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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, American Family offers less expensive prices than Atlantic States
• American Family offers more affordable average rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Atlantic States offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Family or Atlantic States, but between the two, which company has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Atlantic States has average rates that are about 13% per month more expensive than those from American Family.

That being said, American Family may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of American Family or Atlantic States is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

American Family or Atlantic States: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Atlantic States only compete against each other in one states, with American Family offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where American Family rates are over 70% less expensive than car insurance prices at Atlantic States.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $15 less a month by choosing Atlantic States over American Family. It's worth noting that American Family offers insurance in 16 different states compared to Atlantic States's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Family policyholders drop more than 60% and Atlantic States's premiums reduce over 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at American Family and Atlantic States specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American Family gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $12 cheaper than the national average for Atlantic States.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance rates than those who are single. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, American Family is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $20 per month cheaper than Atlantic States, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - American Family offers the cheapest average prices.

American Family vs. Atlantic States: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Typically, women see premiums about 3% a month less with American Family, and around 8% less with Atlantic States.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, American Family comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 14% less for men and 10% cheaper for women.

American Family or Atlantic States: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Atlantic States offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while American Family has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Atlantic States Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $50 more affordable with American Family Insurance.

Is American Family or Atlantic States Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 prices, but which company -- American Family or Atlantic States -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while Atlantic States typically raises rates around $6 a month, on average.

That being said, Atlantic States tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 2% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 17% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through American Family can expect to see about an $20 -- or around 14% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Atlantic States for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $37 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from American Family, with monthly premiums averaging $138 compared to Atlantic States Insurance Company's $153.

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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Atlantic States will climb your rates around 54% after a DUI, while American Family's average premiums climb by over 25%.

American Family has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $158 per month, but it's worth noting that American Family's average rates come from 16 states compared to just three for Atlantic States, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Atlantic States Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good 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 25% compared to Atlantic States, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $25 or 17% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American Family typically offers lower prices than Atlantic States when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $14 per month less with American Family compared to Atlantic States, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $4 a month.

Is American Family or Atlantic States Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly premiums. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, American Family offers less expensive rates than Atlantic States. American Family's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 9% cheaper than Atlantic States. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 15% less with American Family over Atlantic States.

American Family vs. Atlantic States: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Family offers premiums around $166 monthly compared to Atlantic States's $205. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $134 a month for American Family and $143 for Atlantic States. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $121 and $133 for American Family and Atlantic States respectively.

American Family vs. Atlantic States Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Family and Atlantic States 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.

Looking at the total number of discounts, American Family has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Atlantic States offers a grand total of 19 discounts, while American Family has 21.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, group discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that Atlantic States does not.

On the flip side, Atlantic States has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, discounts for getting driver training, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or Atlantic States Best for You?

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

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

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Atlantic States might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American Family and Atlantic States and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 a handful of carriers, not just American Family and Atlantic States. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Family vs. Atlantic States FAQs

Is American Family or Atlantic States 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 $160 for Atlantic States. However, American Family won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Atlantic States?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Family and Atlantic States offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, where you park your vehicle, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Family and Atlantic States calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 car insurance carriers 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 American Family or Atlantic States 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.