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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western National offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Auto
• State Auto offers more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

State Auto vs. Western National: 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 hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to State Auto or Western National as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with prices averaging $154 per month compared to $259 with State Auto.

However, that doesn't mean Western National will necessarily be more affordable than State Auto for every driver. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

State Auto or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Auto and Western National only compete against each other in one states, with Western National offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Western National prices are over 20% less expensive than auto insurance premiums at State Auto.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's generally 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 car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western National for their insurance pay nearly $450 less than those who use State Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for State Auto policyholders drop more than $500 and Western National's premiums reduce almost $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you can find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Western National gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $109 per month compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $152 a month more affordable than State Auto, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Western National is also obvious, where drivers save about $45 per month.

State Auto vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With State Auto, men usually pay nearly $25 a month more than women, and around $14 more with Western National.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $110 per month and women save about $100 with Western National compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

State Auto or Western National: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are many different coverages that account for a variety of 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.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western National typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $60 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month cheaper than State Auto, on average.

Is State Auto or Western National 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.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is State Auto or Western National less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but State Auto policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $50.

Even so, Western National has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 9% and 29% more affordable, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Auto policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under $100, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a $0 increase.

Overall, Western National offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $154 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Western National will typically climb premiums by about 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Western National tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $154 monthly compared to $380 from State Auto.

How does Credit Score Impact State Auto and Western National Rates?

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

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is State Auto or Western National 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 sizable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

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 premiums for Western National, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Western National is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Western National boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Western National's average prices are about $177 per month compared to State Auto's $317. People in suburban areas pay around $127 with Western National compared to State Auto's $236 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $158 monthly with Western National compared to State Auto's $225.

State Auto vs. Western National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by State Auto and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

State Auto knocks Western National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Western National's 12.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, and more that Western National does not.

On the flip side, Western National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, family discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is State Auto or Western National 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 company is the right fit for you?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between State Auto and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

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

State Auto vs. Western National FAQs

Is State Auto or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Western National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $154 a month compared to $259 for State Auto. But Western National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, State Auto or Western National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do State Auto and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things like gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both State Auto and Western National calculate prices differently, 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 multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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 best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be State Auto or Western National 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.