State National vs. The Hartford: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State National offers significantly more affordable prices than The Hartford
• State National offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• The Hartford offers more discounts than State National

State National vs. The Hartford: 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 huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to State National or The Hartford as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, State National has average rates that are about 40% per month less expensive than those from The Hartford.

But State National may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both State National and The Hartford by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

State National or The Hartford: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both State National and The Hartford only offer insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For California residents, State National offers car insurance for $159 a month on average. The Hartford's average premiums come out to be over 60% more expensive, at $265 monthly.

Typically, the state you live in will play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, a bunch of other factors will come into play when you compare State National and The Hartford. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. It's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing State National over The Hartford.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for State National policyholders reduce over 50% and The Hartford's rates lower more than 30% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at State National and The Hartford specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $74 cheaper than the national average for The Hartford.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State National is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $112 per month cheaper than The Hartford, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with State National is also obvious, where drivers save over 40% a month.

State National vs. The Hartford: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly rates with State National; and with The Hartford, both genders end up paying the same monthly premium.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, State National offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $106 per month and men save about $106 with State National compared to the average The Hartford policyholder.

State National or The Hartford: 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 so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State National typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $79 compared to The Hartford's $135. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State National again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than The Hartford, on average.

Is State National or The Hartford Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great prices 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 at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- State National or The Hartford -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

State National policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while The Hartford usually raises premiums about $71 a month, on average.

Even so, State National tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 19% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 28% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State National drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by $40, while those who have insurance through The Hartford will see around a $150 increase.

Overall, drivers who use State National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $142 compared to The Hartford's $262.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, The Hartford increases average premiums by just under $350 per month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, State National tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $252 per month compared to $474 from The Hartford.

How does Credit Score Impact State National and The Hartford Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers 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 National or The Hartford 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. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, State National tends to be the less expensive option. The Hartford average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $96 more expensive than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $114 more with The Hartford over State National.

State National vs. The Hartford: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, 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.

State National boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but State National comes out on top with average rates about $143 a month. State National also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 37% and 38% a month respective difference when compared to The Hartford policyholders in similar areas.

State National vs. The Hartford Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both State National and The Hartford so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, The Hartford has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. State National offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while The Hartford has 13.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and group discounts -- but The Hartford also offers ABS discounts, defensive driver discounts, employee discounts, and more that State National does not.

On the flip side, State National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- auto-pilot discounts, mature driver discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company.

Final Thoughts: Is State National or The Hartford Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, when it comes down to it, is State National or The Hartford the best company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

The Hartford might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (The Hartford offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between State National and The Hartford 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 National and The Hartford. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State National vs. The Hartford FAQs

Is State National or The Hartford cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $159 per month compared to $265 for The Hartford. That being said, State National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are several different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, State National or The Hartford?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do State National and The Hartford offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors like where you call home, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both State National and The Hartford calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if State National or The Hartford is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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 car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be State National or The Hartford 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.