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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly less expensive premiums than Safe Auto
• State Farm has cheaper prices for policyholders who have a short commute
• State Farm offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Safe Auto vs. State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? 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 Safe Auto or State Farm as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, State Farm is quite a bit cheaper than Safe Auto, with prices averaging $158 per month compared to $223 with Safe Auto when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But State Farm may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, where you call home, or even your age (among other things), so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Safe Auto or State Farm is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Safe Auto or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Safe Auto and State Farm compete against each other in 13 states, with Safe Auto offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums, but State Farm is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their insurance pay $90 less than those who use Safe Auto.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Safe Auto policyholders lower nearly $250 and State Farm's prices drop more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Safe Auto and State Farm? State Farm gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $111 monthly compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover several cars, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $76 a month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married couples with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save almost 30% per month.

Safe Auto vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Men normally pay about 7% more a month than women with Safe Auto, while with State Farm, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, State Farm comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices 29% less for men and 29% cheaper for women.

Safe Auto or State Farm: 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm generally offers less expensive premiums of $99 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month more affordable than Safe Auto, on average.

Is Safe Auto or State Farm 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Safe Auto or State Farm -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Safe Auto policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while State Farm typically raises rates about $21 a month, on average.

But State Farm is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are 26% and 30% more affordable, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Safe Auto drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over 25%, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from State Farm, with monthly prices averaging $163 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Safe Auto drivers usually see a 27% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State Farm will usually increase prices by about 25%.

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

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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

Looking specifically at State Farm and Safe Auto, which one has the best premiums 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 Safe Auto or State Farm Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for State Farm, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car each year paying around $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, State Farm is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Safe Auto vs. State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Farm normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm offers rates about $185 a month compared to Safe Auto's $271. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $161 per month for State Farm and $200 for Safe Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $127 and $197 for State Farm and Safe Auto respectively.

Safe Auto vs. State Farm Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging 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.

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

State Farm knocks Safe Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Safe Auto's 23.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Safe Auto does not.

On the flip side, Safe Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, non-owner discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role 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 carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You're looking for discounts -- State Farm has the most.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Safe Auto 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 Safe Auto and State Farm and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Safe Auto and State Farm. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Safe Auto vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Safe Auto or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State Farm is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. However, State Farm won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Safe Auto or State Farm?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, State Farm offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Safe Auto is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

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

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like age, gender, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Safe Auto and State Farm calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Safe Auto or State Farm 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 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 Safe Auto or State Farm 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.