-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LjLPvx1PzLKRJTgafmlzXIpeX8FXuAPC778zKW1pTFG5EsK7EG2GHh9/aOkZU59a
 Ij+vIsZNf1FwdFc7L/62JA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874977-05-000031.txt : 20050818
<SEC-HEADER>0000874977-05-000031.hdr.sgml : 20050818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050818150944
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874977-05-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050818
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874977
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				311324304
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		518 E BROAD ST
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215-3976
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6144645000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		518 EAST BROAD STREET
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STATE AUTOMOBILE MUTUAL INSURANCE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001110810
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19289
		FILM NUMBER:		051035804

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		518 E BROAD ST
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874977</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001110810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STATE AUTOMOBILE MUTUAL INSURANCE CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>518 E. BROAD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43215</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2326</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26238330</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company by John R. Lowther, Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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