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6 years experience in personal finance writing
Featured on Credit Karma and Insider
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
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Table of contents
Liberty Mutual and Travelers are two of the most popular car insurance companies for U.S. drivers, and both insurers offer low prices and a variety of coverages and discounts. Travelers received a higher financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) from AM Best, while Liberty Mutual ranked higher for customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.[1]
It’s important to compare different rates, customer service, and available discounts when you’re researching insurance products to find the best deal. Here’s what you need to know about deciding on the best car insurance option for you.
With a monthly average of $99, Travelers offers cheaper liability insurance than Liberty Mutual on average.
Liberty Mutual has cheaper full-coverage insurance, with an average monthly rate of $218.
Both companies offer policyholders the ability to bundle other insurance products with auto insurance, including home and renters insurance.
Liberty Mutual vs. Travelers: The verdict
Travelers car insurance is the better option for many drivers because of coverage offerings and strong customer satisfaction, as demonstrated in a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for a company of its size. But Liberty Mutual car insurance is still a solid option, thanks to lower full-coverage auto insurance rates and discounts.
Both companies offer similar types of coverage and operate nationwide.
Factor | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 7.7 | 8.5 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction score | 799 out of 1,000 | 806 out of 1,000 |
| Average quote: liability only | $161 | $99 |
| Number of discounts | 13 | 12 |
| Number of states where it operates | 50 | 50 |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Liberty Mutual
Based in Boston, Liberty Mutual is the sixth-largest U.S. private passenger auto insurer by market share.[2] The company provides a wide variety of coverage options, including vanishing deductible and gap insurance. It earned an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best.
| User Reviews | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.7 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $161/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $218/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Liberty Mutual offers auto, homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life, and other insurance products. Auto policyholders can save with numerous discounts, including bundling, good student, military, student-away-at-school, claims-free, violation-free, and multi-car discounts. Liberty Mutual has an A rating for financial strength and credit from AM Best. The company often scores low for customer satisfaction and has more than three times the expected number of complaints from private auto policyholders, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index.
Wide range of available discounts
Accident forgiveness available
Available in all 50 states and D.C.
Many negative reviews and customer complaints
Premiums are relatively high compared to industry average
Low customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Travelers
In business for more than 165 years, Travelers is one of the oldest insurance companies selling car insurance. Travelers offers policyholders a range of discounts, including rewards for customer loyalty, driving a new car, and taking a defensive driving course. The company earned an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best.
| User Reviews | 4.8 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.5 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $99/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $186/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s communicative customer service and efficient claims process. But they’re dissatisfied with the consistent and sometimes significant price increases, even for those with clean driving records.
Customers appreciate the insurer’s communicative customer service and efficient claims process. But they’re dissatisfied with the consistent and sometimes significant price increases, even for those with clean driving records.
Travelers is the sixth-largest insurer in the U.S. by market share and has been in business for more than 150 years. The company sells auto, homeowners, renters, flood, pet, and other types of insurance. In addition to standard auto coverages, like liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, Travelers offers gap insurance, accident forgiveness, new car replacement, and more optional coverages. Drivers can save with numerous discounts, including for bundling policies or insuring a new car. Travelers’ IntelliDrive program rewards policyholders with up to a 30% discount for safe driving.
Accident forgiveness available
Offers discount for hybrid and electric cars
A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Rideshare coverage not available in all states
High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau
Higher-than-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Liberty Mutual RightTrack vs. Travelers IntelliDrive
When you sign up for Liberty Mutual RightTrack, you’ll automatically earn a 10% discount. After you sign up, you’ll download the RightTrack mobile app and track your driving for 90 days. Once you’ve completed the program, Liberty Mutual will determine your final score and potentially apply an additional discount to your insurance policy.
IntelliDrive from Travelers also rewards safe driving and could earn you a discount of up to 30%. While you’re driving, the mobile app measures your speed, acceleration, and braking. It also tracks the time of day when you drive. The app will collect your driving information for 90 days and use it to determine the type of discount you qualify for.
Liberty Mutual vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?
The companies have similar average car insurance rates for U.S. drivers. However, Travelers has cheaper average liability coverage, at $99 per month. Liberty Mutual is the cheaper insurer for full-coverage insurance, with a monthly average of $218.
The amount you’ll pay depends on various factors, including your ZIP code, age, credit history, driving record, and marital status.
Travelers: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
Good drivers pay the lowest rates for auto insurance compared to people with a history of speeding tickets or accidents. Travelers is the cheapest liability insurance option for people with a good driving history.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $161 | $99 |
Travelers: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
You can expect to see your insurance rates increase after even one speeding ticket since your insurer will view you as a higher-risk driver than someone with a clean driving record. The amount your rates increase will depend on the severity of the ticket and your insurer.
Compare average liability auto insurance quotes from Travelers and Liberty Mutual below.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $204 | $129 |
Travelers: Cheapest for teen drivers
Your age is one of the most important factors insurance companies use to determine what you pay for auto insurance. Teens and other young drivers always pay the highest rates due to their lack of experience behind the wheel.
You can find average quotes from Liberty Mutual and Travelers in the following table.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $276 | $225 |
Travelers: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Most states allow insurance companies to consider your credit history when evaluating you for car insurance. Data has shown that drivers with poor credit are more likely to file an insurance claim, so people with poor credit typically pay higher car insurance rates.
Compare average liability quotes below.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $186 | $121 |
Travelers: Cheapest for senior drivers
Seniors often pay slightly higher car insurance rates than middle-aged drivers due to aging-related risk factors. Middle-aged drivers benefit from lower rates.
Here are the average quotes for senior drivers in the U.S. from Liberty Mutual and Travelers.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $131 | $73 |
Compare coverages: Liberty Mutual vs. Travelers
Liberty Mutual and Travelers both provide standard coverage options, including bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Both companies offer gap insurance and accident forgiveness, making each one a good option for drivers after an accident.
Liberty Mutual offers a few additional services, including a deductible fund that decreases your deductible by $100 every year you go without filing a claim. Compare coverage options below.
Coverage | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Gap insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Rental reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Better car replacement | Yes | No |
| New car replacement | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible fund | Yes | No |
Compare discounts: Liberty Mutual vs. Travelers
Auto insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who meet different criteria, like purchasing multiple insurance policies with the same company. Discounts are one of the best ways you can save money on car insurance.
While Liberty Mutual and Travelers offer similar discounts, they vary slightly. Unlike Liberty Mutual, Travelers has discounts that reward drivers for taking a defensive driving course and buying a new car. Liberty Mutual offers a discount to military members, which Travelers doesn’t offer.
The following table outlines the discounts both insurance companies offer.
Discount | Liberty Mutual | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | No | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | No | No |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | No | No |
| New car | No | Yes |
| Military | Yes | No |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty | No | Yes |
| Auto pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student away at school | Yes | Yes |
| Homeowner | Yes | Yes |
| Alternative fuel | No | Yes |
Liberty Mutual vs. Travelers FAQs
Liberty Mutual and Travelers both offer unique benefits to different types of drivers. If you’re still unsure which option works best for your situation, the following information may help you make an informed decision.
Is Travelers the same as Liberty Mutual?
No. The companies have some similarities, but Travelers and Liberty Mutual are two different insurance companies. Both companies are national insurers selling coverage throughout the country.
Is Travelers Insurance a reputable company?
Yes. Travelers is a reputable company founded in 1865, making it one of the oldest insurers. The company received a below-average score in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, but it has an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best, which indicates financial strength. Travelers has a strong reputation with customers.
Who is Travelers Insurance’s biggest competitor?
Travelers’ biggest competitors include Liberty Mutual, Allstate, GEICO, and State Farm. In particular, State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the U.S., accounting for a large share of the auto insurance market. State Farm has a higher IQ Score of 9.3 out of 10.
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Allstate Insurance Review: 7,574+ User Ratings
Sources
- J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Shopping and Switch Rates Reach New Highs as Premiums Surge, J.D. Power Finds."
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "2022 Property and Casualty Market Sare."
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Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
Jamie has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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