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

Quick Facts

• In general, Safe Auto offers less expensive premiums than Motorists
• Motorists offers cheaper average rates for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Safe Auto has more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

Motorists or Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Motorists or Safe Auto as your top options, but which company will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Motorists is around $28 more a month than Safe Auto.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Safe Auto will be the more affordable option for every driver. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Motorists or Safe Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by multiple different rate factors.

Motorists vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Motorists and Safe Auto only compete against each other in three states, with Motorists offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Safe Auto rates are $189 cheaper than insurance prices at Motorists.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just the state you live in. 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 other group of drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 6% less per month by choosing Motorists over Safe Auto.

However, both carriers will reduce prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Motorists policyholders lower nearly 45% and Safe Auto's rates decrease over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Motorists and Safe Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Safe Auto gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $179 per month compared to Motorists's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance premiums than those who are single. That's because policies for married couples generally cover multiple vehicles, which many companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is not very significant, with Safe Auto premiums coming in at around 5% less than Motorists's. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Safe Auto offers the cheapest average prices.

Motorists or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Usually, women see premiums about 5% a month less with Motorists, and around 7% less with Safe Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Safe Auto comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices $26 less for men and $31 cheaper for women.

Motorists vs. 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. 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 an accident.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Motorists has the edge, while Safe Auto offers the cheapest average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $3 with Motorists Insurance Group, while full coverage comes out to be about $60 more affordable with Safe Auto.

Is Motorists or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great prices 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 speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Motorists for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 10% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 18%.

However, Motorists is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 6% and 15% less expensive, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Motorists can expect to see around an $37 -- or about 18% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Safe Auto for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $66 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, Motorists offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $206 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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Motorists will climb your rates about 62% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average premiums rise by more than 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Motorists and Safe Auto Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Auto 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.

Looking at Motorists and Safe Auto specifically, which one has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Motorists, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying around $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Safe Auto is the more affordable carrier.

Motorists or Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Safe Auto 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 about 22% with Safe Auto compared to Motorists. People who live in suburban areas pay around 7% less with Safe Auto compared to Motorists. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Safe Auto's average rates are about 5% less than Motorists Insurance Group.

Motorists vs. Safe Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company 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 Motorists and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and passive restraint discounts are offered by both companies.

Final Thoughts: Is Motorists or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You live in a rural area.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Motorists and Safe Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Motorists and Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Motorists vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Motorists or Safe Auto cheaper?

Safe Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $223 per month with Safe Auto and $251 for Motorists. Even so, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Motorists or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Safe Auto is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Motorists offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Motorists and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things 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 Motorists and Safe Auto calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Motorists or Safe Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Motorists or Safe 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.