Courtney Roy is a financial and technology writer. He creates content that makes an actionable difference in the lives of his readers by helping them understand matters of personal finance. In addition to years of experience across multiple industries, Courtney has insurance licenses, a real estate license, and a degree in electrical engineering.
Thomas Fitzgerald is an insurance writer at Insurify with a focus on auto insurance. He seeks to make the insurance buying process simple and effective through clear, educational content. Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his master's from the University of Chicago. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.
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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Erie vs. USAA: A Summary
Erie and USAA are two leading car insurance companies. While Erie is a midsize insurer that concentrates on just 12 states, USAA focuses on military personnel and their immediate families. Because both companies have pluses and minuses, this article examines the data to compare car insurance help you choose which is better.
Insurance Company
Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote
Insurify Composite Score
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
Erie
$49
85
USAA
$43
96
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.
ICS Score Explanation:
The Insurify Composite Score (ICS) is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
Erie
Erie Insurance is based in Pennsylvania. It also serves Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. Erie offers perks that include accident forgiveness, 24/7 insurance claims support, decreasing deductibles, and a mobile app.
Pros
Ridesharing coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers
Above-average J.D. Power overall insurance claims process and customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
More expensive in most tested categories
Has fewer discounts
USAA
USAA tailors its insurance products to active duty, retired, and separated veterans, as well as their spouses and children. USAA claims to provide “legendary” customer service. And many families agree, choosing USAA for car and home insurance and benefiting from features such as a mobile app, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance.
Pros
Cheaper rates in general for car insurance policies
Better financial strength ratings
Cons
Only available to military personnel, veterans, and their spouses and children
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
1
Clearcover
Best Overall
$135
97
2
Nationwide
Best for Safe Drivers
$199
89
3
American Family
Best for Families with Teen Drivers
$234
89
4
Safeco
Best for Drivers with Poor Credit
$186
86
5
Farmers
Best for Rideshare Coverage
$239
85
6
Foremost
Best for Hassle-Free Claims
$159
82
7
Liberty Mutual
Best for Accident Forgiveness
$241
82
8
Mercury
Best for Face-to-Face Service
$232
81
9
Progressive
Best for Senior Drivers
$147
80
10
Travelers
Best for Young Drivers
$163
80
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.
While Erie and USAA aren’t in the top 10, they deliver excellent advantages in various areas. Erie, for example, offers affordable rates, helpful insurance add-ons, and rideshare coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers. And USAA is easily the best option for members of the military. In addition, both insurers feature numerous coverage limits so that you can tailor your protection.
Compare Erie vs. USAA: Which Is Cheaper?
USAA has slightly cheaper car insurance rates than Erie in almost every category. In contrast, Erie serves the general public, not just active service members, veterans, and their families. Although USAA is less expensive, both companies are incredibly competitive. It’s one contest where add-ons are critical, and receiving a quote from both should be a priority.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in 2022
Rank
Insurance Company
Average Cost Per Month
ICS
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
1
USH&C
$44
Not Rated
2
Metromile
$63
Not Rated
3
Direct Auto
$64
Not Rated
4
Travelers
$65
80
5
Kemper
$71
Not Rated
6
Progressive
$87
Not Rated
7
Mile Auto
$91
85
8
National General
$93
58
9
Clearcover
$94
97
10
GAINSCO
$94
Not Rated
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.
Despite missing the list, Erie and USAA are among the cheapest car insurance companies in the country. Erie’s average monthly insurance premium is $49, whereas USAA’s is $43. Both are significantly less than the national average of $78 per month. Whichever option you choose, you’ll most likely save some cash, so perhaps go with the better feature set.
Compare Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance by Age
Your age is an essential element in setting your insurance rate. According to insurance research, experience is linked with safer driving. Consequently, drivers under 25 frequently pay more for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage than older drivers pay for full coverage (liability, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage).
A quick look at the premiums for both providers shows that rates typically decrease until people reach their 60s. in particular, both insurers provide the lowest prices to those in their 50s. After that, as drivers approach retirement age, insurance costs creep up slightly. But even people in their 80s should expect quotes to be roughly half of what young drivers pay.
Age Group
Erie
USAA
Teen
$85
$100
20s
$49
$42
30s
$43
$44
40s
$38
$34
50s
$36
$34
60s
$39
$36
70s
$45
$46
80s
$51
$57
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 Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance by Gender
Your gender influences the amount you pay for car insurance. The difference in premiums is minor in most cases, although it can be significant at some insurers. Furthermore, males are historically riskier drivers than females until their mid-30s. Because of the increased risk, auto insurance companies charge young men a little more.
At Erie, women pay precisely the same thing as men. Likewise, USAA does a pretty good job of keeping it fair in the battle of the sexes. At USAA, men pay $1 more, representing a 2 percent difference. Both companies trounce the national average for both genders. As a result, men and women can save at either company, and quoting both is a win-win scenario.
Which is cheapest for men?
Men should aim for USAA. At $43 per month, the company is $6 less per month than Erie. However, both insurance providers outperformed the national average by large margins.
Gender
Erie
USAA
National Average
Men
$49
$43
$81
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.
Which is cheapest for women?
Women who are only concerned with the bottom line may prefer USAA because it is $42 per month, saving them $7 against Erie. Moreover, both companies are far less expensive than the $78 per month national average.
Gender
Erie
USAA
National Average
Women
$49
$42
$78
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 Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance by Mileage
Drivers who travel a lot of miles per year may have to pay extra for auto insurance because companies believe they are more prone to be involved in an accident. However, the cost difference may be modest for some insurance providers, and it could be substantial for others. As a result, it’s usually a bright idea to look at the numbers.
Your premiums with Erie and USAA will be the same regardless of how frequently you drive. Despite what customers guesstimate, the companies may adopt a standardized mileage for all of their premiums. Erie trails USAA across all levels, yet both insurers are far less expensive than the national average of $78 per month.
Which is cheapest for drivers with high mileage?
If you put a lot of miles on your car each year, you can opt for either insurance provider, albeit USAA is more cost-effective. In particular, with USAA’s $42 monthly fee, you’ll save $7 over Erie. Even at Erie’s $56 per month, you’ll save versus the $78 national average.
Annual Mileage
Erie
USAA
National Average
15,000-20,000
$49
$42
$78
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.
Which is cheapest for drivers with low mileage?
Because the pricing has stayed consistent regardless of the number of miles traveled in a year, USAA remains the cheaper choice for low-mileage drivers. Erie comes in a strong second at $57 per month, plus both insurers outpace the national average.
Annual Mileage
Erie
USAA
National Average
5,000-10,000
$49
$42
$78
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 Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance by Credit Score
Insurers scrutinize credit since numerous studies have demonstrated that creditworthiness corresponds to safer driving. However, in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan, credit score usage to rate auto insurance is restricted or illegal.
A brief study of the figures for Erie and USAA shows that both insurers offer the best rates to people with superior credit. Furthermore, the national average follows the same pattern across all credit tiers. Saving money on auto insurance is just one more reason to wipe out debt and maintain a solid payment history.
Which is cheapest for good credit?
You should go with Erie for the $24 annual savings if you have excellent credit. And, if you have good credit, try USAA for a $2 monthly savings. Versus the national average, USAA saves drivers at least $24 each month. Similarly, Erie grants drivers $26 and $29 back in their checking accounts each month. Once again, you can’t really go wrong with either company.
Credit Tier
Erie
USAA
National Average
Excellent
$34
$36
$60
Good
$42
$40
$71
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.
Which is cheapest for bad credit?
If you’re establishing or repairing your credit, you can get a quote from either company, but USAA delivers the best rates. For average credit, USAA’s $42 monthly fee is $6 less than Erie and lower than the national average. USAA’s $65 monthly fee provides a $30 savings over Erie and a $55 price break compared to the national average for people with poor credit.
Credit Tier
Erie
USAA
National Average
Average
$48
$42
$78
Poor
$95
$65
$120
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 Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance by Driving Record
Driving histories are the strongest predictor of future driving patterns for insurance agents and providers. For this reason, driving responsibly and avoiding tickets and at-fault accidents boosts your chances of securing a low-cost premium. However, the opposite is also true, and people with a history of infractions may have to pay much more than they would with a clean record.
And with the ever-present temptation of the smartphone, drivers are becoming increasingly distracted on the road. Accidents, speeding tickets, and texting while driving can all raise the cost of your auto insurance policy. Also, DUIs remain the most severe violation, with a national average of $113 each month, a premium that’s 69 percent higher than people with a clean record pay.
Which is cheapest for good drivers?
Good drivers could select either insurer, but USAA offers a better deal. The companies differ by $6 per month, yet both outperform the national average of $78. Responsible drivers may consider the increased comfort of uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage with the money they save.
Driver Type
Erie
USAA
National Average
Clean Record
$48
$42
$78
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.
Which is cheapest after a speeding ticket?
A speeding ticket is commonly the result of a missed alarm clock before leaving for school or work. And, even if you have one on your driving record, USAA gives you a $4 per month price break compared to Erie and a reduction compared to the national average. Erie is also less expensive than the $104 per month national average.
Driver Type
Erie
USAA
National Average
Speeding Ticket
$55
$51
$104
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.
Which is cheapest after an accident?
Even a fender bender could raise your rate, so a feature like Erie’s accident forgiveness becomes even more critical. If you’ve been in a car wreck, USAA is the obvious choice at $60 per month but Erie’s close behind at $65. Also, both insurance providers are less expensive than the $113 national average.
Driver Type
Erie
USAA
National Average
At-Fault Accident
$65
$60
$113
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.
Which is cheapest after a DUI?
Drivers who have been convicted of a DUI pay some of the highest insurance rates. However, Erie and USAA are pretty competitive compared to the national average. Of course, USAA would be your first choice because of its slightly cheaper rate, but Erie is only $2 more per month, so it also deserves a spot on your shopping list.
Driver Type
Erie
USAA
National Average
DUI
$86
$84
$155
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.
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Erie vs. USAA Car Insurance: What discounts does each offer?
Erie Discounts
College student
Multi-policy (bundling car insurance with other types of coverage like homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance)
Payment perks (pay in full)
Safety savings (airbags, antilock brakes, anti-theft devices, and other safety features)
Vehicle storage
Youthful driver
USAA Discounts
Anti-theft device
Defensive driving
Good driver
Good student
Loyalty
Multi-policy
Multi-vehicle
New car
SafePilot
Student away at school
Vehicle storage
Discount
Erie
USAA
Airbags
Antilock brakes
Anti-theft device
Away at school
College student
Defensive driver
Good driving
Good student
Loyalty
Multi-policy/Multi-product
Multi-vehicle
New car
Pay in full
SafePilot
Vehicle storage
Youthful driver
Our Methodology and How We Compared Erie and USAA
The car insurance quotes provided in Insurify’s insurance company comparison guides are based on the analysis of over 50 thousand insurance quotes from 500 ZIP codes nationwide. Insurify’s data science team performs a comprehensive analysis of factors car insurance providers weigh to calculate rates, including driver demographics, driving record, credit score, desired coverage level, and more to give representative samples.
Insurify’s analysis also incorporates the Insurify Composite Score (ICS) assigned to each insurance provider. The ICS is a proprietary rating calculated by weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Ratings used to calculate the ICS include Financial Strength Ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
With the above insights and ranking methods, Insurify is able to offer car insurance shoppers a window into how insurance providers compare to one another in terms of both cost and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Erie or USAA?
After a thorough insurance review, USAA has slightly cheaper auto insurance rates in almost every data-measured category. The average monthly auto insurance premium at USAA is $43, while Erie Insurance charges $49. Both providers outperform the $78 per month national average. Of course, your rate may vary based on your unique driving profile.
Which is better, Erie or USAA?
According to the Insurify Composite Score, our internal rating system that factors in financial stability rankings, customer satisfaction, and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reviews, USAA is the better company. But USAA only sells to military personnel and their immediate families, while Erie serves everyone. So consider a quote from both.
How can I compare Erie and USAA?
The easiest way to analyze Erie and USAA’s various coverage options is with a car insurance quote-comparison tool. In just a few minutes, you can get customized quotes from top car insurance providers such as these two and others to find a rate that works for your needs and budget.
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Courtney RoyInsurance Writer
Courtney Roy is a financial and technology writer. He creates content that makes an actionable difference in the lives of his readers by helping them understand matters of personal finance. In addition to years of experience across multiple industries, Courtney has insurance licenses, a real estate license, and a degree in electrical engineering.
Thomas Fitzgerald is an insurance writer at Insurify with a focus on auto insurance. He seeks to make the insurance buying process simple and effective through clear, educational content. Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his master's from the University of Chicago. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.
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.