Atlantic States vs. Dairyland: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Atlantic States offers significantly less expensive rates than Dairyland
• Atlantic States offers more affordable average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Dairyland offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Atlantic States vs. Dairyland: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Atlantic States or Dairyland, but between the two, which one has cheaper premiums for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Dairyland has average rates that are about 40% per month more expensive than those from Atlantic States.

Even so, Atlantic States may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Atlantic States and Dairyland by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Atlantic States or Dairyland: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and Dairyland only compete against each other in two states, with Atlantic States offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Delaware has the most noticable difference, where Atlantic States prices are over 70% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Dairyland.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Atlantic States save nearly $250 a month compared to those who use Dairyland.

But both companies will drop prices by the time you turn 25. Dairyland offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Atlantic States still has the lowest premiums at $159 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Atlantic States and Dairyland specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Atlantic States gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 40% less expensive than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Atlantic States is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $110 per month less expensive than Dairyland, on average. The advantage for married couples with Atlantic States is also obvious, where drivers save almost 40% a month.

Atlantic States vs. Dairyland: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

On average, women see rates nearly $15 per month cheaper with Atlantic States, and about $10 less with Dairyland.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Atlantic States comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 36% less for men and 39% cheaper for women.

Atlantic States or 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Atlantic States typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $85 compared to Dairyland's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Atlantic States again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than Dairyland, on average.

Is Atlantic States or Dairyland Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Atlantic States or Dairyland cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Atlantic States policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $6 per month if they get a ticket, while Dairyland generally raises prices about $40 a month, on average.

However, Atlantic States has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $109 and $143 cheaper, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Atlantic States can expect to see around an $37 -- or about 24% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Dairyland for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $72 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, Atlantic States offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $153 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Atlantic States will climb your rates about 54% after a DUI, while Dairyland's average premiums climb by 5%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Dairyland tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $236 per month compared to $250 from Atlantic States.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and Dairyland Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking at Atlantic States and Dairyland specifically, which carrier has the cheapest premiums 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 Atlantic States 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 your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Dairyland charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Atlantic States, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $18 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Atlantic States is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Atlantic States vs. Dairyland: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Atlantic States tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Atlantic States offers prices about $205 monthly compared to Dairyland's $314. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $143 per month for Atlantic States and $251 for Dairyland. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $133 and $203 for Atlantic States and Dairyland respectively.

Atlantic States vs. Dairyland Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Atlantic States 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.

Atlantic States blows Dairyland away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 different discounts to Dairyland's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Atlantic States also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, family discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

On the flip side, Dairyland has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or Dairyland Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• Your credit score is high.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Atlantic States and Dairyland. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 companies, not just Atlantic States and Dairyland. 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 the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Atlantic States vs. Dairyland FAQs

Is Atlantic States or Dairyland cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Atlantic States is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $160 a month compared to $256 for Dairyland. Even so, Atlantic States won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Atlantic States or Dairyland?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Dairyland offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Atlantic States is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Atlantic States and Dairyland offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Atlantic States and Dairyland calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Atlantic States or Dairyland is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Atlantic States or Dairyland at all!

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.