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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Auto offers less expensive prices than Esurance
• Esurance offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• State Auto offers more affordable prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Esurance or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Esurance or State Auto, but which one has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Esurance has average rates that are around 13% a month more expensive than those from State Auto.

However, that doesn't mean State Auto will necessarily be cheaper than Esurance for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Esurance or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Esurance vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and State Auto compete against each other in four states, with Esurance offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Maryland or Texas, Esurance is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. State Auto is the less expensive option in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies determine your prices. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Esurance save over 3% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

Even so, both carriers will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Esurance's average prices drop more than 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable car insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Esurance and State Auto? State Auto gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $167 per month compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance rates than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is not very significant, with State Auto rates coming in at around 10% less than Esurance's. The advantage for married couples is more obvious, where drivers who use State Auto save over 20% a month.

Esurance or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Women generally pay about 7% per month less than men with Esurance, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, State Auto comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 12% less for men and 14% cheaper for women.

Esurance vs. State Auto: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the 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 two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $149. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $369 per month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance or State Auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect 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. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

But State Auto has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $72 and $69 more affordable, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Esurance increasing by about 34%. State Auto has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, State Auto offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $269 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 insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Esurance will usually climb rates by around 20%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Esurance tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $301 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car insurance carriers 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 carrier offers the cheapest rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, State Auto will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, State Auto comes in nearly NaN cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 14% with State Auto compared to average premiums from Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower rates than Esurance when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 14% a month less with State Auto compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 17% a month.

Is Esurance or State Auto 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 pretty big impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Esurance, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, State Auto is the more affordable company.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Auto tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Esurance wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Auto Insurance's average rates are around 20% less than Esurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 18% less with State Auto compared to Esurance. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 6% with Esurance compared to State Auto.

Esurance vs. State Auto Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Esurance and State Auto offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Esurance knocks State Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering six more discounts than State Auto.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Esurance also offers discounts for agency transfer, DRL, education, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

State Auto might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in an suburban area.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in a rural area.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Esurance or State Auto cheaper?

State Auto is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $259 per month with State Auto and $299 for Esurance. That being said, that doesn't mean State Auto will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, 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 State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, State Auto is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Esurance offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Esurance and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as where your home is, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and State Auto use 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 several different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Esurance or State Auto 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.