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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Houston General offers significantly more affordable prices than State Auto
• Houston General tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who have a short commute
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Houston General Insurance Exchange

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Houston General or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for insurance?

As you can see, Houston General is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with rates averaging $160 a month compared to $259 with State Auto when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Houston General will necessarily be less expensive than State Auto for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

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

Houston General and State Auto only compete against each other in Texas, where Houston General offers the cheaper average prices. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It'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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 60% less a month by choosing Houston General over State Auto.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Houston General policyholders decrease almost 45% and State Auto's prices lower nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever see.

When looking at Houston General and State Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $108 per month compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Houston General premiums coming in at about half of State Auto's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Houston General has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Houston General or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men typically pay around 7% more per month than women with Houston General, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Houston General comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $105 less for men and $93 cheaper for women.

Houston General 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Houston General has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $83. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies averaging about $236 per month to State Auto's $369.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Houston General for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 25% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 22%.

But Houston General is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are 35% and 32% cheaper, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

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 State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from Houston General, with average premiums coming in at $233 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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, State Auto will increase your rates about 55% after a DUI, while Houston General's average premiums climb by nearly 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Houston General tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $147 to State Auto's $380.

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

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Houston General normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 27% with Houston General compared to State Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay around 37% less with Houston General compared to State Auto. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average premiums are about 48% less than State Auto Insurance.

Houston General 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Houston General and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

State Auto knocks Houston General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Houston General.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Auto also offers discounts for advantage program , COVID-19 relief, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Houston General has a proprietary discount of their own -- a excess vehicle discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You live 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 Houston General and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several carriers, not just Houston General and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Houston General vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Houston General or State Auto cheaper?

Houston General is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $160 per month with Houston General and $259 for State Auto. Even so, that doesn't mean Houston General will be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Houston General or State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

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

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as gender, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Houston General and State Auto calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Houston General 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.