EXHIBIT 23.01

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-44667 and 33-89400) pertaining to the 1991 Stock Option Plan

(2) Registration Statement(Form S-8, No. 33-44666) pertaining to the1991 Directors’ Stock Option Plan

(3) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-41423, 333-05755, 333-147333, and 333-206148) pertaining to the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan

(4) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-56336) pertaining to the State Auto Insurance Companies Retirement Savings Plan

(5) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-43882) pertaining to the 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan

(6) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-43880) pertaining to the 2000 Stock Option Plan

(7) Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 333-41849 and 333-209878) pertaining to the Monthly Stock Purchase Plan for Independent Agents

(8) Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 333-90529) pertaining to the 1998 State Auto Agents’ Stock Option Plan

(9) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-127172) pertaining to the 2005 Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan

(10) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-165364, 333-192158, and 333-214472) pertaining to the State Auto Financial Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan

(11) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-165366 and 333-170568) pertaining to the State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Amended and Restated Incentive Deferred Compensation Plan

(12) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-170564) pertaining to the State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Amended and Restated Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, and

(13) Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-214471) pertaining to the Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation;

of our reports dated February 28, 2018, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of State Auto Financial Corporation and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of State Auto Financial Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of State Auto Financial Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2017.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Grandview Heights, Ohio

February 28, 2018