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21st Century Auto Insurance Review 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Our Take

3.0

The bottom line: 21st Century sells bare-bones auto insurance policies in California only.

21st Century sells bare-bones auto insurance policies in California only.

Full Review

See what you could save on car insurance

Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.

Pros & Cons

Complimentary roadside assistance.

Up to $1,000 of equipment coverage included for customers that buy comprehensive or collision insurance.

Only available in California.

Few optional coverages offered.

Few discounts offered.

Full Review

21st Century earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance is a small subsidiary of Farmers Insurance and currently only offers auto insurance policies in California. It does most of its business online and over the phone, so 21st Century is best for people who are fine with not having a personal agent.

» MORE: The best car insurance companies

In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B. 

Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.

Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.

Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.

Compare to other insurers

Current Product

3.0

3.0

3.5

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

Far fewer than expected

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

Close to expected

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Average

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Below average

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Average

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Average set of discounts

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Very few discounts

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Average set of discounts

Bottom line 

21st Century sells bare-bones auto insurance policies in California only.

Bottom line 

American National sells a variety of policies, including auto, home and life, which means you can easily save by bundling multiple products.

Bottom line 

Safeco auto policies offer some unique features, such as accident forgiveness, but falls short in customer service.

21st Century auto insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

21st Century offers few bells and whistles with its auto policies, something that may help keep rates down. Besides the typical types of coverage offered, 21st Century provides complimentary roadside assistance as well as up to $1,000 of equipment coverage if you buy comprehensive or collision insurance.

21st Century also offers new car replacement coverage if you have a newer vehicle for no extra fee. This coverage pays the value of a new car of the same make and model if your car is totaled in an accident.

See what you could save on car insurance

Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.

» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates

Auto insurance discounts

You may be able to save on your 21st Century auto insurance policy by:

Owning a car with an anti-theft device.

Maintaining a B average in school if you are 25 years old or younger.

Having a student who is away at school and keeps their car at home.

Being an alumni from certain organizations.

Insuring more than one vehicle.

Taking a defensive driving course if you are at least 55 years old.

Being claim-free for three years (good driver).

Having no claims after four or more years. You can earn this discount in addition to the good driver discount.

First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance .

Complaints

21st Century had more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

More about 21st Century auto insurance

Website: Though they don’t have the slick features you’ll find on some other insurers’ digital platforms, 21st Century’s website lets you accomplish the basics. You can pay premiums, view your insurance ID card and file claims via the website. If you need help, you can. If you need help, you can reach customer service at 877-401-8181, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

Other insurance from 21st Century

21st Century exclusively sells auto policies in California. But its parent company, Farmers, offers car insurance in most states as well as most other types of coverage.

To learn more, check out our other Farmers reviews:

Farmers auto insurance review.

Farmers homeowners insurance review.

Farmers renters insurance review.

Farmers life insurance review .

Insurer complaints methodology NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance. Auto insurance ratings methodology NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance .

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

Auto insurance ratings methodology

NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance .

Frequently asked questions

You can get a quote by calling an agent at 877-310-5687 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. PT or Saturday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT.

21st Century only sells auto policies in California.

To file a claim, complete the form online or call the claims department on 888-244-6163. Reps are available 24/7.

About the author

Ryan Brady is a lead writer covering insurance at NerdWallet. Read more

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