State Auto insurance review 2023

State Auto car insurance

Finding the best car insurance company starts with understanding what aspects of insurance are most important to you. Based on Bankrate’s assessment, State Auto car insurance may be a good option for drivers who don’t want to spend a lot of time personalizing their car insurance. Thanks partly due to the company’s coverage add-ons and customer-friendly online portal, State Auto earned an auto Bankrate Score of 3.4 out of 5. However, this score could have been higher if State Auto was available nationwide or if it were rated by J.D. Power. 

Drivers who want personalized coverage may opt for the company’s Standard package, while those who want the company’s set packages could pick from either the Protection Plus or AutoXtended Premier. Along with the standard coverage you’d expect, the Protection Plus package offers unique financial protections like cell phone coverage, emergency ambulance coverage, locksmith and key replacement coverage. The AutoXtended Premier package offers everything in the Plus tier, with some coverage at higher limits.

Beyond these package tiers, State Auto also offers additional coverage options, such as full safety glass coverage, which has no deductible for glass claims. Auto replacement cost is also available, which could cover the replacement cost of your car if it is within two model years of your policy date and deemed a total loss in an accident.

Although State Auto car insurance is robust, it’s only available in 33 states. To see if you live in an area where the company operates, you can use the agent locator tool on State Auto’s website to find a local insurance agent.

Pros and cons of State Auto car insurance

Comparing car insurance quotes can seem daunting, but making a list of pros and cons can help keep you on track. This visual representation may help you distinguish State Auto from other companies and determine where your priorities lie: coverage, online accessibility, contact hours or something else.

State Auto car insurance cost

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team took an in-depth look at auto insurance premiums in 2023, and according to proprietary rate data sourced by Quadrant Information Services, State Auto car insurance averages $2,013 for full coverage and $716 for minimum coverage. Comparably, the average cost of car insurance is $2,014 per year for a full coverage policy and $622 for a minimum coverage policy. All in, State Auto is about on par with the national average, though slightly more expensive for minimum coverage.

State Auto car insurance rates by driving history

For drivers without activity on their record, State Auto’s full coverage car insurance rate is close to the national average. However, your rate depends on several rating factors, with your driving history as one of the most significant. Furthermore, while your overall driving record will impact your premium, each incident type could affect it differently. The tables below illustrate how much you may expect to spend on State Auto car insurance in various scenarios.

Please note that DUI rates have been omitted, as not all car insurance companies will offer a policy to a driver with this type of violation. For more information on State Auto’s DUI rates, please contact the company directly.

State Auto car insurance quotes by age

Nearly 8 percent of fatal auto accidents occur with drivers aged 15 to 20 behind the wheel. Young drivers pay some of the highest car insurance premiums due to their lack of experience and, thus, higher risk. However, how much a young driver pays for State Auto car insurance depends on if they are listed as a driver on their parents’ policy or if they have their own policy, as demonstrated in the tables below. It’s also important to note that these premiums assume that the young driver has a clean driving record.

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their parents’ policy

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy

State Auto car insurance discounts

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance company, you may want to check out some of State Auto’s car insurance discounts that could help you save, including:

State Auto car tools and benefits

State Auto does not offer much in the way of additional car benefits, but it does offer business auto insurance for those that need it. Additionally, the company offers rideshare insurance — an option that’s not always available with other carriers.

State Auto home insurance

After our in-depth analysis, Bankrate’s insurance team issued State Auto home insurance a Bankrate Score of 3.0 out of 5.0. State Auto’s lower-than-average homeowners premium, coverage options and discount opportunities helped the company earn this score. Still, this score may have been higher if J.D. Power rated State Auto’s home insurance product, or if coverage was available nationwide and customer support was 24/7.

Similar to its auto insurance, State Auto home insurance might be optimal for shoppers looking for predetermined coverage packages. State Auto home insurance comes in three package tiers: Standard, Protection Plus and Premier. The Standard package is the most basic tier, allowing homeowners to add coverage options based on their needs, or stick with the essentials.

The Protection Plus package comes with lock replacement, $1,000 in coverage for freezer contents lost due to power outage or breakdown and coverage for golf cart rentals. Homeowners can also add the HomeXtended endorsement, which offers more financial protection for your home and personal belongings. This Premier package automatically includes this coverage, and also provides coverage for specialty high-value items like jewelry and fine art, as well as volunteer wrongful acts, if the insured is legally responsible for errors or negligence while working as a volunteer.

Other optional home coverage from State Auto includes home-sharing coverage, which may be ideal for insureds who also use their home for short-term rentals and home systems protection for AC units, computers and home security devices. State Auto also offers identity fraud coverage, ordinance or law, service line, water backup and personal injury coverage for homeowners who want to personalize their policy.

Pros and cons of State Auto homeowners insurance

Even the best homeowners insurance company has its drawbacks. This list of pros and cons for State Auto home insurance may help you decide if the company is a good fit for you.

State Auto home insurance cost

In 2023, the average cost of State Auto home insurance with $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,258 per year. In comparison, the national average homeowners insurance cost is $1,428. Although your rates may differ based on your location, the age of your home and other rating factors, this information may come in handy when comparing quotes.

State Auto home insurance discounts

Shoppers who need cheap homeowners insurance may be interested in the discounts State Auto has to offer, including:

State Auto home tools and benefits

Homeowners with State Auto may use the company’s AI-powered self-guided property inspection mobile application to perform their own property inspection. This may eliminate the need for another person to come into the home, and has capability for collecting interior and exterior property inspection data.

State Auto customer satisfaction

Everyone may need something different in their insurance policy. Some people are most concerned with rates, while others want the highest level of service. To help those who prioritize customer satisfaction, Bankrate analyzes third-party scoring metrics to evaluate how satisfied an insurance company’s policyholders might be with their carrier.

Typically, our editorial team includes J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores in our review to help understand customer satisfaction, but State Auto was not included in this rating company’s most recent insurance studies. However, some data is provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The NAIC keeps track of how many complaints are reported about a particular company and uses this data to issue the company a complaint index score. To understand this metric, know that a company with a complaint index of 1.0 has the baseline, or average, number of complaints for a company of its size. A complaint index score higher than 1.0 means that the company gets more complaints than average and vice versa — a complaint index score lower than 1.0 has fewer complaints.

State Auto auto satisfaction

According to the NAIC, State Auto receives a slightly higher-than-average number of complaints about the company’s private passenger auto insurance, as it has an index score of 1.18. Since State Auto car insurance satisfaction data is limited, you may find it helpful to do further research by reading online policyholder reviews or speaking to family and friends insured with the company. 

State Auto homeowners satisfaction

In contrast to its auto insurance, State Auto home insurance scores far below the NAIC Company Complaint Index baseline, with a score of 0.23. This score means that, on average, fewer people report complaints about State Auto home insurance to the NAIC. Homeowners who prioritize customer service may want to keep this in mind as they compare home insurance quotes.

How to file a claim with State Auto

Filing an insurance claim with State Auto should be relatively simple, as long as you have certain pieces of information handy. For example, the company will ask for your VIN, the date the accident occurred, how many miles your vehicle has on it and the other party’s basic information. Once you’re ready, you can file a claim with State Auto by:

• Submitting the claim on the company’s online claims portal
• Filing the claim State Auto mobile app available on Google Play or the App Store
• Calling the company at 1-877-722-5246

State Auto availability

State Auto insurance writes policies in 33 states, but does not specify which ones on its website. You can, however, use the company’s agent locator tool to see if there is an agency near you.

Other State Auto perks worth considering

Beyond auto and homeowners insurance, State Auto also offers a variety of other insurance products. These include:

• Condominium insurance: Condo unit owners are typically only responsible for the interior of their units, which condo insurance provides coverage for.
• Umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy offers increased liability protection on all personal lines insurance, such as auto, home and rental property insurance.
• Renters insurance: This policy type offers coverage for personal belongings, personal liability and loss of use coverage.

State Auto corporate sustainability

State Auto participates in a number of community initiatives and encourages associates to take time off to volunteer. Under the Invest a Day program, associates can take one day off a year to participate in volunteer activities, and can also fundraise through associate giving campaigns. Its Jay Yano Community Service Award also recognizes one associate every year for exemplary service.

The company also has a number of fundraising partnerships. Its Jack C. Boyle Matching Gift Program matches associate donations to qualifying non-profit organizations, and its State Auto Foundation administers a fund that donates to other 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations.

Not sure if State Auto is right for you?

After this State Auto review, you may still be undecided on if this company is the right one for you. To help weigh your options, you may want to consider exploring one or all of the comparable alternatives below:

State Auto vs. Farmers

Like State Auto, Farmers also offers policy packages with add-ons to give insureds the opportunity to build their own insurance plan. However, unlike State Auto, it also offers life insurance products.

Learn more: Farmers Insurance review

State Auto vs. American Modern

American Modern offers unique policy options for homeowners and auto insurance that might not be found with other carriers. It also writes coverage in all 50 states.

Learn more: American Modern Insurance review

State Auto vs. Geico

If price is a priority, Geico offers some of the cheapest car insurance in the nation, along with an extensive variety of discount opportunities to save even more on coverage. Geico also tied for a 2023 Bankrate Award for Best Auto Insurance Company Overall due its discounts, digital tools and national availability. Homeowners insurance is also available in most states, although these policies are underwritten by a variety of different companies.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Is State Auto a good insurance company?

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team includes three licensed agents with nearly 50 years of combined industry experience. We know that picking the best insurance company isn’t always easy, and that honest, straightforward and knowledgeable company reviews can be an integral part of the process. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to feel empowered to make an educated decision about your coverage needs.

With that said, State Auto could be a good insurance company for you, but it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the convenience of a prepackaged insurance policy and various coverage options, State Auto could be a top option for you. However, you must live in one of the 33 states the company does business in. Those who want 24/7 service or the ability to get quotes online may not find the company to be an attractive option. You may benefit from contacting a State Auto agent to ask any remaining questions you have about its insurance to better determine if the provider is a good fit.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

Auto

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our sample drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16–20 added to their parents’ policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $500,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Score

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services, as well as the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.