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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Atlantic States offers significantly cheaper prices than State Auto
• Atlantic States has more affordable rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Atlantic States offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Atlantic States or State Auto for your next policy, but which company has more affordable premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Atlantic States has average rates that are around 40% a month less expensive than those from State Auto.

Even so, Atlantic States may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Atlantic States and State Auto by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Atlantic States vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with State Auto offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Pennsylvania, Atlantic States is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. State Auto is the less expensive option in Ohio.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because teen 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Atlantic States for their insurance pay almost 60% less than those who use State Auto.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Atlantic States policyholders lower over 45% and State Auto's premiums reduce nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever find.

When looking at Atlantic States and State Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Atlantic States gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $48 cheaper than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Atlantic States rates coming in at about half of State Auto's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Atlantic States offers the cheapest average premiums.

Atlantic States or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for insurance than men.

On average, women see prices around $15 per month cheaper with Atlantic States, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to $24 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Atlantic States comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums $104 less for men and $94 cheaper for women.

Atlantic States 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Atlantic States has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $85. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Atlantic States again has the edge, with policies averaging about $235 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is Atlantic States or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Atlantic States for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 5% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

That being said, Atlantic States has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories. With Atlantic States Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save around $54 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $96 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Atlantic States drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over $35, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Atlantic States end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $153 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. 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 prices, Atlantic States tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $250 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and State Auto Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Atlantic States and State Auto, which carrier has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Atlantic States will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Atlantic States comes in nearly 29.9 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 36% with Atlantic States compared to average prices from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Atlantic States typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 41% per month less with Atlantic States compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 42% monthly.

Is Atlantic States or State Auto 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 how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file 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 pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Atlantic States, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $18 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Atlantic States is the less expensive carrier.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Atlantic States boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Atlantic States's average premiums are around $205 a month compared to State Auto's $317. People in suburban areas pay about $143 with Atlantic States compared to State Auto's $236 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $133 per month with Atlantic States compared to State Auto's $225.

Atlantic States vs. State Auto Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Atlantic States 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.

Overall, Atlantic States comes out ahead with 19 discounts to State Auto's 18.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Atlantic States also offers discounts for family discount, group discount, hybrid vehicle, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or State Auto Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Atlantic States or State Auto the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

State Auto might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Atlantic States and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 several carriers, not just Atlantic States 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 top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Atlantic States vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Atlantic States or State Auto cheaper?

Atlantic States is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $160 per month with Atlantic States and $259 for State Auto. However, that doesn't mean Atlantic States will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Atlantic States or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Atlantic States and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use several different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables such as your driving record, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Atlantic States and State Auto calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Atlantic States 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.