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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, General Casualty offers significantly more affordable premiums than State Auto
• General Casualty has less expensive rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than General Casualty

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to General Casualty or State Auto, but which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, General Casualty has average rates that are around 45% a month less expensive than those from State Auto.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean General Casualty will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

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

General Casualty and State Auto only compete against each other in three states, with General Casualty offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty prices are $181 less expensive than car insurance premiums at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 65% less per month by choosing General Casualty over State Auto.

Even so, both companies will reduce prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for General Casualty policyholders lower more than 55% and State Auto's prices decrease almost 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between General Casualty and State Auto? General Casualty gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 25% more affordable than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are generally cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders? That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with General Casualty prices coming in at about half of State Auto's. The advantage for married policyholders with General Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save around $60 a month.

General Casualty or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Normally, women see premiums nearly 10% per month less with General Casualty, and almost 10% less with State Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $125 a month and women save about $115 with General Casualty compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

General Casualty 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, General Casualty has the significant edge, with average monthly prices 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 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is General Casualty 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 car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- General Casualty or State Auto -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use General Casualty for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 32% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

But General Casualty tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are 47% and 39% more affordable, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under 40%, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $146 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, State Auto increases average prices by more than $200 a month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, General Casualty tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $186 to State Auto's $380.

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

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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

Looking specifically at State Auto and General Casualty, which one has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, General Casualty will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, General Casualty comes in over 46.91 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 48% with General Casualty compared to average premiums from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 47% per month less with General Casualty compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 45% a month.

Is General Casualty or State Auto 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 insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

General Casualty boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $94 with General Casualty compared to State Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay about $102 less with General Casualty compared to State Auto. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty's average rates are around $166 less than State Auto Insurance.

General Casualty 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 insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both General Casualty and State Auto so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

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

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advantage program , COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, General Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own like new vehicle discounts and occupation discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- State Auto has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between General Casualty and State Auto. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just General Casualty and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. State Auto FAQs

Is General Casualty or State 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 $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean General Casualty will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are many different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, General Casualty or State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both General Casualty and State Auto calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if General Casualty or State Auto 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 carriers 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 companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't General Casualty 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.