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

Quick Facts

• In general, Dairyland offers slightly cheaper rates than State Auto
• Dairyland offers more affordable average prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• State Auto tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of suburban areas

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Dairyland or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Dairyland is about $3 per month more affordable than State Auto when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean Dairyland will necessarily be less expensive than State Auto for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Dairyland and State Auto by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Dairyland or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and State Auto only compete against each other in three states, with State Auto offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Texas, Dairyland is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. State Auto is the cheaper option in Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Dairyland for their insurance pay more than $200 less than those who use State Auto.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Dairyland policyholders drop nearly $300 and State Auto's prices decrease over $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? State Auto gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $167 per month compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for those who are single, with rates only differing about $31 a month, on average. The advantage for married drivers is more obvious, where drivers who use State Auto save more than 15% per month.

Dairyland vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men generally pay more for auto insurance than women do. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Dairyland, men typically pay around $10 a month more than women, while with State Auto, the difference is closer to $24 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Dairyland is the most affordable carrier for men. Rates with Dairyland are $10 less for men, while women can save about $4 with State Auto.

Dairyland 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, Dairyland offers the cheapest average prices for state minimum liability limits, while State Auto has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $7 with Dairyland, while full coverage comes out to be around $1 less expensive with State Auto Insurance.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 a month if they get a ticket, while State Auto generally raises premiums about $48 per month, on average.

Even so, State Auto tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering prices that are 24% and 18% cheaper, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Dairyland policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over $70, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

Overall, drivers who use State Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $269 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Dairyland will typically climb rates by about 5%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Dairyland tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $236 a month compared to $380 from State Auto.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and State Auto Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

Insurance carriers 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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive prices.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for drivers 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 State Auto. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 10% compared to Dairyland, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $16 or 7% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Dairyland typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $2 a month less with Dairyland compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $54 monthly.

Is Dairyland 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 how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Dairyland or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Dairyland comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average rates of $256 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Dairyland normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while State Auto wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $203 a month with Dairyland and $225 with State Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $236 with State Auto compared to Dairyland's $251 monthly. In urban areas, Dairyland's average premiums are about $314 a month compared to State Auto's $317.

Dairyland vs. State Auto Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Dairyland and State Auto offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

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

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, 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 homeowner, prior insurance discounts, and more.

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

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

Dairyland might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• You live in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Dairyland and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 companies, not just Dairyland and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Dairyland or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Dairyland is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $256 per month compared to $259 for State Auto. But Dairyland won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Dairyland or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Dairyland offers cheaper rates for single drivers, while State Auto is less expensive for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Dairyland and State Auto offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Dairyland 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 a handful of 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. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland 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.