AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, First American Property & Casualty offers significantly cheaper rates than AAA
• AAA offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• First American Property & Casualty has less expensive rates for residents of suburban areas

AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to AAA or First American Property & Casualty as potential options, but which carrier has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, First American Property & Casualty is quite a bit cheaper than AAA, with premiums averaging $167 per month compared to $314 with AAA when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean First American Property & Casualty will necessarily be cheaper than AAA for each driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among several other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both AAA and First American Property & Casualty by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

AAA or First American Property & Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and First American Property & Casualty only compete against each other in California, where First American Property & Casualty offers the cheaper average rates. For California residents, First American Property & Casualty offers auto insurance for $167 monthly on average. AAA's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $215 per month.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your prices. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have First American Property & Casualty for their auto insurance pay nearly $350 less than those who use AAA.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for AAA policyholders lower more than $400 and First American Property & Casualty's rates drop about $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices out there.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between AAA and First American Property & Casualty? First American Property & Casualty gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 50% more affordable than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, First American Property & Casualty is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $176 a month less expensive than AAA, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - First American Property & Casualty offers the most affordable average rates.

AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see prices nearly $35 per month cheaper with AAA; and with First American Property & Casualty, everyone ends up paying the same monthly premiums regardless of gender.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, First American Property & Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 50% less for men and 44% cheaper for women.

AAA or First American Property & Casualty: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, First American Property & Casualty usually offers significantly more affordable premiums of $70 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, First American Property & Casualty again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month less expensive than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or First American Property & Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is AAA or First American Property & Casualty cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $86 per month if they get a ticket, while First American Property & Casualty typically raises rates around $26 a month, on average.

That being said, First American Property & Casualty is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 44% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 52% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through First American Property & Casualty will see about a $25 increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from First American Property & Casualty, with monthly rates averaging $145 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. AAA drivers usually see a 47% raise in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while First American Property & Casualty will normally climb prices by around 54%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, First American Property & Casualty tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $256 a month compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and First American Property & Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at AAA and First American Property & Casualty, which one has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have excellent credit, AAA Insurance will usually reward you. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will typically save AAA Insurance customers about 25%. On the other hand, undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with AAA Insurance. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at AAA Insurance, you may pay around $250 more per month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they may have better prices for drivers with bad credit over AAA Insurance.

Is AAA or First American Property & Casualty Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, First American Property & Casualty offers cheaper premiums than AAA. First American Property & Casualty average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $150 more affordable than AAA. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under $150 less with First American Property & Casualty over AAA.

AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, First American Property & Casualty typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, First American Property & Casualty offers premiums about $172 monthly compared to AAA's $384. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $188 a month for First American Property & Casualty and $301 for AAA. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $140 and $256 for First American Property & Casualty and AAA respectively.

AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and First American Property & Casualty offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

AAA blows First American Property & Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to First American Property & Casualty's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that First American Property & Casualty does not.

First American Property & Casualty's discounts come through just a few categories, including Anti-Theft, Distant Student, Good Driving, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or First American Property & Casualty Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

First American Property & Casualty might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You have above-average credit.
• You care about discounts (Aaa offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and First American Property & Casualty and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just AAA and First American Property & Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. First American Property & Casualty FAQs

Is AAA or First American Property & Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, First American Property & Casualty is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $314 for AAA. Even so, First American Property & Casualty won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, AAA or First American Property & Casualty?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, First American Property & Casualty offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while AAA is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do AAA and First American Property & Casualty offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables such as age, where your home is, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and First American Property & Casualty calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if AAA or First American Property & Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AAA or First American Property & Casualty at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.