Erie vs. Esurance: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Erie offers significantly less expensive prices than Esurance
• Erie has more affordable rates for drivers who have below-average credit
• Esurance may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Erie Insurance

Erie or Esurance: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Erie or Esurance, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Erie has average rates that are around 50% a month cheaper than those from Esurance when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

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

Wanting to know if Erie or Esurance is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Erie vs. Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Esurance compete against each other in four states, with Erie offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Erie prices are $124 more affordable than insurance rates at Esurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Erie for their car insurance pay almost 55% less than those who use Esurance.

However, both companies will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Esurance offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Erie still has the lowest premiums at $142 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Erie and Esurance specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Erie gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older about 50% less expensive than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover multiple vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Erie rates coming in at around half of Esurance's. The advantage for married policyholders with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 45% per month.

Erie or Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, women see rates about $10 a month cheaper with Erie, but with Esurance, the difference is closer to $21 per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Erie offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 49% less for men and 49% cheaper for women.

Erie vs. Esurance: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Erie has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $91. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies averaging around $215 a month to Esurance's $396.

Is Erie or Esurance Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great prices 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Erie or Esurance -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Erie for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 13% after getting a speeding ticket. Esurance policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 16%.

But Erie is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are $123 and $150 less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by just under $40, while those who have insurance through Esurance will see about a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, Erie offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $157 compared to Esurance's $364.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Erie will increase your premiums around 40% after a DUI, while Esurance's average rates increase by nearly 20%.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Esurance Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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.

Looking at Erie and Esurance specifically, which company has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Erie or Esurance 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Erie tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Erie's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 51% cheaper than Esurance. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around 47% less with Erie over Esurance.

Erie or Esurance: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Erie typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $115 a month with Erie and $211 with Esurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $145 with Erie compared to Esurance's $288 monthly. In urban areas, Erie's average prices are about $194 while Esurance offers rates around $396.

Erie vs. Esurance Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Erie and Esurance offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Esurance has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Erie offers a grand total of 21 discounts, while Esurance has 24.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Esurance also offers discounts for agency transfer, education, good payer, and more.

On the other hand, Erie has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Esurance Best for You?

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

Erie might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and Esurance. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Erie and Esurance. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Esurance FAQs

Is Erie or Esurance cheaper?

Erie is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $153 per month with Erie and $299 for Esurance. That being said, that doesn't mean Erie will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Erie or Esurance?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Erie and Esurance offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things like gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Erie and Esurance calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Erie or Esurance 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Erie or Esurance 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.