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

Quick Facts

• In general, Emc offers significantly less expensive premiums than Shelter
• Emc tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Emc offers more affordable average prices for drivers who have below-average credit

Emc or Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Emc or Shelter, but which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Shelter has average rates that are around 65% a month more expensive than those from Emc.

Even so, that doesn't mean Emc will necessarily be more affordable than Shelter for every driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Emc or Shelter is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Emc vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Emc and Shelter only compete against each other in Nebraska, where Emc offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their insurance.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group on the road. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 70% less a month by choosing Emc over Shelter.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. Shelter offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Emc still has the most affordable premiums at $77 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Emc gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $93 cheaper than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than single drivers. That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one vehicle, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Emc premiums coming in at about a third of Shelter's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Emc offers the cheapest average prices.

Emc or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for insurance than men.

Men typically pay almost 10% more per month than women with Emc, and around 11% more with Shelter.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Emc comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $128 a month and men save about $146 with Emc compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Emc vs. 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 a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Emc has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $24. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Emc again has the edge, with policies averaging around $118 per month to Shelter's $288.

Is Emc or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Emc or Shelter -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Emc for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 4% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

However, Emc is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With EMC Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $75 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $111 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Shelter increasing by about 39%. Emc has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 10% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Emc end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $74 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 an accident. For example, Shelter increases average rates by nearly $150 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Emc tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $74 to Shelter's $277.

How does Credit Score Impact Emc and Shelter Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates 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 Emc or Shelter Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

Emc tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Shelter's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $150 more expensive than Emc. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay nearly $150 more with Shelter over Emc.

Emc or Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

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

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $68 a month with Emc and $203 with Shelter. People in suburban areas pay around $72 with Emc compared to Shelter's $187 monthly. In urban areas, Emc's average prices are about $75 per month compared to Shelter's $235.

Emc vs. Shelter Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Emc and Shelter so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Emc comes out ahead with 13 discounts to Shelter's 10.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for being a good student -- but Emc also offers discounts for ABS, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Shelter has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like defensive driver discounts, multi-car discounts, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Emc or Shelter Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. 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 right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Emc might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly.

Shelter might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Emc and Shelter and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Emc and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Emc vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Emc or Shelter cheaper?

Emc is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $71 a month with Emc and $208 for Shelter. Even so, that doesn't mean Emc will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are several different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Emc or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Emc and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as where you park your car, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Emc and Shelter calculate rates 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 lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Emc or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Emc or Shelter 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.