Given that USAA has eligibility restrictions and Farm Bureau Insurance is disproportionately expensive when you add more coverages, we rate Erie as the cheapest insurance company. And it’s reliable to boot, given its strong customer service reputation. Erie’s main downside is that it’s only available in 12 states and D.C.
Erie also scored high marks for policy options: It offers pet coverage, free accident forgiveness, free vanishing deductibles and roadside assistance, giving its customers a degree of flexibility not found even among the largest insurers.
Whether you’re looking for a car insurance policy that only meets your state requirements or a more extensive full-coverage policy, Erie was one of the most affordable non-USAA options for our sample driver.
Erie customers who are eligible for its rate lock program can avoid premium hikes that could cause rates to creep up over the years. This is a unique program where customers won’t see their rates increase except for three reasons: you move to a different area or change where you park your car, add or remove someone from your policy or add or remove a car.
Additionally, despite its smaller size, Erie offers the same types of discounts that larger national insurers provide. These include premium reductions for having multiple policies, a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes or anti-theft equipment, as well as savings for young and senior drivers.
The biggest downside to Erie is that it is only available in the following areas:
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin