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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, National General offers slightly less expensive prices than State Auto
• National General has more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a short commute
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than National General Insurance

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to National General or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, State Auto is around $10 more a month than National General.

However, National General may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of National General or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

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

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

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use National General save almost 20% a month compared to those who use State Auto.

Even so, both carriers will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for National General policyholders decrease over 65% and State Auto's rates drop nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between National General and State Auto? State Auto gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at about $167 monthly compared to National General's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, National General is the winner for those who are single, with rates almost 10% per month more affordable than State Auto, on average.

National General or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. 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 premiums.

Typically, men see rates around $15 a month higher with National General, and about $25 with State Auto.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, National General comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices 5% less for men and 2% cheaper for women.

National 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits 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 (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- 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 National General offers the most affordable average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $2 with State Auto Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $20 cheaper with National General Insurance.

Is National General or State 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- National General or State Auto -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use National General for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 11% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

That being said, National General has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $9 and $37 cheaper, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with National General climbing by about 66%. State Auto has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from State Auto, with average prices coming in at $269 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 ticket or even a collision. On average, State Auto will raise your premiums around 55% after a DUI, while National General's average rates rise by over 10%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, National General tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $183 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact National General 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 a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at National General and State Auto specifically, which one has the lowest 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 National General or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly premiums. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither National General or State Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, National General comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average prices of $249 per month for both.

National General 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, 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.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, State Auto typically comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while National General wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $19 with State Auto compared to National General. People who live in suburban areas pay about $5 less with State Auto compared to National General. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, National General Insurance's average rates are around $55 less than State Auto Insurance.

National General vs. State Auto Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both National General and State Auto so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Auto blows National General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to National General's eight.

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

On the other hand, National General has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like group discounts, low mileage discounts, and vehicle brand discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).
• You live in a rural area.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between National General and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed 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 several companies, not just National General 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 quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

National General vs. State Auto FAQs

Is National General or State Auto cheaper?

National General is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $249 a month with National General and $259 for State Auto. But that doesn't mean National General will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, National General or State Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, National General is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while State Auto offers more affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

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

Insurance carriers use many different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables like age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both National General and State Auto calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't National 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.