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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, American National offers significantly more affordable premiums than Trustgard Auto
• American National offers cheaper average rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly
• Trustgard Auto offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American National or Trustgard Auto as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, American National is quite a bit cheaper than Trustgard Auto, with prices averaging $87 per month compared to $137 with Trustgard Auto.

That being said, 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 where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American National and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in one states, with American National offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Tennessee has the most noticable difference, where American National rates are over 15% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Trustgard Auto.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. That's typically 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing American National over Trustgard Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for American National policyholders reduce over $100 and Trustgard Auto's rates lower nearly $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? American National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 30% less expensive than the national average for Trustgard Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $65 per month cheaper than Trustgard Auto, on average. The advantage for married drivers with American National is also obvious, where drivers save over 30% a month.

American National vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With American National, women generally pay around 1% per month less than men, and about 6% less with Trustgard Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, American National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $46 a month and men save around $54 with American National compared to the average Trustgard Auto policyholder.

American National or Trustgard 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

Even so, 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 what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National typically offers significantly more affordable premiums of $52 compared to Trustgard Auto's $79. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies about $75 per month cheaper than Trustgard Auto, on average.

Is American National or Trustgard Auto 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.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is American National or Trustgard Auto more affordable 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 Trustgard Auto generally raises premiums around $50 per month, on average.

However, American National has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $31 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $64 per month with American National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American National drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Trustgard Auto will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, drivers who use American National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $95 compared to Trustgard Auto Insurance's $133.

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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Trustgard Auto increases average rates by just under $75 a month -- that's just under a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, American National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $104 a month compared to $171 from Trustgard Auto.

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

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

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with American National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 55% compared to Trustgard Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $62 or 48% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower premiums than Trustgard Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $54 per month less with American National compared to Trustgard Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $23 monthly.

Is American National or Trustgard Auto 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 large impact on your monthly car insurance cost? Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Trustgard Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for American National, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $9 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, American National is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those 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 around $73 per month with American National compared to Trustgard Auto's $134. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $85 with American National compared to Trustgard Auto's $132 monthly. In urban areas, American National's average premiums are around $104 while Trustgard Auto offers rates about $147.

American National vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

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

Overall, Trustgard Auto comes out ahead with 16 discounts to American National's 14.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Trustgard Auto also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, company car 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, discounts for getting driver training, excess vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is American National or Trustgard Auto the right fit for you?

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Trustgard Auto offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American National and Trustgard Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 carriers, not just American National and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

American National vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is American National or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, American National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $87 a month compared to $137 for Trustgard Auto. Even so, American National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, American National or Trustgard Auto?

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

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

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like gender, where you park your vehicle, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American National and Trustgard 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 many different carriers.

How do I know if American National or Trustgard Auto 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 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 carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American National or Trustgard 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.