Penn National vs. Personal Service: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Penn National offers significantly more affordable rates than Personal Service
• Penn National offers cheaper average prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Penn National has less expensive rates for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Penn National or Personal Service: 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 huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Penn National or Personal Service as potential options, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Personal Service has average rates that are around 35% a month more expensive than those from Penn National.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Penn National will be the cheaper option for every driver. 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 range of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Penn National and Personal Service by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Penn National vs. Personal Service: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Penn National and Personal Service only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Penn National offers the cheaper average rates. Penn National drivers tend to pay about $44 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Personal Service for their car insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 25% less a month by choosing Penn National over Personal Service.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Penn National policyholders reduce almost 60% and Personal Service's prices lower nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Penn National and Personal Service specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Penn National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 30% less expensive than the national average for Personal Service.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Penn National rates coming in at a third less than Personal Service's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Penn National offers the most affordable average prices.

Penn National or Personal Service: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Typically, men see premiums about 2% per month higher with Penn National, and around 13% more with Personal Service.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Penn National comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $128 a month and women save about $87 with Penn National compared to the average Personal Service policyholder.

Penn National vs. Personal Service: 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Penn National has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $144. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Penn National again has the edge, with policies averaging around $292 per month to Personal Service's $422.

Is Penn National or Personal Service 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Penn National or Personal Service -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Penn National for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Personal Service policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

That being said, Penn National tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Penn National Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $119 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $114 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Penn National drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Personal Service will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Penn National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $206 compared to Personal Service Insurance Company's $348.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Penn National will raise your rates around 60% after a DUI, while Personal Service's average premiums rise by more than 35%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Penn National tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $346 to Personal Service's $400.

How does Credit Score Impact Penn National and Personal Service Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Penn National will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Penn National comes in nearly 38.55 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 42% with Penn National compared to average premiums from Personal Service.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Penn National typically offers lower rates than Personal Service when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 40% a month less with Penn National compared to Personal Service, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 16% a month.

Is Penn National or Personal Service 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 large impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Generally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Penn National or Personal Service report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Penn National comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average premiums of $218 per month for both.

Penn National or Personal Service: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Penn National boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $52 with Penn National compared to Personal Service. People who live in suburban areas pay around $143 less with Penn National compared to Personal Service. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Penn National Insurance's average rates are about $127 less than Personal Service Insurance Company.

Penn National vs. Personal Service 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 car insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify 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 Penn National and Personal Service so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Penn National blows Personal Service away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 different discounts to Personal Service's 10.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, paid in full discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but Penn National also offers discounts for ABS, added pip option , advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, Personal Service has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like cellphone safety discounts, good payer discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Penn National or Personal Service Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Penn National or Personal Service the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Personal Service might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Penn National and Personal Service. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Penn National and Personal Service. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Penn National vs. Personal Service FAQs

Is Penn National or Personal Service cheaper?

Penn National is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $218 a month with Penn National and $325 for Personal Service. But that doesn't mean Penn National will be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Penn National or Personal Service?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Penn National and Personal Service offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Penn National and Personal Service calculate prices using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Penn National or Personal Service is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Penn National or Personal Service 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.