American Family vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Western Reserve Group offers slightly more affordable rates than American Family
• American Family has less expensive prices for residents of rural areas
• Western Reserve Group offers cheaper average rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

American Family vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

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

Looking at nationwide averages, Western Reserve Group is about $3 per month more affordable than American Family.

However, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be cheaper than American Family for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both American Family and Western Reserve Group by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

American Family or Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with American Family offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where American Family prices are over 30% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Western Reserve Group.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. It's usually 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay nearly $50 less than those who use American Family. It's worth noting that American Family offers insurance in 16 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Family policyholders decrease more than 60% and Western Reserve Group's prices lower almost 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? American Family gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $107 per month compared to Western Reserve Group's $107. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Western Reserve Group is the winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $9 a month more affordable than American Family, on average.

American Family vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Typically, men see rates around 3% per month higher with American Family, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men typically pay about 1% a month less than women.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Western Reserve Group is the cheapest company for men. Rates with Western Reserve Group are $7 less for men, while women can save around $0 with American Family.

American Family or Western Reserve Group: 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.

But the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Western Reserve Group generally offers slightly less expensive prices of $94 compared to American Family's $96. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies about $5 per month cheaper than American Family, on average.

Is American Family or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $29 a month if they get a ticket, while Western Reserve Group typically raises rates around $34 per month, on average.

That being said, Western Reserve Group is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 25% and 17% less expensive, respectively, compared to American Family Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Family drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Western Reserve Group, with monthly premiums averaging $120 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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. Western Reserve Group drivers usually see a 60% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will typically raise premiums by around 25%.

American Family has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $158 a month, but it's worth noting that American Family's average rates come from 16 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Western Reserve Group Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at American Family and Western Reserve Group specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with American Family for an "excellent" credit score. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 3% compared to Western Reserve Group, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Western Reserve Group -- about $3 or 3% cheaper than American Family every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower rates than American Family when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $2 a month less with Western Reserve Group compared to American Family, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $12 monthly.

Is American Family or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, 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 Western Reserve Group charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for American Family, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Western Reserve Group is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

American Family vs. Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, American Family usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Western Reserve Group wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $121 per month with American Family and $125 with Western Reserve Group. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $134 with American Family compared to $139 with Western Reserve Group. In urban areas, Western Reserve Group's average prices are about $147 while American Family offers rates around $166.

American Family vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Family and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

American Family knocks Western Reserve Group out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Western Reserve Group's 11.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, DRL discounts, and more that Western Reserve Group does not.

On the flip side, Western Reserve Group has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts and company car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You're looking for the best rates in IN and OH.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

American Family might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Western Reserve Group is only available in IN and OH.
• You're looking for discounts -- American Family has the most.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Family and Western Reserve Group and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

American Family vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is American Family or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Western Reserve Group is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $137 per month compared to $140 for American Family. However, Western Reserve Group won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, American Family or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Western Reserve Group offers cheaper premiums for single drivers, while American Family is less expensive for drivers who have already retired.

Why do American Family and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like age, gender, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Family and Western Reserve Group calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if American Family or Western Reserve Group 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Family or Western Reserve Group 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.