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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, West Bend Mutual offers slightly more affordable prices than American Family
• American Family offers less expensive average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable premiums for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Family or West Bend Mutual, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, West Bend Mutual is about $9 per month more affordable than American Family.

Even so, West Bend Mutual may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both American Family and West Bend Mutual by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

American Family or West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with West Bend Mutual offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Iowa, West Bend Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. American Family is the more affordable option in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment 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?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. Typically, 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.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $15 less a month by choosing American Family over West Bend Mutual. It's worth noting that American Family offers car insurance in 16 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for American Family policyholders decrease over 60% and West Bend Mutual's prices reduce more than 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at American Family and West Bend Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $92 a month compared to American Family's $107.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single policyholders, with rates only differing about $4 per month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - West Bend Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

American Family vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will often charge men more than women.

With American Family, women usually pay around 3% a month less than men, and about 12% less with West Bend Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, West Bend Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $4 less for men and $15 cheaper for women.

American Family or West Bend 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 so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

In this case, West Bend Mutual offers the cheapest average prices for state minimum liability limits, while American Family has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with West Bend Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $1 cheaper with American Family Insurance.

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

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- American Family or West Bend Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while West Bend Mutual typically raises prices about $25 a month, on average.

Even so, West Bend Mutual is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $34 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $38 a month with West Bend Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Family policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see around a 50% increase.

Overall, drivers who use American Family end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $138 compared to West Bend Mutual Insurance's $163.

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 speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual drivers usually see a 50% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will normally climb rates by about 25%.

American Family has the overall most affordable premiums 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 three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

Auto insurance companies 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 cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with West Bend Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 3% compared to American Family, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $5 or 4% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower prices than American Family when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $8 per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to American Family, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $21 per month.

Is American Family or West Bend 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 how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much West Bend Mutual 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 every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, West Bend Mutual is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

West Bend Mutual boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but West Bend Mutual comes out on top with average premiums around $113 a month. West Bend Mutual also has cheaper average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $8 and $12 a month respective difference when compared to American Family policyholders in similar areas.

American Family vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American Family and West Bend Mutual so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, American Family comes out ahead with 21 discounts to West Bend Mutual's 16.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but American Family also offers advance quote discounts, connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that West Bend Mutual does not.

On the flip side, West Bend Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is American Family or West Bend Mutual the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year.

American Family might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- West Bend Mutual Insurance is only available in three states.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Family and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just American Family and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

American Family vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is American Family or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, West Bend Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $131 per month compared to $140 for American Family. However, West Bend Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, 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 West Bend Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, American Family offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while West Bend Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do American Family and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like gender, your driving record, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Family and West Bend Mutual calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code 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 best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Family or West Bend 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.