Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Alfa Alliance offers cheaper rates than Penn National
• Alfa Alliance has more affordable prices for residents of urban areas
• Penn National offers more affordable premiums for residents of suburban areas

Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering considerable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Alfa Alliance or Penn National, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Alfa Alliance is about $24 per month less expensive than Penn National.

However, Alfa Alliance may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Alfa Alliance and Penn National by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Alfa Alliance or Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Alfa Alliance and Penn National only compete against each other in Virginia, where Penn National offers the cheaper average premiums. For Virginia residents, Penn National offers auto insurance for $154 per month on average. Alfa Alliance's average rates come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $194 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. Typically, 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 that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Alfa Alliance save more than $200 a month compared to those who use Penn National.

That being said, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Alfa Alliance policyholders drop nearly 15% and Penn National's prices decrease almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Alfa Alliance and Penn National specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Alfa Alliance gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $155 monthly compared to Penn National's $163. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for those who are single. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Alfa Alliance is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $42 per month cheaper than Penn National, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Penn National save around 1% a month.

Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men generally pay more for insurance than women.

Women typically pay about 1% per month less than men with Alfa Alliance, and around 2% less with Penn National.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Alfa Alliance offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $25 less for men and $21 cheaper for women.

Alfa Alliance or Penn National: 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. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Alfa Alliance typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $103 compared to Penn National's $144. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Alfa Alliance again has the edge, with policies about $6 a month more affordable than Penn National, on average.

Is Alfa Alliance or Penn National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Alfa Alliance or Penn National -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Alfa Alliance policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $23 per month if they get a ticket, while Penn National generally raises premiums around $40 a month, on average.

But Alfa Alliance tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 23% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 27% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Alfa Alliance can expect to see about an $55 -- or around 34% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Penn National for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $67 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Alfa Alliance end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $162 compared to Penn National Insurance's $206.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Alfa Alliance drivers usually see a 72% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Penn National will usually increase rates by around 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Penn National tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $346 a month compared to $378 from Alfa Alliance.

How does Credit Score Impact Alfa Alliance and Penn National Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car 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.

Looking specifically at Penn National and Alfa Alliance, which one has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Alfa Alliance or Penn National 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 premiums. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Alfa Alliance or Penn National report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Alfa Alliance comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average premiums of $194 per month for both.

Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Alfa Alliance boasts the most affordable average prices in rural and urban areas, while Penn National wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Alfa Alliance Insurance's average rates are about 27% less than Penn National Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 9% less with Penn National compared to Alfa Alliance. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 10% with Alfa Alliance compared to Penn National.

Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Alfa Alliance and Penn National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Penn National knocks Alfa Alliance out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 16 different discounts to Alfa Alliance's 16.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, mature driver discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Penn National also offers ABS discounts, added pip option discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Alfa Alliance does not.

On the flip side, Alfa Alliance has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and intra-agency transfer discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Alfa Alliance or Penn National Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Alfa Alliance might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Penn National might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Penn National offers the most).
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Alfa Alliance and Penn National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Alfa Alliance vs. Penn National FAQs

Is Alfa Alliance or Penn National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Alfa Alliance is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $194 a month compared to $218 for Penn National. Even so, Alfa Alliance won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Alfa Alliance or Penn National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Penn National offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Alfa Alliance is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Alfa Alliance and Penn National offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as where you live, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Alfa Alliance and Penn National calculate premiums 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 variety of different companies.

How do I know if Alfa Alliance or Penn National is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Alfa Alliance or Penn National 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.