Sterling vs. Travelers: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Travelers offers significantly less expensive rates than Sterling
• Travelers tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Travelers offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who live in the suburbs

Sterling vs. Travelers: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Sterling or Travelers for your next policy, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Travelers is quite a bit cheaper than Sterling, with rates averaging $167 per month compared to $301 with Sterling.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Sterling or Travelers is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Sterling or Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Sterling and Travelers only compete against each other in New York, where Sterling offers the cheaper average premiums. For New York residents, undefined offers auto insurance for undefined monthly on average. undefined's average prices come out to be more expensive, at undefined per month.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. 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 auto insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Travelers save nearly $200 a month compared to those who use Sterling.

However, both companies will decrease prices by the time drivers turn 25. Travelers offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Sterling's average rates drop more than 45% during that same period.

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 most affordable premiums out there.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Sterling and Travelers? Travelers gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $132 a month compared to Sterling's $227.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers typically cover several cars, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Travelers is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $144 per month less expensive than Sterling, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Travelers has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Sterling vs. Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Typically, women see prices about $25 a month cheaper with Sterling, and around $11 less with Travelers.

Looking at overall affordability, Travelers comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $142 less for men and $128 cheaper for women.

Sterling or Travelers: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Travelers usually offers significantly more affordable premiums of $108 compared to Sterling's $150. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Travelers again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month less expensive than Sterling, on average.

Is Sterling or Travelers Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Sterling auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Travelers policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around a quarter.

But Travelers tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save about $119 a month with Travelers, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Sterling policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Travelers will see around a 25% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Travelers end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $173 compared to Sterling Insurance's $289.

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. Sterling drivers usually see a 42% climb in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Travelers will typically raise premiums by about 38%.

How does Credit Score Impact Sterling and Travelers Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking at Sterling and Travelers specifically, which company has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Sterling or Travelers 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 your monthly premiums? That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Sterling charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Travelers, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $5 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Travelers is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Sterling vs. Travelers: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Travelers tends to offer the cheapest 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 carriers, but Travelers comes out on top with average premiums about $136 per month. Travelers also has cheaper average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $234 and $96 per month respective difference when compared to Sterling policyholders in similar areas.

Sterling vs. Travelers 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Sterling and Travelers offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Travelers blows Sterling away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 25 different discounts to Sterling's eight.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but Travelers also offers advance quote discounts, alternative fuel discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Sterling does not.

Sterling's discounts come through just a few categories, including ABS, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Sterling or Travelers Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Travelers has the most.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Sterling 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 Sterling and Travelers and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Sterling and Travelers. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Sterling vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Sterling or Travelers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Travelers is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $167 a month compared to $301 for Sterling. That being said, Travelers won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Sterling or Travelers?

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

Why do Sterling and Travelers offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Sterling and Travelers use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Sterling or Travelers is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Sterling or Travelers 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.