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

Quick Facts

• In general, Trustgard Auto offers significantly less expensive prices than Safe Auto
• Trustgard Auto offers cheaper average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Trustgard Auto has more affordable prices for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

Safe Auto vs. Trustgard Auto: 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 substantial discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto for your next policy, but which company will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Trustgard Auto has average rates that are about 40% per month less expensive than those from Safe Auto.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Trustgard Auto will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

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

Safe Auto and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in three states, with Trustgard Auto offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Trustgard Auto prices are over 20% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Safe Auto.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Trustgard Auto save more than $85 a month compared to those who use Safe Auto. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers auto insurance in 13 different states compared to Trustgard Auto's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will decrease prices by the time you turn 25. Trustgard Auto offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Safe Auto's average rates lower over 50% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $96 per month compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Trustgard Auto is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $89 per month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Trustgard Auto is also obvious, where drivers save more than $80 a month.

Safe Auto vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see premiums around 7% per month less with Safe Auto, and about 6% less with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices $89 less for men and $81 cheaper for women.

Safe Auto or Trustgard 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Trustgard Auto generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $79 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month less expensive than Safe Auto, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Safe Auto policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while Trustgard Auto normally raises prices about $50 a month, on average.

But Trustgard Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $82 and $72 cheaper, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Safe Auto drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by over $65, while those who have insurance through Trustgard Auto will see around a $35 increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Trustgard Auto, with monthly rates averaging $133 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Trustgard Auto will raise your premiums about 43% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average rates increase by over 25%.

Trustgard Auto has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $171 monthly, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just three for Trustgard Auto, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Trustgard Auto. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 40% compared to Safe Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $94 or 42% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Trustgard Auto typically offers lower premiums than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $90 per month less with Trustgard Auto compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $82 a month.

Is Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Trustgard Auto comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average rates of $137 a month for both.

Safe Auto vs. Trustgard Auto: 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. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

In urban areas, Trustgard Auto's average premiums are about $147 per month compared to Safe Auto's $271. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of around $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to $200 with Safe Auto. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $134 monthly with Trustgard Auto compared to Safe Auto's $197.

Safe Auto vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by Safe Auto and Trustgard Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Trustgard Auto has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Safe Auto offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Trustgard Auto has 16.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, occupation discounts, and renewal discounts. Trustgard Auto also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, company car 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, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right fit for you?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Trustgard Auto Insurance only offers policies in three states.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Safe Auto and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Safe Auto vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Trustgard Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. Even so, Trustgard Auto won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Safe Auto or Trustgard Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like where you call home, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Safe Auto and Trustgard Auto use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

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