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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Travelers offers significantly more affordable prices than Penn National
• Travelers offers less expensive average rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Travelers tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

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

So, you're thinking about 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 be considering Penn National or Travelers as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Penn National is around $51 more a month than Travelers.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Travelers will be the more affordable option for each driver. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Penn National or Travelers is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

Penn National and Travelers compete against each other in four states, with Travelers offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Travelers prices are $205 less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Penn National.

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's 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.

Even so, 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 per month by choosing Travelers over Penn National.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Penn National policyholders lower almost 60% and Travelers's premiums decrease more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Penn National and Travelers specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Travelers gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $31 cheaper than the national average for Penn National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are normally more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Travelers prices coming in at a quarter less than Penn National's. The advantage for married policyholders with Travelers is also obvious, where drivers save over 20% a month.

Penn National or Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

With Penn National, women typically pay about 2% per month less than men, and around 6% less with Travelers.

Looking at overall affordability, Travelers comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $48 less for men and $54 cheaper for women.

Penn National 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common 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 normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Travelers has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $108. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Travelers again has the edge, with policies averaging about $225 a month to Penn National's $292.

Is Penn National or Travelers Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Penn National or Travelers -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Penn National for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Travelers policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 20%.

Even so, Travelers tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $11 and $19 cheaper, respectively, compared to Penn National Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

At the end of the day, drivers who use Travelers end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $173 compared to Penn National Insurance's $206.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Penn National increases average premiums by more than $200 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Penn National and Travelers Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Penn National or Travelers 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 big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Penn National charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Travelers, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Travelers is the less expensive carrier.

Penn National or Travelers: 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 considerable impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Travelers tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $136 a month with Travelers and $165 with Penn National. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $160 with Travelers compared to $212 with Penn National. In urban areas, Travelers's average prices are around $204 while Penn National offers premiums about $275.

Penn National vs. Travelers 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 taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Penn National and Travelers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Travelers blows Penn National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than Penn National.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Travelers also offers discounts for alternative fuel, continuous insurance, COVID-19 relief, and more.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Penn National or Travelers Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Penn National or Travelers the right company for you and your specific needs?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Penn National 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 Travelers and that you can now make a more informed 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Penn National and Travelers. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Penn National vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Penn National or Travelers cheaper?

Travelers is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $167 a month with Travelers and $218 for Penn National. However, that doesn't mean Travelers will be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Penn National or Travelers?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Penn National and Travelers offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables such as 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 Travelers use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier 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 Travelers is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company 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 best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Penn National 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.