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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American National offers significantly less expensive prices than State Auto
• American National tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• State Auto offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to American National or State Auto as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, American National has average rates that are about 65% per month less expensive than those from State Auto.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean American National will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use American National save more than $500 a month compared to those who use State Auto.

However, both companies will drop premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for American National policyholders decrease over 60% and State Auto's prices lower nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest car insurance premiums 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.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American National and State Auto? American National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $101 less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than single drivers. That's normally because married policyholders 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 single policyholders, with premiums around $222 per month less expensive than State Auto, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American National is also obvious, where drivers save more than $100 a month.

American National vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Men usually pay about 1% more per month than women with American National, while with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates $183 less for men and $160 cheaper for women.

American National or State 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $52 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month more affordable than State Auto, on average.

Is American National or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to 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 State Auto typically raises premiums about $48 per month, on average.

That being said, American National has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $103 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $134 per month with American National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through American National can expect to see around an $28 -- or about 29% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use State Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, American National offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $95 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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. For example, State Auto increases average prices by over $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, American National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $104 per month compared to $380 from State Auto.

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

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking specifically at American National and State Auto, which carrier has the cheapest rates 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 75% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $162 or 71% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $176 per month less with American National compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $206 monthly.

Is American National or State 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 rates. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, 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 State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for American National, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying around $9 less every 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. State Auto: 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 sizable impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

American National boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but American National comes out on top with average premiums about $73 a month. American National also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $213 and $151 a month respective difference when compared to State Auto policyholders in similar areas.

American National vs. State 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American National and State Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, State Auto comes out ahead with 18 discounts to American National's 14.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advantage program 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, excess vehicle discounts, group discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American National and State Auto. 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 multiple companies, not just American National and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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. State Auto FAQs

Is American National or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American National is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 per month compared to $259 for State Auto. However, American National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and State Auto use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American National or State 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.