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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Westfield offers slightly less expensive premiums than Erie
• Erie has cheaper rates for residents of suburban areas
• Westfield offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

Erie or Westfield: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Erie or Westfield as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Erie is around $1 more a month than Westfield.

But that doesn't mean Westfield will necessarily be cheaper than Erie for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Erie or Westfield is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Erie vs. Westfield: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Westfield only compete against each other in West Virginia, where Erie offers the cheaper average rates. Erie drivers tend to pay about $48 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Westfield for their insurance.

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because teen 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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Erie for their auto insurance pay over 3% less than those who use Westfield. It's worth noting that Erie offers car insurance in 11 different states compared to Westfield's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Erie policyholders lower about $150 and Westfield's premiums decrease around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Westfield gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $110 per month compared to Erie's $116.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which a lot of companies will give you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the winner for single policyholders, with rates around 2% a month less expensive than Westfield, on average.

Erie or Westfield: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to offer women more affordable prices.

Normally, women see premiums more than $10 per month more affordable with Erie, but with Westfield, the difference is closer to $15 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Westfield is the lowest carrier for women. Rates with Westfield are $3 cheaper for women, while with Erie, men can save about $3.

Erie vs. Westfield: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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 if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Westfield has the edge, while Erie offers the most affordable average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Westfield Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $25 cheaper with Erie Insurance.

Is Erie or Westfield Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great prices 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Westfield 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 about 15%.

However, Westfield has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 6% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 18% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Erie can expect to see around an $38 -- or about 24% -- rise in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Westfield for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $40 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Westfield end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $152 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Westfield increases average premiums by more than $100 per month -- that's more than a 50% increase.

Erie has the overall cheapest 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 one for Westfield, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Westfield Rates?

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

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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking specifically at Erie and Westfield, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Erie will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Erie comes in over 26.02 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 20% with Erie compared to average premiums from Westfield.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 1% less with Erie than Westfield, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 24% a month with Westfield.

Is Erie or Westfield Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Westfield charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Erie, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly.

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

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Erie boasts the lowest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while Westfield wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Westfield's average prices are about $152 while Erie offers rates around $194. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of about $145 with Erie compared to $160 with Westfield. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $115 a month with Erie compared to Westfield's $144.

Erie vs. Westfield 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 insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Westfield so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Erie comes out ahead with 21 discounts to Westfield's 17.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and paid in full discounts. Erie also offers discounts for advance quote, COVID-19 relief, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Westfield has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like account relationship discounts, companion auto discounts, company car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Westfield Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance company.
• Your credit score is high.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Westfield might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Erie and Westfield and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Erie and Westfield. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Westfield FAQs

Is Erie or Westfield cheaper?

Westfield is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $152 per month with Westfield and $153 for Erie. But that doesn't mean Westfield will be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Erie or Westfield?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Westfield is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while Erie offers less expensive premiums for single policyholders.

Why do Erie and Westfield offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as age, gender, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Erie and Westfield calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 carrier for you isn't Erie or Westfield 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.