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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Erie offers significantly more affordable rates than Dairyland
• Dairyland offers more affordable premiums for residents in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas
• Erie has less expensive rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Erie for your next policy, but which one will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Erie has average rates that are about 40% per month more affordable than those from Dairyland.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Dairyland or Erie is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Dairyland or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Erie only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Erie prices are over 70% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Dairyland.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $200 less a month by choosing Erie over Dairyland.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Erie offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Dairyland's average rates drop over 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Dairyland and Erie? Erie gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% cheaper than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $120 per month more affordable than Dairyland, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save more than $80 a month.

Dairyland vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Dairyland, men generally pay about 4% more per month than women., while with Erie, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Erie comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $103 per month and women save around $104 with Erie compared to the average Dairyland policyholder.

Dairyland 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- 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 two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Erie usually offers significantly less expensive premiums of $91 compared to Dairyland's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies about $150 a month cheaper than Dairyland, on average.

Is Dairyland or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while Erie typically raises prices around $18 a month, on average.

However, Erie has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $106 and $128 less expensive, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Dairyland raising by over $70. Erie has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Erie offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $157 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Erie increases average rates by nearly $80 per month -- that's just under a 40% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Erie tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $198 monthly compared to $236 from Dairyland.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Erie Rates?

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

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 60% compared to Dairyland, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $133 or 55% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower rates than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $110 a month less with Erie compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $41 a month.

Is Dairyland or Erie Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a large impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision 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 Dairyland charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Erie, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Erie is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Usually, 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 decreases the chances of an accident.

Erie tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie offers prices about $194 per month compared to Dairyland's $314. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $145 per month for Erie and $251 for Dairyland. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $115 and $203 for Erie and Dairyland respectively.

Dairyland vs. Erie Discounts

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

The challenging 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.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Dairyland and Erie so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Erie blows Dairyland away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Dairyland's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Erie also offers ABS discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

On the flip side, Dairyland has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a good student, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Erie Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Dairyland or Erie the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You're looking for discounts -- Erie has the most.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Dairyland and Erie. 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Dairyland and Erie. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Erie FAQs

Is Dairyland or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Erie is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $153 a month compared to $256 for Dairyland. Even so, Erie won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Dairyland or Erie?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Dairyland and Erie offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, your driving record, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Erie use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does 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 best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland 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.