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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, The General offers slightly more affordable prices than State Auto
• State Auto offers more discounts than The General
• The General offers more affordable rates for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to State Auto or The General as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, The General is about $18 per month less expensive than State Auto when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean The General will be the cheaper option for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of State Auto or The General is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

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

State Auto and The General only compete against each other in one states, with The General offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Utah has the most noticable difference, where The General prices are over 40% more affordable than auto insurance rates at State Auto.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have The General for their auto insurance pay nearly $300 less than those who use State Auto.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. The General offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, State Auto still has the cheapest premiums at $197 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between State Auto and The General? State Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 15% cheaper than the national average for The General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, The General is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $48 a month cheaper than State Auto, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - State Auto offers the most affordable average rates.

State Auto vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Usually, men see premiums nearly $25 per month higher with State Auto, and about $32 more with The General.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, The General comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 5% less for men and 9% cheaper for women.

State 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, State Auto offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while The General has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $5 with State Auto Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $40 more affordable with The General.

Is State 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 auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is State Auto or The General less expensive for drivers with spotty 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 The General typically raises prices about $48 per month, on average.

That being said, State Auto has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $22 and $22 more affordable, respectively, compared to The General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through State Auto can expect to see around an $99 -- or about 37% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use The General for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $87 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, State Auto offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $269 compared to The General's $279.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, State Auto increases average rates by over $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, The General tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $254 per month compared to $380 from State Auto.

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

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is State 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither State Auto or The General report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. The General comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average premiums of $241 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

The General tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but The General comes out on top with average prices about $189 a month. The General also has less expensive average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $7 and $11 a month respective difference when compared to State Auto policyholders in similar areas.

State Auto vs. The General 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 find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

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

State Auto knocks The General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to The General's six.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver and paid in full discounts. State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, and more that The General does not.

On the flip side, The General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- group discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, liability only discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, is State Auto or The General the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

The General might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles every year.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between State Auto and The General and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just State Auto and The General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Auto vs. The General FAQs

Is State Auto or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, The General is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $241 per month compared to $259 for State Auto. Even so, The General won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, State Auto or The General?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, State Auto offers less expensive rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while The General is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

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

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as where you live, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both State Auto and The General use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be State 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.