Safeco vs. Travelers: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Travelers’ customizable coverage and robust discounts earn it an IQ Score of 4.3, higher than Safeco’s 3.8.

Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken
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  • 12+ years writing about insurance and personal finance

Emily is a widely recognized expert on personal finance and has authored several personal finance books. She’s a frequent guest on national and regional media.

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Danny Smith
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Danny Smith
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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.

Updated March 26, 2024

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Safeco and Travelers are two national insurance companies with long histories in the insurance industry. Safeco, a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, offers competitive average rates but a limited number of add-on coverages. Travelers, on the other hand, has a robust selection of coverage options, but it receives mostly negative reviews on Trustpilot.

To determine whether Safeco, Travelers, or another insurer is right for you, it’s important to compare each company. Look at everything from rates and discounts to customer service and coverage options so you can make an informed decision.

Quick Facts
  • Drivers insured with Safeco can save 10% instantly by enrolling in the RightTrack telematics program.

  • Budget-minded consumers will find more discounts with Travelers but lower average rates with Safeco.

  • Travelers offers gap insurance and rideshare coverage (in select markets), while Safeco doesn’t.

Safeco vs. Travelers: The verdict

Drivers can get auto insurance coverage through either Safeco or Travelers, but each of these insurers has different strengths and weaknesses. Travelers offers far more discount options, but Safeco’s average rates are lower, whether you have a clean driving record or some incidents in your history.

Customers looking for more coverage options may want to check Travelers, however, as this insurer has more add-ons available than Safeco. Here’s how each insurer stacks up.

FactorSafecoTravelers
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score3.84.3
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score801 out of 1,000806 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$66$90
Number of available discounts312
Number of states where it operates5042
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

Safeco

Though Safeco doesn’t have a robust list of coverages or discounts, it makes up for that with competitive prices. Its safe driver program, RightTrack, can also be a great way for good drivers to maximize their savings.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.7
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
825
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.
$66/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.
$124/mo

Owned by Liberty Mutual, Safeco offers car, homeowners, renters, pet, and other insurance products. The company has been in busines since 1923, and provides new vehicle replacement coverage, rental car reimbursement, liability, and full-coverage policies. Safeco’s money-saving programs include accident forgiveness, a diminishing deductible, and a cash back program for customers who remain claims-free for six months. The company has an average amount of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index, and placed 13th on the J.D. Powers’ Overall Customer Satisfaction Index. A.M. Best gives Safeco a score of A for financial stability.

Pros
  • Pays cash back to customers who remain claims-free

  • Many options for customizing car insurance

Cons
  • Limited number of discounts

  • Customer reviews indicate room for improvement in customer service

Glen - March 22, 2024
Verified

Great until...

SAFECO has been my insurer since we moved to Las Vegas in 2010. Their customer service has been great. I haven't had a claim against them since my wife was tragically killed in an auto accident in 2014, which they handled magnificently. If their rates hadn't skyrocketed, I'd stay with them.

Kurt - March 19, 2024
Verified

Good Until They're Not

I have been with them for over 20 years, never missing a payment. However, I got sick for a few months and missed two payments. Consequently, they decided to drop me and would not renew my policy. Moreover, they did not inform me that my policy was being canceled.

Duane - March 3, 2024
Verified

Looking for Something Cheaper, I Check Every 3 Years

Good.
Read our Safeco review

Travelers

Drivers looking to customize their coverage may want to check out Travelers since this insurer offers several coverage add-ons that can help make your policy the right size for your needs. Policyholders also have access to a mobile app and 24/7 customer service, as well as a number of generous discounts.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
829
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.
$90/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.
$198/mo

Travelers has been in business for more than 165 years. Today, the company sells auto insurance, homeowners, renters, flood, pet, and other types of insurance. In addition to liability and full-coverage car insurance, Travelers offers gap insurance, rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, rideshare insurance, new car replacement coverage, and more. Policyholders can save with a number of discounts, including for bundling multiple policies, safe driving, paying in full, student discounts, and more. Travelers has fewer complaints than expected with the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. A.M. Best gives the company an A++ for financial strength.

Pros
  • Accident forgiveness available

  • Robust coverage selections and discount offerings

Cons
  • Rideshare coverage only available in Colorado and Illinois

  • High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau

Jeffrey - March 23, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Fast.

Lisa - March 14, 2024
Verified

Long-term customer with minor rate reduction

The premium is too much for what I need.

Abbas Ali - March 12, 2024
Verified

Hiding the Facts

They require you to install the telematics app on your phone to monitor your driving for 90 days, after which I was supposed to receive up to a 20% discount. I scored very high and was told the discount would be applied when I renew next year. This was absolutely untrue.
Read our Travelers review

Safeco RightTrack vs. Travelers IntelliDrive

Both Safeco and Travelers offer a telematics program allowing safe drivers to save money.

Drivers who sign up for Safeco’s RightTrack receive an instant 10% discount just for enrolling and can save up to 30% with safe driving. The program requires you to download Safeco’s mobile phone app. The app will monitor your driving for 90 days and use that information to assign you a score based on your behavior on the road.

While the discount you receive at the end of the 90-day period is guaranteed for the life of your policy, it may be less than the initial 10% discount you received for signing up. If that’s the case, Safeco will bill you for the difference.[1]

Enrolling in the Travelers IntelliDrive program can also score you a discount of up to 10% (depending on your state). Like Safeco’s program, IntelliDrive requires you to download the mobile app, which will monitor your driving for 90 days to determine your discount rate when you renew.

You may be able to save up to 30% with IntelliDrive — but using this telematics program could also result in a higher premium if the app clocks you engaging in unsafe driving behavior.[2]

How Does Usage-Based Insurance Work?

How Does Usage-Based Insurance Work?

Safeco vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?

The cheapest car insurance rates for your specific needs will vary from insurer to insurer. A number of factors influence your premium costs, including your age, marital status, credit score, location, and driving history. The best way to find the lowest rates is to shop around.

Insurify has found the average rate for Safeco’s auto insurance premiums is cheaper than Travelers’, even though Travelers has better discounts. This is true for every type of driver, including drivers with poor credit scores, drivers with a DUI, and other high-risk drivers.

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Safeco: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

People with a clean driving record usually enjoy the lowest rates offered by any insurance company. Good drivers will find that Safeco’s full-coverage and liability-only rates for people with clean records are cheaper than Travelers’ premium rates.

Driver TypeSafecoTravelers
Clean driving record$66$90
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Safeco: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Drivers who have a speeding ticket on their record will pay more than people with clean driving records, but Safeco has lower rates for these types of high-risk drivers for both full-coverage insurance and liability insurance policies.

Driver TypeSafecoTravelers
Drivers with a speeding ticket$92$107
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Safeco: Cheapest for teen drivers

Because of their inexperience behind the wheel, young drivers generally have the highest insurance rates of any driver. Safeco’s rates for teen drivers beat Travelers in this category as well.

Driver TypeSafecoTravelers
18-year-old$119$164
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Safeco: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Depending on what state you live in, auto insurers may partially base your premium rates on your credit score since drivers with poor credit are statistically more likely to make claims. If you have bad credit, Safeco has cheaper rates for you than Travelers.

Driver TypeSafecoTravelers
Drivers with bad credit$70$99
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Safeco: Cheapest for senior drivers

Drivers in their 70s may find their auto insurance rates going up since senior drivers may experience slower reflexes and other declines that affect their driving. Safeco’s rates are also less expensive for older drivers than Travelers’ rates for the same age group.

Driver TypeSafecoTravelers
Senior drivers$58$68
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Safeco vs. Travelers

Both Safeco and Travelers offer the kinds of coverage that generally comprise “liability-only” policy offerings: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. These pay for damages to another party if you’re at fault in an accident.

In addition, both insurers offer personal injury protection, which pays for your medical expenses if you’re at fault in an accident, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which pays out if a driver without adequate insurance causes an accident. Both types of coverage may be optional or mandatory, depending on your state.

Finally, both Safeco and Travelers offer collision insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle if you cause an accident, and comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle from anything other than a collision. These coverages are never legally required, although lenders or lease agreements may require them.

However, though Safeco and Travelers both offer other optional coverages, Travelers has a more robust list of these add-ons.[3] [4]

CoverageSafecoTravelers
Gap insuranceNoYes
Rental coverageYesYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
New car replacementYesYes
Accident forgivenessYesYes
Rideshare coverageNoYes (in CO and IL only)

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Compare discounts: Safeco vs. Travelers

Travelers far outstrips Safeco in discounts. With Safeco, you can save money by bundling several insurance products with your car insurance, like life insurance and homeowners insurance, as well as access discounts for multi-car policies and for safe driving. However, Travelers has a robust list of less common discounts, including affiliation, homeowner, and good student discounts.[5] [6]

But just because Travelers offers various discounts doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the cheaper option of the two insurers. Remember that the average monthly cost of Travelers insurance across the entire United States is $198 for full coverage and $90 for liability-only, while Safeco’s average monthly cost is $124 for full coverage and $66 for liability-only coverage.

DiscountSafecoTravelers
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carNoYes
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentNoYes
LoyaltyNoYes
Auto payNoYes
Student away at schoolNoYes
HomeownerNoYes
Alternative fuelNoYes

Safeco vs. Travelers FAQs

If you’re trying to decide between Safeco and Travelers car insurance coverage, here are answers to some of the most common questions about these insurers.

  • Is Safeco owned by Travelers?

    No. Travelers and Safeco aren’t affiliated with each other. However, Safeco is owned by the Liberty Mutual Group.

  • Is Travelers a reliable insurance company?

    Yes. Travelers has an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior), which means the company has the highest possible financial stability.[7] Policyholders can feel confident in Travelers’ financial strength and that the company has the reserves to pay its claims.

    However, Travelers has primarily negative reviews on Trustpilot, with many complaints about the claims process.[8]

  • Is Safeco insurance good or bad?

    It depends on what kind of driver you are and what kind of policy you’re looking for. Safeco offers inexpensive auto insurance to drivers looking for basic coverage. It doesn’t offer as many discounts or coverage options as other insurers. This company may be a good fit for some drivers, but it might be a bad fit for someone trying to customize their coverage.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. Safeco. "RightTrack." Accessed January 10, 2024
  2. Travelers. "IntelliDrive®." Accessed January 10, 2024
  3. Safeco. "Car insurance coverages." Accessed January 10, 2024
  4. Travelers. "Types of Car Insurance Coverages." Accessed January 10, 2024
  5. Travelers Insurance. "Car Insurance Discounts." Accessed January 11, 2024
  6. Safeco. "Discounts." Accessed January 11, 2024
  7. Ambest.com. "AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and Most Subsidiaries." Accessed January 11, 2024
  8. Trustpilot. "Travelers Reviews." Accessed January 11, 2024
Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.

Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.

She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.

Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.

Danny Smith
Edited byDanny Smith
Photo of an Insurify author
Danny Smith
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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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