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

Quick Facts

• In general, Southern Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper rates than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners offers more discounts than Southern Farm Bureau Insurance
• Southern Farm Bureau has less expensive prices for couples purchasing auto insurance together

Auto-owners vs. Southern Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Southern Farm Bureau has average rates that are about 40% per month cheaper than those from Auto-owners when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, Southern Farm Bureau may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Southern Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Arkansas, where Southern Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For Arkansas residents, Southern Farm Bureau offers car insurance for $103 per month on average. Auto-owners's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $247 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you call home. 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 typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Southern Farm Bureau for their insurance pay nearly $200 less than those who use Auto-owners. It's worth noting that Auto-owners offers car insurance in 23 different states compared to Southern Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Auto-owners policyholders lower almost $250 and Southern Farm Bureau's rates decrease 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 cheapest premiums out there.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Southern Farm Bureau gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $57 more affordable than the national average for Auto-owners.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married drivers. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Southern Farm Bureau is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $91 a month less expensive than Auto-owners, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Southern Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save more than $55 per month.

Auto-owners vs. Southern Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

On average, women see premiums around $10 a month cheaper with Auto-owners, while with Southern Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to $6 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Southern Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $79 a month and women save about $74 with Southern Farm Bureau compared to the average Auto-owners policyholder.

Auto-owners or Southern 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But the 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 a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Southern Farm Bureau generally offers significantly more affordable prices of $54 compared to Auto-owners's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Southern Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month less expensive than Auto-owners, on average.

Is Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty 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 Southern Farm Bureau usually raises prices about $8 per month, on average.

That being said, Southern Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 26% and 41% cheaper, respectively, compared to Auto-Owners Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Auto-owners increasing by over $45. Southern Farm Bureau has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Southern Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $116 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. For example, Auto-owners increases average premiums by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 55% increase.

Southern Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $108 monthly, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just one for Southern Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

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

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with poor, average, or good 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 Southern Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 25% compared to Auto-owners, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $44 or 34% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $70 per month less with Southern Farm Bureau compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $169 per month.

Is Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau 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 your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Southern Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Auto-owners, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Southern Farm Bureau is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Auto-owners vs. Southern Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

Southern Farm Bureau boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but Southern Farm Bureau comes out on top with average premiums around $83 a month. Southern Farm Bureau also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 46% and 32% a month respective difference when compared to Auto-owners drivers in similar areas.

Auto-owners vs. Southern Farm Bureau Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Auto-owners and Southern Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Auto-owners blows Southern Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Southern Farm Bureau's four.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Auto-owners also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Southern Farm Bureau does not.

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

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best fit for you?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

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 the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Auto-owners and Southern Farm Bureau and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Auto-owners and Southern Farm Bureau. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Southern Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Southern Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $103 per month compared to $179 for Auto-owners. Even so, Southern Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a range 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 Southern Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

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

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, gender, where you park your car, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and Southern Farm Bureau calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Auto-owners or Southern Farm Bureau 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.