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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Buckeye offers significantly cheaper premiums than Motorists
• Buckeye has more affordable prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Motorists offers more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Buckeye or Motorists as your top options, but which one has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, Motorists is quite a bit more expensive than Buckeye, with premiums averaging $251 per month compared to just $132 with Buckeye when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Buckeye will necessarily be cheaper than Motorists for every driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Buckeye and Motorists by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Buckeye or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Buckeye for their car insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use Motorists.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Buckeye policyholders reduce almost 60% and Motorists's prices decrease nearly 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Buckeye and Motorists specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Buckeye gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $114 more affordable than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several 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 premiums about $124 a month less expensive than Motorists, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Buckeye is also obvious, where drivers save more than 50% per month.

Buckeye vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Men usually pay around $15 a month more than women with Buckeye, and about $12 more with Motorists.

Looking at overall affordability, Buckeye comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 46% less for men and 49% cheaper for women.

Buckeye 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, most 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 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, Buckeye generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $73 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month cheaper than Motorists, on average.

Is Buckeye or Motorists 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.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Buckeye or Motorists less expensive for drivers with spotty 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 Motorists typically raises premiums about $18 per month, on average.

But Buckeye tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $88 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $100 per month with Buckeye Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Buckeye can expect to see around an $17 -- or about 17% -- increase in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Motorists for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $37 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Buckeye end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $98 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Buckeye will usually increase rates by about 69%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Buckeye tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $263 per month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Motorists Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Buckeye. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 45% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $91 or 49% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Buckeye typically offers lower premiums than Motorists when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $109 a month less with Buckeye compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $202 a month.

Is Buckeye or Motorists Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, 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 Motorists, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Buckeye is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Buckeye boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $145 with Buckeye compared to Motorists. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $56 less with Buckeye compared to Motorists. In urban areas, Buckeye Insurance Group's average premiums are around $155 less than Motorists Insurance Group.

Buckeye vs. Motorists Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

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

Motorists blows Buckeye away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 14 different discounts to Buckeye's seven.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Motorists also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, empty nester discounts, and more that Buckeye does not.

On the flip side, Buckeye has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Motorists Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right fit for you?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Motorists has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Buckeye and Motorists and that it aids in making a more informed 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 Buckeye and Motorists. 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.

Buckeye vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Buckeye or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Buckeye is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $132 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. Even so, Buckeye won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Buckeye or Motorists?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Buckeye and Motorists offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as where you call home, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Buckeye and Motorists calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Buckeye 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.