Acuity vs. American Family: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American Family offers significantly less expensive rates than Acuity
• Acuity offers more affordable premiums for residents in Colorado and Wisconsin
• American Family has cheaper prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years

Acuity vs. American Family: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Acuity or American Family as your top options, but between the two, which one has more affordable rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Acuity has average rates that are about 55% per month more expensive than those from American Family.

But American Family may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Acuity and American Family by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Acuity or American Family: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Acuity and American Family only compete against each other in two states, with American Family offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Colorado has the most noticable difference, where American Family prices are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Acuity.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use American Family save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Acuity. It's worth noting that American Family offers insurance in 16 different states compared to Acuity's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Acuity policyholders reduce over 75% and American Family's prices drop more than 60% 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 lowest premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Acuity and American Family? American Family gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $76 less expensive than the national average for Acuity.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, American Family is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $237 per month more affordable than Acuity, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American Family is also obvious, where drivers save over 45% a month.

Acuity vs. American Family: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Women typically pay nearly $20 per month less than men with Acuity, and about $5 less with American Family.

Looking at overall affordability, American Family comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices 56% less for men and 55% cheaper for women.

Acuity or American Family: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, American Family usually offers significantly less expensive premiums of $96 compared to Acuity's $172. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Family again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month cheaper than Acuity, on average.

Is Acuity or American Family 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Acuity or American Family -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Acuity policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $94 per month if they get a ticket, while American Family normally raises rates about $29 a month, on average.

Even so, American Family has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $111 and $176 less expensive, respectively, compared to Acuity Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Acuity raising by over $100. American Family has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, American Family offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $138 compared to Acuity Insurance's $344.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Acuity will climb your premiums around 36% after a DUI, while American Family's average prices climb by over 25%.

American Family has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $158 monthly, but it's worth noting that American Family's average rates come from 16 states compared to just two for Acuity, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Acuity and American Family Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. 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 several drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with American Family. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 60% compared to Acuity, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $167 or 58% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American Family typically offers lower prices than Acuity when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $175 per month less with American Family compared to Acuity, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $188 per month.

Is Acuity or American Family 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 sizable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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, American Family offers more affordable prices than Acuity. American Family's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $159 cheaper than Acuity. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay about $187 less with American Family over Acuity.

Acuity vs. American Family: 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 pretty big impact as well. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

American Family tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Family offers prices around $166 a month compared to Acuity's $374. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $134 a month for American Family and $313 for Acuity. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $121 and $253 for American Family and Acuity respectively.

Acuity vs. American Family Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Acuity and American Family so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

American Family knocks Acuity out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Acuity's 21.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. American Family also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, connect partner discounts, and more that Acuity does not.

On the flip side, Acuity has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for graduating college, continuous insurance discounts, and discounts for being a good driver.

Final Thoughts: Is Acuity or American Family Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Acuity or American Family the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

American Family might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates increase.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Acuity might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Colorado and Wisconsin.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Acuity and American Family and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

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

Acuity vs. American Family FAQs

Is Acuity or American Family cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American Family is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $140 per month compared to $313 for Acuity. However, American Family won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Acuity or American Family?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Acuity and American Family offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as where you live, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Acuity and American Family calculate rates using different formulas, 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 lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Acuity or American Family is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Acuity or American Family 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.