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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Sterling offers significantly cheaper rates than Utica National
• Sterling offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record
• Utica National offers more discounts than Sterling Insurance

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Sterling or Utica National, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Utica National is about $93 more per month than Sterling.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Sterling will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Sterling or Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Sterling and Utica National only offer auto insurance in New York, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For New York residents, Sterling offers car insurance for $301 monthly on average. Utica National's average premiums come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $394 a month.

Typically, the state you live in will play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in New York, a multitude of other factors will come into play when you compare Sterling and Utica National. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Sterling save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Utica National.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. Utica National offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Sterling still has the cheapest premiums at $284 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable insurance prices you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Sterling and Utica National? Sterling gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $85 less expensive than the national average for Utica National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Sterling is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $101 per month less expensive than Utica National, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Sterling is also obvious, where drivers save over $80 a month.

Sterling vs. Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Women usually pay nearly 10% per month less than men with Sterling, and about 7% less with Utica National when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Sterling offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $90 a month and men save around $95 with Sterling compared to the average Utica National policyholder.

Sterling or Utica 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Sterling typically offers more affordable prices of $150 compared to Utica National's $197. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Sterling again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month less expensive than Utica National, on average.

Is Sterling or Utica National 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Sterling or Utica National -- has the most affordable rates for 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 Utica National policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

That being said, Sterling has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $57 a month with Sterling Insurance, and the same can be said for those with a ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Sterling can expect to see about an $42 -- or around 15% -- increase in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Utica National for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $58 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Sterling, with monthly premiums averaging $289 compared to Utica National's $362.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Utica National increases average prices by just under $250 per month -- that's just under a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Sterling tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $423 monthly compared to $548 from Utica National.

How does Credit Score Impact Sterling and Utica National Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto 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 prices, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Sterling. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 45% compared to Utica National, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $126 or 32% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $96 less with Sterling than Utica National, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $23 a month with Utica National.

Is Sterling or Utica 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 big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Sterling or Utica National report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Sterling 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 rates of $301 per month for both.

Sterling vs. Utica National: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Sterling generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 37% with Sterling compared to Utica National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 19% less with Sterling compared to Utica National. In urban areas, Sterling Insurance's average prices are about 18% less than Utica National.

Sterling vs. Utica National Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging 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 Sterling and Utica National so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Utica National knocks Sterling out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Sterling's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts. Utica National also offers EFT discounts, ESC discounts, greenhouse gas 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 Utica National Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

Sterling might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Utica National might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Utica National has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Sterling and Utica National and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Sterling and Utica National. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Sterling vs. Utica National FAQs

Is Sterling or Utica National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Sterling is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $301 a month compared to $394 for Utica National. Even so, Sterling won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Sterling or Utica National?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Sterling offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Utica National is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Sterling and Utica National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors such as where you park your car, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Sterling and Utica National use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Sterling or Utica 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.