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

Quick Facts

• In general, Houston General offers significantly less expensive prices than Safe Auto
• Houston General offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Safe Auto offers more discounts than Houston General Insurance Exchange

Houston General vs. Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Houston General or Safe Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Safe Auto is quite a bit more expensive than Houston General, with rates averaging $223 per month compared to just $160 with Houston General when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, Houston General may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Houston General and Safe Auto by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Houston General or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's generally because young, inexperienced 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $150 less a month by choosing Houston General over Safe Auto.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Houston General policyholders lower almost $150 and Safe Auto's rates decrease about $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums you can find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $108 a month compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one car, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Houston General is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $75 per month less expensive than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Houston General offers the most affordable average premiums.

Houston General vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see premiums more than $10 a month higher with Houston General, while with Safe Auto, the difference is closer to $17 per month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Houston General offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $65 less for men and $60 cheaper for women.

Houston General or 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.

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

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Houston General typically offers significantly cheaper rates of $83 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies around $85 a month more affordable than Safe Auto, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Houston General or Safe Auto -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Houston General policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $37 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto generally raises premiums about $40 a month, on average.

That being said, Houston General is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $69 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $72 a month with Houston General Insurance Exchange.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Houston General drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see around a $65 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Houston General end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $233 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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Safe Auto drivers usually see a 27% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Houston General will usually raise rates by about 24%.

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

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking specifically at Safe Auto and Houston General, which one has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Houston General or Safe Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Houston General comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $160 per month for both.

Houston General vs. Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

Houston General boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average premiums are around $105 less than Safe Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $51 less with Houston General compared to Safe Auto. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $32 with Houston General compared to Safe Auto.

Houston General vs. Safe Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Houston General and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Houston General does not.

On the flip side, Houston General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Houston General or Safe Auto the right fit for you?

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

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Houston General and Safe Auto 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Houston General and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Houston General vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Houston General or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Houston General is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $160 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. Even so, Houston General won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Houston General or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Houston General and Safe Auto use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Houston General 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 a handful of companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Houston General or Safe Auto 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.