StateFarm vs. Esurance: Which provider is better?

StateFarm vs. Esurance

You’ve narrowed your potential insurers to State Farm and Esurance. But which one should you pick?

State Farm is a giant in the insurance industry. It was founded in 1922, and today it’s the largest auto insurer in the United States. Beyond covering vehicles, it also offers home, renters, life, motorcycle and business insurance.

Esurance is a younger company, founded in 1999. It quickly gained traction by selling policies over the internet, which allowed it to offer lower prices to consumers. Today, Esurance is owned by Allstate.

	State Farm	Esurance
About the provider	Founded in 1922, State Farm ranks as one of the top companies where cars and homes are insured. State Farm stands by its customers by striving to offer the best products and prices. The company is no stranger to the Fortune 500 list.	Esurance, the online insurance company, is making its name known in the car insurance world, offering affordable coverage for just about any of your vehicles. It takes pride in a hassle-free experience, and customers respect its low rates and excellent customer service.
Price	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit State Farm for a quote based on your specific needs.	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit Esurance for a quote based on your specific needs.
States served	All 50 states	43 states
User satisfaction*	B+	A+
J.D. Power ratings**	3/5 on overall claims satisfaction	3/5 on overall claims satisfaction
Driver discounts	View driver discounts	View driver discounts
Vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts
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* Based on Better Business Bureau’s company rating
** Based on the 2016 U.S Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

Driver discounts

	State Farm	Esurance
Good student	Up to 25% (under 25). Additional discount if student is away from home and only using the car when back home.	Up to 10% (full time student, under the age of 25 and a 3.0 GPA)
Defensive driver		Up to 10% (minimum age 50, 55 or 60, depending on state residence and completed a defensive driving course)
Good driver	3 years no moving violations or at-fault accidents	30-40% (driving for 3 years with 0-1 points on your driving record)
Pay in full discount
Multicar	Up to 20% (two or more vehicles in household)
Military
Homeowner
Other discounts	Driving training – Varies (all operators under 21 complete approved drivers education) Drive Safe & Safe – Enroll in the State Farm app
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Vehicle discounts

	State Farm	Esurance
Anti-theft device		5-25%
Anti-lock brake		5%
Passive restraints	Up to 40% (medical-related coverage, vehicle made in 1994 or later)	2-33%
Air bag
Other discounts	Vehicle safety discount – Up to 40% (medical-related coverage, vehicle made in 1994 or later)	New vehicle discount
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Bottom line

If you’re looking for a battle-tested insurer, it’s hard to go wrong with State Farm or Esurance. The former has been in the insurance market for nearly 100 years. The latter is owned by Allstate, an industry giant.

State Farm has the slight edge on US states covered. It offers insurance in all 50 states, while Esurance covers only 40 states.

Though both insurers earn high Better Business Bureau grades, they stumble when it comes to claims. Both insurers earn a three-out-of-five score from J.D. Power in customer claims satisfaction.

You may save on your premium with both insurers, as they offer extensive discounts. Both offer promotions like good-student, defensive-driver and multi-car discounts. You’ll also find vehicle discounts for anti-theft devices and passive restraints.