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

Quick Facts

• In general, Erie offers significantly cheaper premiums than Maryland Automobile
• Erie offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Maryland Automobile has less expensive prices in MD

Erie or Maryland Automobile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Erie or Maryland Automobile for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Erie is quite a bit cheaper than Maryland Automobile, with rates averaging $153 a month compared to $256 with Maryland Automobile.

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

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

Erie vs. Maryland Automobile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Maryland Automobile only compete against each other in Maryland, where Erie offers the cheaper average prices. Erie drivers tend to pay about $66 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Maryland Automobile for their insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save 15% a month compared to those who use Maryland Automobile. It's worth noting that Erie offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Maryland Automobile's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Maryland Automobile offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Erie still has the lowest prices at $142 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Erie and Maryland Automobile specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Erie gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 50% cheaper than the national average for Maryland Automobile.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance premiums than single drivers. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Erie rates coming in at a third less than Maryland Automobile's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Erie offers the most affordable average prices.

Erie or Maryland Automobile: Average Rates by Gender

Men generally pay more for car insurance than women. That's because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see premiums around $10 per month higher with Erie, and over $15 with Maryland Automobile.

Looking at overall affordability, Erie comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $100 a month and men save about $106 with Erie compared to the average Maryland Automobile policyholder.

Erie vs. Maryland Automobile: 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 auto 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 for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Erie has the significant edge, with average monthly prices 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 per month to Maryland Automobile's $343.

Is Erie or Maryland Automobile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Erie or Maryland Automobile less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Maryland Automobile car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Erie policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 15%.

However, Erie has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 46% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 38% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Maryland Automobile climbing by around 22%. Erie has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Erie offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $157 compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's $281.

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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Maryland Automobile will climb your prices about 27% after a DUI, while Erie's average rates rise by just under 40%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Maryland Automobile Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for several drivers.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Erie will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Erie comes in nearly 64.45 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 57% with Erie compared to average prices from Maryland Automobile.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 41% less with Erie than Maryland Automobile, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 1% a month with Maryland Automobile.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance payment? Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

Erie or Maryland Automobile: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a large role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $47 with Erie compared to Maryland Automobile. People who live in suburban areas pay about $52 less with Erie compared to Maryland Automobile. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie Insurance's average rates are around $214 less than Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.

Erie vs. Maryland Automobile 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.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Erie and Maryland Automobile offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

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

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver and paid in full discounts -- but Erie also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

Maryland Automobile's discounts come through just two categories -- Good Driving and Paid In Full.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Maryland Automobile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and Maryland Automobile and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Erie and Maryland Automobile. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Maryland Automobile FAQs

Is Erie or Maryland Automobile 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 $256 for Maryland Automobile. Even so, that doesn't mean Erie will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Erie or Maryland Automobile?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Maryland Automobile is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Erie offers less expensive prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Erie and Maryland Automobile offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Maryland Automobile use 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 a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Erie or Maryland Automobile 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 carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Erie or Maryland Automobile 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.