American National vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, American National offers significantly more affordable rates than Main Street America
• American National tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Main Street America may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American National or Main Street America as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Main Street America is quite a bit more expensive than American National, with premiums averaging $227 a month compared to just $87 with American National.

However, American National may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American National vs. Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Main Street America only compete against each other in one states, with American National offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where American National prices are $107 less expensive than insurance premiums at Main Street America.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their auto insurance pay almost 60% less than those who use Main Street America.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American National still has the lowest prices at $74 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever see.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between American National and Main Street America? American National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 65% cheaper than the national average for Main Street America.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are normally more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with American National premiums coming in at around a third of Main Street America's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - American National offers the lowest average prices.

American National or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

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

With American National, men usually pay about 1% more per month than women., but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men normally pay around 3% a month less than women.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $136 per month and women save about $143 with American National compared to the average Main Street America policyholder.

American National vs. Main Street America: 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 terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National has the significant edge, with average monthly rates 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 around $123 a month to Main Street America's $295.

Is American National or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is American National or Main Street America cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American National for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 20% after getting a speeding ticket. Main Street America policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 26%.

That being said, American National has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $108 and $152 less expensive, respectively, compared to Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American National drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Main Street America will see about a 20% increase.

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 Main Street America Insurance's $215.

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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Main Street America will increase your premiums around 38% after a DUI, while American National's average rates rise by more than 35%.

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 about $104 to Main Street America's $283.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Main Street America Rates?

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

Auto 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.

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 solid credit, American National will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, American National comes in nearly 53.21 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 52% with American National compared to average rates from Main Street America.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower prices than Main Street America when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 52% per month less with American National compared to Main Street America, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 70% a month.

Is American National or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly premiums. That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, American National tends to be the less expensive option. American National average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $150 more affordable than Main Street America. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under $150 less with American National over Main Street America.

American National or Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, 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.

American National tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $73 per month with American National compared to Main Street America's $188. People in suburban areas pay a monthly price of around $85 with American National compared to $230 with Main Street America. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American National's average premiums are about $104 while Main Street America offers rates around $264.

American National vs. Main Street America Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by American National and Main Street America so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Main Street America has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. American National offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Main Street America has 18.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Main Street America also offers discounts for ABS, DRL, EFT, 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 Main Street America Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You live in an urban area.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Main Street America has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American National and Main Street America and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 carriers, not just American National and Main Street America. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is American National or Main Street America cheaper?

American National is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $87 a month with American National and $227 for Main Street America. But that doesn't mean American National will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, American National or Main Street America?

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

Why do American National and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and Main Street America calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if American National or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American National or Main Street America 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.