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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Safe Auto offers slightly more affordable rates than The General
• Safe Auto offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually
• The General offers more affordable rates for residents in Arizona, Missouri, and Utah

Safe Auto vs. The General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge 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 The General as potential options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Safe Auto is about $18 per month cheaper than The General.

However, Safe Auto may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

Safe Auto or The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Safe Auto and The General only compete against each other in two states, with Safe Auto offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Arizona has the most noticable difference, where Safe Auto prices are over 30% more affordable than car insurance premiums at The General.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Safe Auto save $3 a month compared to those who use The General. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers insurance in 13 different states compared to The General's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. The General offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Safe Auto still has the most affordable prices at $211 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Safe Auto and The General? Safe Auto gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 10% cheaper than the national average for The General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married policyholders. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

If you're in the market for car insurance, Safe Auto tends to have the cheapest average premiums regardless of if you're married or single, with prices more than $15 less expensive for married couples and around $20 more affordable for those who are single.

Safe Auto vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

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

Usually, women see rates about 7% per month less with Safe Auto, while with The General, the difference is closer to 12% a month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Safe Auto comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $11 per month and men save around $26 with Safe Auto compared to the average The General policyholder.

Safe Auto or The General: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Safe Auto generally offers cheaper rates of $126 compared to The General's $154. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies about $10 a month less expensive than The General, on average.

Is Safe Auto or The General 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 at-fault collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Safe Auto or The General cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Safe Auto policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while The General typically raises premiums around $48 a month, on average.

That being said, Safe Auto has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 6% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 8% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Safe Auto can expect to see about an $66 -- or around 27% -- increase in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use The General for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $87 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

Overall, Safe Auto offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $246 compared to The General's $279.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Safe Auto will increase your prices around 27% after a DUI, while The General's average rates climb by just under 25%.

Safe Auto has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $245 per month, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just three for The General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Safe Auto and The General Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Safe Auto and The General, which company has the most affordable premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with The General. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Safe Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $5 or 2% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower rates than The General when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $16 per month less with Safe Auto compared to The General, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $73 a month.

Is Safe Auto or The General 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 your monthly prices. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Safe Auto or The General report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Safe Auto comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average premiums of $223 a month for both.

Safe Auto vs. The General: 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 pretty big impact as well. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Safe Auto usually comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while The General wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Safe Auto's average premiums are around $271 while The General offers prices about $310. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $200 with Safe Auto compared to $225 with The General. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $189 monthly with The General and $197 with Safe Auto.

Safe Auto vs. The General 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Safe Auto and The General so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Safe Auto blows The General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than The General.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, claim free discounts, and more that The General does not.

On the flip side, The General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- group discounts, liability only discounts, and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Safe Auto or The General Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after an accident.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

The General might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in AZ, MO, and UT.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Safe Auto and The General and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 carriers, not just Safe Auto and The General. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Safe Auto vs. The General FAQs

Is Safe Auto or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Safe Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $223 per month compared to $241 for The General. But Safe Auto won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Safe Auto or The General?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Safe Auto offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while The General is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Safe Auto and The General offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Safe Auto and The General calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Safe Auto or The General 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.