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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western Reserve Group offers significantly more affordable prices than State Auto
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

State Auto or Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to State Auto or Western Reserve Group, but which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Western Reserve Group is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with rates averaging $137 a month compared to $259 with State Auto when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be cheaper than State Auto for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both State Auto and Western Reserve Group by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

State Auto vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Auto and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in one states, with Western Reserve Group offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Western Reserve Group rates are $46 more affordable than car insurance prices at State Auto.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay over 65% less than those who use State Auto.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly once you turn 25. Western Reserve Group offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. State Auto's average rates decrease almost 75% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between State Auto and Western Reserve Group? Western Reserve Group gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $107 per month compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Western Reserve Group premiums coming in at about half of State Auto's. The advantage for married couples with Western Reserve Group is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 35% per month.

State Auto or Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Men usually pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see rates around $25 a month cheaper with State Auto, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, women usually pay about $2 per month more than men.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Western Reserve Group comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 50% less for men and 44% cheaper for women.

State Auto vs. Western Reserve Group: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Western Reserve Group has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies averaging around $180 a month to State Auto's $369.

Is State Auto or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use State Auto for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Western Reserve Group policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 28%.

However, Western Reserve Group is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $82 and $96 more affordable, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Auto drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over 35%, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Western Reserve Group, with average rates coming in at $120 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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Western Reserve Group will generally increase premiums by around 60%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Western Reserve Group tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $218 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact State Auto and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at State Auto and Western Reserve Group, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Western Reserve Group will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Western Reserve Group comes in more than 46.91 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 49% with Western Reserve Group compared to average rates from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 47% per month less with Western Reserve Group compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 46% monthly.

Is State Auto or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither State Auto or Western Reserve Group report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Western Reserve Group comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $137 a month for both.

State Auto or Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $100 with Western Reserve Group compared to State Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay around $97 less with Western Reserve Group compared to State Auto. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Western Reserve Group's average premiums are about $170 less than State Auto Insurance.

State Auto vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts State Auto and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Auto blows Western Reserve Group away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advantage program , COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, Western Reserve Group has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is State Auto or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices climb.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

State Auto might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between State Auto and Western Reserve Group and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several companies, not just State Auto and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Auto vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is State Auto or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Western Reserve Group is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $137 per month with Western Reserve Group and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, State Auto or Western Reserve Group?

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

Why do State Auto and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both State Auto and Western Reserve Group calculate premiums using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't State Auto or Western Reserve Group at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.