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

Quick Facts

• In general, Equity offers significantly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Equity has more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Shelter has less expensive rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record

Equity vs. Shelter: 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Equity or Shelter as your top options, but between the two, which company has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Equity is about $43 per month more affordable than Shelter.

That being said, Equity may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, 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 Equity and Shelter by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Equity or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Equity and Shelter only compete against each other in two states, with Shelter offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Oklahoma, Equity is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. Shelter is the more affordable option in Arkansas.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Equity save $90 a month compared to those who use Shelter.

But both companies will lower premiums once 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, Equity still has the most affordable prices at $144 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Equity gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $128 monthly compared to Shelter's $141.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Equity is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $50 per month cheaper than Shelter, on average. The advantage for married couples with Equity is also obvious, where drivers save more than $35 a month.

Equity vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men normally pay more for insurance than women.

On average, men see rates over 10% per month higher with Equity, and around 11% more with Shelter.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Equity comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $46 a month and women save about $42 with Equity compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Equity 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 a range of different coverages that account for many 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 property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Equity usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $67 compared to Shelter's $129. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Equity again has the edge, with policies around $25 per month less expensive than Shelter, on average.

Is Equity or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates 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 collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Equity policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $6 a month if they get a ticket, while Shelter typically raises premiums about $39 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Shelter tends to offer the best prices at around 8% more affordable, while Equity has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Equity drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Equity, with monthly prices averaging $179 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Shelter drivers usually see a 49% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Equity will typically climb rates by around 7%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Equity tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $166 a month compared to $277 from Shelter.

How does Credit Score Impact Equity and Shelter Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score 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 several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

So, which carrier offers the lowest rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Shelter for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 1% compared to Equity, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Equity -- about $22 or 12% cheaper than Shelter each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Equity typically offers lower prices than Shelter when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $56 a month less with Equity compared to Shelter, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $96 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums 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 Equity charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Shelter, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Equity is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Equity vs. Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Equity boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Equity Insurance Company's average premiums are about 18% less than Shelter Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 16% less with Equity compared to Shelter. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 30% with Equity compared to Shelter.

Equity vs. Shelter Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

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

Both companies offer excellent discounts like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Equity or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

Equity might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Equity and Shelter. 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 multiple companies, not just Equity and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply 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.

Equity vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Equity or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Equity is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $165 per month compared to $208 for Shelter. However, Equity won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Equity or Shelter?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Equity offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Shelter is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Equity and Shelter offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Equity and Shelter 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 several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 area information 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 lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Equity 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.