American Select vs. Buckeye: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Buckeye offers significantly more affordable premiums than American Select
• American Select offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI
• Buckeye has cheaper prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

American Select or Buckeye: 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 hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Select or Buckeye for your next policy, but between the two, which one has less expensive rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Buckeye is around $38 a month cheaper than American Select.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Buckeye will be the less expensive option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select vs. Buckeye: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Buckeye only compete against each other in two states, with American Select offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where American Select prices are $15 less expensive than insurance premiums at Buckeye.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Buckeye for their car insurance pay over 15% less than those who use American Select.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Buckeye offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. American Select's average premiums drop more than 45% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance prices you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between American Select and Buckeye? Buckeye gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 25% cheaper than the national average for American Select.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable insurance premiums than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Buckeye rates coming in at a quarter less than American Select's. The advantage for married couples with Buckeye is also obvious, where drivers save about $35 per month.

American Select or Buckeye: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

On average, men see premiums around $1 a month higher with American Select, and about $15 more with Buckeye.

Looking at overall affordability, Buckeye comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $45 per month and men save around $31 with Buckeye compared to the average American Select policyholder.

American Select vs. Buckeye: 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Buckeye has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $73. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies averaging about $191 a month to American Select's $251.

Is American Select or Buckeye Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is American Select or Buckeye less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Buckeye policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 7%.

However, Buckeye has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories. With Buckeye Insurance Group, drivers with a clean record can save around $36 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $62 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by over $40, while those who have insurance through Buckeye will see around a $15 increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Buckeye, with average prices coming in at $98 compared to American Select Insurance Company's $158.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Buckeye will climb your premiums about 69% after a DUI, while American Select's average prices rise by nearly 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, American Select tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $258 to Buckeye's $263.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Buckeye Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Car insurance carriers 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.

Looking at American Select and Buckeye specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Buckeye will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Buckeye comes in just under 19.63 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 29% with Buckeye compared to average rates from American Select.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Buckeye typically offers lower premiums than American Select when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 28% per month less with Buckeye compared to American Select, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 17% per month.

Is American Select or Buckeye 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 rates? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither American Select or Buckeye report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Buckeye comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average premiums of $132 a month for both.

American Select or Buckeye: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Buckeye tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while American Select wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Buckeye's average rates are around $131 while American Select offers prices about $205. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $150 with American Select compared to Buckeye's $159 a month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $107 monthly with Buckeye compared to American Select's $156.

American Select vs. Buckeye Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts American Select and Buckeye offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

American Select knocks Buckeye out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Buckeye.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but American Select also offers discounts for ABS, account relationship, advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, Buckeye has a proprietary discount of their own -- a good driving discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Buckeye Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

American Select might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in an suburban area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Buckeye. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just American Select and Buckeye. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Buckeye FAQs

Is American Select or Buckeye cheaper?

Buckeye is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $132 per month with Buckeye and $170 for American Select. Even so, that doesn't mean Buckeye will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, American Select or Buckeye?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Buckeye is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while American Select offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do American Select and Buckeye offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables like gender, your driving record, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Select and Buckeye use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if American Select or Buckeye 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Select or Buckeye at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.