To help our readers better analyze and compare insurance companies, our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary rating formula to determine each company’s objective Compare.com Rating. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:

• Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
• Customer Satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
• Ease of Use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
• Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
• Industry Reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best Financial Strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.

Sources:

1. J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,” accessed March 15, 2024.
2. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2019/2020 Auto Insurance Database Report,” accessed March 15, 2024.