Erie vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper premiums than Erie
• Erie may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau has less expensive prices for drivers who have below-average credit

Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau: 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 have narrowed your search down to Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau as your top options, but which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Virginia Farm Bureau is quite a bit cheaper than Erie, with premiums averaging $101 a month compared to $153 with Erie.

That being said, that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will necessarily be less expensive than Erie for every driver. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Erie vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average prices. Virginia Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $6 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Erie for their car insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That'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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Virginia Farm Bureau for their car insurance pay over 35% less than those who use Erie. It's worth noting that Erie offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Virginia Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Erie policyholders lower around $150 and Virginia Farm Bureau's prices reduce more than $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 20% more affordable than the national average for Erie.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover several vehicles, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Virginia Farm Bureau prices coming in at a third less than Erie's. The advantage for married policyholders with Virginia Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save more than 30% a month.

Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will often charge women less than men.

With Erie, men generally pay about $10 per month more than women, but with Virginia Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to $4 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Virginia Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 35% less for men and 33% cheaper for women.

Erie vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for multiple 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.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $66. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging around $136 per month to Erie's $215.

Is Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Erie for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 13% after getting a speeding ticket. Virginia Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 23%.

That being said, Virginia Farm Bureau is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $37 and $30 cheaper, respectively, compared to Erie Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Virginia Farm Bureau will see about a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Virginia Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $105 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

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. Erie drivers usually see a 40% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Virginia Farm Bureau will usually increase premiums by around 26%.

Virginia Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $111 monthly, but it's worth noting that Erie's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Virginia Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking at Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau specifically, which one has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Virginia Farm Bureau will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Virginia Farm Bureau comes in nearly 28.57 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 21% with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to average premiums from Erie.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower prices than Erie when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 27% a month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Erie, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 45% per month.

Is Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau 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 premiums? Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Erie's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $50 more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay $55 more with Erie over Virginia Farm Bureau.

Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Virginia Farm Bureau typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $37 with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Erie. People who live in suburban areas pay about $29 less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Erie. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance's average premiums are around $85 less than Erie Insurance.

Erie vs. Virginia Farm Bureau 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. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau offer their customers 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 blows Virginia Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Erie also offers discounts for advance quote, anti-theft, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, Virginia Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like good student discounts, new business discounts, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau Best for You?

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

Virginia Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You care about discounts (Erie offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau and that it aids in making a more informed 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 several carriers, not just Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Erie vs. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Virginia Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $101 per month with Virginia Farm Bureau and $153 for Erie. However, that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things like where you park your car, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Erie or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.