Safeway vs. Travelers: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Travelers offers more affordable premiums than Safeway
• Safeway offers more affordable rates for residents in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi
• Travelers has less expensive premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Safeway vs. Travelers: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Safeway or Travelers as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, Safeway is about $27 more per month than Travelers when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Travelers will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Safeway and Travelers by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Safeway or Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Safeway and Travelers only compete against each other in three states, with Travelers offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Mississippi, Safeway is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. Travelers is the more affordable option in Alabama and Arizona.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Travelers save more than $100 a month compared to those who use Safeway.

That being said, both companies will reduce rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Safeway policyholders lower nearly $300 and Travelers's rates decrease over $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Safeway and Travelers specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Travelers gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $132 a month compared to Safeway's $136. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Travelers is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $45 per month less expensive than Safeway, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Travelers offers the lowest average premiums , but the difference is less than $5.

Safeway vs. Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men usually pay more for insurance than women do. This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Normally, men see rates around $20 a month higher with Safeway, and about $11 more with Travelers.

Looking at overall affordability, Travelers offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $24 per month and men save around $31 with Travelers compared to the average Safeway policyholder.

Safeway or Travelers: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots 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 (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Travelers normally offers cheaper prices of $108 compared to Safeway's $130. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Travelers again has the edge, with policies about $35 a month less expensive than Safeway, on average.

Is Safeway or Travelers 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 accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Safeway or Travelers cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Safeway policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $7 per month if they get a ticket, while Travelers typically raises rates around $32 a month, on average.

But Travelers has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 21% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 6% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Safeway drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by $60, while those who have insurance through Travelers will see about a $45 increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Travelers, with monthly prices averaging $173 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

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, Travelers will climb your premiums around 38% after a DUI, while Safeway's average prices increase by over 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Travelers tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $205 monthly compared to $220 from Safeway.

How does Credit Score Impact Safeway and Travelers Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates 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 Travelers. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 40% compared to Safeway, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $52 or 27% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $21 less with Travelers than Safeway, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $37 per month with Safeway.

Is Safeway or Travelers Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident 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 Safeway charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Travelers, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Travelers is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Safeway vs. Travelers: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Travelers offers rates about $204 per month compared to Safeway's $234. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $160 a month for Travelers and $201 for Safeway. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $136 and $146 for Travelers and Safeway respectively.

Safeway vs. Travelers 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Safeway and Travelers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Travelers knocks Safeway out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than Safeway.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and paid in full discounts. Travelers also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, alternative fuel discounts, and more that Safeway does not.

On the flip side, Safeway has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, full coverage discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Safeway or Travelers Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have a short commute.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Safeway and Travelers. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 Safeway and Travelers. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just 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.

Safeway vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Safeway or Travelers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Travelers is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $194 for Safeway. However, Travelers won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Safeway or Travelers?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Travelers offers less expensive rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Safeway is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Safeway and Travelers offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Safeway and Travelers calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Safeway or Travelers 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Safeway or Travelers 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.