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

Quick Facts

• In general, American National offers significantly cheaper premiums than Erie
• American National offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs
• Erie offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. 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 be considering American National or Erie as potential options, but between the two, which company has less expensive prices for car insurance?

As you can see, Erie is quite a bit more expensive than American National, with rates averaging $153 per month compared to just $87 with American National when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean American National will necessarily be more affordable than Erie for every single driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of American National or Erie is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

American National or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Erie only compete against each other in two states, with American National offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American National prices are over 20% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Erie.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just your home state. Read on to learn 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 typically because young, inexperienced 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their auto insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Erie.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. Erie offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American National still has the cheapest rates at $74 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? American National gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $66 monthly compared to Erie's $116.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $71 a month less expensive than Erie, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - American National offers the lowest average premiums.

American National vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

With American National, men generally pay about $1 per month more than women, while with Erie, the difference is closer to $11 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $70 less for men and $60 cheaper for women.

American National 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range 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 (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, American National normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $52 compared to Erie's $91. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $90 per month cheaper than Erie, on average.

Is American National 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 collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $17 a month if they get a ticket, while Erie usually raises rates about $18 per month, on average.

However, American National is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $52 and $53 cheaper, respectively, compared to Erie Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Erie increasing by just under $40. American National has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from American National, with monthly prices averaging $95 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Erie drivers usually see a 40% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while American National will generally raise prices by around 36%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, American National tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $104 a month compared to $198 from Erie.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Erie Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance prices. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with American National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 45% compared to Erie, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $45 or 41% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower premiums than Erie when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $64 a month less with American National compared to Erie, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $111 monthly.

Is American National or Erie Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance bill. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

American National tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. American National's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $64 less expensive than Erie. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $66 less with American National over Erie.

American National 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 considerable impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

American National tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but American National comes out on top with average prices around $73 per month. American National also has cheaper average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $90 and $60 per month respective difference when compared to Erie policyholders in similar areas.

American National vs. Erie Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many 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 carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American National and Erie offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Erie knocks American National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to American National's 21.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Erie also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, DRL discounts, and more that American National does not.

On the flip side, American National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, excess vehicle discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or Erie Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

American National might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- American National Insurance Company only offers policies in seven states.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American National and Erie and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

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

American National vs. Erie FAQs

Is American National or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $87 a month compared to $153 for Erie. Even so, American National won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or Erie?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do American National and Erie offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, your driving record, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American National and Erie calculate prices using different variables, 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 many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 American National 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.