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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Erie offers slightly cheaper rates than Western National
• Erie may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National offers less expensive average prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Erie or Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty 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 Western National, but which one has cheaper rates for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Western National is around $1 more a month than Erie.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the less expensive option for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Erie vs. Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Western National only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Erie premiums are $78 cheaper than auto insurance rates at Western National.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western National for their auto insurance pay almost 3% less than those who use Erie.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Erie policyholders reduce about $150 and Western National's premiums lower around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable 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 premiums for retired drivers between Erie and Western National? Western National gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $7 less expensive than the national average for Erie.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married drivers typically cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the winner for single policyholders, with premiums about 1% per month cheaper than Erie, on average.

Erie or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for car insurance than men.

Generally, men see rates around 7% a month higher with Erie, but with Western National, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Erie comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $3 less for men and $0 cheaper for women.

Erie vs. Western National: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a range of 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.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Western National has the edge, while Erie offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Western National Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $35 less expensive with Erie Insurance.

Is Erie or Western National 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Erie policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around $20.

However, Erie has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 23% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 11% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Erie policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $40, while those who have insurance through Western National will see about a $0 increase.

At the end of the day, Western National offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $154 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 an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Erie will climb your rates around 40% after a DUI, while Western National's average prices climb by 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Western National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $154 to Erie's $198.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Western National Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Western National and Erie, which carrier has the lowest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Western National will normally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in nearly 23% less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 3% with Erie compared to average premiums from Western National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower rates than Western National when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 3% a month less with Erie compared to Western National, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 7% per month.

Is Erie or Western National 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 prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Looking specifically at Western National and Erie, Western National is the cheaper option for people with short commutes, while Western National has better premiums for those who work from home. Erie's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in 3% more affordable than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay 1% less with Western National over Erie.

Erie or Western National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Western National usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Erie wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $43 with Erie compared to Western National. People who live in suburban areas pay around $18 less with Western National compared to Erie. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western National Insurance Company's average rates are about $17 less than Erie Insurance.

Erie vs. Western National Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Erie and Western National offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Erie knocks Western National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Western National's 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and discounts for getting driver training. Erie also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Western National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like corporate discounts, employee discounts, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Western National Best for You?

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

Western National might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Erie and Western National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Erie and Western National. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Western National FAQs

Is Erie or Western National cheaper?

Erie is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $153 per month with Erie and $154 for Western National. Even so, that doesn't mean Erie will be the most affordable company 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 Western National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Erie is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Western National offers cheaper rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Erie and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Erie and Western National calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

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