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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Partners Mutual offers more affordable prices than American Family
• American Family has less expensive premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Partners Mutual offers more affordable average prices for couples purchasing insurance together

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to American Family or Partners Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, American Family has average rates that are about 12% per month more expensive than those from Partners Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Partners Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than American Family for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your credit score, your driving record, or even where you call home (among other things), so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

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

American Family or Partners Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Partners Mutual only compete against each other in Iowa, where American Family offers the cheaper average rates. For Iowa residents, American Family offers insurance for $114 a month on average. Partners Mutual's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $123 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group on the road. Typically, 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 that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Partners Mutual for their car insurance pay nearly $70 less than those who use American Family. It's worth noting that American Family offers auto insurance in 16 different states compared to Partners Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for American Family policyholders lower almost $200 and Partners Mutual's rates reduce around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at American Family and Partners Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Partners Mutual gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older about 7% less expensive than the national average for American Family.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover multiple cars, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $28 a month cheaper than American Family, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Partners Mutual offers the lowest average premiums , but the difference is less than $5.

American Family vs. Partners Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

With American Family, women generally pay about 3% per month less than men, and around 6% less with Partners Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Partners Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $16 a month and women save about $19 with Partners Mutual compared to the average American Family policyholder.

American Family or Partners Mutual: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

In this case, Partners Mutual offers the cheapest average prices for state minimum 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 $45 with Partners Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $10 less expensive with American Family Insurance.

Is American Family or Partners Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is American Family or Partners Mutual more affordable for 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 Partners Mutual typically raises prices about $16 a month, on average.

Even so, Partners Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 33% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 35% 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 around an $20 -- or about 14% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Partners Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $36 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Partners Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $115 compared to American Family Insurance's $138.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Partners Mutual drivers usually see a 61% increase in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will usually climb premiums by about 25%.

American Family has the overall lowest prices 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 one for Partners Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Partners Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the most affordable premiums 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 Partners Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to American Family, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $12 or 10% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Partners Mutual typically offers lower rates than American Family when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $15 per month less with Partners Mutual compared to American Family, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $35 per month.

Is American Family or Partners Mutual 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 insurance payment. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Partners Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for American Family, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying about $5 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Partners Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Partners Mutual usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Partners Mutual Insurance's average prices are around $23 less than American Family Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $26 less with Partners Mutual compared to American Family. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $3 with Partners Mutual compared to American Family.

American Family vs. Partners Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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're eligible for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American Family and Partners Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

American Family blows Partners Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Partners Mutual.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and group discounts -- but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, defensive driver discounts, and more that Partners Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Partners Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or Partners Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Partners Mutual might be best for you if....

• You live in one of the following states: Iowa.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

American Family might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Family and Partners Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just American Family and Partners Mutual. 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 carriers in your area, all for free.

American Family vs. Partners Mutual FAQs

Is American Family or Partners Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Partners Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $123 a month compared to $140 for American Family. However, Partners Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Partners Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, American Family offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Partners Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do American Family and Partners Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Family and Partners Mutual 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 many different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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 best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Family or Partners Mutual 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.