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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Family offers less expensive prices than Rockford Mutual
• American Family may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company
• Rockford Mutual offers more affordable average premiums for residents of suburban areas

American Family or Rockford Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Family or Rockford Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, American Family is around $29 a month cheaper than Rockford Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean American Family will be the more affordable option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of American Family or Rockford Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

American Family vs. Rockford Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Rockford Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with American Family offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where American Family prices are $40 cheaper than insurance premiums at Rockford Mutual.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. Generally, that's because teen 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. As you can see above, teens who use American Family save over 25% per month compared to those who use Rockford Mutual. It's worth noting that American Family offers car insurance in 16 different states compared to Rockford Mutual's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Family policyholders lower about $200 and Rockford Mutual's premiums drop almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? American Family gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $107 per month compared to Rockford Mutual's $118.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one vehicle, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with American Family premiums coming in at a quarter less than Rockford Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - American Family offers the lowest average rates.

American Family or Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into collisions. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

On average, women see prices about $5 a month more affordable with American Family, and around $15 with Rockford Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, American Family comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $23 per month and men save about $34 with American Family compared to the average Rockford Mutual policyholder.

American Family vs. Rockford 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Rockford Mutual has the edge, while American Family offers the most affordable average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be around $65 less expensive with American Family Insurance.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use American Family for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 20% after getting a speeding ticket. Rockford Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 29%.

That being said, American Family is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With American Family Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $2 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $23 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Family policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Rockford Mutual will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from American Family, with average rates coming in at $138 compared to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's $158.

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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Rockford Mutual will increase your premiums around 48% after a DUI, while American Family's average prices climb by more than 25%.

American Family has the overall most affordable 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 Rockford Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

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

The reasoning car 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 less expensive prices.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, American Family will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, American Family comes in over 25.93 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 15% with American Family compared to average prices from Rockford Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American Family typically offers lower premiums than Rockford Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 18% a month less with American Family compared to Rockford Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 12% a month.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. That's because the fewer miles you drive, 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 Rockford Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for American Family, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, American Family is the less expensive carrier.

American Family or Rockford Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, American Family generally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Rockford Mutual wins in suburban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American Family Insurance's average rates are about 29% less than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around 2% less with Rockford Mutual compared to American Family. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 16% with American Family compared to Rockford Mutual.

American Family vs. Rockford Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts American Family and Rockford Mutual 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 knocks Rockford Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Rockford Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but American Family also offers discounts for advance quote, connect partner, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, Rockford Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a good driving discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Rockford Mutual might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Family and Rockford Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just American Family and Rockford Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is American Family or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

American Family is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $140 per month with American Family and $169 for Rockford Mutual. But that doesn't mean American Family will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are many different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Rockford Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

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

Insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like age, your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Family and Rockford Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Family or Rockford Mutual 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.