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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Erie offers significantly cheaper prices than Donegal Mutual
• Erie offers less expensive average premiums for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy
• Erie offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Donegal Mutual or Erie: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Donegal Mutual or Erie for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Donegal Mutual has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from Erie when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Erie will necessarily be less expensive than Donegal Mutual for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Donegal Mutual 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.

Donegal Mutual vs. Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Erie only compete against each other in three states, with Erie offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Erie premiums are $264 less expensive than car insurance rates at Donegal Mutual.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because teen 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. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save almost 50% per month compared to those who use Donegal Mutual.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Donegal Mutual policyholders reduce about $400 and Erie's prices drop around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and Erie? Erie gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $96 cheaper than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one vehicle, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Erie prices coming in at about half of Donegal Mutual's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Erie has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Donegal Mutual or Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

On average, women see rates around 6% a month less with Donegal Mutual, and about 7% less with Erie when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Erie comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $141 per month and women save around $134 with Erie compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual vs. 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Erie has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $91. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies averaging about $215 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is Donegal Mutual or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Donegal Mutual for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Erie policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 13%.

That being said, Erie tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 40% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 44% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Donegal Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $50, while those who have insurance through Erie will see around a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, Erie offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $157 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Erie will normally increase rates by about 40%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Erie Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Car 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Donegal Mutual or Erie 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. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Erie tends to be the more affordable option. Erie's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 46% cheaper than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 49% less with Erie over Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual or Erie: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, 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.

Erie boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie Insurance's average premiums are around $251 less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay about $95 less with Erie compared to Donegal Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $69 with Erie compared to Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual vs. Erie Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Donegal Mutual and Erie so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Erie comes out ahead with 21 discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Erie also offers discounts for COVID-19 relief, distant student, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Donegal Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like family discounts, good student discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Donegal Mutual or Erie Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your car insurance after an accident.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Donegal Mutual and Erie. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and Erie. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Erie FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Erie cheaper?

Erie is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $153 per month with Erie and $290 for Donegal Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Erie will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Erie?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Erie offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like age, gender, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Donegal Mutual and Erie calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Donegal Mutual or Erie at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.