Erie Insurance and AAA are both well-known companies in the automotive insurance industry.
Erie is one of the largest car insurance companies in the United States, based on market share, delivering high-quality coverage at competitive rates. But it’s only available in a select number of states.
Meanwhile, AAA offers nationwide coverage through partnering insurers. But to get insurance coverage and additional benefits, you’ll have to pay an AAA membership fee on top of your premiums.
So whether either insurer is right for you will depend on your situation and needs. Here’s what you need to consider when looking at Erie Insurance and AAA coverage.
Erie and AAA both have a safe driving rewards program, but they have some minor differences.
Erie car insurance is affordable and available for many driver types, including high-risk drivers.
The AAA membership package includes best-in-class roadside assistance coverage.
Erie vs. AAA: The verdict
An Erie car insurance policy is cheaper than one from AAA across various ages, driving records, and credit history. Erie has also received one of the highest Insurify Quality Scores, at 8.4 out of 5.
AAA’s nationwide availability is where it stands out, operating as a federation of regional auto clubs. But your discount and coverage options vary based on the region or branch where you purchase insurance.
The table below shows how these two insurers stack up against one another.
Factor | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 8.4 | 8.5 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction score | 912 out of 1,000 | 820 out of 1,000 |
| Average quote: liability only | $80 | $125 |
| Number of discounts | 8 | 10 |
| Number of states where it operates | 12 | 24 |
Our editorial team spent more than 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. The team weighted criteria 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 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses 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 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider 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 U.S., 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 scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Erie
Erie has served the auto insurance industry since 1925, earning high marks in J.D. Power claims and customer satisfaction auto insurance surveys.[?]
AAA
AAA provides auto and travel insurance, financial services, membership perks, and highly rated roadside assistance plans to more than 64 million members across 1,000 branches in North America.
Erie YourTurn vs. AAA SMARTtrek
Erie and AAA both offer telematics programs. You’ll have to download their mobile apps, which monitor your driving behaviors like speeding, phone usage, and braking smoothness. Based on your performance, you’ll receive feedback to improve your driving abilities.
But the programs differ in their reward systems. Erie provides monetary bonuses, which you can redeem for gift cards or charitable donations. AAA gives you a 10% discount on your policy upon enrollment. Your discount increases as you continue to demonstrate good driving habits.
Erie vs. AAA: Which is the cheapest?
Erie offers cheaper car insurance across several driving profiles. But your personal rates will vary based on your location, age, gender, driving record, credit history, and more.
In the sections that follow, you can see how liability-only coverage rates from Erie and AAA compare against one another for several driver subcategories.
Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
Drivers with clean records get the best rates because they’re less likely to cause an accident and file an insurance claim. Erie offers the most affordable car insurance for drivers with a clean record.
Driver Type | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $80 | $125 |
Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
A speeding ticket on your driving record demonstrates a history of reckless driving to insurers. As a result, drivers with speeding tickets or other moving violations generally pay higher rates. Fortunately, Erie offers competitive rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Driver Type | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $109 | $156 |
Erie: Cheapest for teen drivers
Teen drivers often lack experience on the road and are more likely to engage in reckless and distracted driving. As a result, insurers assign higher rates on their policies. If you’re a household with a teen driver, you can save more money on insurance with Erie.
Driver Type | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $152 | $198 |
Erie: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Data shows that drivers with poor credit are more likely to file a claim. To offset this risk, insurance companies charge these policyholders higher insurance rates. On average, drivers with a less-than-perfect credit history pay similar rates with both Erie and AAA.
Driver Type | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $136 | $143 |
Erie: Cheapest for senior drivers
Older drivers, specifically those in their 70s, may start to see increases in their insurance costs. This is because age-related conditions may affect their ability to drive safely. Between the two companies, Erie provides the most competitive prices to senior drivers.
Driver Type | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $54 | $87 |
Compare coverages: Erie vs. AAA
Both insurance companies offer standard car insurance coverages, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
Both companies also carry unique add-on coverage options to increase your protection. For example, Erie lets you add windshield repair coverage.
AAA insurance products will vary by branch and region. Contact an insurer in your area for more information about your options.
In the table below, you can see some additional coverages offered by each insurer.
Coverage | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Gap insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Windshield repair | Yes | No |
| New-car replacement | Yes | Yes |
| Rental car coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | No | Yes |
Compare discounts: Erie vs. AAA
Erie and AAA offer numerous discounts to help you save on your auto insurance policy. You’ll need to contact the AAA service provider in your region to find out what discount opportunities are available. While Erie is generally cheaper, you could receive a lower rate from AAA if you qualify for more discounts.
Here, you can see a list of discounts offered by each insurer.
Discount | Erie | AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | No | No |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | No | Yes |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | Yes | No |
| New car | No | No |
| Military/affiliation | No | No |
| Good student | No | Yes |
| Loyalty | No | Yes |
| Auto pay | No | Yes |
| Student away at school | Yes | No |
| Homeowner | No | No |
| Alternative fuel | No | No |
Erie vs. AAA FAQs
Erie and AAA both offer quality car insurance, and if you’re still trying to decide between the two, the answers below can help.
Which company is best for roadside assistance?
AAA is a top contender for its state-of-the-art roadside assistance plans. AAA members enjoy extensive coverage, including towing service, battery replacement, flat-tire service, and minor repairs by a mechanic.
What are the pros and cons of AAA?
As an AAA member, you have access to the company’s highly acclaimed roadside assistance service and other membership perks, including discounts for your cars, travel, and retail needs. But to obtain these benefits, you must purchase a membership, which can cost anywhere from $38 to $170 per year.
What are the main differences between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance coverages?
The difference between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance programs is their cost and coverage. AAA offers slightly more coverage, like minor auto repairs to help you get back on the road and towing services up to 200 miles four times per year with its most comprehensive membership level. Erie’s emergency roadside services only cover towing to the nearest garage plus 20 miles.
On the flip side, Erie’s roadside assistance coverage starts at an affordable $5 per vehicle per year, whereas AAA can cost anywhere between $38 and $170.
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