Auto-owners vs. Country Financial: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Country Financial offers significantly cheaper premiums than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners offers more discounts than COUNTRY Financial
• Country Financial offers more affordable average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Auto-owners vs. Country Financial: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Auto-owners or Country Financial, but between the two, which company has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Country Financial is about $41 per month cheaper than Auto-owners.

Even so, that doesn't mean Country Financial will necessarily be more affordable than Auto-owners for every driver. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Auto-owners or Country Financial is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Auto-owners or Country Financial: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Country Financial compete against each other in five states, with Country Financial offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Georgia or Minnesota, Auto-owners is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Country Financial is the less expensive option in Alabama, Arizona, and Illinois.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Country Financial save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Auto-owners.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Auto-owners policyholders decrease almost 60% and Country Financial's prices drop more than 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever see.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Auto-owners and Country Financial? Country Financial gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $28 cheaper than the national average for Auto-owners.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Country Financial is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $51 per month less expensive than Auto-owners, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Country Financial has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Auto-owners vs. Country Financial: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions. That means when it comes to insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see prices over $10 a month higher with Auto-owners, and about $3 with Country Financial.

Looking at overall affordability, Country Financial comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 24% less for men and 21% cheaper for women.

Auto-owners or Country Financial: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Country Financial typically offers cheaper prices of $82 compared to Auto-owners's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Country Financial again has the edge, with policies around $65 per month less expensive than Auto-owners, on average.

Is Auto-owners or Country Financial Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Auto-owners policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $44 a month if they get a ticket, while Country Financial usually raises prices about $31 per month, on average.

However, Country Financial tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $16 and $29 cheaper, respectively, compared to Auto-Owners Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Auto-owners can expect to see around an $47 -- or about 28% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Country Financial for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $42 (or 29%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Country Financial end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $147 compared to Auto-Owners Insurance's $168.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Auto-owners will increase your prices about 54% after a DUI, while Country Financial's average rates increase by over 35%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Country Financial tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $165 per month compared to $264 from Auto-owners.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Country Financial Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for many drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Auto-owners for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 20% compared to Country Financial, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Country Financial -- around $8 or 6% cheaper than Auto-owners every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower prices than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $49 a month less with Country Financial compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $129 a month.

Is Auto-owners or Country Financial Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

Country Financial tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Country Financial's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 25% less expensive than Auto-owners. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under 25% less with Country Financial over Auto-owners.

Auto-owners vs. Country Financial: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Usually, 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.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Country Financial typically comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but Country Financial comes out on top with average premiums about $109 monthly. Country Financial also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 15% and 22% per month respective difference when compared to Auto-owners policyholders in similar areas.

Auto-owners vs. Country Financial Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Auto-owners and Country Financial so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Auto-owners blows Country Financial away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than Country Financial.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Auto-owners also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, company car discounts, and more that Country Financial does not.

On the flip side, Country Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- occupation discounts, simply drive discounts, and telematics discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Country Financial Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Auto-owners might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- COUNTRY Financial only offers policies in seven states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Auto-owners has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Auto-owners and Country Financial 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Auto-owners and Country Financial. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Country Financial FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Country Financial cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Country Financial is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $138 a month compared to $179 for Auto-owners. That being said, Country Financial won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Country Financial?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Country Financial offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Auto-owners is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Auto-owners and Country Financial offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things like where you park your vehicle, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and Country Financial calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Country Financial 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Auto-owners or Country Financial 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.