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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, State Auto offers more affordable premiums than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than State Auto Insurance
• State Auto has less expensive prices for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record

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

So, you're thinking about 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've maybe even narrowed your search down to AAA or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which company has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, State Auto has average rates that are about 18% per month less expensive than those from AAA when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean State Auto will be the more affordable option for each driver. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if AAA or State Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

AAA or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and State Auto only compete against each other in three states, with AAA offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Wisconsin, State Auto is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. AAA is the cheaper option in Illinois and Texas.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have AAA for their auto insurance pay nearly $45 less than those who use State Auto.

However, both companies will drop premiums by the time you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. AAA's average prices reduce almost 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest car insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? State Auto gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $167 per month compared to AAA's $238.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover multiple cars, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, State Auto is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $42 a month more affordable than AAA, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - State Auto has the edge when it comes to average rates.

AAA vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

On average, men see premiums nearly $35 per month higher with AAA, and around $25 with State Auto.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, State Auto comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $60 a month and women save about $50 with State Auto compared to the average AAA policyholder.

AAA or State Auto: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Auto normally offers less expensive prices of $149 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies around $90 per month cheaper than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is AAA or State Auto less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 State Auto typically raises premiums about $48 per month, on average.

That being said, State Auto has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $43 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $81 per month with State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with AAA climbing by just under $150. State Auto has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly $100 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, State Auto offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $269 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while AAA will usually raise premiums by around 47%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, State Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $380 monthly compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and State Auto Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with AAA for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 5% compared to State Auto, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from State Auto -- about $19 or 8% cheaper than AAA every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower rates than AAA when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $42 a month less with State Auto compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $186 a month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on your monthly prices? Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for AAA, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, State Auto is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Auto normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State Auto offers rates about $317 monthly compared to AAA's $384. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $236 per month for State Auto and $301 for AAA. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $225 and $256 for State Auto and AAA respectively.

AAA vs. State Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by AAA and State Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

AAA knocks State Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, drivesharp discounts, and more that State Auto does not.

On the flip side, State Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, advantage program discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

State Auto might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Aaa offers the most).
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare AAA and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just AAA and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. State Auto FAQs

Is AAA or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, State Auto is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $259 a month compared to $314 for AAA. Even so, State Auto won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, State Auto offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while AAA is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do AAA and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, age, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both AAA and State Auto calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AAA or State Auto 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.