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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).
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At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
Shelter Insurance and State Farm take different approaches to car insurance, from coverage options to available discounts. State Farm stands out for its national reach, low rates, and telematics program. Shelter works well for drivers who want gap insurance and quick claims service, but offers fewer discounts.
In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between the two companies so you can decide which is the best car insurance company for you.
State Farm outperforms Shelter across all Compare.com rating categories, including cost and customer satisfaction.
Shelter and State Farm both have local agents to provide customer service.
Both companies have similar coverage options and discount opportunities. But State Farm is more widely available, while Shelter offers coverage options like gap insurance.
Gap insurance available
Quick claims estimates
14 advertised discounts
Available in only 14 states
Some discounts are available only to new customers
Rideshare coverage not available
Shelter Mutual Insurance is a smaller insurer that offers policies through local, independent agents. If you need to file a claim, Shelter offers a Quick Estimate program that allows you to submit photos of the damage and get paid fast.
Shelter also offers a solid range of coverages, but it doesn’t offer accident forgiveness. The company has an A (Excellent) financial strength rating, though AM Best downgraded its credit rating in recent years.[1] Shelter’s mobile app also earns low ratings.
| User Reviews | 3.9 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4.7 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $56/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $107/mo |
Customers appreciate the helpful agents and prompt claim handling, but many are unhappy with the constant rate increases, even for safe drivers. Some also reported poor customer service.
Customers appreciate the helpful agents and prompt claim handling, but many are unhappy with the constant rate increases, even for safe drivers. Some also reported poor customer service.
State Farm handles more policies than most insurance companies, and it does so while earning high claims and customer satisfaction scores.[2] [3] Throw in its strong mobile app reviews and affordable pricing, and you can see why State Farm remains a popular choice.
That said, State Farm doesn’t offer many policy perks, vanishing deductibles, or accident forgiveness. And the company has paused offering new car insurance policies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Offered in most states
Many discount options, including a telematics program
Rideshare coverage available
Few policy perks
Gap insurance is not available
Doesn’t offer policies in some states
Compare quotes as low as $46 per month.
Price isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing the right auto insurance company. While cost is important, what you get for your premiums matters too. Customer service, policy management tools, and coverage options are all important factors when picking an insurer.
For example, two companies can offer the same number of discounts, but you might qualify for more discounts with one company compared to the other.
To help you get an idea of how State Farm and Shelter perform, Compare.com rated them across five key categories. Check out the details below.
Category  | Shelter Insurance | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 2.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 4/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Policy management | 3.8/5 | 5/5 |
| Availability | 3.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Industry reputation | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Overall Score | 3.62/5 | 5./5 |
State Farm outperforms Shelter across all five categories. Shelter’s customer satisfaction and policy management come closest to State Farm’s ratings. But State Farm typically offers lower prices and is more widely available.
Our editorial team analyzes and grades each insurer based on factors like its average rates, customer reviews, policy management features, availability, industry standing, and more. This includes countless hours of research and in-depth analysis of thousands of auto insurance quotes from real Compare.com customers.
We grade each factor on a weighted five-point scale to determine an insurer’s proprietary Compare.com Rating, which highlights its overall standing among the industry’s best companies.
Car insurance rates can vary by company. Each insurer considers risk factors differently. Rates also vary by personal factors, like your age, driving record, and credit history. Because so many things influence the price of your policy, it’s essential to compare quotes and look at average rates for drivers similar to you.
With that in mind, here’s how average auto premiums from Shelter and State Farm compare to the industry average for some common driving profiles, according to Compare.com data.
Driver Type | Shelter Insurance | State Farm | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| All drivers | $233 | $107 | $172 |
| Teens | $501 | $221 | $329 |
| Seniors | $131 | $76 | $148 |
| Recent ticket | $327 | $138 | $222 |
| Recent accident | $320 | $141 | $230 |
| DUI conviction | $347 | $159 | $256 |
| Poor credit | $283 | $174 | $209 |
Average car insurance rates vary considerably from one state to the next. That’s because each state sets its own minimum coverage requirements and insurance laws that affect how companies price policies. Other local factors, including traffic density, claim rates, and weather patterns, also influence rates.
The table below shows the average monthly premiums by state for Shelter and State Farm, according to our data.
State | Shelter Insurance | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | N/A | $96 |
| Alaska | N/A | $131 |
| Arizona | N/A | $133 |
| Arkansas | $194 | $89 |
| California | N/A | $285 |
| Colorado | N/A | $124 |
| Connecticut | N/A | $161 |
| Delaware | N/A | $174 |
| Florida | N/A | $116 |
| Georgia | N/A | $138 |
| Hawaii | N/A | $134 |
| Idaho | N/A | $54 |
| Illinois | N/A | $90 |
| Indiana | N/A | $86 |
| Iowa | N/A | $46 |
| Kansas | $272 | $99 |
| Kentucky | $443 | $169 |
| Louisiana | N/A | $113 |
| Maine | N/A | $76 |
| Maryland | N/A | $287 |
| Massachusetts | N/A | $81 |
| Michigan | N/A | $244 |
| Minnesota | N/A | $96 |
| Mississippi | $204 | $81 |
| Missouri | $284 | $127 |
| Montana | N/A | $69 |
| Nebraska | $243 | $143 |
| Nevada | N/A | $113 |
| New Hampshire | N/A | $110 |
| New Jersey | N/A | $408 |
| New Mexico | N/A | $109 |
| New York | N/A | $192 |
| North Carolina | N/A | $156 |
| North Dakota | N/A | $45 |
| Ohio | N/A | $76 |
| Oklahoma | $219 | $74 |
| Oregon | N/A | $93 |
| Pennsylvania | N/A | $83 |
| Rhode Island | N/A | $174 |
| South Carolina | N/A | $122 |
| South Dakota | N/A | $85 |
| Tennessee | N/A | $99 |
| Texas | N/A | $102 |
| Utah | N/A | $121 |
| Vermont | N/A | $34 |
| Virginia | N/A | $103 |
| Washington | N/A | $115 |
| Washington D.C. | N/A | $303 |
| West Virginia | N/A | $75 |
| Wisconsin | N/A | $66 |
| Wyoming | N/A | $53 |
You can count on car insurance companies to offer the same minimum-coverage options to meet your state’s requirements. But most insurers also offer options like rideshare insurance or vanishing deductibles, and coverage choices can vary widely by company.
Here’s an overview of the availability of coverage options offered by Shelter Insurance and State Farm, according to publicly available information.
Coverage Type | Shelter Insurance | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive | ✔ | ✔ |
| Collision | ✔ | ✔ |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Roadside assistance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rental reimbursement | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gap insurance | ✔ | X |
| Accident forgiveness | X | X |
| Mechanical breakdown | X | X |
| Rideshare endorsement | X | ✔ |
| Vanishing deductibles | X | X |
| New car replacement | ✔ | X |
| Pet injury | X | X |
Both Shelter and State Farm offer similar coverage options. But Shelter offers gap coverage, which is important if you finance or lease your car. State Farm offers rideshare coverage for people who drive for companies like Lyft and Uber.
Car insurance discounts are an easy way to lower your car insurance rates. But every company offers different discounts, so it’s important to check what you qualify for. Your state’s laws can also affect which discounts insurers offer.
Here’s an overview of the car insurance discounts offered by State Farm and Shelter, according to available information.
Discount Type | Shelter Insurance | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-theft | X | ✔ |
| Customer loyalty | ✔ | ✔ |
| Defensive driver | X | ✔ |
| Good student | ✔ | ✔ |
| Low mileage | X | ✔ |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-vehicle | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pay-in-full | ✔ | X |
| Safe driver | ✔ | ✔ |
| Safety equipment | X | ✔ |
| Student away at school | X | ✔ |
| Usage-based/telematics | X | ✔ |
While State Farm offers more discounts than Shelter, it leaves out specific savings amounts in most of its advertising. But State Farm does claim that their Drive Safe & Save telematics program can save safe drivers up to 30%.
Shelter offers a strong variety of discounts, but doesn’t advertise the value of the savings.
Check rates from State Farm, Shelter, and other top insurers in seconds.
To help you decide between State Farm and Shelter, we answered some common questions about the two companies.
It depends. State Farm outperforms Shelter across five key Compare.com categories, including price, availability, and customer service. But Shelter offers gap insurance, which can be important if you lease or finance your vehicle. Compare quotes, coverage options, and discounts to decide which insurer is right for you.
There isn’t a single “best” insurance company for every driver. The best car insurance company for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. That said, State Farm usually has low rates for most drivers and offers rideshare coverage. Shelter offers various discounts, gap insurance, and local service.
Not typically. Shelter Insurance usually has higher average car insurance rates than State Farm. But rates can vary due to many different factors, like your location, age, and driving record. That’s why it’s important to compare quotes before buying a policy.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.
Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).