American National vs. American Select: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, American National offers significantly less expensive premiums than American Select
• American National tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in urban areas
• American Select may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National or American Select: 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 big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American National or American Select as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, American National is quite a bit cheaper than American Select, with prices averaging $87 a month compared to $170 with American Select.

But that doesn't mean American National will necessarily be cheaper than American Select for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

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

American National vs. American Select: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and American Select only compete against each other in two states, with American National offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American National premiums are $47 more affordable than auto insurance rates at American Select.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group out there on the road. It's generally 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their car insurance pay over 35% less than those who use American Select.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American National policyholders drop more than 60% and American Select's premiums lower over 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the cheapest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? American National gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $66 a month compared to American Select's $136.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with American National rates coming in at about half of American Select's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - American National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

American National or American Select: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see premiums around $1 per month higher with American National, but with American Select, the difference is closer to $1 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, American National comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $83 less for men and $83 cheaper for women.

American National vs. American Select: 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. There are a variety of different coverages that account for many 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.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, American National has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $52. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $123 per month to American Select's $251.

Is American National or American Select Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American National for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 20% after getting a speeding ticket. American Select policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 21%.

However, American National tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With American National Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save around $50 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $65 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with American Select increasing by around 26%. American National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 30% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use American National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $95 compared to American Select 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. American Select drivers usually see a 55% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while American National will typically raise premiums by about 36%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, American National tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $104 to American Select's $258.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and American Select Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. 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 quite a few drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at American National and American Select specifically, which one has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, American National will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, American National comes in more than 52.34 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 50% with American National compared to average premiums from American Select.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower prices than American Select when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 49% a month less with American National compared to American Select, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 46% per month.

Is American National or American Select 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 car insurance cost. Typically, the more milage you drive, 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 American Select charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for American National, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying around $9 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, American National is the less expensive company.

American National or American Select: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, American National normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American National Insurance Company's average prices are about 49% less than American Select Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around 43% less with American National compared to American Select. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 53% with American National compared to American Select.

American National vs. American Select 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both American National and American Select 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 Select blows American National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to American National's 14.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but American Select also offers discounts for ABS, account relationship, advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, American National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, excess vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or American Select Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You live in a rural area.

American Select might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- American Select has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American National and American Select. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just American National and American Select. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

American National vs. American Select FAQs

Is American National or American Select cheaper?

American National is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $87 per month with American National and $170 for American Select. That being said, that doesn't mean American National will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, American National or American Select?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do American National and American Select offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American National and American Select use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if American National or American Select 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 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. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't American National or American Select 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.