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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, American National offers significantly more affordable prices than Southern
• American National offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Southern offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National vs. Southern: 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 huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering American National or Southern as your top options, but which carrier has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Southern has average rates that are about 75% per month more expensive than those from American National.

Even so, American National may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if American National or Southern 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 Southern: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But 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 more than $500 less a month by choosing American National over Southern.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American National policyholders drop over 60% and Southern's premiums reduce more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at American National and Southern specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 75% more affordable than the national average for Southern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married couples. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, 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 around $276 per month cheaper than Southern, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American National is also obvious, where drivers save almost 75% a month.

American National vs. Southern: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With American National, men normally pay about $1 per month more than women, while with Southern, the difference is closer to $36 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 74% less for men and 71% cheaper for women.

American National or Southern: 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 car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits 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 comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, American National generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $52 compared to Southern's $192. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $350 per month less expensive than Southern, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is American National or Southern cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

However, American National tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $149 and $149 more affordable, respectively, compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

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 Southern will see around a $75 increase.

Overall, drivers who use American National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $95 compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia's $293.

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 an accident or ticket. For example, Southern increases average prices by just under $350 a month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, American National tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $104 monthly compared to $548 from Southern.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Southern Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

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

Looking at American National and Southern specifically, which one has the best rates 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 Southern Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, American National tends to be the less expensive option. Southern average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $224 more expensive than American National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $245 more with Southern over American National.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

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

In urban areas, American National Insurance Company's average rates are about 73% less than Southern Insurance Company of Virginia. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 70% less with American National compared to Southern. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 76% with American National compared to Southern.

American National vs. Southern Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American National and Southern so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Southern blows American National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to American National's 14.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, group discounts, and new business discounts -- but Southern also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, experienced operator discounts, and more that American National does not.

On the flip side, American National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance companies 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, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Southern might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Southern offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American National and Southern and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just American National and Southern. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. 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. Southern FAQs

Is American National or Southern cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $87 per month compared to $322 for Southern. That being said, American National won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or Southern?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do American National and Southern offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American National and Southern calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American National or Southern 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.