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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers slightly cheaper rates than American Family
• American Family tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• General Casualty offers more affordable prices for policyholders who live in urban areas

American Family or General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to 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 be considering American Family or General Casualty as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable premiums for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, American Family is around $1 more a month than General Casualty.

However, that doesn't mean General Casualty will necessarily be less expensive than American Family for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if American Family or General Casualty is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

American Family vs. General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and General Casualty compete against each other in six states, with American Family offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Utah has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty prices are $55 more affordable than auto insurance rates at American Family.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have General Casualty for their insurance pay 15% less than those who use American Family.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Family policyholders drop over 60% and General Casualty's prices decrease more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? American Family gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $107 monthly compared to General Casualty's $124.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the winner for single policyholders, with prices around 3% per month less expensive than American Family, on average.

American Family or General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, men see rates about 3% a month higher with American Family, but with General Casualty, the difference is closer to 10% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, General Casualty is the most affordable carrier for women. Rates with General Casualty are $6 cheaper for women, while with American Family, men can save around $6.

American Family vs. General 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, General Casualty has the edge, while American Family offers the cheapest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with General Casualty, while full coverage comes out to be about $10 cheaper with American Family Insurance.

Is American Family or General Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is American Family or General Casualty more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use American Family for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 20% after getting a speeding ticket. General Casualty policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 32%.

But General Casualty has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 24% and 10% more affordable, respectively, compared to American Family Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Family policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see around a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use American Family end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $138 compared to General Casualty's $146.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. General Casualty drivers usually see a 52% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while American Family will generally increase prices by about 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, American Family tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $158 to General Casualty's $186.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and General Casualty Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at American Family and General Casualty, which one has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American Family or General Casualty 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 car insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in a collision 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 General Casualty charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for American Family, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $5 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly.

American Family or General 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 sizable 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 vs. General Casualty Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by American Family and General Casualty so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

American Family knocks General Casualty out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than General Casualty.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but American Family also offers discounts for connect partner, COVID-19 relief, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, General Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like employee discounts, good driving discounts, new vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or General Casualty Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

General Casualty might be best for you if...

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Family and General Casualty and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just American Family and General Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply 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. General Casualty FAQs

Is American Family or General Casualty cheaper?

General Casualty is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $139 a month with General Casualty and $140 for American Family. However, that doesn't mean General Casualty will be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, American Family or General Casualty?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, American Family is less expensive for drivers who have already retired, while General Casualty offers cheaper premiums for single policyholders.

Why do American Family and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as where you live, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Family and General Casualty calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Family or General Casualty 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.