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

Quick Facts

• In general, Safeway offers significantly more affordable premiums than Esurance
• Esurance offers more discounts than Safeway Insurance
• Safeway tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of suburban areas

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

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

You might be considering Esurance or Safeway for your next policy, but which company has less expensive prices for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Esurance has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from Safeway.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Safeway will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Esurance or Safeway is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Esurance or Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Safeway only compete against each other in two states, with Safeway offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Safeway rates are over 40% more affordable than car insurance prices at Esurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Safeway for their insurance pay more than $250 less than those who use Esurance.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Esurance policyholders decrease over 65% and Safeway's premiums lower more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Safeway gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $136 a month compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Safeway is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $126 a month cheaper than Esurance, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Safeway is also obvious, where drivers save over $75 per month.

Esurance vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, men see rates around 7% a month higher with Esurance, and about 9% more with Safeway.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Safeway comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 34% less for men and 36% cheaper for women.

Esurance or Safeway: 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 several different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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 coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Safeway usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $130 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safeway again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month less expensive than Esurance, on average.

Is Esurance or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great premiums 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 tickets and at-fault accidents 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?

Esurance policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while Safeway generally raises rates about $7 per month, on average.

Even so, Safeway is normally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $79 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $117 per month with Safeway Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Esurance can expect to see around an $122 -- or about 34% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Safeway for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $60 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Safeway, with monthly premiums averaging $223 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 speeding ticket or even an accident. Esurance drivers usually see a 20% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Safeway will usually raise premiums by about 26%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Safeway tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $220 per month compared to $301 from Esurance.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Safeway Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the lowest prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Esurance or Safeway 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Safeway charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Esurance, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Safeway is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Safeway tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but Safeway comes out on top with average rates about $146 monthly. Safeway also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $162 and $87 a month respective difference when compared to Esurance drivers in similar areas.

Esurance vs. Safeway Discounts

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

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

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Esurance and Safeway offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Esurance blows Safeway away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Safeway.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Safeway does not.

On the flip side, Safeway has a couple unique discounts of its own -- full coverage discounts, punitive damage exclusion discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Safeway Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Safeway might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and Safeway and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Esurance and Safeway. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Esurance vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Esurance or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Safeway is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $194 per month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, Safeway won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or Safeway?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Esurance and Safeway offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Variables such as your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and Safeway use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Esurance or Safeway 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.