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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Country Financial offers significantly cheaper prices than State Auto
• Country Financial offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record
• State Auto offers more discounts than COUNTRY Financial

Country Financial vs. State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Country Financial or State Auto as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, State Auto is quite a bit more expensive than Country Financial, with prices averaging $259 per month compared to just $138 with Country Financial when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Country Financial will be the more affordable option for each driver. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Country Financial or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Country Financial and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Country Financial offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Country Financial premiums are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance prices at State Auto.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. The reason is that 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $475 less a month by choosing Country Financial over State Auto.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Country Financial policyholders lower more than $100 and State Auto's rates decrease about $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest auto insurance prices you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Country Financial and State Auto? Country Financial gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 35% less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance rates than single policyholders. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Country Financial is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $167 per month less expensive than State Auto, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Country Financial is also obvious, where drivers save about $60 a month.

Country Financial vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is usually cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, women see prices around $3 per month cheaper with Country Financial, and nearly $25 with State Auto.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Country Financial comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $110 a month and men save about $131 with Country Financial compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Country Financial or 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Country Financial normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $82 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Country Financial again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month cheaper than State Auto, on average.

Is Country Financial or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great premiums 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Country Financial policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while State Auto typically raises rates about $48 per month, on average.

Even so, Country Financial is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $65 and $82 more affordable, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Country Financial drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by over $40, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Country Financial, with monthly prices averaging $147 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 premiums by over $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Country Financial tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $165 per month compared to $380 from State Auto.

How does Credit Score Impact Country Financial and State Auto Rates?

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

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor 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 Country Financial. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 40% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $107 or 47% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $135 per month less with Country Financial compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $165 monthly.

Is Country Financial or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing 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 small difference in monthly premiums for Country Financial, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying around $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Country Financial is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Country Financial vs. State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Country Financial boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Country Financial offers prices about $175 a month compared to State Auto's $317. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $131 a month for Country Financial and $236 for State Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $109 and $225 for Country Financial and State Auto respectively.

Country Financial vs. State Auto 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Country Financial and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Auto knocks Country Financial out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Country Financial.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, and more that Country Financial does not.

On the flip side, Country Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- group discounts, occupation discounts, simply drive discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Country Financial or State Auto Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Country Financial or State Auto the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

State Auto might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Country Financial and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 multiple carriers, not just Country Financial and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Country Financial vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Country Financial or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Country Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $138 per month compared to $259 for State Auto. However, Country Financial won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Country Financial or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Country Financial and State Auto offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the auto 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Country Financial or State Auto 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.