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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Trustgard Auto offers more affordable prices than American Select
• American Select may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Trustgard Auto Insurance
• Trustgard Auto offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have below-average credit

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

So, you're thinking about switching to 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 might have narrowed your search down to American Select or Trustgard Auto, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Trustgard Auto is around $33 a month less expensive than American Select when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Trustgard Auto will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of American Select or Trustgard Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

American Select vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Trustgard Auto offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Trustgard Auto rates are $7 cheaper than insurance prices at American Select.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It'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.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 15% less per month by choosing American Select over Trustgard Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders reduce more than 45% and Trustgard Auto's premiums decrease almost 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $96 per month compared to American Select's $136.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Trustgard Auto rates coming in at around 10% less than American Select's. The advantage for married couples with Trustgard Auto is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 35% a month.

American Select or Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Men typically pay about $1 per month more than women with American Select, and around $9 more with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Trustgard Auto comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 17% less for men and 22% cheaper for women.

American Select vs. 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Trustgard Auto has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging about $196 a month to American Select's $251.

Is American Select or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Trustgard Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 34%.

However, Trustgard Auto is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records. With Trustgard Auto Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save around $19 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $1 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with American Select climbing by around 26%. Trustgard Auto has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from Trustgard Auto, with average premiums coming in at $133 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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. American Select drivers usually see a 55% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Trustgard Auto will generally climb prices by about 43%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Trustgard Auto tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $171 to American Select's $258.

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

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

Auto 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 carrier offers the best 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 Select or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither American Select or Trustgard Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Trustgard Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average rates of $137 per month for both.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

Trustgard Auto tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Trustgard Auto's average prices are about $147 a month compared to American Select's $205. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to American Select's $150 a month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $134 monthly with Trustgard Auto compared to American Select's $156.

American Select vs. Trustgard Auto 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

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

Overall, American Select comes out ahead with 20 discounts to Trustgard Auto's 16.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like company car discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and group discounts -- but American Select also offers discounts for ABS, account relationship, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Trustgard Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, education discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

American Select might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Select and Trustgard Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just American Select and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is American Select or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Trustgard Auto is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $137 per month with Trustgard Auto and $170 for American Select. Even so, that doesn't mean Trustgard Auto will be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Trustgard Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, American Select is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Trustgard Auto offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

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

Car insurance companies use many different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things like where you live, where your home is, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Trustgard Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Select or Trustgard Auto 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.