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

Quick Facts

• In general, Erie offers significantly cheaper rates than Frankenmuth
• Erie has less expensive prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Frankenmuth offers more affordable rates for residents in Michigan and Ohio

Erie vs. Frankenmuth: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Erie or Frankenmuth as your top options, but between the two, which company has more affordable prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Frankenmuth is quite a bit more expensive than Erie, with premiums averaging $318 per month compared to just $153 with Erie.

But Erie may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your age, where you call home, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Erie or Frankenmuth 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 or Frankenmuth: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Frankenmuth only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Erie rates are over 30% more affordable than insurance prices at Frankenmuth.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $350 less a month by choosing Erie over Frankenmuth. It's worth noting that Erie offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Frankenmuth's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. Frankenmuth offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Erie still has the most affordable prices at $142 a 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 cheapest rates you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Erie gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $116 per month compared to Frankenmuth's $215.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $188 per month cheaper than Frankenmuth, on average. The advantage for married couples with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 55% a month.

Erie vs. Frankenmuth: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Erie, women typically pay over $10 per month less than men, and about $6 less with Frankenmuth.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Erie offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 51% less for men and 53% cheaper for women.

Erie or Frankenmuth: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several 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 a collision.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Erie normally offers significantly more affordable prices of $91 compared to Frankenmuth's $214. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies around $200 a month cheaper than Frankenmuth, on average.

Is Erie or Frankenmuth Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Erie or Frankenmuth less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Erie policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Frankenmuth generally raises prices about $74 a month, on average.

Even so, Erie has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $54 and $110 less expensive, respectively, compared to Frankenmuth Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Frankenmuth will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Erie, with monthly premiums averaging $157 compared to Frankenmuth Insurance's $214.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Frankenmuth increases average rates by over $450 per month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

Erie has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $198 monthly, but it's worth noting that Erie's average rates come from 11 states compared to just two for Frankenmuth, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Frankenmuth Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best prices 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 Erie. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 55% compared to Frankenmuth, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $136 or 55% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower premiums than Frankenmuth when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $132 a month less with Erie compared to Frankenmuth, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $279 per month.

Is Erie or Frankenmuth Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Frankenmuth charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Erie, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Erie is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Erie vs. Frankenmuth: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Erie comes out on top with average rates about $115 monthly. Erie also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 51% and 50% per month respective difference when compared to Frankenmuth policyholders in similar areas.

Erie vs. Frankenmuth Discounts

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

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.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Frankenmuth so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Erie blows Frankenmuth away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Frankenmuth's 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Erie also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Frankenmuth does not.

On the flip side, Frankenmuth has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, group discounts, life policy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Frankenmuth Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right fit for you?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in an suburban area.

Frankenmuth might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Erie and Frankenmuth and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Erie and Frankenmuth. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Frankenmuth FAQs

Is Erie or Frankenmuth cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Erie is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $153 a month compared to $318 for Frankenmuth. That being said, Erie won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Erie or Frankenmuth?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Frankenmuth offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at several different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Frankenmuth calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Erie or Frankenmuth is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers 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 Erie or Frankenmuth 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.