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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Patriot offers significantly cheaper premiums than Electric
• Electric offers less expensive average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Patriot has more affordable prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years

Electric vs. Patriot: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Electric or Patriot, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Patriot is quite a bit cheaper than Electric, with rates averaging $191 per month compared to $266 with Electric.

But Patriot may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Electric or Patriot: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Electric and Patriot only compete against each other in one states, with Patriot offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Maine has the most noticable difference, where Patriot premiums are over 40% more affordable than insurance rates at Electric.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

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 get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Patriot for their auto insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Electric.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Electric policyholders reduce nearly 55% and Patriot's rates drop over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Electric and Patriot? Patriot gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 30% less expensive than the national average for Electric.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are usually more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Patriot is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $90 a month more affordable than Electric, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Patriot is also obvious, where drivers save around $55 per month.

Electric vs. Patriot: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Men typically pay about 7% more a month than women with Electric, and nearly 10% with Patriot.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Patriot comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $75 per month and men save around $76 with Patriot compared to the average Electric policyholder.

Electric or Patriot: 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 so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Patriot normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $80 compared to Electric's $150. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Patriot again has the edge, with policies about $80 a month more affordable than Electric, on average.

Is Electric or Patriot Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Electric policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while Patriot usually raises premiums around $23 a month, on average.

That being said, Patriot is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are 60% and 55% cheaper, respectively, compared to Electric Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Electric can expect to see about an $28 -- or around 12% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Patriot for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $19 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Patriot, with monthly prices averaging $103 compared to Electric Insurance Company's $236.

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 -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, Patriot increases average rates by just under $400 per month -- that's over a 80% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Electric tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $385 per month compared to $472 from Patriot.

How does Credit Score Impact Electric and Patriot Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating 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 lots of drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive rates.

So, which company 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 solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Electric for an "excellent" credit score. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 1% compared to Patriot, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Patriot -- around $42 or 20% more affordable than Electric each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Patriot typically offers lower premiums than Electric when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $80 a month less with Patriot compared to Electric, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $181 monthly.

Is Electric or Patriot 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. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Patriot charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Electric, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying about $33 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Patriot is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Electric vs. Patriot: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Patriot typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Patriot's average premiums are around $193 while Electric offers rates about $304. People in suburban areas pay around $198 with Patriot compared to Electric's $234 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $183 monthly with Patriot and $262 with Electric.

Electric vs. Patriot Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

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

Electric knocks Patriot out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Patriot.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Electric also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Patriot does not.

On the flip side, Patriot has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, full coverage discounts, life policy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Electric or Patriot Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Patriot might be best for you if....

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

Electric might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Electric and Patriot. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Electric and Patriot. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Electric vs. Patriot FAQs

Is Electric or Patriot cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Patriot is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $191 per month compared to $266 for Electric. However, Patriot won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Electric or Patriot?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Electric and Patriot offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables such as age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Electric and Patriot calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 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 carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Electric or Patriot 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.