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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Western Reserve Group offers more affordable rates than Erie
• Erie offers more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group offers more affordable prices for residents in Indiana and Ohio

Erie vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Erie or Western Reserve Group as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Western Reserve Group is about $16 per month cheaper than Erie.

That being said, Western Reserve Group may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Erie and Western Reserve Group by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Erie or Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in one states, with Erie offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Erie rates are over 15% more affordable than car insurance prices at Western Reserve Group.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $50 less a month by choosing Western Reserve Group over Erie. It's worth noting that Erie offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Erie policyholders reduce nearly 55% and Western Reserve Group's prices drop almost 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest car insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Western Reserve Group gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $9 cheaper than the national average for Erie.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single. This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something several insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Western Reserve Group is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $19 per month more affordable than Erie, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Western Reserve Group save nearly 10% a month.

Erie vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Normally, men see rates about 7% per month higher with Erie, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men typically pay around 1% a month less than women.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Western Reserve Group comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $22 per month and women save about $9 with Western Reserve Group compared to the average Erie policyholder.

Erie or Western Reserve Group: 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.

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

In this case, Erie offers the lowest average prices for state minimum liability limits, while Western Reserve Group has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $3 with Erie Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $35 cheaper with Western Reserve Group.

Is Erie or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- Erie or Western Reserve Group -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Erie policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $18 a month if they get a ticket, while Western Reserve Group normally raises prices about $34 per month, on average.

Even so, Western Reserve Group tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 26% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 11% more affordable 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 rise by just under $40, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a $30 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Western Reserve Group end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $120 compared to Erie Insurance's $157.

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. For example, Western Reserve Group increases average premiums by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

Erie has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $198 monthly, but it's worth noting that Erie's average rates come from 11 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive rates.

Looking at Erie and Western Reserve Group specifically, which company has the lowest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 10% compared to Western Reserve Group, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $6 or 5% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower premiums than Erie when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $11 per month less with Western Reserve Group compared to Erie, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $69 a month.

Is Erie or Western Reserve Group 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 big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Western Reserve Group charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Erie, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Western Reserve Group is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Erie vs. Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Western Reserve Group boasts the most affordable average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Erie wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, Western Reserve Group's average rates are about 24% less than Erie Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 4% less with Western Reserve Group compared to Erie. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 8% with Erie compared to Western Reserve Group.

Erie vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Erie and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Erie knocks Western Reserve Group out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and distant student discounts -- but Erie also offers ABS discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, driver training discounts, and more that Western Reserve Group does not.

On the flip side, Western Reserve Group has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Erie or Western Reserve Group the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Erie might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Western Reserve Group is only available to Indiana and Ohio residents.
• Your credit score is high.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and Western Reserve Group. 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 multiple carriers, not just Erie and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. 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. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Erie or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Western Reserve Group is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $153 for Erie. But Western Reserve Group won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Erie or Western Reserve Group?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Erie and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors such as your driving record, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Erie and Western Reserve Group calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Erie or Western Reserve Group 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.