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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Safe Auto offers less expensive premiums than State Auto
• Safe Auto has more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy
• State Auto has cheaper rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Safe Auto or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Safe Auto has average rates that are around 14% a month more affordable than those from State Auto.

However, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will necessarily be cheaper than State Auto for every single driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Safe Auto and State Auto by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Safe Auto vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Safe Auto and State Auto compete against each other in five states, with Safe Auto offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in South Carolina, State Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. Safe Auto is the less expensive option in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your premiums. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 40% less per month by choosing Safe Auto over State Auto.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Safe Auto's average prices drop over 50% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Safe Auto and State Auto? State Auto gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $167 per month compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Safe Auto rates coming in at a quarter less than State Auto's. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - State Auto offers the lowest average prices , but the difference is only $6.

Safe Auto or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to get cheaper rates than men.

Typically, men see premiums around $15 a month higher with Safe Auto, but with State Auto, the difference is closer to $24 per month.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Safe Auto offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $33 a month and men save about $40 with Safe Auto compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Safe Auto 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 auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Safe Auto has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $126. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $320 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is Safe Auto or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Safe Auto for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 18% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

But State Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are 6% and 1% less expensive, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Auto climbing by about 37%. Safe Auto has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Safe Auto, with average prices coming in at $246 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, State Auto increases average premiums by more than $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Safe Auto tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $245 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Safe Auto and State Auto Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car 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 more affordable prices.

Looking at Safe Auto and State Auto specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Safe Auto will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Safe Auto comes in NaN less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 3% with Safe Auto compared to average prices from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 12% per month less with Safe Auto compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 29% a month.

Is Safe Auto or State Auto 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. Normally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Safe Auto or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Safe Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $223 a month for both.

Safe Auto or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

Safe Auto tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Safe Auto's average premiums are around $271 per month compared to State Auto's $317. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $200 with Safe Auto compared to State Auto's $236 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $197 per month with Safe Auto compared to State Auto's $225.

Safe Auto 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Safe Auto and State Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Auto has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Safe Auto offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while State Auto has 18.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, advantage program , and more.

On the other hand, Safe Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Safe Auto or State Auto Best for You?

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

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in a rural area.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Safe Auto and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 a handful of carriers, not just Safe Auto and State Auto. 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 the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Safe Auto vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Safe Auto or State Auto cheaper?

Safe Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $223 a month with Safe Auto and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Safe Auto or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, State Auto is less expensive for drivers who have already retired, while Safe Auto offers more affordable prices for single policyholders.

Why do Safe Auto and State Auto offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Safe Auto or State Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Safe Auto 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.