Erie vs. State Farm: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Erie and State Farm both offer affordable rates and good customer service. But State Farm has more availability, while Erie has better coverage options.

Erin Gobler
Written byErin Gobler
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler
  • 5+ years of finance writing experience 

  • Certificate of financial planning from Boston University

Erin is a personal finance writer and journalist with work featured in major publications. Her writing explores investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more.

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Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated April 22, 2024

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Erie and State Farm are two popular auto insurance companies, but they have some major differences. While State Farm is a national insurer serving all 50 states, Erie is a regional company that offers coverage in only a dozen. If you live somewhere Erie is available, you’ll find that both are good options thanks to their affordable premiums and high customer satisfaction ratings.

When you’re shopping for insurance, it’s important to compare quotes, coverages, and discounts to determine which of the two companies is best for your needs.

Quick Facts
  • Erie and State Farm have cheap premiums, but Erie’s are slightly lower overall.

  • Erie auto insurance has optional coverages than State Farm, with specialty coverages that include accident forgiveness, new-car replacement, and gap insurance.

  • Neither State Farm nor Erie stands out for its discounts, but State Farm has a slightly larger lineup that includes its safe driving app, Drive Safe & Save.

Erie vs. State Farm: The verdict

While Erie and State Farm are both highly rated insurance companies that have some key benefits, State Farm edges out Erie because of its nationwide availability. Erie is only available in 12 states in the East Coast and Midwest regions.

But both insurers are among the best car insurance companies for affordable insurance premiums, excellent customer service, and high ratings in J.D. Power’s claims satisfaction study.[1]

Erie has more coverage options, which makes it an attractive option for the price.

If you live in a state where both Erie and State Farm are available, you can take into account each insurer’s coverage options and discounts — State Farm offers more — as well as get a personalized quote to help you choose the better option for you.

FactorErieState Farm
IQ Score4.44.5
Customer satisfaction score3.834
Average quote: liability only$57$54
Number of discounts810
Number of states where it operates1250
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: We use data from AM Best, S&P, Moody's, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 20,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the United States, as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.

Erie

Erie is a regional insurance company that serves 12 states and Washington, D.C., and has high J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings in multiple regions.[2]

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
870
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$57/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$95/mo

For nearly 100 years, Erie Insurance has been selling auto coverage. The company operates in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and also offers more than two dozen types of insurance, including home, life, and business insurance. A.M. Best gives Erie an A+ rating for financial stability and credit strength. The company has a lower-than-expected number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Customer Complaint Index, and ranks third in overall customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power rankings. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Pros
  • Excellent BBB, J.D. Power, and A.M. Best ratings

  • Competitive rates for teenagers and drivers with speeding tickets

Cons
  • Available in only 12 states

  • Customers can’t buy a policy or file a claim online

State Farm

State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the country, serving customers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while maintaining excellent customer service.[3]

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$54/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$116/mo

State Farm has been in business for more than 100 years, and today sells auto and other vehicle insurance, homeowners, life, health, pet, disability, and small business insurance. Available in all 50 states, State Farm car insurance policies offer multiple ways to save, from customizing coverage types, to a robust list of discounts. The company has far fewer complaints than expected for the industry, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. State Farm also ranks among the top 10 companies for customer satisfaction in every region on the J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Index.

Pros
  • High rates of customer satisfaction

  • Rideshare insurance available

Cons
  • No gap insurance offering

  • May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations

Read our State Farm review
Wanda Carole - April 22, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Check out other companies and their rates before making a decision.

Perry - April 22, 2024
Verified

Pricing

Be careful of the price quoted. It can change.

Sandra - April 21, 2024
Verified

Fair

They are the cheapest car insurance around.

Erie YourTurn vs. State Farm Drive Safe & Save

Both Erie and State Farm offer telematics programs that monitor driving habits and offer benefits for good drivers.

Erie’s YourTurn program uses a smartphone app to monitor your smoothness, speed, and phone use while driving. The program aims to help drivers improve their habits behind the wheel. And when you earn a high driving score, you can collect monetary rewards that include gift cards and charitable donations.

State Farm’s program, Drive Safe & Save, also monitors your driving habits using an app. However, instead of offering rewards like Erie’s does, it offers a discount on your premiums. You’ll get a discount just for signing up, and then you can save up to 30% per year on your policy for demonstrating safe driving habits.

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Erie vs. State Farm: Which is the cheapest?

Erie and State Farm offer insurance premiums cheaper than the national average rates for both liability-only and full coverage. Erie has cheaper full-coverage insurance, while State Farm offers cheaper liability coverage.

Of course, each driver’s car insurance quotes depend on individual factors, and the cheapest car insurance company for someone else may not be the cheapest company for you. Factors that affect your premiums include your driving record, age, credit profile, insurance coverage needs, and more.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Your driving history plays a significant role in determining your auto insurance rates. Customers with clean driving records typically pay the lowest insurance premiums. Although their rates are comparable, State Farm has cheaper liability-only coverage than Erie.

Driver TypeErieState Farm
Clean driving record$57$54
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

A speeding ticket nearly always results in an insurance rate increase, as is the case with Erie and State Farm. But State Farm has cheaper average liability rates for drivers with speeding tickets.

Driver TypeErieState Farm
Drivers with a speeding ticket$79$60
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Why Is My Car Insurance So High?

Why Is My Car Insurance So High?

State Farm: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers often pay some of the highest insurance premiums because of their lack of experience. Erie and State Farm both have relatively affordable average liability rates for young drivers, but State Farm wins out as the cheapest car insurance company for teens.

Driver TypeErieState Farm
18-year-old$107$89
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Depending on your state, your credit history can influence your insurance premiums, and drivers with poor credit tend to pay more than drivers with good credit. State Farm has cheaper liability rates for drivers with bad credit.

Driver TypeErieState Farm
Drivers with bad credit$101$85
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for senior drivers

Insurance premiums tend to decrease as a driver gets older but often start to increase again when a driver reaches their 70s when health issues can affect driving ability.[4] State Farm’s average liability rates are cheaper than Erie’s for senior drivers.

Driver TypeErieState Farm
Senior drivers$40$39
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Erie vs. State Farm

When you’re shopping for insurance, it’s important to consider the coverage options that each insurer offers. Overall, Erie offers more coverage options than State Farm, but both insurers are missing some key coverages.

First, both Erie and State Farm offer standard coverages, such as bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, comprehensive, and collision coverage. However, they differ on some additional coverage options that may be less common.

Here’s how Erie’s and State Farm’s coverages stack up to each other.

CoverageErieState Farm
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rental car coverageYesYes
Gap insuranceYesNo
New car replacementYesNo
Rideshare coverageNoYes
Accident forgivenessYesNo

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Compare discounts: Erie vs. State Farm

Discounts are another way to save money on your premiums. They lower your costs based on certain personal information and characteristics related to your policy, vehicle, and more.

Neither Erie nor State Farm offers as many discounts as many of their competitors, but you still have ways to save. State Farm offers 12 discounts, while Erie offers eight. Both offer popular discounts, such as one for bundling your auto insurance with other insurance products, like home insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance, and one for having certain vehicle safety features.

The table below shares a list of some of the most popular auto insurance discounts and whether these two companies offer them.

DiscountErieState Farm
Clean driving recordNoYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)NoYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carNoNo
Military/affiliationNoNo
Good studentNoYes
LoyaltyYesNo
Auto payNoNo
Student away at schoolYesYes
HomeownerNoNo
Alternative fuelNoNo

Erie vs. State Farm FAQs

Are you considering an insurance policy from either Erie or State Farm? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about these two companies.

  • Is Erie car insurance good?

    Erie can be a good auto insurer for many drivers thanks to its relatively affordable premiums and abundance of coverage options. However, like any insurance company, it’s not right for everyone, and the best car insurance policy for you depends on your unique situation, needs, and personal experience.

  • What company is State Farm’s biggest competitor?

    State Farm has several major competitors, including other top insurers with national coverage like Progressive, GEICO, and Allstate.

  • What is the best alternative to State Farm?

    The best alternative to State Farm depends on what you’re looking for in an insurance policy. State Farm offers affordable premiums, nationwide coverage, and excellent customer service, but it doesn’t offer as many coverage options or discounts as some competitors. Decide what you’re looking for that State Farm doesn’t offer, and then find an insurance company that shines in that area.

  • What are the differences between Erie Insurance and State Farm?

    One key difference between Erie and State Farm is availability. State Farm is available nationwide, while Erie is available in only 12 states. They also differ in terms of their coverage options and discounts — Erie has more coverage options, while State Farm offers more discounts.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study."
  2. J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study."
  3. NAIC. "Property and Casualty Insurance Industry 2022 Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium."
  4. III. "Senior driving safety and insurance tips."
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler

Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than five years of experience, Erin has covered topics such as investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Fox Business, and Time. Erin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2013, studying journalism and political science. She also received a certificate of financial planning from Boston University in 2022.

Courtney Mikulski
Edited byCourtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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