Dairyland vs. General Casualty: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, General Casualty offers significantly more affordable premiums than Dairyland
• General Casualty offers more affordable prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• General Casualty tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in suburban areas

Dairyland or General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Dairyland or General Casualty for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Dairyland has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from General Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean General Casualty will necessarily be cheaper than Dairyland for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could change drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Dairyland or General Casualty is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Dairyland vs. General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and General Casualty only compete against each other in one states, with General Casualty offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Oregon has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty prices are $96 less expensive than car insurance rates at Dairyland.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. The reason is that 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have General Casualty for their car insurance pay over 50% less than those who use Dairyland.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Dairyland policyholders reduce about $300 and General Casualty's premiums decrease around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates out there.

When looking at Dairyland and General Casualty specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? General Casualty gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $124 per month compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with General Casualty prices coming in at around half of Dairyland's. The advantage for married drivers with General Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save more than 45% per month.

Dairyland or General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

Women generally pay about $10 a month less than men with Dairyland, and almost $15 with General Casualty.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $115 less for men and $119 cheaper for women.

Dairyland vs. General Casualty: 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 several different coverages that account for multiple 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 that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, General Casualty has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $82. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies averaging around $195 per month to Dairyland's $370.

Is Dairyland or General Casualty 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Dairyland or General Casualty -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Dairyland for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. General Casualty policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 32%.

But General Casualty is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 60% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 50% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Dairyland drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see about a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from General Casualty, with average premiums coming in at $146 compared to Dairyland's $297.

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 speeding ticket. General Casualty drivers usually see a 52% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Dairyland will normally raise rates by around 5%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, General Casualty tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $186 to Dairyland's $236.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and General Casualty Rates?

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

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, General Casualty will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, General Casualty comes in nearly 53.39 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 52% with General Casualty compared to average rates from Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower prices than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 47% a month less with General Casualty compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 35% a month.

Is Dairyland or General Casualty 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 insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Dairyland or General Casualty report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, General Casualty comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle each year, with average rates of $139 per month for both.

Dairyland or General Casualty: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, General Casualty generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty's average premiums are about 52% less than Dairyland. People who live in suburban areas pay around 47% less with General Casualty compared to Dairyland. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 35% with General Casualty compared to Dairyland.

Dairyland vs. General Casualty Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Dairyland and General Casualty offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, General Casualty comes out ahead with 12 discounts to Dairyland's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student. General Casualty also offers discounts for distant student, employee discount, good driving, and more.

On the other hand, Dairyland has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, homeowner discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or General Casualty Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Dairyland or General Casualty the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Dairyland 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 good idea of the differences between Dairyland and General Casualty and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 companies, not just Dairyland and General Casualty. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Dairyland vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is Dairyland or General Casualty cheaper?

General Casualty is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $139 a month with General Casualty and $256 for Dairyland. That being said, that doesn't mean General Casualty will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Dairyland or General Casualty?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Dairyland and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like your driving record, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Dairyland and General Casualty use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Dairyland or General Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company 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, 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 cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Dairyland or General Casualty 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.