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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Erie offers slightly more affordable rates than Rurual Mutual
• Erie has cheaper prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Rurual Mutual has less expensive rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record

Erie or Rurual Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering 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've maybe even narrowed it down to Erie or Rurual Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Rurual Mutual is around $14 more a month than Erie.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the more affordable option for every driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Erie vs. Rurual Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Rurual Mutual only compete against each other in Wisconsin, where Erie offers the cheaper average premiums. Erie drivers tend to pay about $68 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Rurual Mutual for their insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, 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 over 6% less a month by choosing Erie over Rurual Mutual. It's worth noting that Erie offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Rurual Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. Rurual Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half 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?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable car insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Erie gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $116 per month compared to Rurual Mutual's $135.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is not very significant, with Erie rates coming in at around 7% less than Rurual Mutual's. The advantage for married couples is more obvious, where drivers who use Erie save more than 10% per month.

Erie or Rurual Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women generally pay less for auto insurance than men.

With Erie, women normally pay about $10 a month less than men, and over $10 with Rurual Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Erie offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 9% less for men and 9% cheaper for women.

Erie vs. Rurual Mutual: 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 a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

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

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Rurual Mutual has the edge, while Erie offers the lowest average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with Rurual Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $50 cheaper with Erie Insurance.

Is Erie or Rurual Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Erie for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 13% after getting a speeding ticket. Rurual Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

Even so, Rurual Mutual is typically the more affordable option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $2 and $10 less expensive, respectively, compared to Erie Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by just under $40, while those who have insurance through Rurual Mutual will see about a $20 increase.

At the end of the day, Rurual Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $136 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. Rurual Mutual drivers usually see a 59% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Erie will usually climb prices by around 40%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Rurual Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

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 cheapest 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 normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Erie comes in more than 26.61 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 21% with Erie compared to average prices from Rurual Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 16% less with Erie than Rurual Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 12% per month with Rurual Mutual.

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly premiums. Typically, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Rurual Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Erie, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Erie is the more affordable company.

Erie or Rurual Mutual: 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 substantial impact as well. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Erie usually comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Rurual Mutual wins in suburban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 27% with Erie compared to Rurual Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay around 9% less with Rurual Mutual compared to Erie. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie Insurance's average prices are about 8% less than Rurual Mutual Insurance.

Erie vs. Rurual Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Rurual Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

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

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Erie also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Rurual Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, good student discounts, and group discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Rurual Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Rurual Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Wisconsin.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Erie and Rurual Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 a handful of companies, not just Erie and Rurual Mutual. 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Rurual Mutual FAQs

Is Erie or Rurual Mutual cheaper?

Erie is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $153 a month with Erie and $167 for Rurual Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Erie will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Erie or Rurual Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Rurual Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as gender, your driving record, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Rurual Mutual calculate prices differently, 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car 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 Rurual Mutual 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.