Esurance vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Main Street America offers significantly less expensive rates than Esurance
• Esurance may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Main Street America Insurance
• Main Street America tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

Esurance or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Esurance or Main Street America, but which one will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Esurance is around $72 more a month than Main Street America.

That being said, Main Street America may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Esurance and Main Street America by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Esurance vs. Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Main Street America only compete against each other in one states, with Main Street America offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. New York has the most noticable difference, where Main Street America rates are $408 more affordable than auto insurance premiums at Esurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 35% less per month by choosing Main Street America over Esurance.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Esurance's average prices drop over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Esurance and Main Street America? Main Street America gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $181 monthly compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance prices than those who are single. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Main Street America prices coming in at a quarter less than Esurance's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Main Street America offers the most affordable average rates.

Esurance or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see premiums around $20 a month higher with Esurance, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men typically pay about $6 per month less than women.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Main Street America comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $85 less for men and $58 cheaper for women.

Esurance vs. Main Street America: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Main Street America has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $159. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Main Street America again has the edge, with policies averaging around $295 a month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Esurance or Main Street America more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Esurance for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Main Street America policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 26%.

But Main Street America has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $67 and $51 less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Esurance can expect to see about an $122 -- or around 34% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Main Street America for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $40 (or 19%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Main Street America end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $215 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Main Street America drivers usually see a 38% climb in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Esurance will normally increase prices by around 20%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Main Street America tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $283 to Esurance's $301.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Main Street America Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers 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.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Main Street America will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Main Street America comes in nearly 49.07 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 48% with Main Street America compared to average premiums from Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 41% less with Main Street America than Esurance, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 12% per month with Esurance.

Is Esurance or Main Street America 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 your monthly rates. Typically, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Main Street America offers cheaper prices than Esurance. Main Street America average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $75 less expensive than Esurance. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay $70 less with Main Street America over Esurance.

Esurance or Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Main Street America boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Main Street America Insurance's average premiums are about 33% less than Esurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 20% less with Main Street America compared to Esurance. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 11% with Main Street America compared to Esurance.

Esurance vs. Main Street America Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Esurance and Main Street America so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Esurance knocks Main Street America out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Main Street America's 18.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and mature driver discounts -- but Esurance also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, education, and more.

On the other hand, Main Street America has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like distant student discounts, driver training discounts, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Main Street America Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Esurance and Main Street America and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 a handful of carriers, not just Esurance and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Esurance or Main Street America cheaper?

Main Street America is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $227 a month with Main Street America and $299 for Esurance. That being said, that doesn't mean Main Street America will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or Main Street America?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Esurance is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Main Street America offers cheaper rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Esurance and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things like your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and Main Street America calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Esurance or Main Street America 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Esurance or Main Street America 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.