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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Erie offers significantly more affordable prices than Motorists
• Erie offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI
• Motorists has cheaper rates in IN, KY, OH, PA, and WV

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Erie or Motorists as your top options, but which carrier has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Motorists has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from Erie.

However, that doesn't mean Erie will necessarily be more affordable than Motorists for each driver. Insurance carriers 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 a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Erie or Motorists is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Erie vs. Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Motorists only compete against each other in three states, with Erie offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. West Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Erie premiums are $168 cheaper than car insurance prices at Motorists.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies determine your rates. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of 25% less per month by choosing Erie over Motorists.

That being said, both carriers will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Erie policyholders drop about $150 and Motorists's premiums decrease around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Erie gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $116 a month compared to Motorists's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Erie prices coming in at a third less than Motorists's. The advantage for married drivers with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save around 45% a month.

Erie or Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men generally pay more for insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

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

Looking at overall affordability, Erie offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices $99 less for men and $98 cheaper for women.

Erie vs. Motorists: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

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 Motorists's $379.

Is Erie or Motorists Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies 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 speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Erie or Motorists cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Erie for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 13% after getting a speeding ticket. Motorists policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 10%.

But Erie tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 30% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 27% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Erie can expect to see about an $38 -- or around 24% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Motorists for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $37 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Erie end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $157 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Erie will usually raise rates by around 40%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Erie tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $198 to Motorists's $442.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Motorists Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Erie will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Erie comes in nearly 42.77 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 40% with Erie compared to average rates from Motorists.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower premiums than Motorists when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% per month less with Erie compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 40% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly rates. Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

Erie tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Erie's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 40% more affordable than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under 40% less with Erie over Motorists.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Erie boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie Insurance's average rates are about $92 less than Motorists Insurance Group. People who live in suburban areas pay around $70 less with Erie compared to Motorists. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $137 with Erie compared to Motorists.

Erie vs. Motorists 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Erie and Motorists so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Erie knocks Motorists out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Motorists's 14.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Erie also offers discounts for COVID-19 relief, distant student, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Motorists has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like empty nester discounts, homeowner discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Motorists Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Erie or Motorists the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Motorists might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Erie and Motorists and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Erie and Motorists. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just 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. Motorists FAQs

Is Erie or Motorists cheaper?

Erie is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $153 a month with Erie and $251 for Motorists. Even so, that doesn't mean Erie will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Erie or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Motorists offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as where you call home, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Motorists calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Erie or Motorists 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.