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

Quick Facts

• In general, Direct Auto offers significantly less expensive prices than UAIC
• Direct Auto offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a short commute
• Direct Auto offers cheaper average rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Direct Auto vs. UAIC: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Direct Auto or UAIC as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, UAIC has average rates that are about 50% per month more expensive than those from Direct Auto.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Direct Auto will be the more affordable option for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Direct Auto or UAIC 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.

Direct Auto or UAIC: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Direct Auto and UAIC only compete against each other in Florida, where Direct Auto offers the cheaper average rates. For Florida residents, Direct Auto offers car insurance for $243 per month on average. UAIC's average prices come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $337 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Direct Auto for their car insurance pay more than $250 less than those who use UAIC.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. UAIC offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Direct Auto still has the cheapest premiums at $158 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable 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 rates for auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Direct Auto gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $124 per month compared to UAIC's $266.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Direct Auto is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $182 a month less expensive than UAIC, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Direct Auto has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Direct Auto vs. UAIC: Average Rates by Gender

Men usually pay more for insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Direct Auto, men normally pay around 2% more per month than women., and about 1% with UAIC.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Direct Auto comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 49% less for men and 50% cheaper for women.

Direct Auto or UAIC: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a range 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, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Direct Auto usually offers significantly cheaper rates of $96 compared to UAIC's $276. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Direct Auto again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than UAIC, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Direct Auto policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $38 per month if they get a ticket, while UAIC typically raises prices about $70 a month, on average.

However, Direct Auto has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $111 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $143 a month with Direct Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Direct Auto drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through UAIC will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Direct Auto, with monthly rates averaging $190 compared to UAIC's $326.

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 a collision. UAIC drivers usually see a 43% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Direct Auto will generally increase prices by about 13%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Direct Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $165 monthly compared to $446 from UAIC.

How does Credit Score Impact Direct Auto and UAIC Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at UAIC and Direct Auto, which one has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Direct Auto. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 50% compared to UAIC, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $170 or 50% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Direct Auto typically offers lower premiums than UAIC when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $166 per month less with Direct Auto compared to UAIC, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $158 a month.

Is Direct Auto or UAIC Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Direct Auto or UAIC report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Direct Auto comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $170 a month for both.

Direct Auto vs. UAIC: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Direct Auto typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but Direct Auto comes out on top with average premiums about $116 per month. Direct Auto also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $176 and $222 per month respective difference when compared to UAIC policyholders in similar areas.

Direct Auto vs. UAIC Discounts

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

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

Direct Auto knocks UAIC out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 19 different discounts to UAIC's 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts. Direct Auto also offers advance quote discounts, bike policy discounts, good student discounts, and more that UAIC does not.

On the flip side, UAIC has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, intra-agency transfer discounts, and renewal discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

UAIC might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Direct Auto and UAIC and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Direct Auto and UAIC. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Direct Auto vs. UAIC FAQs

Is Direct Auto or UAIC cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Direct Auto is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $337 for UAIC. Even so, Direct Auto won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Direct Auto or UAIC?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Direct Auto and UAIC offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as gender, your driving record, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Direct Auto and UAIC use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Direct Auto or UAIC 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.