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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Buckeye offers more affordable rates than Erie
• Buckeye tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Erie offers more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Buckeye or Erie as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Buckeye is about $21 per month cheaper than Erie.

But Buckeye may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so rates will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Buckeye and Erie by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Buckeye or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and Erie only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Erie rates are over 30% less expensive than insurance premiums at Buckeye.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $45 less a month by choosing Buckeye over Erie.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Buckeye policyholders lower nearly 60% and Erie's rates drop almost 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Buckeye and Erie specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Buckeye gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $11 cheaper than the national average for Erie.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Buckeye is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $26 per month less expensive than Erie, on average. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - Buckeye has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Buckeye vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

With Buckeye, women generally pay over 10% a month less than men, while with Erie, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Buckeye comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $18 a month and women save about $22 with Buckeye compared to the average Erie policyholder.

Buckeye 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms 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 provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Buckeye typically offers more affordable prices of $73 compared to Erie's $91. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies around $25 per month cheaper than Erie, on average.

Is Buckeye or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 rates, but which company -- Buckeye or Erie -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Buckeye policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $6 a month if they get a ticket, while Erie usually raises premiums about $18 per month, on average.

However, Buckeye tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 32% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 36% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Buckeye drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by over $15, while those who have insurance through Erie will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Buckeye end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $98 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

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 auto insurance bill. For example, Buckeye increases average premiums by just under $200 a month -- that's just under a 70% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Erie Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers 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 less expensive premiums.

Looking specifically at Erie and Buckeye, which company has the cheapest rates 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 Buckeye or Erie 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 fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Buckeye charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Erie, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying about $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Buckeye is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Buckeye vs. Erie: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Buckeye boasts the lowest average premiums in rural and urban areas, while Erie wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 7% with Buckeye compared to Erie. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 9% less with Erie compared to Buckeye. In urban areas, Buckeye Insurance Group's average prices are around 32% less than Erie Insurance.

Buckeye vs. Erie Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Buckeye and Erie offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Erie knocks Buckeye out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than Buckeye.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good driver -- but Erie also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Buckeye does not.

On the flip side, Buckeye has a unique discount of its own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Erie Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Buckeye and Erie. 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Buckeye and Erie. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Buckeye vs. Erie FAQs

Is Buckeye or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Buckeye is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $132 per month compared to $153 for Erie. That being said, Buckeye won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Buckeye or Erie?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Erie offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Buckeye is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Buckeye and Erie offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors like age, gender, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Buckeye and Erie calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Buckeye 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.