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

Quick Facts

• In general, Grange offers slightly more affordable prices than State Auto
• Grange offers cheaper average rates for residents of suburban areas
• State Auto tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Grange or State Auto as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, State Auto is around $10 more a month than Grange.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Grange will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Grange or State Auto is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

Grange and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Grange offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Grange rates are $59 less expensive than car insurance premiums at State Auto.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 25% less per month by choosing Grange over State Auto.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Grange policyholders lower about $350 and State Auto's prices drop around $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable 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 prices for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Grange and State Auto? State Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 15% cheaper than the national average for Grange.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Grange premiums coming in at about 10% less than State Auto's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - State Auto has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Grange or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Generally, men see prices more than $10 a month higher with Grange, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to $24 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Grange comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $16 less for men and $4 cheaper for women.

Grange 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a range of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

Even so, the 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 an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Auto has the edge, while Grange offers the lowest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $35 with State Auto Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $55 less expensive with Grange Insurance.

Is Grange or State Auto 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.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Grange or State Auto -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Grange for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

But State Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $10 and $17 cheaper, respectively, compared to Grange Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Auto climbing by about 37%. Grange has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 30% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Grange offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $266 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, State Auto will climb your premiums around 55% after a DUI, while Grange's average prices increase by nearly 45%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Grange tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $314 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Grange and State Auto Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Grange will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Grange comes in NaN cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 2% with Grange compared to average prices from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Grange typically offers lower rates than State Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 4% a month less with Grange compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 3% monthly.

Is Grange 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 large impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing 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 rates for Grange, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Grange is the less expensive company.

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

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Grange tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $220 per month with Grange and $225 with State Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $235 with Grange compared to State Auto's $236 a month. In urban areas, Grange's average prices are around $292 per month compared to State Auto's $317.

Grange vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Grange and State Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Grange knocks State Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. Grange also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Grange or State Auto the right fit for you?

Grange might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• Your credit score is high.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates rise.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Grange and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Grange and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Grange vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Grange or State Auto cheaper?

Grange is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $249 a month with Grange and $259 for State Auto. Even so, that doesn't mean Grange will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Grange or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, State Auto is less expensive for drivers who have already retired, while Grange offers cheaper rates for single drivers.

Why do Grange and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables such as your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Grange 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 most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Grange 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, sites like Compare.com do 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 lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Grange 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.