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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Shelter offers significantly less expensive rates than Electric
• Electric offers more discounts than Shelter Insurance
• Shelter offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Electric or Shelter, but between the two, which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Electric is about $58 more per month than Shelter.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Electric and Shelter by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Electric or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Electric and Shelter only compete against each other in three states, with Shelter offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Electric prices are over 10% cheaper than car insurance rates at Shelter.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That'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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Electric.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly once you turn 25. Shelter offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Electric's average rates reduce almost 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Electric and Shelter specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Shelter gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 20% more affordable than the national average for Electric.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Shelter is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $69 per month cheaper than Electric, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Shelter has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Electric vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Generally, women see rates nearly $20 a month less expensive with Electric, and about $25 cheaper with Shelter when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Shelter offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 20% less for men and 24% cheaper for women.

Electric or Shelter: 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Shelter typically offers more affordable prices of $129 compared to Electric's $150. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies around $95 per month less expensive than Electric, on average.

Is Electric or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Electric or Shelter cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Electric policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $29 a month if they get a ticket, while Shelter usually raises rates about $39 per month, on average.

However, Shelter has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $66 and $56 cheaper, respectively, compared to Electric Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Electric can expect to see around an $28 -- or about 12% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Shelter for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Shelter end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $234 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 -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Electric increases average rates by just under $200 a month -- that's over a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Shelter tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $277 a month compared to $385 from Electric.

How does Credit Score Impact Electric and Shelter Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

Shelter tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Shelter average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $45 more affordable than Electric. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay nearly $70 less with Shelter over Electric.

Electric vs. Shelter: 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. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

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

For policyholders in rural ZIP codes, Shelter offers premiums about $203 per month compared to Electric's $262. People who live in urban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $235 per month for Shelter and $304 for Electric. Lastly, those in suburban areas tend to get the cheapest prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $187 and $234 for Shelter and Electric respectively.

Electric vs. Shelter Discounts

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

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Electric and Shelter so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Electric knocks Shelter out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 17 different discounts to Shelter's 10.

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

On the flip side, Shelter has a unique discount of its own -- a multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Electric or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Electric or Shelter the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Electric might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Electric and Shelter. 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Electric and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Electric vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Electric or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Shelter is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $208 a month compared to $266 for Electric. That being said, Shelter won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Electric or Shelter?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Shelter offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Electric is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Electric and Shelter offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Electric and Shelter use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Electric or Shelter 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 ZIP code 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 Electric or Shelter 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.