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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Allstate offers significantly more affordable premiums than State Auto
• Allstate offers more affordable prices for drivers who have below-average credit
• Allstate has cheaper premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

Allstate or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Allstate or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto is around $60 more a month than Allstate.

However, Allstate may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Allstate vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and State Auto compete against each other in eight states, with Allstate offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in North Dakota, State Auto is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average prices. Allstate is the less expensive option in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

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 Allstate for their insurance pay almost 40% less than those who use State Auto.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Allstate still has the most affordable prices at $167 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Allstate and State Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Allstate gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $15 more affordable than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are generally less expensive for married drivers than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married policyholders having several vehicles on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Allstate rates coming in at about 30% less than State Auto's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Allstate has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Allstate or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see rates around 4% per month higher with Allstate, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Allstate comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices 25% less for men and 21% cheaper for women.

Allstate vs. 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Allstate has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $108. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Allstate again has the edge, with policies averaging about $289 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is Allstate or State Auto 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.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Allstate or State Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

Even so, Allstate tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Allstate, drivers with a clean record can save around $14 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $35 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under $75, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Allstate end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $229 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, State Auto increases average rates by more than $200 a month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Allstate tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $227 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for several policyholders.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Allstate will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Allstate comes in over 25.26 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 25% with Allstate compared to average rates from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 23% per month less with Allstate compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 22% per month.

Is Allstate 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 sizable impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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 Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Allstate is the more affordable carrier.

Allstate or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Allstate boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Allstate's average premiums are around $222 a month compared to State Auto's $317. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $199 with Allstate compared to $236 with State Auto. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $174 monthly with Allstate and $225 with State Auto.

Allstate vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

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 carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Allstate and State Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Allstate blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Allstate also offers discounts for agency transfer, alert driving, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, employee discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Allstate or State Auto the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You have a short commute.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Allstate and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Allstate and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Allstate or State Auto cheaper?

Allstate is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $199 per month with Allstate and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Allstate and State Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and State Auto calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or State Auto at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.