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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly more affordable prices than State Auto
• State Farm offers less expensive average rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• State Farm tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering State Auto or State Farm as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, State Farm is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with rates averaging $158 per month compared to $259 with State Auto.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean State Farm will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

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

State Auto and State Farm compete against each other in 10 states, with State Farm offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the more affordable of the two companies 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 auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $400 less a month by choosing State Farm over State Auto.

However, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. State Farm offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. State Auto's average prices drop almost 75% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between State Auto and State Farm? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 35% less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are normally cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $144 per month less expensive than State Auto, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - State Farm offers the cheapest average rates.

State Auto vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men typically pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Typically, women see prices almost 10% a month less with State Auto, and around 7% less with State Farm.

Looking at overall affordability, State Farm offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 39% less for men and 38% cheaper for women.

State 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing 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 includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm generally offers significantly more affordable prices of $99 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than State Auto, on average.

Is State Auto or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- State Auto or State Farm -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

State Auto policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $48 a month if they get a ticket, while State Farm normally raises rates around $21 per month, on average.

But State Farm has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $36 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $63 per month with State Farm.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Auto drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over 35%, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $163 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 ticket or even an accident. For example, State Auto increases average prices by over $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

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

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking at State Auto and State Farm specifically, which carrier has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is State Auto or State Farm 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. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for State Farm, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, State Farm is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State Farm offers premiums about $185 a month compared to State Auto's $317. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $161 per month for State Farm and $236 for State Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $127 and $225 for State Farm and State Auto respectively.

State Auto vs. State Farm Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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 challenging to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by State Auto and State Farm so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Farm comes out ahead with 23 discounts to State Auto's 18.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and mature driver discounts -- but State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, DRL discounts, and more that State Auto does not.

On the flip side, State Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare State Auto and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just State Auto and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Auto vs. State Farm FAQs

Is State Auto or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State Farm is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $158 a month compared to $259 for State Auto. However, State Farm won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, State Auto or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

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

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both State Auto and State Farm calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if State Auto or State Farm is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 ZIP code 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 carrier for you might not be State 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.