Mendota Insurance (Citadel Partners Group) auto insurance

Overview

"Citadel Partners Group" is the name under which the NAIC reports a small family of nonstandard auto insurers: Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company. Drivers know the business as Mendota Insurance. The group ranked #86 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $183.1 million in auto premium and a 0.05% national share.

Mendota says its auto coverage is designed "for a broad range of drivers including those who may have difficulty obtaining insurance from other sources" — the higher-risk market of drivers with tickets, accidents, lapses in coverage or thin insurance histories. It sells exclusively through independent agents and is based in the Nashville area, with offices in Brentwood, Tennessee.

The mix of its premium fits that market. NAIC 2025 figures show that only about a quarter of the group's auto premium was physical damage (collision and comprehensive); the rest was liability coverage, typical of drivers buying state-minimum policies. Nevada is one of its larger markets: the group was the tenth-largest writer of private passenger auto liability coverage in Nevada in 2025, with about 2% of that market.

History

Mendota says it has provided private passenger auto insurance since 1989. In January 2007, when it was based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and owned by The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Canada's Kingsway Financial Services agreed to buy it. At the time Kingsway described Mendota as a dedicated nonstandard auto operation licensed in 43 states, active in 20, with about $175 million of nonstandard auto premium in 2006.

In July 2018 Kingsway agreed to sell Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company to Premier Holdings, LLC. The sale closed on October 18, 2018; Kingsway's filing with the SEC shows the buyers as Premier Holdings, LLC and Advantage Auto MGA, LLC, for an aggregate price of $28.6 million, and the deal included Mendota's agencies, among them Advantage Auto, Inc. Mendota's website still describes the company as a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Holdings and uses Advantage Auto systems for its agent and policyholder portals.

The newest change is the Citadel Partners name. Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance scheduled a hearing for November 19, 2025, on the proposed acquisition of Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company by Citadel Partners Limited Liability Protected Cell, LLC, and the NAIC's 2025 market share report lists the three companies under the group name Citadel Partners Group. Little public information is available about Citadel Partners itself.

Auto insurance coverage

Mendota's website gives little product detail; coverage is "tailored to your specific needs" by the agent who writes the policy. Its claims FAQ notes that only some policies include rental reimbursement, so check your declarations page before you need a rental, and that repairs may use OEM parts or certified non-OEM (aftermarket) parts.

Mendota's agency-appointment form lists Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas, so availability is limited to those states at most. If you need an SR-22 or other state filing after a suspension or DUI, confirm with the agent that Mendota will file it in your state; see SR-22 insurance explained.

Discounts and programs

Mendota does not publish a discount list or offer a telematics program. In the nonstandard market, price is usually driven by the driver's record, the state minimum limits chosen and the payment plan, so ask the agent to compare Mendota's quote with other nonstandard carriers such as those described in nonstandard auto insurers.

Claims

Claims can be reported 24 hours a day by calling 771-210-4000 or online through Mendota's claims portal, reached from the policyholder page at mendota-ins.com. Policyholders can also use the My Mendota app for iOS and Android, and pay or view policy documents through the policyholder portal.

Mendota's claims FAQ advises reporting promptly, even if you do not yet have every detail; having your policy number, the accident date, a description, the other driver's vehicle information, witness contacts and any police report speeds things up. Glass damage should be reported before you authorize repairs, because Mendota negotiates the price with the shop you choose. Whether a damaged car is repaired or declared a total loss depends on the damage, the vehicle's age and state law.

Ratings and reputation

No current financial strength rating from AM Best appears on Mendota's site. Demotech, which previously rated Mendota Insurance Company and Mendakota Insurance Company, withdrew its Financial Stability Ratings for both on April 8, 2025. Shoppers who want a rated carrier should ask the agent for the insurer's current rating; see AM Best ratings explained.

Mendota is not included among the regional leaders in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Because ownership has changed several times, it is worth checking the complaint record of the specific Mendota or Mendakota company named on your policy through the NAIC's consumer insurance search or your state insurance department.

Who it suits

Mendota serves drivers who have trouble getting a standard policy and who want an independent agent to place the coverage. It offers 24/7 claims reporting and a mobile app. The trade-offs are thin public information, no published discounts and no current rating from the firms that used to rate it.

• Strengths: Built for drivers other insurers decline; long history in nonstandard auto since 1989; 24/7 phone and online claims reporting; My Mendota app.
• Weaknesses: No current AM Best or Demotech rating (Demotech withdrew its ratings in April 2025); little coverage or discount detail published; available only in the states where it appoints agents; several ownership changes since 2007.

How to contact Mendota Insurance (Citadel Partners Group)