UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                        
                                        
                                 SCHEDULE 13G/A
                                        
                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 5)
                                        
                        State Auto Financial Corporation
              ----------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)
                                        
                        Common Shares, without par value
              ----------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)
                                        
                                   855-707105
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)
                                        
                               December 31, 2004
              ----------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

         Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:

[ ]    Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ]    Rule 13d-1(c)
[X]    Rule 13d-1(d)






                        Schedule 13G/A (Amendment No. 5)

CUSIP No.:  855-707105

1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
         I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

         State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
         I.R.S. Identification No.:  31-4316080

2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP           (a) [ ]

         The reporting person disclaims membership in any group.    (b) [ ]

3        SEC USE ONLY

4        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Ohio

5        SOLE VOTING POWER

         26,240,656 (as of December 31, 2004)

6        SHARED VOTING POWER

         -0- (as of December 31, 2004)

7        SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

         26,240,656 (as of December 31, 2004)

8        SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

         -0- (as of December 31, 2004)

9        AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         26,240,656 (as of December 31, 2004)

10       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN 
         SHARES                                                         [ ]

11       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

         65.44% (as of December 31, 2004)

12       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IC





                               Items 1 Through 10
                                       of
                        Schedule 13G/A (Amendment No. 5)
                                       for
                    State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company

Item 1.

         (a)  Name of Issuer:  State Auto Financial Corporation
         (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
              518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215

Item 2.

         (a)  Name of Person Filing:  State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
         (b)  Address of Principal Business Office:
              518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215
         (c)  Place of Organization:  Ohio
         (d)  Title of Class of Securities:  Common Shares, without par value
         (e)  CUSIP Number:  855-707105

Item 3.       Not Applicable.

Item 4.       The information contained in rows 5 through 9, inclusive, and row
              11 of the cover page are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.       Not Applicable.

Item 6.       Not Applicable.

Item 7.       Not Applicable.

Item 8.       Not Applicable.

Item 9.       Not Applicable.

Item 10.      Not Applicable.

                                    SIGNATURE


         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
accurate.


                                STATE AUTOMOBILE MUTUAL
                                INSURANCE COMPANY


February 8, 2005                By   /s/ John R. Lowther                        
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                     John R. Lowther, Senior Vice President,
                                        Secretary, and General Counsel