American Select vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Western Reserve Group offers more affordable rates than American Select
• American Select may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group offers more affordable premiums for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

American Select or Western Reserve Group: 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 might be considering American Select or Western Reserve Group as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, American Select is around $33 more a month than Western Reserve Group.

Even so, Western Reserve Group may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and tons of other factors, so prices could change drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of American Select or Western Reserve Group is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

American Select vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with American Select offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Indiana, American Select is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. Western Reserve Group is the more affordable option in Ohio.

But there's more to auto insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers determine your premiums. 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 generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay almost 15% less than those who use American Select.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Select policyholders reduce about $150 and Western Reserve Group's premiums lower nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at American Select and Western Reserve Group specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Western Reserve Group gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $29 cheaper than the national average for American Select.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Western Reserve Group rates coming in at around 20% less than American Select's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Western Reserve Group offers the lowest average premiums.

American Select or Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is normally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

With American Select, women usually pay about $1 per month less than men, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, women usually pay around $2 a month more than men.

Looking at overall affordability, Western Reserve Group comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 20% less for men and 19% cheaper for women.

American Select vs. Western Reserve Group: 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 pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, American Select has the edge, while Western Reserve Group offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $4 with American Select Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $70 more affordable with Western Reserve Group.

Is American Select or Western Reserve Group 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.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is American Select or Western Reserve Group cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use American Select for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Western Reserve Group policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 28%.

Even so, Western Reserve Group tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $29 and $27 less expensive, respectively, compared to American Select Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Western Reserve Group end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $120 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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, American Select increases average rates by nearly $150 per month -- that's nearly a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Western Reserve Group tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $218 to American Select's $258.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto 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 American Select and Western Reserve Group, which company has the cheapest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Western Reserve Group will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western Reserve Group comes in NaN less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 12% with Western Reserve Group compared to average prices from American Select.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower rates than American Select when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 18% a month less with Western Reserve Group compared to American Select, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 31% monthly.

Is American Select or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

American Select or Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Western Reserve Group tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $31 with Western Reserve Group compared to American Select. People who live in suburban areas pay around $11 less with Western Reserve Group compared to American Select. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western Reserve Group's average rates are about $58 less than American Select Insurance Company.

American Select vs. Western Reserve Group 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts American Select and Western Reserve Group 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 Western Reserve Group out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to Western Reserve Group'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, Western Reserve Group has a few proprietary discounts of their own like homeowner discounts and multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is American Select or Western Reserve Group the best fit for you?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

American Select might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (American Select offers the most).
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Western Reserve Group and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 companies, not just American Select and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is American Select or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Western Reserve Group is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $137 a month with Western Reserve Group and $170 for American Select. That being said, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do American Select and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things such as where you park your car, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Select and Western Reserve Group calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if American Select or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

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