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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Buckeye offers significantly less expensive premiums than State Auto
• Buckeye has more affordable rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Buckeye or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto is quite a bit more expensive than Buckeye, with prices averaging $259 a month compared to just $132 with Buckeye.

However, Buckeye may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Buckeye vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Buckeye offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Buckeye rates are $27 more affordable than insurance premiums at State Auto.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables 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 group 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Buckeye save over 65% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Buckeye policyholders drop almost 60% and State Auto's rates reduce nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Buckeye and State Auto? Buckeye gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $62 cheaper than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Buckeye premiums coming in at around half of State Auto's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Buckeye has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Buckeye or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for car insurance than men. That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men usually pay about $15 a month more than women with Buckeye, and around $24 more with State Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Buckeye offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 48% less for men and 49% cheaper for women.

Buckeye 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Buckeye has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $73. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies averaging about $191 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is Buckeye or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices 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 speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Buckeye or State Auto -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Buckeye for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 7% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

That being said, Buckeye tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. With Buckeye Insurance Group, drivers with a clean record can save around $89 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $131 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Auto raising by around 37%. Buckeye has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than 15% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Buckeye end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $98 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. For example, State Auto increases average prices by more than $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Buckeye tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $263 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Buckeye 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 your monthly prices. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Buckeye or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Buckeye comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $132 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Buckeye boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Buckeye Insurance Group's average rates are around $186 less than State Auto Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $77 less with Buckeye compared to State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $118 with Buckeye compared to State Auto.

Buckeye vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Buckeye and State Auto so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

State Auto knocks Buckeye out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Buckeye's 18.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good driver -- but State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, advantage program , and more.

On the other hand, Buckeye has a proprietary discount of their own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, is Buckeye or State Auto the right company for you and your specific needs?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Buckeye and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple companies, not just Buckeye 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 the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Buckeye vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Buckeye or State Auto cheaper?

Buckeye is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $132 a month with Buckeye and $259 for State Auto. Even so, that doesn't mean Buckeye will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Buckeye or State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Buckeye and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables like gender, age, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Buckeye and State Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies 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 Buckeye 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.