Esurance vs. Motorists: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Motorists offers less expensive rates than Esurance
• Esurance may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Motorists Insurance Group
• Motorists offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

Esurance or Motorists: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Esurance or Motorists as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Esurance is around $48 more a month than Motorists.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Motorists will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Esurance vs. Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Motorists only compete against each other in two states, with Motorists offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Pennsylvania, Esurance is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. Motorists is the cheaper option in Ohio.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 40% less per month by choosing Motorists over Esurance.

However, both companies will reduce rates once you turn 25. Motorists offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Esurance still has the lowest premiums at $233 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Esurance and Motorists? Motorists gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $13 more affordable than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover multiple vehicles, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Motorists prices coming in at a quarter less than Esurance's. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Esurance offers the cheapest average rates , but the difference is less than $5.

Esurance or Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll generally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Esurance, women typically pay about $20 a month less than men, and around $12 less with Motorists.

Looking at overall affordability, Motorists comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $43 per month and men save about $52 with Motorists compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance vs. Motorists: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common 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 an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Motorists has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $123. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Motorists again has the edge, with policies averaging around $379 a month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance or Motorists 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 collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Esurance for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Motorists policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 10%.

But Motorists has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $73 and $100 more affordable, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Esurance can expect to see about an $122 -- or around 34% -- rise in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Motorists for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $37 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Motorists offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $206 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Motorists increases average rates by more than $250 per month -- that's more than a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Esurance tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $301 to Motorists's $442.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Motorists Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

Auto 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 cheaper premiums.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Motorists will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Motorists comes in over 25.7 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 30% with Motorists compared to average rates 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 premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 24% less with Motorists than Esurance, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 1% a month with Esurance.

Is Esurance or Motorists 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 prices. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Motorists offers cheaper premiums than Esurance. Esurance average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $52 more expensive than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about $43 more with Esurance over Motorists.

Esurance or Motorists: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Motorists tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Esurance wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $41 with Esurance compared to Motorists. People who live in suburban areas pay about $73 less with Motorists compared to Esurance. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Motorists Insurance Group's average premiums are around $110 less than Esurance.

Esurance vs. Motorists 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier 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 Esurance and Motorists so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Esurance blows Motorists away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Motorists.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and paid in full discounts. Esurance also offers discounts for agency transfer, DRL, education, and more.

On the other hand, Motorists has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like empty nester discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, life policy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Motorists Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Motorists might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in a rural area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Esurance and Motorists. 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 carriers, not just Esurance and Motorists. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Esurance or Motorists cheaper?

Motorists is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $251 per month with Motorists and $299 for Esurance. Even so, that doesn't mean Motorists will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Esurance is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Motorists offers more affordable prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Esurance and Motorists offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Esurance and Motorists calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Esurance or Motorists 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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 lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Esurance or Motorists 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.