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

Quick Facts

• In general, American National offers significantly cheaper rates than Safe Auto
• American National has more affordable prices for residents of rural areas
• American National tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing auto insurance together

American National vs. Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to American National or Safe Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Safe Auto is quite a bit more expensive than American National, with premiums averaging $223 per month compared to just $87 with American National.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean American National will be the less expensive option for every driver. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

American National or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Safe Auto only compete against each other in three states, with American National offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where American National premiums are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance prices at Safe Auto.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just your home state. 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 normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $250 less a month by choosing American National over Safe Auto.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for American National policyholders decrease more than 60% and Safe Auto's rates lower over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

When looking at American National and Safe Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $113 cheaper than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically less expensive for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $154 per month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with American National is also obvious, where drivers save more than $100 a month.

American National vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Women usually pay around $1 per month less than men with American National, while with Safe Auto, the difference is closer to $17 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, American National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $143 per month and women save about $127 with American National compared to the average Safe Auto policyholder.

American National or Safe Auto: 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.

It's no secret that 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.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers 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 coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, American National typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $52 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $200 a month more affordable than Safe Auto, on average.

Is American National or Safe Auto 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 collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- American National or Safe Auto -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $17 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto normally raises prices about $40 a month, on average.

However, American National has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $113 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $136 a month with American National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Safe Auto increasing by over $65. American National has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay just under $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from American National, with monthly rates averaging $95 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Safe Auto drivers usually see a 27% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while American National will usually increase rates by around 36%.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Safe Auto Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance prices. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking specifically at Safe Auto and American National, which one has the lowest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American National or Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, those who drive less 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 Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for American National, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $9 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, American National is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

American National vs. Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly insurance cost. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

American National tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but American National comes out on top with average premiums around $73 per month. American National also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 62% and 57% per month respective difference when compared to Safe Auto policyholders in similar areas.

American National vs. Safe Auto 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.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult 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.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American National and Safe Auto so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Both companies offer excellent discounts like anti-theft discounts, claim free discounts, and discounts for getting driver training.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You have above-average credit.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American National and Safe Auto 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 companies, not just American National and Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is American National or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. But American National won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do American National and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables like age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American National and Safe Auto calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if American National or Safe Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American National or Safe Auto 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.