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

Quick Facts

• In general, Penn National offers less expensive prices than State Auto
• Penn National has more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• State Auto tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Penn National or State Auto as your top options, but between the two, which company has cheaper rates for car insurance?

As you can see, State Auto has average rates that are around 16% a month more expensive than those from Penn National when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, Penn National may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a variety 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 State Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Penn National and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Penn National offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Penn National premiums are $182 cheaper than insurance prices at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But 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 35% less per month by choosing Penn National over State Auto.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Penn National still has the most affordable rates at $193 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? In this case, Penn National has the slight edge, with premiums about $4 a month less than State Auto. However, the difference is only around 5%, so other variables will likely come into play when determining which company has the most affordable prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Penn National rates coming in at a quarter less than State Auto's. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use State Auto save about 2% per month.

Penn National or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Women typically to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Men generally pay around $5 a month more than women with Penn National, and about $24 more with State Auto.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Penn National comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $51 less for men and $32 cheaper for women.

Penn National 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits 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 property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Penn National has the slight edge, with average monthly prices 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 State Auto's $369.

Is Penn National or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Penn National or State Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Penn National for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

But Penn National tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records. With Penn National Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $31 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $39 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with State Auto raising by about 37%. Penn National has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 35% more than you were prior to your first collision.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Penn National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates 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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, State Auto increases average premiums by more than $200 a month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Penn National tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $346 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Penn National and State Auto Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers 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 Penn National or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Penn National or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Penn National comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $218 per month for both.

Penn National 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

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

In urban areas, Penn National's average prices are about $275 a month compared to State Auto's $317. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $212 with Penn National compared to State Auto's $236 a month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $165 monthly with Penn National and $225 with State Auto.

Penn National 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. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Penn National and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Overall, State Auto comes out ahead with 18 discounts to Penn National's 16.

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

On the other hand, Penn National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like added pip option discounts, DRL discounts, group discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Penn National or State Auto the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- State Auto has the most.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Penn National and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Penn National and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Penn National vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Penn National or State Auto cheaper?

Penn National is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $218 per month with Penn National and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Penn National will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Penn National or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

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

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Penn National and State Auto calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Penn National 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 a handful of 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Penn National 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.