Titan is an affiliate of the Nationwide Insurance Company and markets itself as a discount car insurance provider. Boasting rates as low as $1 per day, Titan offers both personal and commercial vehicle insurance. The organization was founded in Michigan in 1991. It allows its customers to purchase insurance over the phone, through a local agent, or online. Titan’s area of focus seems to be high-risk drivers or drivers required to carry an SR-22. They offer what’s called “non-standard” insurance.
Our Rating
Pros
Discounted rates for high-risk drivers
Lots of discounts
Great for young drivers
Satisfaction Rating
Claims Rating
Shopping Rating
Offerings Rating
Stability Rating
What Does Titan Offer?
Titan is focused on providing discount insurance to high-risk drivers. But, they offer a range of coverage options from the minimum legally required coverage to full coverage. Here is a closer look at the various types of coverage available through Titan:
Liability coverage: This covers damage you may cause to others if you are at fault in an accident. Liability coverage can pay for the medical costs of those you may injure. It also covers damage to property that does not belong to you. It may cover legal expenses if someone presses charges against you.
Collision: If you hit another vehicle, are hit by another vehicle, or your vehicle rolls over, collision insurance pays for damages to your car. If you are financing or leasing your car, you may be required to carry collision insurance.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage: Let’s say you are in an accident with someone who does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle. It will cover medical costs associated with treating you or your passengers. Sometimes, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will also pay for lost wages. This varies from state to state.
Medical payment coverage: Medical payment coverage will help cover your medical bills if you are injured in a car accident.
Comprehensive coverage: This is sometimes called “non-collision coverage.” It will pay for damages to your vehicle from something other than a collision. Such damages may come from weather events or a break-in.
Mexican car insurance: Titan offers auto insurance for policyholders who are planning to drive into Mexico. It does so through the partner organization International Insurance Group, Inc.
Titan also offers the following types of additional coverage that can be added to your policy if desired.
Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance coverage allows you to call for help. This is if you are stuck on the side of the road with a problem like a flat tire or dead battery. They also help if you run out of gas or lock your keys in the car.
Towing and labor: Let’s say your car is damaged in an accident and cannot be driven to a mechanic. This coverage will pay for both the cost of having it towed and the cost of having it repaired.
Loss of use/rental reimbursement: With this on your policy, you will receive a rental car to drive while your vehicle is repaired after an accident.
Non-owner: This provides liability coverage if someone other than you is involved in an accident while driving your car. Take note that individuals who live in your household are normally covered whether or not you have non-owner coverage.
Special equipment coverage: This protects after-factory additions to your car such as tire rims or a custom stereo system.
Accident forgiveness: If you add accident forgiveness to your policy, your premium will not increase as a result of your first at-fault accident while covered by Titan.
Personal injury protection: This pays for injuries and sometimes lost wages that occur as a result of an accident. Personal injury protection is sometimes called “no-fault” coverage. This is because it is paid whether or not you were deemed to be responsible for causing the accident.
Loan/lease coverage: This pays the difference between what you might owe on your car and what it is worth in the event it is totaled. Loan/lease coverage is sometimes also called “gap coverage.”
Accidental death: Let’s say you or someone in your vehicle is killed. You are deemed to be at-fault. Accidental death coverage will pay a predetermined amount for funeral and other expenses.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts: This certifies that your car will be repaired using parts from the vehicle manufacturer after an accident. This assumes the parts are available.
Double deductible: This is a unique add-on. It doubles your deductible if a loss occurs during a certain time period. Once the time period has passed, the deductible will return to normal. Selecting this option gives you a lower insurance premium.
Finally, Titan car insurance offers a number of ways to save. The following discounts are available.
Mature driver discount: You may be eligible for policy savings if you are an experienced driver.
Accident-free discount: This lowers your premium if you maintain a safe driving record.
Military discount: Some military service members qualify for lower rates.
Multiple-car discount: You will receive a discount if you insure more than one vehicle through Titan.
Homeowner discount: You can save on your car insurance premium if you are a homeowner.
Farm use discount: Protect agricultural vehicles through Titan and receive additional savings.
Advanced quote discount: This is a discount for those who request a quote more than eight days before their existing policy expires.
Prior carrier discount: You may be eligible to save if you were covered by another standard auto insurance policy before coming to Titan.
Safety feature discounts: You will receive a discount for each of the following safety features that may be installed on your car: ABS (anti-lock) brakes, air bags, or an anti-theft device.
Good student discount: If you do well in school, you may be eligible to save on your premium.
Association membership discount: There are several clubs and organizations that are recognized by Titan. If you or your spouse are an active member of one of these associations, you will receive a discount.
Motor vehicle safety course discount: This is a savings opportunity for those who take a class to refresh their driving knowledge.
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) discount: You will receive a discount for paying your monthly bill by automatic electronic funds transfer.
A 2016 Complaint Ratio Report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that the ratio of Titan’s U.S. Market Share of closed complaints compared to the company’s U.S. Market Share of premiums was quite high at 2.06. A complaint ratio of 1.0 is considered to be average. 0.0 is considered to be very low. 2.0 is considered to be very high.
The Better Business Bureau, a non-profit that monitors U.S. business performance, gave Titan a C+ rating. An “F” rating is the worst rating possible. An “A+” rating is the best rating possible). However, there was only one complaint lodged against Titan on the Better Business Bureau website at the time of writing.
Claims Processing
Titan does not provide a step-by-step walk-through of the claims process. But, when an accident occurs they promise to work hard to process claims efficiently so that their customers can get back on the road as quickly as possible. Here are a few things to know about filing a claim with Titan.
You will need to file your claim over the phone. At this time, the company does not allow claims to be submitted online or in person. However, claims representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To make a claim, Titan recommends having the following information ready: your policyholder card number, your vehicle year, make, model and body style, and the date of the incident.
Titan recommends filing a police report after an accident to help them investigate the claim. It is also a good idea to take pictures of the car and the accident site.
Once you have started the claims process, a representative in the Claims Service Department can help with calling a tow truck if necessary, renting a car, and arranging repairs (provided these types of coverage are included in your policy).
Once your claim has been filed, you will receive a referral number that should allow you to track your claim. Throughout the process, you may call to check in on the status of your claim at any time.
If you are filing a broken windshield or glass claim, you will be connected to a representative at Safelite AutoGlass, Titan’s glass claims administrator.
Company Stability
Because Titan is a subsidiary company of Nationwide, their stability is largely tied to Nationwide’s success and interest in maintaining them as an affiliate. Titan received an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best, one of the leading insurance rating agencies in the United States. However, A.M. Best downgraded the outlook rating for Nationwide Mutual Insurance and its subsidiaries from “stable” to “negative” in October of 2017, citing unprofitable trends in underwriting performance and “exposure to natural disasters due to its expansive market presence.”
In 2014, it was announced that Nationwide planned to combine all of its subsidiaries under the Nationwide name. It appears this plan may have been abandoned since as of late 2017, Nationwide continued to operate more than 50 affiliated companies. Whether Titan is eventually rebranded or not, it is likely to remain a part of the Nationwide family of brands. Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company and is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world.
Value for Price
Although Titan markets itself as a “discount car insurance provider,” it is unlikely to offer the most affordable prices on the market for most consumers. However, drivers who are considered to be high-risk may find that Titan’s “non-standard” underwriting offers more competitive rates than other more traditional insurers.
The discount options provided by Titan can also help shoppers save. In addition to lowering rates for good students, mature drivers, and military service members, Titan offers several more unique ways to lower costs such as the farm use discount, prior carrier discount, advance quote discount, and double deductible program. Several of these savings options are uncommon in the insurance industry and especially hard to find in an insurer willing to work with high-risk drivers.
Who is this best for?
Titan’s non-standard underwriting practices allow the company to insure high-risk drivers. Combining that with the company’s discount options makes Titan an attractive option to those with less-than-stellar driving records or those who want to purchase insurance only to meet their state’s minimum coverage regulations.
Titan may be a good fit if any of the following apply to you.
You have been convicted of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated (DUI/DWI).
You received multiple traffic violations or speeding tickets in a short window of time.
You have previously been uninsured.
You were deemed to be at-fault in causing an accident while uninsured.
You are a teenager.
You have more than six points on your driving record.
You require an SR-22 (proof of financial responsibility).
What to look out for
Because Titan is a discount auto insurer, there are several features they do not offer to their policyholders. Titan customers are not able to file or track claims online, and their website does not offer a comprehensive assessment of what to expect in the claims process. Some consumers have reported that Titan continued to charge them even after their policies were cancelled, and others said the company raised rates quickly after they signed on.
Finally, if you have selected Titan as your insurance provider simply to meet minimum state requirements or to get the cheapest insurance possible with a high-risk driving record, your policy will likely provide inadequate coverage in the event of a serious or severe accident.
Conclusion
As a subsidiary of Nationwide, Titan provides non-standard insurance to high-risk drivers who face difficulty finding coverage elsewhere. Titan advertises themselves as a discount insurance provider and offers a number of unique discount options, but they are not likely to be the most affordable insurance option for those with clean driving records. Although Titan customer satisfaction ratings leave something to be desired, they offer a needed service for those with challenging driving records and customers who simply want to meet legally mandated insurance coverage minimums.
