Travelers
Travelers Accident Forgiveness 2026: Responsible Driver Plans
Short answer
Travelers packages Accident Forgiveness inside two optional products: the Standard Responsible Driver Plan (Accident Forgiveness + Minor Violation Forgiveness) and the Premier Responsible Driver Plan (adds Decreasing Deductible and Total Loss Deductible Waiver). Travelers publishes that these benefits are not available in all states, including California, and that eligibility is reviewed by your local independent agent or Travelers representative1.
What determines whether it actually helps you
- Which plan. Standard covers forgiveness; Premier adds deductible benefits1.
- Your state. Not available in all states; California excluded1.
- Household record. Travelers reviews accidents and violations for all drivers on the policy1.
- Pre-existing accidents. Pre-existing events are not retroactively forgiven.
- Switch to another carrier. The benefit stays with Travelers; the next carrier re-rates your DMV record.
Four Travelers Accident Forgiveness situations
| Situation | What the rule is | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Responsible Driver Plan | Travelers publishes a Standard Responsible Driver Plan that includes Accident Forgiveness and Minor Violation Forgiveness. These optional features help avoid a premium increase following your first covered accident or your first minor violation. | Both forgiveness benefits apply to the first covered event only.1 |
| Premier Responsible Driver Plan | Travelers publishes a Premier Responsible Driver Plan that adds Decreasing Deductible and Total Loss Deductible Waiver on top of the Standard plan. | The Premier plan carries a higher add-on cost than Standard. Confirm the delta at quote time.1 |
| Eligibility review | Travelers publishes that your local independent agent or Travelers representative reviews your driving record, along with accidents and violations for other drivers in your household, to determine eligibility. | Household driving record matters, not just the named insured.1 |
| California exclusion | Travelers publishes that Accident Forgiveness, Minor Violation Forgiveness, Decreasing Deductible, and Total Loss Deductible Waiver are not available in all states, including California. | California drivers price the equivalent protection with carriers that do sell first-accident protection in-state.1 |
Standard vs Premier Responsible Driver Plan
Travelers publishes two levels of the Responsible Driver Plan1:
- Standard Responsible Driver Plan. Includes Accident Forgiveness (first covered accident) and Minor Violation Forgiveness (first minor violation).
- Premier Responsible Driver Plan. Everything in Standard, plus Decreasing Deductible (reduces your deductible for each claim-free period) and Total Loss Deductible Waiver (no deductible on total-loss claims).
The Premier plan carries a higher add-on cost than Standard; the delta is state-filed and shown at quote time. The business decision is whether Decreasing Deductible plus Total Loss Deductible Waiver are worth the premium bump for your driving profile.
How Travelers decides eligibility
Travelers publishes that eligibility for the Responsible Driver Plan is reviewed by your local independent agent or Travelers representative, who looks at your driving record and the accidents and violations for other drivers in your household1. In practice, a household with multiple at-fault accidents on record may not qualify for the forgiveness benefits, even if the named insured has a clean record.
Travelers also publishes a Safe Driver Discount separately, which is a premium reduction for a clean record. The Safe Driver Discount is a discount; the Responsible Driver Plan is forgiveness-as-add-on coverage. The two can coexist on the same policy.
State availability
Travelers publishes that Accident Forgiveness, Minor Violation Forgiveness, Decreasing Deductible, and Total Loss Deductible Waiver are not available in all states, including California1. California drivers can price the equivalent protection with carriers that do sell first-accident protection in-state. See our GEICO and Progressive breakdowns for comparable products.
What to do with Travelers Accident Forgiveness today
Confirm availability in your ZIP
Travelers publishes that the benefits are not sold in every state. Confirm with the Travelers agent or representative in your area.
Choose Standard or Premier
Standard carries forgiveness benefits only; Premier adds deductible benefits. Price both.
Share the full household record
Travelers reviews the full household driving history for eligibility; be prepared to provide it at quote time.
Compare the add-on cost against the typical surcharge
Our accident impact calculator estimates the surcharge the add-on blocks.
If excluded, price other carriers
Our GEICO, Progressive, and Allstate pages compare the same mechanic at different carriers.
Comparing first-accident protection across carriers? Pull quotes side by side.
Compare car insurance quotesYesWeSure may receive compensation when readers use quote-comparison links. Compensation does not influence the carrier facts on this page or the sources cited above. See our advertiser disclosure and editorial standards.
Common follow-up questions
How does Travelers Accident Forgiveness work?
Travelers publishes Accident Forgiveness as part of the Responsible Driver Plans (Standard or Premier). When included, your rate is protected from the premium increase that would otherwise follow your first covered accident.
What is the difference between Standard and Premier Responsible Driver Plans?
Both include Accident Forgiveness and Minor Violation Forgiveness. The Premier plan adds Decreasing Deductible and Total Loss Deductible Waiver for additional protection.
In which states is Travelers Accident Forgiveness unavailable?
Travelers publishes that the Responsible Driver Plan benefits are not available in all states, including California. Confirm availability in your ZIP with your Travelers agent or representative.
How does Travelers decide if I qualify?
Travelers publishes that eligibility is reviewed by your local independent agent or Travelers representative. They look at your driving record along with accidents and violations for other drivers in your household.
Does Travelers also offer a safe driver discount?
Yes. Travelers publishes a Safe Driver Discount separately from the Responsible Driver Plans. The Safe Driver Discount is a premium reduction for a clean record; the Responsible Driver Plan includes forgiveness benefits as add-on coverage.
Sources
- Travelers: Accident Forgiveness Car Insurance (Standard and Premier Responsible Driver Plans; Accident Forgiveness, Minor Violation Forgiveness, Decreasing Deductible, Total Loss Deductible Waiver; not available in all states, including California) (Travelers)
- Travelers: Safe Driver Discount (separate discount for safe-driving history) (Travelers)
- Travelers: Why Are Auto Insurance Premiums Increasing (surcharge mechanics and how forgiveness blocks the increase) (Travelers)
Travelers terms and state availability may change. Confirm current eligibility and pricing with Travelers at quote time. Last reviewed .