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

Quick Facts

• In general, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper rates than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance
• South Carolina Farm Bureau tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually

Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau, but between the two, which one has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, South Carolina Farm Bureau has average rates that are around 40% a month cheaper than those from Auto-owners.

But that doesn't mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will necessarily be less expensive than Auto-owners for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Auto-owners or South Carolina 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. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau only compete against each other in South Carolina, where South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average prices. South Carolina Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $80 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Auto-owners for their insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's normally because teen 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 auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use South Carolina Farm Bureau save over 45% 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 South Carolina Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Auto-owners policyholders lower about $250 and South Carolina Farm Bureau's rates drop around $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau? South Carolina Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $75 per month compared to Auto-owners's $133.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples usually cover multiple vehicles, which quite a few companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with South Carolina Farm Bureau premiums coming in at a third less than Auto-owners's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the lowest average rates.

Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Usually, women see prices around 6% per month less with Auto-owners, but with South Carolina Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to 5% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 38% less for men and 38% cheaper for women.

Auto-owners vs. South Carolina 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a variety of different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, South Carolina Farm Bureau has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $78. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging about $144 per month to Auto-owners's $260.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Auto-owners for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 27% after getting a speeding ticket. South Carolina Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 11%.

Even so, South Carolina Farm Bureau is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are 21% and 35% more affordable, respectively, compared to Auto-Owners Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Auto-owners can expect to see around an $47 -- or about 28% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use South Carolina Farm Bureau for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $30 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from South Carolina Farm Bureau, with average prices coming in at $125 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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Auto-owners will climb your rates about 54% after a DUI, while South Carolina Farm Bureau's average premiums increase by nearly 20%.

South Carolina Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $116 monthly, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just one for South Carolina Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies 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 normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau, which company has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, South Carolina Farm Bureau will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes in more than 21.05 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 27% with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to average prices from Auto-owners.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 38% a month less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 48% a month.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much South Carolina Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Auto-owners, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the cheaper company.

Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

South Carolina Farm Bureau tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance's average rates are around 44% less than Auto-Owners Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 39% less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 30% with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners.

Auto-owners vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier 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 South Carolina Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Auto-owners blows South Carolina Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Auto-owners also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

South Carolina Farm Bureau's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Distant Student, Driver Training, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

South Carolina Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

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

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- Auto-owners has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Auto-owners vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau cheaper?

South Carolina Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $111 per month with South Carolina Farm Bureau and $179 for Auto-owners. That being said, that doesn't mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or South Carolina Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

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

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and South Carolina Farm Bureau calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Auto-owners or South Carolina 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, 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 South Carolina 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.