Direct Auto vs. Safeway: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Direct Auto offers more affordable rates than Safeway
• Direct Auto offers less expensive average prices for residents of urban areas
• Safeway tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Direct Auto vs. Safeway: 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 big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Direct Auto or Safeway as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Direct Auto has average rates that are about 12% per month more affordable than those from Safeway.

Even so, Direct Auto may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Direct Auto or Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Direct Auto and Safeway only compete against each other in one states, with Direct Auto offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Mississippi has the most noticable difference, where Direct Auto prices are over 30% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Safeway.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $90 less a month by choosing Direct Auto over Safeway.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Direct Auto policyholders drop over 55% and Safeway's rates reduce more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Direct Auto and Safeway specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Direct Auto gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 10% more affordable than the national average for Safeway.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Direct Auto is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $37 per month less expensive than Safeway, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Direct Auto save about 4% a month.

Direct Auto vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

With Direct Auto, men typically pay around 2% more per month than women., and almost 10% with Safeway.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Direct Auto comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $17 a month and men save about $31 with Direct Auto compared to the average Safeway policyholder.

Direct Auto or Safeway: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But 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 an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Direct Auto usually offers significantly more affordable rates of $96 compared to Safeway's $130. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Direct Auto again has the edge, with policies around $15 per month cheaper than Safeway, on average.

Is Direct Auto or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 collisions lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Direct Auto or Safeway -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Direct Auto policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $38 a month if they get a ticket, while Safeway normally raises rates about $7 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Direct Auto tends to offer the best prices at around 12% less expensive, while Safeway has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Direct Auto can expect to see about an $47 -- or around 25% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Safeway for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $60 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Direct Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $190 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Safeway increases average prices by over $55 a month -- that's over a 25% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Direct Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $165 a month compared to $220 from Safeway.

How does Credit Score Impact Direct Auto and Safeway Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

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.

Looking specifically at Direct Auto and Safeway, which one has the lowest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Direct Auto or Safeway 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 cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Direct Auto or Safeway report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Direct Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle each year, with average prices of $170 per month for both.

Direct Auto vs. Safeway: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Direct Auto boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but Direct Auto comes out on top with average prices around $116 monthly. Direct Auto also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 3% and 16% a month respective difference when compared to Safeway drivers in similar areas.

Direct Auto vs. Safeway 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Direct Auto and Safeway so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Direct Auto knocks Safeway out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 19 different discounts to Safeway's 11.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and military discounts -- but Direct Auto also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Safeway does not.

On the flip side, Safeway has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, full coverage discounts, punitive damage exclusion discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Direct Auto or Safeway Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Direct Auto or Safeway the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Direct Auto might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Direct Auto and Safeway and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Direct Auto and Safeway. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Direct Auto vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Direct Auto or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Direct Auto is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $194 for Safeway. That being said, Direct Auto won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Direct Auto or Safeway?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Direct Auto and Safeway offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like where your home is, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Direct Auto and Safeway calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Direct Auto or Safeway is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Direct Auto or Safeway 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.