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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers significantly more affordable rates than Electric
• American Select may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Electric Insurance Company
• American Select has less expensive premiums for drivers with a DUI

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American Select or Electric as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Electric has average rates that are around 35% a month more expensive than those from American Select.

That being said, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be more affordable than Electric for every driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select and Electric only compete against each other in one states, with American Select offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where American Select prices are $126 less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Electric.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. Usually, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 45% less per month by choosing American Select over Electric.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Electric offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American Select still has the most affordable rates at $165 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at American Select and Electric specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? American Select gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $42 more affordable than the national average for Electric.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married policyholders. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with American Select rates coming in at a third less than Electric's. The advantage for married couples with American Select is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 30% a month.

American Select or Electric: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will often charge women less than men.

On average, women see premiums about 1% per month less with American Select, and around 7% less with Electric when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, American Select offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average prices 38% less for men and 34% cheaper for women.

American Select vs. Electric: 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 a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits 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 their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, American Select has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums 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 about $251 a month to Electric's $383.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- American Select or Electric -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Electric policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 12%.

Even so, American Select tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $91 and $88 less expensive, respectively, compared to Electric Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through American Select can expect to see around an $41 -- or about 26% -- rise in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Electric for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $28 (or 12%) more expensive after reporting an accident 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 premiums coming in at $158 compared to Electric Insurance Company's $236.

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 auto insurance bill. On average, Electric will raise your prices about 46% after a DUI, while American Select's average rates rise by nearly 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, American Select tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $258 to Electric's $385.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Electric Rates?

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

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 more affordable rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices 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 Select or Electric 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, the more milage you put on your car each year, 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 American Select charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for Electric, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $33 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, American Select is the less expensive company.

American Select or Electric: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

American Select boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American Select's average rates are around $205 per month compared to Electric's $304. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $150 with American Select compared to $234 with Electric. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $156 per month with American Select compared to Electric's $262.

American Select vs. Electric 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Electric so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, American Select has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Electric offers a grand total of 17 discounts, while American Select has 20.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but American Select also offers discounts for account relationship, agency transfer, companion auto, and more.

On the other hand, Electric has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like COVID-19 relief discount, electric vehicle discounts, good driving discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is American Select or Electric the right one for you and your specific needs?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You have above-average credit.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Electric might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Electric and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just American Select and Electric. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Electric FAQs

Is American Select or Electric cheaper?

American Select is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $170 a month with American Select and $266 for Electric. But that doesn't mean American Select will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or Electric?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do American Select and Electric offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Electric calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't American Select or Electric 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.