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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, American Family offers significantly cheaper prices than Motorists
• American Family tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing car insurance together
• Motorists offers more affordable rates for residents in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

American Family vs. Motorists: 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 hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Family or Motorists for your next policy, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Motorists has average rates that are about 45% 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. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

American Family or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Motorists only compete against each other in two states, with American Family offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where American Family prices are over 40% more affordable than insurance rates at Motorists.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. It'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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing American Family over Motorists.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Family policyholders reduce nearly $200 and Motorists's rates decrease around $200 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 prices you'll ever see.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between American Family and Motorists? American Family gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 50% cheaper than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, American Family is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $108 per month less expensive than Motorists, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - American Family has the edge when it comes to average prices.

American Family vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

With American Family, men normally pay around $5 a month more than women, and about $12 more with Motorists.

Looking at overall affordability, American Family comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $107 per month and men save around $114 with American Family compared to the average Motorists policyholder.

American Family or Motorists: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American Family typically offers cheaper premiums of $96 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Family again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month more affordable than Motorists, on average.

Is American Family or Motorists 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while Motorists generally raises premiums around $18 a month, on average.

Even so, American Family tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 30% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 21% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Motorists raising by over $35. American Family has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from American Family, with monthly prices averaging $138 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, Motorists increases average premiums by more than $250 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, American Family tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $158 per month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Motorists Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

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 great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with American Family. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 35% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $65 or 35% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American Family typically offers lower prices than Motorists when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $90 a month less with American Family compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $228 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, American Family tends to be the more affordable option. Motorists's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under 45% more expensive than American Family. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay nearly 45% more with Motorists over American Family.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

American Family boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, American Family Insurance's average premiums are around $120 less than Motorists Insurance Group. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $81 less with American Family compared to Motorists. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $131 with American Family compared to Motorists.

American Family vs. Motorists Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Family and Motorists offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

American Family blows Motorists away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Motorists's 14.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, empty nester discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is American Family or Motorists the best fit for you?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Family and Motorists and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 several companies, not just American Family and Motorists. 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Family vs. Motorists FAQs

Is American Family or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American Family is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $140 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. However, American Family won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do American Family and Motorists offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Family and Motorists use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

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