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

Quick Facts

• In general, Erie offers significantly more affordable prices than Electric
• Electric offers more affordable premiums for residents in Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, and Virginia
• Erie tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Electric vs. Erie: 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 big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Electric or Erie as potential options, but which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

As you can see, Erie has average rates that are about 40% per month cheaper than those from Electric when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Electric or Erie is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Electric or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Erie for their auto insurance pay more than $250 less than those who use Electric.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Electric policyholders lower over $300 and Erie's premiums decrease 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 can find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Erie gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $116 per month compared to Electric's $178.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are generally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $137 a month less expensive than Electric, on average. The advantage for married couples with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $85 per month.

Electric vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Men usually pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

With Electric, men generally pay about 7% more a month than women., and around 7% more with Erie.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Erie comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $118 per month and women save about $110 with Erie compared to the average Electric policyholder.

Electric 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common 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 an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Erie typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $91 compared to Electric's $150. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month less expensive than Electric, on average.

Is Electric or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault accidents and tickets 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?

Electric policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while Erie normally raises prices about $18 a month, on average.

But Erie is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 43% and 42% more affordable, respectively, compared to Electric Insurance Company.

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 Erie increasing by just under $40. Electric has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Erie offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $157 compared to Electric Insurance Company's $236.

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. On average, Electric will increase your prices around 46% after a DUI, while Erie's average rates rise by just under 40%.

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 rates of $198 monthly compared to $385 from Electric.

How does Credit Score Impact Electric and Erie Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

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 most affordable prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Electric, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $102 or 48% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower rates than Electric when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $117 per month less with Erie compared to Electric, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $170 a month.

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

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

Erie tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Electric's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 41% more expensive than Erie. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 44% more with Electric over Erie.

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

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Erie generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Erie Insurance's average prices are around $110 less than Electric Insurance Company. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $89 less with Erie compared to Electric. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $147 with Erie compared to Electric.

Electric vs. Erie Discounts

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

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible 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 Electric and Erie offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Erie has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Electric offers a grand total of 17 discounts, while Erie has 21.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Erie also offers distant student discounts, DRL discounts, farm discounts, and more that Electric does not.

On the flip side, Electric has a couple unique discounts of its own -- electric vehicle discounts, discounts for being a good student, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Electric or Erie Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your credit score is high.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Electric might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Electric and Erie. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just Electric and Erie. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just 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.

Electric vs. Erie FAQs

Is Electric or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Erie is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $153 a month compared to $266 for Electric. Even so, Erie won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Electric or Erie?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Electric and Erie offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like gender, your driving record, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Electric and Erie calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 car 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 Electric 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.