Auto-owners vs. Idaho Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Idaho Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive premiums than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance
• Idaho Farm Bureau tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau: 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 pretty big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau as potential options, but which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Auto-owners is quite a bit more expensive than Idaho Farm Bureau, with premiums averaging $179 a month compared to just $127 with Idaho Farm Bureau.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Idaho Farm Bureau will be the more affordable option for each driver. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by multiple different rate factors.

Auto-owners vs. Idaho Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Idaho, where Auto-owners offers the cheaper average prices. Auto-owners drivers tend to pay about $28 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Idaho Farm Bureau for their auto insurance.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables 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 insurance than any other group of drivers. Generally, 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Idaho Farm Bureau save almost 35% a month compared to those who use Auto-owners. It's worth noting that Auto-owners offers car insurance in 23 different states compared to Idaho Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Auto-owners policyholders drop nearly 60% and Idaho Farm Bureau's rates lower over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau? Idaho Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $94 monthly compared to Auto-owners's $133.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one vehicle, which many companies will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Idaho Farm Bureau rates coming in at a third less than Auto-owners's. The advantage for married policyholders with Idaho Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save about $35 per month.

Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, men see prices around 6% a month higher with Auto-owners, and about 7% more with Idaho Farm Bureau.

Looking at overall affordability, Idaho Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $53 less for men and $51 cheaper for women.

Auto-owners vs. Idaho Farm Bureau: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers 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).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Idaho Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $66. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Idaho Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging around $188 per month to Auto-owners's $260.

Is Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies 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 speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Idaho Farm Bureau auto insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Auto-owners policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $45.

But Idaho Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 25% and 45% cheaper, respectively, compared to Auto-Owners Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Auto-owners drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over $45, while those who have insurance through Idaho Farm Bureau will see around a $30 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Idaho Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $120 compared to Auto-Owners Insurance's $168.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Auto-owners drivers usually see a 54% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Idaho Farm Bureau will usually increase prices by about 56%.

Idaho Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $206 per month, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just one for Idaho Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Auto-owners will normally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Auto-owners comes in 0% less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 12% with Idaho Farm Bureau compared to average premiums from Auto-owners.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Idaho Farm Bureau typically offers lower prices than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 25% a month less with Idaho Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 47% a month.

Is Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost? Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Idaho Farm Bureau tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Auto-owners's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in $60 more expensive than Idaho Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay $45 more with Auto-owners over Idaho Farm Bureau.

Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Idaho Farm Bureau normally comes out as the most affordable option 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 $25 with Idaho Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners. People who live in suburban areas pay around $44 less with Idaho Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance's average rates are about $87 less than Auto-Owners Insurance.

Auto-owners vs. Idaho Farm Bureau Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau 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.

Auto-owners knocks Idaho Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than Idaho Farm Bureau.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver and discounts for being a good student -- but Auto-owners also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

Idaho Farm Bureau's discounts come through just two categories -- Defensive Driver and Good Student.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Idaho Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

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

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance only offers policies in Idaho.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Idaho Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau cheaper?

Idaho Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $127 per month with Idaho Farm Bureau and $179 for Auto-owners. However, that doesn't mean Idaho Farm Bureau will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Auto-owners is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Idaho Farm Bureau offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Auto-owners and Idaho Farm Bureau calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Auto-owners or Idaho Farm Bureau 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.