AAA vs. Emc: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Emc offers significantly cheaper premiums than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than EMC Insurance
• Emc offers more affordable average prices for couples purchasing insurance together

AAA vs. Emc: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to AAA or Emc as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Emc has average rates that are about 75% per month more affordable than those from AAA.

Even so, that doesn't mean Emc will necessarily be less expensive than AAA for every driver. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both AAA and Emc by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

AAA or Emc: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and Emc only compete against each other in Nebraska, where Emc offers the cheaper average premiums. For Nebraska residents, Emc offers insurance for $71 per month on average. AAA's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $346 a month.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Emc for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use AAA.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for AAA policyholders lower nearly 60% and Emc's rates drop almost 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between AAA and Emc? Emc gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $48 monthly compared to AAA's $238.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Emc is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $287 a month cheaper than AAA, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Emc is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $200 per month.

AAA vs. Emc: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

On average, women see premiums over 10% a month less with AAA, while with Emc, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Emc comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $256 a month and women save around $229 with Emc compared to the average AAA policyholder.

AAA or Emc: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Emc normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $24 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Emc again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month more affordable than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or Emc Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- AAA or Emc -- has the lowest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $86 a month if they get a ticket, while Emc typically raises premiums around $3 per month, on average.

That being said, Emc is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering prices that are 69% and 77% more affordable, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Emc will see about a $7 increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Emc, with monthly prices averaging $74 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, AAA increases average rates by just under $200 a month -- that's over a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Emc tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $74 per month compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Emc Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Emc. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 70% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $183 or 74% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Emc typically offers lower premiums than AAA when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $234 per month less with Emc compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $447 a month.

Is AAA or Emc Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly rates. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

Emc tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Emc's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 79% cheaper than AAA. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around 75% less with Emc over AAA.

AAA vs. Emc: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Emc normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but Emc comes out on top with average premiums about $68 monthly. Emc also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 80% and 76% a month respective difference when compared to AAA drivers in similar areas.

AAA vs. Emc Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and Emc offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

AAA blows Emc away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 more discounts than Emc.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Emc does not.

On the flip side, Emc has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or Emc Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Emc might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and Emc. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just AAA and Emc. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

AAA vs. Emc FAQs

Is AAA or Emc cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Emc is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $71 per month compared to $314 for AAA. But Emc won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or Emc?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do AAA and Emc offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both AAA and Emc calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if AAA or Emc is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be AAA or Emc at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.