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

Quick Facts

• In general, Shelter offers cheaper rates than Motorists
• Motorists may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Shelter Insurance
• Shelter offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year

Motorists or Shelter: 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 huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Motorists or Shelter, but which carrier has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Motorists is around $43 more a month than Shelter.

Even so, Shelter may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Motorists and Shelter by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Motorists vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Motorists and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Motorists offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where Motorists premiums are $68 more affordable than auto insurance rates at Shelter.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Motorists for their auto insurance pay almost 7% less than those who use Shelter.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Motorists policyholders lower nearly 45% and Shelter's prices reduce over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Motorists and Shelter specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Shelter gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $141 per month compared to Motorists's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married drivers. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Shelter rates coming in at around 10% less than Motorists's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Shelter has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Motorists or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for car insurance than men.

Usually, men see premiums about $10 per month higher with Motorists, and around $25 more with Shelter.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Shelter offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $49 a month and men save about $36 with Shelter compared to the average Motorists policyholder.

Motorists vs. Shelter: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots 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.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries 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 a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, Motorists has the edge, while Shelter offers the most affordable average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $6 with Motorists Insurance Group, while full coverage comes out to be around $90 less expensive with Shelter Insurance.

Is Motorists or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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 accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Motorists or Shelter -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Motorists for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 10% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

But Shelter is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 16% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 3% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Motorists can expect to see about an $37 -- or around 18% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Shelter for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Motorists offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $206 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Shelter will typically raise rates by around 49%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Shelter tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $277 to Motorists's $442.

How does Credit Score Impact Motorists and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. 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 several policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers 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 more affordable prices.

Looking at Motorists and Shelter specifically, which one has the lowest 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 Motorists or Shelter Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly insurance payment. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Shelter tends to be the less expensive option. Shelter average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $45 more affordable than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $40 less with Shelter over Motorists.

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

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Shelter boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Shelter Insurance's average premiums are around $51 less than Motorists Insurance Group. People who live in suburban areas pay about $28 less with Shelter compared to Motorists. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $49 with Shelter compared to Motorists.

Motorists vs. Shelter 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Motorists and Shelter offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Motorists has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Shelter offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Motorists has 14.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Motorists also offers discounts for ABS, empty nester discount, homeowner, and more.

On the other hand, Shelter has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like driver training discounts, good driving discounts, good student discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Motorists or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Motorists or Shelter the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Motorists and Shelter. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 companies, not just Motorists and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Motorists vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Motorists or Shelter cheaper?

Shelter is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $208 per month with Shelter and $251 for Motorists. Even so, that doesn't mean Shelter will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Motorists or Shelter?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Motorists is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Shelter offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Motorists and Shelter offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Motorists and Shelter calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Motorists or Shelter 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.