California Casualty vs. State Farm: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly cheaper prices than California Casualty
• State Farm tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• State Farm offers less expensive average rates for drivers with a DUI

California Casualty or State Farm: 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 huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to California Casualty or State Farm for your next policy, but between the two, which company has more affordable premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Farm is around $43 a month cheaper than California Casualty.

But that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be less expensive than California Casualty for each driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both California Casualty and State Farm by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

California Casualty vs. State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

California Casualty and State Farm compete against each other in four states, with State Farm offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Oregon has the most noticable difference, where State Farm prices are $106 less expensive than insurance rates at California Casualty.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's normally 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less per month by choosing State Farm over California Casualty.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for California Casualty policyholders lower nearly 60% and State Farm's rates decrease almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at California Casualty and State Farm specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $38 cheaper than the national average for California Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with State Farm premiums coming in at a quarter less than California Casualty's. The advantage for married policyholders with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save about $35 a month.

California Casualty or State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to charge women less than men.

On average, men see rates nearly 10% per month higher with California Casualty, but with State Farm, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $45 per month and women save around $41 with State Farm compared to the average California Casualty policyholder.

California Casualty vs. State Farm: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, State Farm has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies averaging about $216 a month to California Casualty's $281.

Is California Casualty or State Farm 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use California Casualty for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. State Farm policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 14%.

Even so, State Farm tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering premiums that are 2% and 9% more affordable, respectively, compared to California Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with California Casualty raising by around 31%. State Farm has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $163 compared to California Casualty's $198.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, California Casualty increases average premiums by more than $150 per month -- that's just under a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact California Casualty and State Farm Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect several drivers out there.

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

Looking specifically at State Farm and California Casualty, which one has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is California Casualty or State Farm 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

State Farm tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. California Casualty average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $38 more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $50 more with California Casualty over State Farm.

California Casualty or State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 23% with State Farm compared to California Casualty. People who live in suburban areas pay around 27% less with State Farm compared to California Casualty. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm's average premiums are about 15% less than California Casualty.

California Casualty vs. State Farm Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts California Casualty and State Farm offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

State Farm blows California Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to California Casualty's 14.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a good driver, mature driver discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but State Farm also offers discounts for annual mileage, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, California Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like education discounts, full coverage discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is California Casualty or State Farm Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is California Casualty or State Farm the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

California Casualty might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between California Casualty and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 multiple companies, not just California Casualty and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

California Casualty vs. State Farm FAQs

Is California Casualty or State Farm cheaper?

State Farm is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $158 a month with State Farm and $201 for California Casualty. However, that doesn't mean State Farm will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, California Casualty or State Farm?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, California Casualty is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while State Farm offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do California Casualty and State Farm offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like your driving record, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both California Casualty and State Farm use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if California Casualty or State Farm is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does 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. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't California Casualty or State Farm 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.