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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Erie offers significantly less expensive premiums than Safe Auto
• Erie has more affordable rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly
• Erie offers more affordable prices for policyholders who live in urban areas

Erie or Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Erie or Safe Auto, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Safe Auto has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from Erie.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your age, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Erie or Safe Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Erie vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Safe Auto only compete against each other in three states, with Erie offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Erie rates are $58 cheaper than auto insurance premiums at Safe Auto.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your prices. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that 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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save almost 30% per month compared to those who use Safe Auto.

That being said, both companies will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Safe Auto 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 cheapest prices at $142 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Erie and Safe Auto? Erie gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 35% more affordable than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance rates than married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover several vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

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 Safe Auto's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Erie has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Erie or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

With Erie, women usually pay about $10 a month less than men, but with Safe Auto, the difference is closer to $17 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Erie comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $73 a month and women save around $67 with Erie compared to the average Safe Auto policyholder.

Erie vs. Safe Auto: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto 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).

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 about $215 per month to Safe Auto's $320.

Is Erie or Safe Auto 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.

At-fault accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Erie or Safe Auto less expensive 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 normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 13% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 18%.

Even so, Erie has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 34% and 38% cheaper, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Safe Auto climbing by around 27%. Erie has a less extreme climb, 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 premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $157 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Erie will climb your premiums about 40% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average rates rise by more than 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Safe Auto Rates?

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

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking specifically at Erie and Safe Auto, which company has the cheapest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Erie or Safe Auto 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 rates? That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

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

Erie or Safe Auto: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Erie tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie's average rates are about $194 while Safe Auto offers premiums around $271. People in suburban areas pay about $145 with Erie compared to Safe Auto's $200 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $115 a month with Erie and $197 with Safe Auto.

Erie vs. Safe Auto Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Safe Auto so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Erie blows Safe Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Safe Auto.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Erie also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, Safe Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Erie might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Erie offers the most).
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined only offers policies to residents.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Erie and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does 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. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Erie or Safe Auto cheaper?

Erie is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $153 a month with Erie and $223 for Safe Auto. But that doesn't mean Erie will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Erie or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Safe Auto is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Erie offers more affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Erie and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Safe Auto calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Erie or Safe Auto 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.