AAA vs. National General: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, National General offers significantly less expensive rates than AAA
• AAA may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than National General Insurance
• National General tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

AAA or National General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to AAA or National General as potential options, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, AAA has average rates that are around 21% a month more expensive than those from National General.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean National General will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of AAA or National General is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

AAA vs. National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and National General only compete against each other in Texas, where AAA offers the cheaper average rates. AAA drivers tend to pay about $70 per month less on average compared to drivers who use National General for their auto insurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have National General for their insurance pay over 15% less than those who use AAA.

However, both carriers will drop rates by the time you turn 25. National General offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. AAA's average premiums decrease almost 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable car insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

When looking at AAA and National General specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? National General gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 25% more affordable than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover multiple vehicles, which several companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with National General prices coming in at a quarter less than AAA's. The advantage for married couples with National General is also obvious, where drivers save about $55 a month.

AAA or National General: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With AAA, women typically pay around $35 per month less than men, and about $16 less with National General.

Looking at overall affordability, National General comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums $74 less for men and $56 cheaper for women.

AAA vs. National General: 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, National General has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $151. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, National General again has the edge, with policies averaging around $348 a month to AAA's $459.

Is AAA or National General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is AAA or National General more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use AAA for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 29% after getting a speeding ticket. National General policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 11%.

But National General has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $52 and $118 cheaper, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by over 35%, while those who have insurance through National General will see about a 65% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use AAA end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $339 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, AAA will raise your prices around 47% after a DUI, while National General's average premiums climb by more than 10%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, National General tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $183 to AAA's $403.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and National General Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking at AAA and National General specifically, which company has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, AAA will generally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, AAA comes in nearly 8% more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 10% with National General compared to average premiums from AAA.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National General typically offers lower rates than AAA when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 14% per month less with National General compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 42% monthly.

Is AAA or National General Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly premiums? That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much National General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for AAA, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle each year paying about $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, National General is the less expensive company.

AAA or National General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, National General normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, National General's average rates are around $262 while AAA offers premiums about $384. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $241 with National General compared to $301 with AAA. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $244 per month with National General and $256 with AAA.

AAA vs. National General Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts AAA and National General offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

AAA blows National General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to National General's eight.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for getting driver training. AAA also offers discounts for AAA, academic, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, National General has a few proprietary discounts of their own like low mileage discounts and vehicle brand discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or National General Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is AAA or National General the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

National General might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare AAA and National General and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just AAA and National General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. National General FAQs

Is AAA or National General cheaper?

National General is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $249 a month with National General and $314 for AAA. That being said, that doesn't mean National General will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, AAA or National General?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, AAA is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while National General offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do AAA and National General offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as where you park your vehicle, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both AAA and National General calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if AAA or National General is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't AAA or National General at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.