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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American National offers significantly less expensive rates than Travelers
• American National offers more affordable average prices for residents of rural areas
• Travelers offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National vs. Travelers: 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 your search down to American National or Travelers as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Travelers is quite a bit more expensive than American National, with premiums averaging $167 per month compared to just $87 with American National.

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

So, if you want to find out which of American National or Travelers is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

American National or Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Travelers compete against each other in four 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 car insurance prices at Travelers.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Travelers.

But both companies will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for American National policyholders reduce over $100 and Travelers's premiums drop about $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between American National and Travelers? American National gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $66 a month compared to Travelers's $132.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's typically because married couples 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 rates about $85 a month less expensive than Travelers, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American National is also obvious, where drivers save more than $70 per month.

American National vs. Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Generally, men see rates around $1 a month higher with American National, and about $10 with Travelers.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $84 less for men and $74 cheaper for women.

American National or Travelers: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $52 compared to Travelers's $108. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month less expensive than Travelers, on average.

Is American National or Travelers 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.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is American National or Travelers cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Travelers typically raises premiums about $32 per month, on average.

That being said, American National has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $61 and $76 less expensive, respectively, compared to Travelers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Travelers climbing by $45. American National has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, American National offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $95 compared to Travelers's $173.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Travelers will increase your prices around 38% after a DUI, while American National's average rates rise by over 35%.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Travelers Rates?

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

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 more affordable prices.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American National or Travelers 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 substantial impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, American National offers cheaper prices than Travelers. Travelers average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $81 more expensive than American National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $77 more with Travelers over American National.

American National vs. Travelers: 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 big impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

American National tends to offer the lowest 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 carriers, but American National comes out on top with average premiums about $73 per month. American National also has more affordable average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $100 and $75 a month respective difference when compared to Travelers policyholders in similar areas.

American National vs. Travelers Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and 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 challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by American National and Travelers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Travelers blows American National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than American National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and mature driver discounts. Travelers also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, alternative fuel 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 and excess vehicle discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Travelers might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American National and Travelers and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just American National and Travelers. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Travelers FAQs

Is American National or Travelers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 per month compared to $167 for Travelers. But American National won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or Travelers?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do American National and Travelers offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where you park your vehicle, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and Travelers calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

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