Main Street America vs. State Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Main Street America offers more affordable premiums than State Auto
• Main Street America tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of suburban areas
• State Auto offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

Main Street America or State 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 savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Main Street America or State Auto as your top options, but which carrier has more affordable prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Main Street America is around $32 a month cheaper than State Auto.

That being said, that doesn't mean Main Street America will necessarily be less expensive than State Auto for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Main Street America 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.

Main Street America vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Main Street America and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with State Auto offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where State Auto prices are $19 cheaper than insurance rates at Main Street America.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group on the road. It's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Main Street America save over 35% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Main Street America policyholders drop almost 55% and State Auto's prices lower nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? State Auto gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $167 per month compared to Main Street America's $181.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are normally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Main Street America premiums coming in at a quarter less than State Auto's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - State Auto offers the most affordable average rates , but the difference is only $8.

Main Street America or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

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

Surprisingly, with Main Street America, men normallypay around 3% less a month than women, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Main Street America comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $47 a month and women save about $17 with Main Street America compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Main Street America 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 many different coverages that account for a bunch 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.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Auto has the edge, while Main Street America offers the lowest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with State Auto Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $75 less expensive with Main Street America Insurance.

Is Main Street America 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 premiums, but which carrier -- Main Street America or State Auto -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Main Street America for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

However, State Auto is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are 3% and 8% more affordable, respectively, compared to Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Main Street America can expect to see about an $40 -- or around 19% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use State Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Main Street America end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $215 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Main Street America will typically raise rates by around 38%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Main Street America tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $283 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Main Street America and State Auto Rates?

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

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at Main Street America and State Auto specifically, which one has the cheapest premiums 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 Main Street America or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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 Main Street America, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Main Street America is the less expensive carrier.

Main Street America or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Main Street America tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Main Street America Insurance's average rates are about 17% less than State Auto Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 3% less with Main Street America compared to State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 16% with Main Street America compared to State Auto.

Main Street America 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.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by Main Street America and State Auto so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

You can find offers for anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and mature driver discounts from both carriers.

Final Thoughts: Is Main Street America or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Main Street America and State 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Main Street America 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 multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Main Street America vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Main Street America or State Auto cheaper?

Main Street America is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $227 per month with Main Street America and $259 for State Auto. Even so, that doesn't mean Main Street America will be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Main Street America or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, State Auto is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Main Street America offers more affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Main Street America and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Main Street America and State Auto calculate premiums differently, 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 several different carriers.

How do I know if Main Street America 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 several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Main Street America 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.