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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, State National offers significantly less expensive rates than Pure
• State National tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• State National offers more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas

Pure vs. State National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Pure or State National for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Pure is quite a bit more expensive than State National, with prices averaging $331 per month compared to just $159 with State National.

But that doesn't mean State National will necessarily be less expensive than Pure for every driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Pure or State National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Pure and State National only offer auto insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For California residents, State National offers car insurance for $159 monthly on average. Pure's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $331 a month.

Typically, where you live will play a big role in how much you pay for insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, a whole bunch of other factors will come into play when you compare Pure and State National. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use State National save more than $400 a month compared to those who use Pure.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Pure policyholders drop over $400 and State National's rates decrease about $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Pure and State National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? State National gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $118 per month compared to Pure's $234.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something several auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State National is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $210 per month cheaper than Pure, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - State National has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Pure vs. State National: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men and women get the same monthly prices with Pure; and with State National, both genders end up paying the same monthly rate.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, State National comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $172 less for men and $172 cheaper for women.

Pure or State National: 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.

Auto 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.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, State National typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $79 compared to Pure's $134. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State National again has the edge, with policies around $300 a month cheaper than Pure, on average.

Is Pure or State National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is Pure or State National more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Pure policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $80 per month if they get a ticket, while State National normally raises prices about $40 a month, on average.

However, State National is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 50% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 50% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Pure raising by $150. State National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, State National offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $142 compared to PURE Insurance's $352.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. Pure drivers usually see a 59% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State National will typically climb prices by around 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, State National tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $252 monthly compared to $489 from Pure.

How does Credit Score Impact Pure and State National Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper rates.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, State National offers less expensive premiums than Pure. State National's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $134 cheaper than Pure. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around $209 less with State National over Pure.

Pure vs. State National: 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. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

State National tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State National offers prices about $173 per month compared to Pure's $371. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $163 per month for State National and $313 for Pure. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest rates from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $143 and $308 for State National and Pure respectively.

Pure vs. State National Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Pure and State National offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

They both offer great discounts like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and mature driver discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Pure or State National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Pure might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Pure and State National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Pure and State National. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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.

Pure vs. State National FAQs

Is Pure or State National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State National is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $159 a month compared to $331 for Pure. Even so, State National won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Pure or State National?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Pure and State National offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things like gender, where your home is, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Pure and State National calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Pure or State National at all!

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.