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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, American National offers significantly cheaper prices than California Casualty
• American National offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• American National tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in the suburbs

American National vs. California Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering 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've maybe even narrowed it down to American National or California Casualty for your next policy, but which carrier has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, American National is quite a bit cheaper than California Casualty, with prices averaging $87 per month compared to $201 with California Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, American National may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both American National and California Casualty by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

American National or California Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and California Casualty only compete against each other in one states, with American National offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Colorado has the most noticable difference, where American National rates are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance prices at California Casualty.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group out there on the road. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $250 less a month by choosing American National over California Casualty.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for American National policyholders decrease more than 60% and California Casualty's prices drop almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at American National and California Casualty specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 55% more affordable than the national average for California Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover more than one car, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $127 per month less expensive than California Casualty, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American National is also obvious, where drivers save around 60% a month.

American National vs. California Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men usually pay about $1 per month more than women with American National, and around $16 more with California Casualty.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, American National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $106 a month and men save about $121 with American National compared to the average California Casualty policyholder.

American National or California Casualty: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard 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 injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $52 compared to California Casualty's $122. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month cheaper than California Casualty, on average.

Is American National or California Casualty 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- American National or California Casualty -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $17 a month if they get a ticket, while California Casualty typically raises prices about $33 per month, on average.

Even so, American National has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $70 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $86 per month with American National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American National drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through California Casualty will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, drivers who use American National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $95 compared to California Casualty's $198.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. On average, California Casualty will raise your rates about 54% after a DUI, while American National's average prices increase by over 35%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, American National tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $104 per month compared to $300 from California Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and California Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many policyholders.

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

Looking at American National and California Casualty specifically, which company has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with American National. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 65% compared to California Casualty, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $108 or 62% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower prices than California Casualty when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $124 a month less with American National compared to California Casualty, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $138 monthly.

Is American National or California Casualty Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly premiums? Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, American National tends to be the cheaper option. California Casualty's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $100 more expensive than American National. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $100 more with California Casualty over American National.

American National vs. California Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

American National boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but American National comes out on top with average rates about $73 a month. American National also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 52% and 62% per month respective difference when compared to California Casualty drivers in similar areas.

American National vs. California Casualty Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American National and California Casualty so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

They both offer great discounts like discounts for being a good student, mature driver discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or California Casualty Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

California Casualty might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American National and California Casualty 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just American National and California Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. California Casualty FAQs

Is American National or California Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, American National is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 a month compared to $201 for California Casualty. However, American National won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or California Casualty?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do American National and California Casualty offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American National and California Casualty use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if American National or California Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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, 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 insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American National or California Casualty 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.