about Amica

In 1907, a Rhode Island businessman named A.T. Vigneron anticipated that horseless carriages were going to revolutionize American society. He founded a small auto insurance company in Providence with two founding principles: The firm would seek out responsible policyholders, and it would treat them with respect by providing the best customer service possible. With that, the Automobile Mutual Insurance Company of America – or Amica – was born. Like the automotive industry, the company grew steadily and so did the need for broader insurance coverage for its policyholders. A sister company, Factory Mutual Liability Insurance Company of America, was organized and began operating in 1921. The two companies would continue to work side by side for more than 50 years, until they merged in 1973.

From the start, the companies' mutual insurance model created a different kind of workplace. The focus at Amica was on policyholders and their interests, not stockholders. New employees were quickly trained in the "Amica way" of providing efficient and respectful service. In addition, policyholders received dividends, which were first declared in 1908 and have been paid on most policies every year since. The companies' sound and conservative investment policies kept them grounded during the stock market crash of 1929 and the depression years that followed. In fact, gratifying gains were made even during those difficult years, especially in the increasing number of policyholders.

These growing pains prompted several changes: adding a branch office system in the 1940s, issuing homeowners coverage in the mid-1950s, and later expanding to marine and personal umbrella liability coverages. In 1968, Amica Life Insurance Company was founded and became a wholly owned Amica Mutual subsidiary. Incorporated to provide policyholders with a trusted source for their life insurance needs, Amica Life continues to thrive in the competitive life insurance field and offers a full range of services. During the last 30 years, several additional companies were created to address the insurance needs of our growing customer base. Amica Lloyd's of Texas; Amica Property and Casualty Company, Inc.; The Amica General Agency, Inc.; and The Amica General Insurance Agency of California, Inc. all contribute to meeting our customers' needs. Today, Amica is the oldest mutual insurer of automobiles in the United States and has more than 3,000 employees in offices countrywide. With a century of experience behind us, Amica and its generations of employees are committed to the rock-solid foundation of our success: exceptional service to policyholders.