General Casualty vs. Safe Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, General Casualty offers significantly cheaper premiums than Safe Auto
• General Casualty has more affordable prices in AZ, IL, IN, MN, MT, OH, OR, and UT
• Safe Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than General Casualty

General Casualty or Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering General Casualty or Safe Auto, but which one has less expensive rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, General Casualty has average rates that are around 40% a month cheaper than those from Safe Auto.

However, that doesn't mean General Casualty will necessarily be more affordable than Safe Auto for every 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 credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of General Casualty or Safe Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

General Casualty vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

General Casualty and Safe Auto only compete against each other in three states, with General Casualty offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty prices are $22 cheaper than auto insurance premiums at Safe Auto.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually 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 a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save almost 40% per month compared to those who use Safe Auto.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for General Casualty policyholders lower about $150 and Safe Auto's premiums reduce around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between General Casualty and Safe Auto? General Casualty gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $124 per month compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with General Casualty rates coming in at a third less than Safe Auto's. The advantage for married policyholders with General Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save around $65 a month.

General Casualty or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

With General Casualty, men typically pay nearly 10% more per month than women., and about 7% more with Safe Auto.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $85 less for men and $82 cheaper for women.

General Casualty vs. Safe 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms 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 (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, General Casualty has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $82. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies averaging around $195 a month to Safe Auto's $320.

Is General Casualty or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

At-fault accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is General Casualty or Safe Auto less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use General Casualty for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 32% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 18%.

But General Casualty is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering premiums that are 50% and 40% cheaper, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by over $55, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see about a $65 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive premiums come from General Casualty, with average rates coming in at $146 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, General Casualty will increase your premiums around 52% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average prices climb by more than 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, General Casualty tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $186 to Safe Auto's $245.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and Safe Auto Rates?

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

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Safe Auto and General Casualty, which carrier has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, General Casualty will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, General Casualty comes in nearly 44.92 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 47% with General Casualty compared to average rates from Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower premiums than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 40% per month less with General Casualty compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 23% monthly.

Is General Casualty or Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither General Casualty or Safe Auto report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, General Casualty comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $139 a month for both.

General Casualty or Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, General Casualty usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 34% with General Casualty compared to Safe Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay around 33% less with General Casualty compared to Safe Auto. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty's average rates are about 44% less than Safe Auto.

General Casualty vs. Safe Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 utilizing as many car 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 can take advantage of 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 looked at all of the different discounts General Casualty and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safe Auto has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. General Casualty offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while Safe Auto has 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, occupation discounts, and passive restraint discounts. Safe Auto also offers discounts for agency transfer, claim free, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, General Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is General Casualty or Safe Auto Best for You?

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

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after an accident.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- General Casualty only offers policies in eight states.
• You care about discounts (Safe Auto offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between General Casualty and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 a handful of companies, not just General Casualty and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is General Casualty or Safe Auto cheaper?

General Casualty is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $139 per month with General Casualty and $223 for Safe Auto. However, that doesn't mean General Casualty will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, General Casualty or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do General Casualty and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors such as age, gender, where you park your car, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both General Casualty and Safe Auto calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if General Casualty or Safe Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't General Casualty or Safe 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.