Erie vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Erie offers significantly more affordable prices than Main Street America
• Erie offers more discounts than Main Street America Insurance
• Main Street America offers more affordable rates for residents in New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont

Erie vs. Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Erie or Main Street America for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Erie has average rates that are about 35% per month less expensive than those from Main Street America.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the cheaper option for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Erie or Main Street America is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Erie or Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Main Street America only compete against each other in two states, with Main Street America offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Virginia, Erie is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Main Street America is the less expensive option in New York.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing Erie over Main Street America.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Erie policyholders reduce over $150 and Main Street America's premiums lower around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Erie and Main Street America? Erie gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 35% cheaper than the national average for Main Street America.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $89 per month less expensive than Main Street America, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Erie has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Erie vs. Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, men see prices around 7% a month higher with Erie, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men usually pay about 3% per month less than women.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Erie comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums $66 less for men and $83 cheaper for women.

Erie or Main Street America: 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 coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Erie normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $91 compared to Main Street America's $159. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies around $80 a month cheaper than Main Street America, on average.

Is Erie or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies 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 at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Erie or Main Street America -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Erie policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Main Street America generally raises rates about $61 a month, on average.

Even so, Erie tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $56 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $99 a month with Erie Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Main Street America climbing by $40. Erie has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay just under $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Erie offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $157 compared to Main Street America Insurance's $215.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Main Street America increases average rates by over $100 per month -- that's just under a 40% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Erie tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $198 per month compared to $283 from Main Street America.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Main Street America Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

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

Looking at Erie and Main Street America specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Main Street America, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $26 or 19% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower prices than Main Street America when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $29 a month less with Erie compared to Main Street America, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $226 a month.

Is Erie or Main Street America 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 your monthly insurance bill. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

Erie tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Erie's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 35% cheaper than Main Street America. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around 31% less with Erie over Main Street America.

Erie vs. Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Erie boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but Erie comes out on top with average premiums about $115 monthly. Erie also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 27% and 37% per month respective difference when compared to Main Street America drivers in similar areas.

Erie vs. Main Street America Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new 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 where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Erie and Main Street America offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Erie has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Main Street America offers a grand total of 18 discounts, while Erie has 21.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and mature driver discounts -- but Erie also offers advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, farm discounts, and more that Main Street America does not.

On the flip side, Main Street America has a couple unique discounts of its own -- EFT discounts, good payer discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Main Street America Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, is Erie or Main Street America the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

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

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Erie and Main Street America. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Erie or Main Street America cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Erie is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $153 a month compared to $227 for Main Street America. However, Erie won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Erie or Main Street America?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like gender, where your home is, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Erie and Main Street America calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Erie or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Erie or Main Street America 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.