Acuity vs. Erie: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Erie offers significantly more affordable rates than Acuity
• Acuity offers more affordable premiums for residents in Colorado and Wisconsin
• Erie has less expensive prices for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

Acuity vs. Erie: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Acuity or Erie, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Erie is quite a bit cheaper than Acuity, with rates averaging $153 per month compared to $313 with Acuity.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Acuity or Erie is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Acuity or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Acuity and Erie only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Erie prices are over 70% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Acuity.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Acuity. It's worth noting that Erie offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Acuity's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Erie offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Acuity's average premiums lower over 75% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

When looking at Acuity and Erie specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Erie gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 35% less expensive than the national average for Acuity.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $227 per month cheaper than Acuity, on average. The advantage for married couples with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 40% a month.

Acuity vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive prices.

With Acuity, women generally pay almost $20 per month less than men, and around $11 less with Erie.

Looking at overall affordability, Erie comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 51% less for men and 52% cheaper for women.

Acuity or Erie: 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers 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 limits for liability insurance, Erie normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $91 compared to Acuity's $172. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month cheaper than Acuity, on average.

Is Acuity or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Acuity policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $94 per month if they get a ticket, while Erie typically raises premiums around $18 a month, on average.

But Erie is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are $110 and $186 less expensive, respectively, compared to Acuity Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Acuity drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Erie will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, Erie offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $157 compared to Acuity Insurance's $344.

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. Acuity drivers usually see a 36% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Erie will usually raise premiums by around 40%.

Erie has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $198 per month, but it's worth noting that Erie's average rates come from 11 states compared to just two for Acuity, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Acuity and Erie Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers 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 Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 65% compared to Acuity, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $176 or 61% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower premiums than Acuity when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $166 per month less with Erie compared to Acuity, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $131 monthly.

Is Acuity or Erie 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 sizable impact on your monthly insurance cost? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Erie offers less expensive rates than Acuity. Erie's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $150 more affordable than Acuity. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $172 less with Erie over Acuity.

Acuity vs. Erie: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Erie tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Erie offers premiums around $194 a month compared to Acuity's $374. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $145 a month for Erie and $313 for Acuity. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $115 and $253 for Erie and Acuity respectively.

Acuity vs. Erie 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.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

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

Erie blows Acuity away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Acuity's nine.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Erie also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Acuity does not.

On the flip side, Acuity has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for graduating college, continuous insurance discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Acuity or Erie Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You have below-average credit.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Acuity might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Acuity and Erie and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Acuity and Erie. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Acuity vs. Erie FAQs

Is Acuity or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Erie is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $153 per month compared to $313 for Acuity. Even so, Erie won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Acuity or Erie?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Acuity and Erie offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where you park your vehicle, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Acuity and Erie calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Acuity or Erie is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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 companies 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 Acuity or Erie 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.