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

Quick Facts

• In general, Motorists offers slightly less expensive prices than State Auto
• Motorists tends to be a much cheaper option for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy
• State Auto offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Motorists or State 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 might have narrowed it down to Motorists or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, State Auto is around $8 more a month than Motorists when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Motorists will necessarily be less expensive than State Auto for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Motorists or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

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

Motorists and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Motorists offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where State Auto prices are $162 cheaper than auto insurance rates at Motorists.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's usually 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Motorists for their auto insurance pay over 45% less than those who use State Auto.

That being said, both companies will drop rates once you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Motorists's average premiums lower almost 45% during that same period.

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 most affordable rates you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? State Auto gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $167 per month compared to Motorists's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Motorists premiums coming in at around 15% less than State Auto's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - State Auto offers the cheapest average prices.

Motorists or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll generally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Generally, women see rates about 5% per month less with Motorists, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Motorists comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $2 per month and men save around $14 with Motorists compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Motorists 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two 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 an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Motorists has the edge, while State Auto offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with Motorists Insurance Group, while full coverage comes out to be about $10 less expensive with State Auto Insurance.

Is Motorists 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

But Motorists is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 1% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 14% cheaper 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 around an $37 -- or about 18% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use State Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Motorists offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $206 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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State Auto will normally climb premiums by about 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, State Auto tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $380 to Motorists's $442.

How does Credit Score Impact Motorists and State Auto Rates?

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

Car 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 cheaper prices.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for policyholders 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 Motorists or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill? Generally, the more milage you put on your vehicle, 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 prices for Motorists, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Motorists is the less expensive carrier.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Motorists typically comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while State Auto wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Motorists's average premiums are around $286 while State Auto offers rates about $317. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $215 with Motorists compared to $236 with State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $225 monthly with State Auto and $252 with Motorists.

Motorists 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard 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 State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Auto has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Motorists offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while State Auto has 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and multi-policy discounts. State Auto also offers discounts for advantage program , COVID-19 relief, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Motorists has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like empty nester discounts, homeowner discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Motorists might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Motorists and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 Motorists 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 free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Motorists vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Motorists or State Auto cheaper?

Motorists is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $251 a month with Motorists and $259 for State Auto. However, that doesn't mean Motorists will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Motorists or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, State Auto is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Motorists offers more affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Motorists and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Motorists and State Auto calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Motorists 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 multiple 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 insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Motorists 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.