Safeco vs. State Auto Insurance

Which insurance carrier is right for you? Compare rates, savings, and quotes from Safeco and State Auto.

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Safeco vs. State Auto: What You Need to Know

In 1923, Hawthorne K. Dent founded the General Insurance Company of America. Most insurance activity during that time was taking place in the Northeast, so its Seattle location made “The General” a pioneer not only geographically but also with their competitive prices and great service. Today, however, “the General” is called Safeco, and they offer insurance to people across the country. It was in 1953 that the General Insurance Company of America created a subsidiary called Selective Auto and Fire Insurance Company of America (SAFECO). It was intended to compete with the national companies using computer automation tools, which allowed them to enter the life insurance business. By the end of the 1960s, the company also began offering mutual funds and commercial lines of credit. It became so successful that the changed the name entirely to Safeco. In 1997, Safeco began expanding east by acquiring American States Financial Corporation, doubling its agency in size. They soon became a leading insurer for small to mid-sized businesses. In 2002, the company’s dedication to automated technology helped the company recover from the slump of the late 1990s. In 2004, Safeco sold its life and investment division to refocus on surety bonds and its property and casualty lines of insurance. In 2008, Safeco was bought by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, a change that allows Safeco to focus solely on personal insurance lines today.

In 1921, Robert S. Pein started State Automobile Insurance Company with a borrowed sum of $30,000. Pein wanted to offer an alternative to the high rates other insurers were charging. He also wanted to a better claims settlement process. The company had humble beginnings with a staff of three in a small rented room in downtown Columbus. Pein insisted and his insurance products only be sold through independent agents, a decision that became company policy that is still in effect.

Below is a list of average rates, rankings, products, and discounts for the two companies. For full company overviews, you can visit SAFECO Overview and State Auto Overview.

SAFECO vs. State Auto: How much are the Average Rates?

Below is a list of the average rates that drivers typically pay with SAFECO and State Auto. On average, SAFECO charges approximately $41.25 per month while State Auto comes in at around $239.42 per month. For SAFECO, the cheapest state average is Oklahoma at $0.00 per month and the most expensive is Michigan at $171.81 per month. For State Auto, the cheapest state average is Texas at $253.37 per month and the most expensive is Pennsylvania at $266.54 per month.

SAFECO

Average Rate

$41.25
State Auto

Average Rate

$239.42
National

Average Rate

$133.56
State SAFECO State Auto
Alabama $0.00 -
Arizona $33.32 -
California $8.72 -
Colorado $115.35 -
Connecticut $0.00 -
Florida $2.04 -
Georgia $0.00 -
Illinois $25.01 -
Indiana $128.69 -
Iowa $0.00 -
Kentucky $21.92 -
Michigan $171.81 -
Missouri $24.01 -
Nebraska $19.65 -
Nevada $4.55 -
North Carolina $8.99 -
Ohio $27.64 -
Oklahoma $0.00 -
Oregon $127.98 -
Pennsylvania $74.19 $266.54
South Carolina $54.87 -
Tennessee $57.52 -
Texas $21.25 $253.37
Utah $32.97 -
Virginia $8.85 -
West Virginia $0.00 -
Wisconsin $0.00 -

SAFECO vs. State Auto: Rates by Number of Vehicle

Home

Drivers will typically get a discount if they insure multiple vehicles. Here is a list of average rates that SAFECO and State Auto typically charge for drivers who have more than 1 vehicle.

Number of Vehicles SAFECO State Auto
1 Vehicle $27.92 $214.63
2 Vehicles $107.59 $280.51

SAFECO vs. State Auto: Rates by Homeownership

Home

Drivers who own their home rather than rent can sometimes get a small discount. We found that on average SAFECO charges $112.44 per month and State Auto charges $268.63 per month for customers who own their home.

Own/Rent SAFECO State Auto
Own $112.44 $268.63
Rent $17.04 $211.89

What is Safeco and State Auto Insurance Rating?

Which car insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Safeco and State Auto ranked among the industry ratings.

ComparisonSafecoState Auto
Year Founded19231921
A.M. Best RatingA+
BBB RatingA-A+
Financial StrengthExcellentExcellent
JD Power RankingAbout Average
Moody’s RatingA2
NAIC Complaint Index1.08
S&P RatingA

Safeco or State Auto: Insurance Products Offered

What coverage is available through Safeco and State Auto? Both insurance companies offer Auto, Commercial, Condo, Home, and Umbrella insurance. Additional products from Safeco insurance also includes Motorcycle, Pet, Renters, and RV insurance. Considering these two top insurance providers? Check out the list below. To view a full list of products that are available, visit SAFECO and State Auto Insurance page.

InsuranceSafecoState Auto
Auto Insurance
Commercial Insurance
Condo Insurance
Farm Insurance
Home Insurance
Motorcycle Insurance
Pet Insurance
Renters Insurance
RV Insurance
Umbrella Insurance

Safeco or State Auto: Ways To Save

State Auto offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Anti-theft Device, Driver Training, and Good Student discounts. In contrast, Safeco also offers a few discounts that State Auto doesn’t, including Tenture Award, Telematics Reward (Safeco RightTrack), and Teen Safety Rewards discounts. Start taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers like State Auto and Safeco insurance and save yourself some money. You can review the full list of discounts that these two companies offer below.

SafecoState Auto
Accident ForgivenessAccident Prevention Course
Accident PreventionAnti-theft Device Discount
Diminishing DeductibleDriver Training
Distant Student DiscountGood Student Discount
Driver Training DiscountMulti-car Discount
Good Student DiscountMulti-policy Discount
New Teen RewardPaid in Full Discount
Newly Independent DiscountState Auto Safety 360
Teen Safety RewardsState Auto Start-Up
Telematics Reward (Safeco RightTrack)
Tenture Award

Pros & Cons of Safeco & State Auto

Pros

Safeco
  • Diminishing deductible can save you money if you’re ever in an accident.
  • Multiple losses, one deductible means that when you bundle, you can save money if an unexpected event damages both your car and home.
  • Safeco had less than the median number of complaints for home insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
State Auto
  • State Auto offers tiers of protection, which simplifies decision-making about coverages based on budget.

Cons

Safeco
  • Safeco had more than the median number of complaints about auto insurance in 2018.
State Auto
  • The mobile app is not for most drivers, only those who take part in the Safe Auto telematics program.
  • Car insurance is only available in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Safeco or State Auto Mobile Apps Options

The Safeco Insurance mobile app is available for iOS and Android. This insurance concierge gives you access to your policy 24/7. This mobile and tablet friendly app help you pull up your ID cards, make a payment, manage your policies and file a claim as well as submit accident photos.

The State Auto telematics app is available for iOS and Android. The State Auto Safety 360 telematics program was designed to keep you safer on the road. You may even earn up to 50% on auto insurance premiums. You may even save 10% for signing up.

Safeco Mobile App
iOS     4.75.4K user reviews
Android     3.8416 user reviews
State Auto Mobile App
iOS     1.817 user reviews
Android     2.325 user reviews

Safeco & State Auto Contact Info

Safeco Contact Info
Address1400 South Highway Drive, Suite 100, Fenton, MO, 63026
Phone1-888-723-3260
Websitehttps://www.safeco.com
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SafecoInsurance/
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/Safecoinsurance
Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/Safeco
Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/safeco-insurance/
State Auto Contact Info
Address518 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone1 (833) 724-3577
Websitehttps://www.stateauto.com/
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/stateauto/
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/StateAuto
Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/state-auto-insurance

Methodology
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.

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