Auto-owners vs. Motorists: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Auto-owners offers significantly cheaper premiums than Motorists
• Auto-owners has less expensive rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Motorists offers more affordable prices for residents in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

Auto-owners vs. Motorists: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for 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 be considering Auto-owners or Motorists as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Auto-owners has average rates that are about 30% per month more affordable than those from Motorists when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Auto-owners will necessarily be cheaper than Motorists for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, your age, or even where you call home (among other things), so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Auto-owners and Motorists by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Auto-owners or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Motorists only compete against each other in three states, with Auto-owners offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Auto-owners prices are over 70% more affordable than insurance premiums at Motorists.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your rates. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's 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. As you can see above, teens who use Auto-owners save more than $20 a month compared to those who use Motorists.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Auto-owners policyholders decrease nearly $250 and Motorists's premiums reduce around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you can find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Auto-owners gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 40% cheaper than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Auto-owners is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $63 per month less expensive than Motorists, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Auto-owners offers the most affordable average rates.

Auto-owners vs. Motorists: 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 generally end up paying a little more.

With Auto-owners, women usually pay over $10 a month less than men, and around $10 with Motorists.

Looking at overall affordability, Auto-owners comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $72 per month and women save about $71 with Auto-owners compared to the average Motorists policyholder.

Auto-owners or Motorists: 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 multiple different coverages that account for many 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 covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Auto-owners typically offers more affordable premiums of $99 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Auto-owners again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month cheaper than Motorists, on average.

Is Auto-owners or Motorists Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Auto-owners policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $44 per month if they get a ticket, while Motorists normally raises rates about $18 a month, on average.

Even so, Auto-owners has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 28% and 12% more affordable, respectively, compared to Motorists Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Auto-owners drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $45, while those who have insurance through Motorists will see around a $35 increase.

Overall, Auto-owners offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $168 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Auto-owners will generally climb premiums by about 54%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Auto-owners tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $264 per month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Motorists Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Auto-owners. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $56 or 30% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Auto-owners typically offers lower prices than Motorists when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $55 per month less with Auto-owners compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $112 monthly.

Is Auto-owners or Motorists 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 substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill? That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Auto-owners offers cheaper premiums than Motorists. Auto-owners average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $65 more affordable than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $75 less with Auto-owners over Motorists.

Auto-owners vs. Motorists: 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 pretty big impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which lowers the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Auto-owners usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Auto-Owners Insurance's average prices are about $81 less than Motorists Insurance Group. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $46 less with Auto-owners compared to Motorists. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $88 with Auto-owners compared to Motorists.

Auto-owners vs. Motorists 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 utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Auto-owners and Motorists offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Auto-owners knocks Motorists out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Motorists.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Auto-owners also offers company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- empty nester discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Motorists Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Auto-owners might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You live in a rural area.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Auto-owners and Motorists. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your 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 companies, not just Auto-owners and Motorists. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Auto-owners is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $179 a month compared to $251 for Motorists. But Auto-owners won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Motorists?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Auto-owners and Motorists offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Variables like gender, where you live, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Auto-owners and Motorists calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Motorists is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Auto-owners or Motorists 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.