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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, American Select offers significantly cheaper premiums than Dairyland
• American Select offers less expensive average rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Dairyland tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI

American Select or Dairyland: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to American Select or Dairyland as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Dairyland is quite a bit more expensive than American Select, with prices averaging $256 a month compared to just $170 with American Select.

However, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be cheaper than Dairyland for each driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if American Select or Dairyland 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. Dairyland: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Dairyland only compete against each other in one states, with American Select offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American Select rates are $114 less expensive than car insurance prices at Dairyland.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American Select for their insurance pay over 40% less than those who use Dairyland.

That being said, both companies will drop prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for American Select policyholders decrease more than 45% and Dairyland's rates reduce over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at American Select and Dairyland specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American Select gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $136 a month compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with American Select rates coming in at a third less than Dairyland's. The advantage for married drivers with American Select is also obvious, where drivers save almost 30% per month.

American Select or Dairyland: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

With American Select, women normally pay about 1% a month less than men, and around 4% less with Dairyland.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, American Select comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $90 per month and women save about $81 with American Select compared to the average Dairyland policyholder.

American Select vs. Dairyland: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, American Select has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $90. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies averaging around $251 a month to Dairyland's $370.

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

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- American Select or Dairyland -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Dairyland policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 15%.

Even so, American Select has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories. With American Select Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save about $108 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $116 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through American Select can expect to see about an $41 -- or around 26% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Dairyland for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $72 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use American Select end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $158 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, American Select will increase your rates around 55% after a DUI, while Dairyland's average premiums rise by 5%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Dairyland tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $236 to American Select's $258.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Dairyland Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

Car 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, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Dairyland and American Select, which company has the best prices 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 Select or Dairyland Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither American Select or Dairyland report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, American Select comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $170 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, American Select normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $47 with American Select compared to Dairyland. People who live in suburban areas pay about $101 less with American Select compared to Dairyland. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American Select Insurance Company's average premiums are around $109 less than Dairyland.

American Select vs. Dairyland Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both American Select and Dairyland 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 Dairyland out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to Dairyland's 11.

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

On the other hand, Dairyland has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like homeowner discounts, multi-car discounts, and travelink discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is American Select or Dairyland the right one for you and your specific needs?

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

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You have a short commute.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Select and Dairyland. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 a handful of carriers, not just American Select and Dairyland. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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 Select vs. Dairyland FAQs

Is American Select or Dairyland cheaper?

American Select is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $170 a month with American Select and $256 for Dairyland. That being said, that doesn't mean American Select will be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Dairyland?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, American Select is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Dairyland offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do American Select and Dairyland offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables like your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Dairyland use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if American Select or Dairyland is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Select or Dairyland 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.