Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Auto-owners offers slightly more affordable rates than Farmers Union
• Auto-owners offers cheaper average prices for residents of urban areas
• Farmers Union offers more affordable premiums for residents in Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, and Utah

Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union: 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 it down to Auto-owners or Farmers Union for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, Auto-owners is about $10 per month more affordable than Farmers Union when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But Auto-owners may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies 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 all sorts of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Auto-owners and Farmers Union by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Auto-owners or Farmers Union: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Farmers Union compete against each other in four states, with Farmers Union offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Minnesota, Auto-owners is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Farmers Union is the more affordable option in Colorado, Kansas, and Utah.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farmers Union for their insurance pay nearly $20 less than those who use Auto-owners.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Auto-owners policyholders decrease almost 60% and Farmers Union's premiums drop nearly 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Auto-owners and Farmers Union specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Auto-owners gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $133 a month compared to Farmers Union's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are generally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with premiums only differing about $5 a month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Auto-owners offers the lowest average rates.

Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see premiums around 6% per month less with Auto-owners, and about 6% less with Farmers Union.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Auto-owners offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $10 a month and men save around $10 with Auto-owners compared to the average Farmers Union policyholder.

Auto-owners or Farmers Union: 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 limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, the 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 passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Auto-owners usually offers slightly cheaper prices of $99 compared to Farmers Union's $107. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Auto-owners again has the edge, with policies about $10 per month more affordable than Farmers Union, on average.

Is Auto-owners or Farmers Union Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great premiums 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 tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Auto-owners or Farmers Union -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Auto-owners policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $44 a month if they get a ticket, while Farmers Union typically raises prices around $50 per month, on average.

However, Auto-owners is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 12% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 12% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Auto-owners can expect to see about an $47 -- or around 28% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Farmers Union for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $69 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Auto-owners end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $168 compared to Farmers Union Insurance's $207.

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 auto insurance bill. For example, Auto-owners increases average rates by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Farmers Union tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $225 per month compared to $264 from Auto-owners.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Farmers Union Rates?

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

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 lowest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Auto-owners. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 35% compared to Farmers Union, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $35 or 21% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $14 less with Auto-owners than Farmers Union, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $56 per month with Farmers Union.

Is Auto-owners or Farmers Union 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 car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle 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 Farmers Union charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Auto-owners, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Auto-owners is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Auto-owners generally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but Auto-owners comes out on top with average rates around $164 monthly. Auto-owners also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 9% and 2% a month respective difference when compared to Farmers Union policyholders in similar areas.

Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union 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. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Auto-owners and Farmers Union so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Auto-owners knocks Farmers Union out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Farmers Union.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, group discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Auto-owners also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Farmers Union does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Union has a unique discount of its own -- a farm discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Farmers Union Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Auto-owners or Farmers Union the best fit for you?

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

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums rise.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Farmers Union might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in CO, KS, MN, and UT.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Auto-owners and Farmers Union and that you can now make a more informed 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 multiple companies, not just Auto-owners and Farmers Union. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Auto-owners vs. Farmers Union FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Farmers Union cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Auto-owners is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $179 per month compared to $189 for Farmers Union. That being said, Auto-owners won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Farmers Union?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Auto-owners offers cheaper premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Farmers Union is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Auto-owners and Farmers Union offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and Farmers Union use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Farmers Union is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Auto-owners or Farmers Union 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.