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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Western National offers significantly cheaper rates than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs

AAA vs. Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to AAA or Western National as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National has average rates that are about 50% per month more affordable than those from AAA.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Western National will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if AAA or Western National is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

AAA or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and Western National only compete against each other in one states, with Western National offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Western National premiums are over 30% cheaper than auto insurance prices at AAA.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save nearly $400 a month compared to those who use AAA.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for AAA policyholders reduce more than $400 and Western National's prices drop almost $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Western National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 55% less expensive than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover multiple cars, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $194 per month more affordable than AAA, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Western National is also obvious, where drivers save about $100 a month.

AAA vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

Normally, women see premiums over 10% per month less with AAA, and almost 10% less with Western National when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Western National comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $170 less for men and $150 cheaper for women.

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

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Western National normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $60 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies around $200 a month less expensive than AAA, on average.

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

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but AAA policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $85.

However, Western National has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $59 and $145 cheaper, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through AAA can expect to see around an $126 -- or about 37% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Western National for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $0 (or 0%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Western National, with monthly premiums averaging $154 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 car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, AAA will increase your prices about 47% after a DUI, while Western National's average premiums climb by 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Western National tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $154 per month compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Western National Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Western National. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 60% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $133 or 54% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western National typically offers lower rates than AAA when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $150 per month less with Western National compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $261 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly prices. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Western National offers more affordable rates than AAA. AAA's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 50% more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay over 50% more with AAA over Western National.

AAA vs. Western National: 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 large impact as well. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Western National tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Western National Insurance Company's average premiums are about $207 less than AAA Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $174 less with Western National compared to AAA. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $98 with Western National compared to AAA.

AAA vs. Western National 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. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and Western National offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

AAA blows Western National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 more discounts than Western National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that Western National does not.

On the flip side, Western National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts and family discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want basic car 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 looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and Western National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just AAA and Western National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. Western National FAQs

Is AAA or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Western National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $154 a month compared to $314 for AAA. That being said, Western National won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or Western National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do AAA and Western National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables such as your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and Western National calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be AAA or Western National 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.