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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Secura offers slightly less expensive rates than Erie
• Erie has more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas
• Secura tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

Erie vs. Secura: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Erie or Secura for your next policy, but which one has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, Secura is about $7 per month cheaper than Erie when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Secura will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Erie or Secura: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Secura only compete against each other in two states, with Erie offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Illinois, Erie is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. Secura is the less expensive option in Wisconsin.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $4 less a month by choosing Secura over Erie. It's worth noting that Erie offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Secura's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Erie policyholders lower nearly 55% and Secura's premiums reduce more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest 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 car insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Erie and Secura? Secura gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $111 a month compared to Erie's $116. But the difference is only about 5%, so other variables (such as your credit score or your driving record) will likely come into play when determining which company has the cheapest rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

If you're in the market for car insurance, Secura tends to have the most affordable average rates regardless of relationship status, with prices around 4% more affordable for those who are single and about 5% less expensive for married couples.

Erie vs. Secura: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Women generally pay over $10 per month less than men with Erie, while with Secura, the difference is closer to $3 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Secura offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $11 less for men and $3 cheaper for women.

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

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

In this case, Secura offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Erie has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with SECURA Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $7 cheaper with Erie Insurance.

Is Erie or Secura Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents 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?

Erie policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Secura typically raises prices about $35 a month, on average.

That being said, Secura has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $32 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $15 a month with SECURA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

Overall, drivers who use Secura end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $129 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Secura will increase your rates around 64% after a DUI, while Erie's average prices rise by just under 40%.

Erie has the overall lowest rates 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 three for Secura, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Secura Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly car insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for several policyholders.

Auto insurance companies 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 specifically at Secura and Erie, which company has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 25% compared to Secura, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $22 or 17% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Secura typically offers lower rates than Erie when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $2 per month less with Secura compared to Erie, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $79 monthly.

Is Erie or Secura 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 considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment? Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

Secura tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Secura's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $4 cheaper than Erie. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay about $10 less with Secura over Erie.

Erie vs. Secura: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, 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 carriers side-by-side, Secura generally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Erie wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $24 with Erie compared to Secura. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $8 less with Secura compared to Erie. In urban areas, SECURA Insurance's average premiums are around $33 less than Erie Insurance.

Erie vs. Secura Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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 qualify for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Secura so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Erie comes out ahead with 21 discounts to Secura's 19.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts. Erie also offers ABS discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, driver training discounts, and more that Secura does not.

On the flip side, Secura has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a good student, group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Secura Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Secura might be best for you if....

• You live in one of the following states: Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
• You live in an urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- SECURA Insurance is only available in three states.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and Secura 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Erie and Secura. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Secura FAQs

Is Erie or Secura cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Secura is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $146 a month compared to $153 for Erie. But Secura won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, 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 Secura?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Erie and Secura offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as where your home is, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Secura calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Erie or Secura 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.