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

Quick Facts

• In general, The General offers slightly more affordable rates than Electric
• Electric may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than The General
• The General has less expensive premiums for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years

Electric or The General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Electric or The General as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Electric is around $25 more a month than The General.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean The General will be the cheaper option for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Electric and The General by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Electric vs. The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Electric and The General only compete against each other in one states, with Electric offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Electric premiums are $152 less expensive than auto insurance prices at The General.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use The General save almost 25% per month compared to those who use Electric.

However, both carriers will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. The General offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Electric's average premiums drop nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Electric and The General? Electric gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $178 monthly compared to The General's $195.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with The General premiums coming in at around 10% less than Electric's. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use The General save about 6% a month.

Electric or The General: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to offer women more affordable prices.

Generally, women see rates around 7% per month less with Electric, but with The General, the difference is closer to 12% a month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, The General comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average premiums 7% less for men and 12% cheaper for women.

Electric vs. The General: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Electric has the edge, while The General offers the most affordable average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $4 with Electric Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $55 cheaper with The General.

Is Electric or The General 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.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Electric or The General -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Electric for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 12% after getting a speeding ticket. The General policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 20%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Electric tends to offer the best rates at around 1% less expensive, while The General has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Electric policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by over 10%, while those who have insurance through The General will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Electric end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $236 compared to The General's $279.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Electric will climb your premiums around 46% after a DUI, while The General's average rates climb by nearly 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, The General tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $254 to Electric's $385.

How does Credit Score Impact Electric and The General Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for drivers 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 Electric or The General 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 sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost? Normally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much The General charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly premiums for Electric, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $33 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, The General is the cheaper carrier.

Electric or The General: 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 pretty big impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, The General boasts the most affordable average rates in rural and suburban areas, while Electric wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $189 a month with The General and $262 with Electric. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $225 with The General compared to $234 with Electric. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Electric's average prices are about $304 while The General offers premiums around $310.

Electric vs. The General 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 insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Electric and The General so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Electric blows The General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than The General.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Electric also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, The General has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like homeowner discounts, liability only discounts, and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Electric or The General Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables 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, is Electric or The General the right company for you and your specific needs?

The General might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Electric might be best for you if...

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Electric and The General. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 a handful of companies, not just Electric and The General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Electric vs. The General FAQs

Is Electric or The General cheaper?

The General is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $241 per month with The General and $266 for Electric. However, that doesn't mean The General will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Electric or The General?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Electric is less expensive for drivers who have already retired, while The General offers more affordable premiums for single policyholders.

Why do Electric and The General offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Electric or The General 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.