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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
| User Reviews | NR |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4.3 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $109/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $209/mo |
State Auto offers unique coverage options through its premium insurance packages, including Total Loss Plus — a benefit that pays 120% of your vehicle’s market value if it’s totaled. Current customers enrolled in these programs or drivers with DUIs may want to stick with the company despite its acquisition by Liberty Mutual.
Simple claim filing
Low premiums for drivers with a DUI
Steep telematics discount
Doesn’t sell new policies (but Liberty Mutual does)
No mobile app
Higher-than-average customer complaints
Whether State Auto is a good choice depends on how well the company meets your needs, preferences, and budget. State Auto performs well in several areas, especially in terms of cost and coverage options.
Here’s how the insurer performs across five key categories.
Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 4/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 3.3/5 |
| Ease of use | 3.8/5 |
| Availability | 4/5 |
| Industry reputation | 3.7/5 |
| Overall Score* | 3.93/5 |
Established in 1921 as State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and offers auto insurance in 33 states. It covers auto, homeowners, renters, business, and farm goods.
Liberty Mutual acquired State Auto in 2022. Due to the acquisition, new customers should review coverage options and additional details with Liberty Mutual, some of which we’ve noted below. Existing customers can continue to keep their policies with State Auto, and this guide can help you decide if it’s worth shopping around.
State Auto offers excellent car insurance packages that extend beyond basic policies to include add-ons like auto glass, bail bonds, and accident forgiveness — which can make it worth sticking around if you already have a policy. Plus, you can get one of the best telematics discounts in the industry.
Though you can still buy business insurance and farm and ranch policies with State Auto, you’ll need to work with Liberty Mutual to get a new auto or home policy. Before its acquisition, State Auto trailed behind competitors in terms of customer service.
Online reviews for State Auto skew somewhat negative, with a rating of 2.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, 3.36 out of 5 on Clearsurance. The company also has nearly twice the number of customer complaints than the average insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The negative reviews had a few common themes: people were unhappy with the claims process, and some received surprise fees.
That’s what allegedly happened when the customer below canceled their policy. It’s not entirely clear what the extra fee was for, but it seems to be for canceling a renewed policy (that the company should have canceled) one day into the term.
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But I also found several longtime customers who gave favorable reviews on customer service, claims, and rates. The customer below also points out an additional perk — a lifetime renewal guarantee — that makes policies with State Auto especially worth it.
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As a final note, on Reddit’s r/insurance subreddit, independent agents point out that many of the issues with an insurer come from misunderstanding what a policy will and won’t cover.
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State Auto’s average monthly rate is $152, according to Compare.com data. But costs change considerably depending on the type of coverage you have. You’ll pay less for liability insurance and more for full coverage. Liability insurance covers damages and injuries you cause to others, while full coverage includes comprehensive and collision insurance to protect your property.
Here are the average insurance premiums with State Auto broken down by policy type.
Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| $104 | $199 |
State Auto can offer savings compared to the national monthly averages of $131 and $271 for liability and full-coverage policies, respectively. But broad averages like these need more context since rates can vary significantly from one driver to the next — later, we’ll provide more specific rate breakdowns based on common factors.
Let’s see how State Auto compares to its competitors.
Just because State Auto is cheaper than average doesn’t mean it’s the cheapest insurer overall. Here’s how State Auto’s rates compare to some of its closest competitors.
Company | Compare.com Rating | Average Monthly Rate | Average Monthly Savings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Auto | 3.93/5 | $152 | $49 |
| Direct Auto | 3.76/5 | $145 | $56 |
| GAINSCO | 3.00/5 | $189 | $12 |
| National General | 4.30/5 | $134 | $67 |
| The General | 3.35/5 | $185 | $16 |
State Auto falls in the middle of the pack for quality and pricing. But keep in mind that averages don’t represent the actual costs these insurance companies will offer you. Your rates will depend on several factors, including your driving record, age, credit score, and location.
Let’s review how these factors affect rates next.
Your driving record has a significant effect on your premium. Insurers use it to determine your likelihood of filing a claim — the higher the likelihood, the higher the premium.
Let’s review how your driving record can affect your rates with State Auto and how these rates compare to the national average. We looked at a few common profiles: drivers with a clean record versus those with a recent speeding ticket, at-fault accident, and DUI.
Driver Type | State Auto Average Monthly Premium | National Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record, excellent credit | $151 | $110 |
| Clean driving record, poor credit | $182 | $147 |
| Recent speeding ticket, good credit | $212 | $161 |
| Recent at-fault accident, good credit | $224 | $167 |
| Recent DUI, good credit | $198 | $198 |
Drivers with a clean record pay the lowest rates at State Auto. But the company goes against the national trend by offering lower rates to drivers with a DUI than those with speeding tickets or at-fault accidents.
Your credit also plays a part: Drivers with good or excellent credit pay lower rates than those with average or poor credit.
The sections below show how other factors — including your age and location — can affect your premiums.
Your age is another big factor that affects your car insurance rate. Younger drivers tend to be more likely to be involved in a serious car accident, so teen drivers have the highest rates. As you age, that likelihood drops considerably, hitting its lowest point around retirement age.
The table below shows how much different age groups can expect to pay with State Auto, based on Compare.com data.
Age Group | State Auto Average Monthly Rate | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Teens | $250 | $227 |
| 20s | $192 | $141 |
| 30s | $142 | $112 |
| 40s | $128 | $103 |
| 50s | $100 | $91 |
| 60s | $96 | $82 |
| 70s | $89 | $83 |
State Auto follows the expected trend, with young drivers paying the highest rate of $250 per month and older drivers paying the lowest rate of $89 per month. Rates are somewhat higher with State Auto when compared to national averages across all categories, but these differences shrink as you get older.
Next, let’s review how location affects rates.
Your location is the final piece of the cost puzzle. Auto insurance rates vary by state due to several factors, including state laws, claim frequencies, driver behavior, and road conditions.
For example: Though Maryland and Virginia border each other, the states pose noticeably different risks to insurers — reflected by a cost difference of $282 per month. In Maryland, 15.1% of drivers are uninsured, compared to 12.1% in Virginia, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).
We’ve broken down the average rates State Auto charges for each state in the table below.
State | State Auto Average Monthly Rate | Statewide Average Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $111 | $118 |
| Arizona | $124 | $145 |
| Arkansas | $124 | $166 |
| Colorado | $158 | $144 |
| Georgia | $167 | $191 |
| Illinois | $126 | $128 |
| Indiana | $156 | $105 |
| Kentucky | $143 | $208 |
| Maryland | $387 | $227 |
| Minnesota | $126 | $157 |
| Missouri | $136 | $165 |
| North Carolina | $71 | $84 |
| Ohio | $146 | $111 |
| Pennsylvania | $162 | $140 |
| South Carolina | $132 | $223 |
| Tennessee | $124 | $125 |
| Texas | $250 | $184 |
| Utah | $200 | $137 |
| Virginia | $105 | $133 |
| Wisconsin | $119 | $145 |
If you already have an auto policy with State Auto, consider signing up for the company’s telematics program — Safety 360 — to save up to 50%, and speak with an insurance agent about other eligible discounts.
If you need a new policy, you’ll need to get one through Liberty Mutual, which offers 13 discounts.
Claims-free: You can earn this discount for having no at-fault claims.
Early shopper: Buy your auto policy in advance to earn this discount.
Good student: Students who maintain a B average can earn this discount.
Homeowner: You can earn this discount when you own a home.
Military: Active duty, reserve, or veterans qualify for this discount.
Multi-car: Earn this discount when you insure two or more cars on the same policy.
Multi-policy: You can get this discount when you buy more than one insurance product.
Online purchase: Buy your policy online to get this discount.
Paperless policy: Get this discount when you opt in to receive all your documents online.
Preferred payment: You’ll receive this discount if you enroll in auto pay.
RightTrack program: You can earn a discount for participating in the company’s telematics program.
Student-away-at-school: You can get this discount if your student leaves your car at home while away at school.
Violation-free: You can earn this discount for having no tickets or accidents on your record.
Keep in mind that discount availability, value, and savings vary by state.
Though State Auto no longer sells new policies, you can buy one through its parent company, Liberty Mutual. You can get a wide range of coverage options from Liberty Mutual, including the following.
Bodily injury liability: Covers medical expenses and legal fees if another driver is injured in an accident you cause.
Collision: Pays for to repair or replace your car after a collision with another vehicle or object (e.g., mailbox, tree branch).
Comprehensive: Pays for to repair or replace your car after an accident for non-collision damage (e.g., vandalism, hurricane).
Gap coverage: Pays for the difference between your auto loan balance and your car’s actual cash value (ACV) if it’s totaled in an accident.
Medical payments: Covers your and your passengers’ medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault.
Personal injury protection (PIP): Pays for your medical costs, lost wages, and more after an accident.
Property damage liability: Pays for damage you cause to others’ property.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist: Protects you in accidents when the at-fault driver isn’t insured or doesn’t have enough coverage.
Since State Auto no longer issues new car insurance policies, new customers can purchase a policy through Liberty Mutual by following these steps.
Go to the Liberty Mutual auto insurance home page.
Enter your ZIP code.
Enter information about you, your driving record, your vehicle, and your current insurance policy.
Answer questions about your eligibility for discounts.
Review your quote and adjust your coverage options.
Purchase your policy (you’ll need your driver’s license number and VIN).
You can save up to 18% by purchasing online, but you can also buy your policy over the phone.
You can file a car insurance claim with State Auto online using the “Submit a Claim” form on the company’s website. A claims agent will follow up to confirm the claim details and either get photos of the damage or send an adjuster to analyze the potential repairs. After, you’ll get a repair estimate, and the company will issue a check to cover repairs.
But things don’t always go as planned. The below reviewer allegedly had to go through their state’s department of insurance to get their claim payout.
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But this wasn’t every customer’s experience. The reviewer below needed advice about whether to file a claim. They claimed that State Auto gave them solid advice that saved them money.
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Founded | 1921 |
|---|---|
| Available in | 30 states |
| Owned by | Liberty Mutual |
| National average premium | $152 per month |
| Mobile app | Android, iOS |
| Customer service | 1 (833) 724-3577 |
| Claims | 1 (877) 722-5246 |
| Primary competitors | Allstate, Auto-Owners, Progressive, State Farm |
Safety 360 is State Auto’s telematics program. You can receive a 10% discount and earn up to 50% off your premiums at renewal with a safe driving score.
Once you sign up, the company will send a tag that you’ll place on your car’s windshield. Then, you’ll download the app to review your driving data, which is sent over Bluetooth from the tag to your phone.
User feedback acknowledges great savings. This customer saved $250 per year.
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But the customer below had issues getting accurate and consistent tracking.
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State Auto offers several property insurance products and more. The company once offered home insurance but doesn’t appear to sell new policies.
You can still purchase business insurance products, including the following.
Property
Liability
Business auto
Business owners’ policy
Commercial umbrella
Industry solutions
Risk engineering
Workers’ compensation
Employment practices liability
Cyber coverage
Data breach
The company also offers farm and ranch coverage for the following:
Farm auto
Farm umbrella
Farm and ranch
State Auto has undergone many changes in the last few years, leaving prospective buyers with questions. Below are the answers to the most common questions asked about the insurer.
It depends. State Auto often offers significant savings on liability and full-coverage car insurance policies, according to Compare.com data. But the best way to know if State Auto has the cheapest policy for you is to compare rates with multiple insurers.
Yes. State Auto is owned by Liberty Mutual, which acquired the company in 2022.
No. State Auto and Safeco aren’t the same company. Each company is part of the Liberty Mutual family but operates separately.
AM Best gave Sate Auto a “bbb (Good)” rating in 2023. Since then, State Auto has withdrawn its participation in the rating process due to the company’s acquisition by Liberty Mutual.
State Auto’s headquarters is in Columbus, Ohio. The company has been based there since its founding in 1923.
Rating Methodology
Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions when it comes to their personal finances. To help our readers better analyze and compare insurance companies, our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary rating formula to determine each company’s objective Compare.com Rating. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:
Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
Customer satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
Ease of use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
Industry reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best financial strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.
Sources
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “State Auto Prop & Cas Ins Co. National Complaint Index Report,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Clearsurance, “State Auto Insurance Companies,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Trustpilot, “State Auto Financial Corporation,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Reddit, “State auto insurance company?,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Highway safety,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
Apple App Store, “State Auto Safety 360® Mobile,” Accessed March 8, 2024.
Google Play Store, “State Auto Safety 360® Mobile,” Accessed March 8, 2024.
AM Best, “AM Best Withdraws Credit Rating of State Auto Financial Corporation,” Accessed March 7, 2024.
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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