Patriot vs. Travelers: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Travelers offers more affordable prices than Patriot
• Patriot has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Travelers tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Patriot or Travelers: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Patriot or Travelers for your next policy, but between the two, which company has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Travelers has average rates that are around 13% a month cheaper than those from Patriot.

That being said, Travelers may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Patriot and Travelers by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Patriot vs. Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Patriot and Travelers only compete against each other in one states, with Travelers offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Maine has the most noticable difference, where Travelers premiums are $87 more affordable than insurance prices at Patriot.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Travelers save 20% per month compared to those who use Patriot.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Patriot policyholders decrease over 55% and Travelers's rates lower more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest auto insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

When looking at Patriot and Travelers specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? In this case, Patriot has the slight edge, with rates about $4 a month less than Travelers. But the difference is only around 5%, so other variables (like your driving record or where you live) will likely come into play when determining which company has the most affordable prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Travelers premiums coming in at about 15% less than Patriot's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Travelers offers the lowest average rates.

Patriot or Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

With Patriot, men usually pay around $20 per month more than women, and about $10 with Travelers.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Travelers comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 14% less for men and 12% cheaper for women.

Patriot vs. Travelers: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, Patriot has the edge, while Travelers offers the cheapest average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Patriot Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $80 less expensive with Travelers.

Is Patriot or Travelers Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Patriot or Travelers -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Patriot for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Travelers policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 20%.

However, Patriot has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $44 and $53 more affordable, respectively, compared to Travelers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Patriot policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through Travelers will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Patriot, with average rates coming in at $103 compared to Travelers's $173.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Patriot will climb your premiums around 82% after a DUI, while Travelers's average prices rise by nearly 40%.

How does Credit Score Impact Patriot and Travelers Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for several drivers.

Auto insurance carriers 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 specifically at Patriot and Travelers, which carrier has the best prices 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 Patriot or Travelers 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision 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 Patriot charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Travelers, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $5 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Travelers is the cheaper carrier.

Patriot or Travelers: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Travelers boasts the cheapest average prices in rural and suburban areas, while Patriot wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $136 a month with Travelers compared to Patriot's $183. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $160 with Travelers compared to $198 with Patriot. In urban areas, Patriot's average rates are around $193 while Travelers offers premiums about $204.

Patriot vs. Travelers Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of 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 challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Patriot and Travelers offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Travelers blows Patriot away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 25 different discounts to Patriot's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts. Travelers also offers discounts for ABS, alternative fuel, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Patriot has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like full coverage discounts, life policy discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Patriot or Travelers Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined only offers policies in.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Patriot might be best for you if...

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Patriot and Travelers. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Patriot vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Patriot or Travelers cheaper?

Travelers is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $167 a month with Travelers and $191 for Patriot. Even so, that doesn't mean Travelers will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Patriot or Travelers?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Patriot is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while Travelers offers more affordable rates for single policyholders.

Why do Patriot and Travelers offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Patriot and Travelers calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Patriot or Travelers is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, 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 carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Patriot or Travelers 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.