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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, National General offers less expensive premiums than Esurance
• Esurance offers more discounts than National General Insurance
• National General offers more affordable rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Esurance vs. National General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Esurance or National General as your top options, but which one has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, National General has average rates that are about 17% per month cheaper than those from Esurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean National General will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Esurance or National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and National General only compete against each other in Texas, where Esurance offers the cheaper average prices. For Texas residents, Esurance offers car insurance for $184 monthly on average. National General's average premiums come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $249 a month.

But there's more to insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your rates. Read on 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 out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, 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 $100 less a month by choosing National General over Esurance. It's worth noting that Esurance offers car insurance in 11 different states compared to National General's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Esurance policyholders reduce nearly $500 and National General's prices drop around $400 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Esurance and National General specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? National General gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 25% more affordable than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, National General is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $63 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - National General offers the most affordable average prices.

Esurance vs. National General: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Esurance, women normally pay around 7% a month less than men, and about 6% less with National General when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, National General offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $47 per month and men save around $52 with National General compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance or National General: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, National General generally offers more affordable premiums of $151 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, National General again has the edge, with policies about $50 a month less expensive than Esurance, on average.

Is Esurance or National General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Esurance or National General cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Esurance policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $45 per month if they get a ticket, while National General normally raises rates around $20 a month, on average.

But National General has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 33% and 37% less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Esurance drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through National General will see about a 65% increase.

Overall, Esurance offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $364 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Esurance will climb your prices around 20% after a DUI, while National General's average rates climb by over 10%.

National General has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $183 per month, but it's worth noting that Esurance's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for National General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and National General Rates?

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

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at National General and Esurance, which company has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with National General. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Esurance, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $43 or 16% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National General typically offers lower prices than Esurance when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $43 per month less with National General compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $114 monthly.

Is Esurance or National General 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 considerable impact on your monthly rates? Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, 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 National General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Esurance, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, National General is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Esurance vs. National General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, National General generally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Esurance wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, National General Insurance's average rates are about $134 less than Esurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $47 less with National General compared to Esurance. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $33 with Esurance compared to National General.

Esurance vs. National General Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Esurance and National General so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Esurance knocks National General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to National General's eight.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, agency transfer discounts, DRL discounts, and more that National General does not.

On the flip side, National General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, low mileage discounts, and vehicle brand discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or National General Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for discounts -- Esurance has the most.
• You live in a rural area.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Esurance and National General. 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Esurance and National General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Esurance vs. National General FAQs

Is Esurance or National General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, National General is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $249 a month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, National General won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or National General?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Esurance offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while National General is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Esurance and National General offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Esurance and National General use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Esurance or National General is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information 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 best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Esurance or National General 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.