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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Erie offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Auto
• Erie tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have below-average credit
• Erie has more affordable rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record

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

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

You might be considering Erie or State Auto as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Erie is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with prices averaging $153 a month compared to $259 with State Auto.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the more affordable option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Erie and State Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Erie and State Auto compete against each other in six states, with Erie offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Erie prices are $359 more affordable than car insurance premiums at State Auto.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's generally because 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 car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save over 55% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices lower significantly by the time you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Erie still has the cheapest premiums at $142 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Erie and State Auto? Erie gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 30% less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover multiple vehicles, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Erie prices coming in at around half of State Auto's. The advantage for married policyholders with Erie is also obvious, where drivers save almost 30% a month.

Erie or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Normally, men see premiums about 7% per month higher with Erie, and nearly 10% with State Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Erie offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices 42% less for men and 40% cheaper for women.

Erie vs. State 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability coverage).

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 State Auto's $369.

Is Erie or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Erie or State Auto -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Erie for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 13% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

But Erie has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories. With Erie Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $51 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $81 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a 35% increase.

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 State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 an accident. On average, State Auto will raise your prices around 55% after a DUI, while Erie's average premiums rise by nearly 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 State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and State Auto Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

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

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Erie will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Erie comes in just under 53.09 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 51% with Erie compared to average rates from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 43% per month less with Erie compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 27% a month.

Is Erie or State 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 substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill? That's because the more milage you drive, the more 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 State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Erie, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year 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 carrier.

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

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Erie boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Erie Insurance's average rates are around 39% less than State Auto Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 39% less with Erie compared to State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 49% with Erie compared to State Auto.

Erie vs. State Auto 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

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

Looking at the total number of discounts, Erie comes out ahead with 21 discounts to State Auto's 18.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good driver -- but Erie also offers discounts for DRL, farm, pay plan, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, employee discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Erie or State Auto the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Erie might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Erie and State Auto. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Erie or State Auto cheaper?

Erie is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $153 a month with Erie and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Erie will be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Erie or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Erie and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things such as gender, where you park your vehicle, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and State Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Erie or State 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.