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

Quick Facts

• In general, Auto-owners offers significantly cheaper rates than Frankenmuth
• Auto-owners has more affordable premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Frankenmuth offers more affordable prices for residents in Michigan and Ohio

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Auto-owners or Frankenmuth as your top options, but which company has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Frankenmuth is quite a bit more expensive than Auto-owners, with rates averaging $318 per month compared to just $179 with Auto-owners.

But that doesn't mean Auto-owners will necessarily be more affordable than Frankenmuth for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Auto-owners or Frankenmuth: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Frankenmuth only compete against each other in one states, with Auto-owners offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Michigan has the most noticable difference, where Auto-owners prices are over 70% less expensive than insurance rates at Frankenmuth.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your prices. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $300 less a month by choosing Auto-owners over Frankenmuth. It's worth noting that Auto-owners offers insurance in 23 different states compared to Frankenmuth's two, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Frankenmuth offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Auto-owners still has the cheapest prices at $164 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Auto-owners and Frankenmuth specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Auto-owners gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 40% more affordable than the national average for Frankenmuth.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Auto-owners is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $153 per month cheaper than Frankenmuth, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Auto-owners has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Auto-owners vs. Frankenmuth: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see rates around 6% a month higher with Auto-owners, while with Frankenmuth, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Auto-owners offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $141 a month and men save about $136 with Auto-owners compared to the average Frankenmuth policyholder.

Auto-owners or Frankenmuth: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Auto-owners typically offers significantly more affordable premiums of $99 compared to Frankenmuth's $214. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Auto-owners again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month less expensive than Frankenmuth, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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.

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Auto-owners or Frankenmuth -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Auto-owners policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $44 a month if they get a ticket, while Frankenmuth usually raises rates about $74 per month, on average.

But Auto-owners tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 30% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 33% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Auto-owners increasing by over $45. Frankenmuth has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than $40 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, Auto-owners offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $168 compared to Frankenmuth Insurance's $214.

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 ticket or even a collision. For example, Frankenmuth increases average prices by over $450 a month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

Auto-owners has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $264 per month, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just two for Frankenmuth, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Frankenmuth Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Auto-owners and Frankenmuth specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

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 55% compared to Frankenmuth, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $118 or 48% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Auto-owners typically offers lower premiums than Frankenmuth when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $106 per month less with Auto-owners compared to Frankenmuth, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $220 monthly.

Is Auto-owners or Frankenmuth 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you put on your car 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 Frankenmuth charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates 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 every year. Still, Auto-owners is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Auto-owners vs. Frankenmuth: 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. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Auto-owners boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but Auto-owners comes out on top with average prices around $164 a month. Auto-owners also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 49% and 41% a month respective difference when compared to Frankenmuth drivers in similar areas.

Auto-owners vs. Frankenmuth 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.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Auto-owners and Frankenmuth 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 Frankenmuth away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Frankenmuth's 11.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, group discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Auto-owners also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, company car discounts, and more that Frankenmuth does not.

On the flip side, Frankenmuth has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts and renewal discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Auto-owners or Frankenmuth the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a clean record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Frankenmuth might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Auto-owners and Frankenmuth. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Auto-owners and Frankenmuth. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make 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. Frankenmuth FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Frankenmuth cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Auto-owners is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $179 per month compared to $318 for Frankenmuth. However, Auto-owners won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Frankenmuth?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Auto-owners and Frankenmuth offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Variables like where your home is, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and Frankenmuth calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Auto-owners or Frankenmuth 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.