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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Houston General offers significantly more affordable rates than Dairyland
• Dairyland may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Houston General Insurance Exchange
• Houston General has less expensive prices for policyholders who live in urban areas

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Dairyland or Houston General, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Houston General has average rates that are around 40% a month more affordable than those from Dairyland.

That being said, Houston General may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Dairyland and Houston General by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Dairyland and Houston General only compete against each other in Texas, where Houston General offers the cheaper average prices. Houston General drivers tend to pay about $38 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Dairyland for their insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. 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. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

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 Houston General for their insurance pay over 40% less than those who use Dairyland.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Dairyland policyholders decrease more than 55% and Houston General's premiums drop almost 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Dairyland and Houston General specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $108 per month compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Houston General premiums coming in at a third less than Dairyland's. The advantage for married policyholders with Houston General is also obvious, where drivers save over 35% a month.

Dairyland or Houston General: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which means they'll usually end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Usually, women see rates around $10 per month less expensive with Dairyland, and about $10 with Houston General.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Houston General offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $97 a month and men save around $95 with Houston General compared to the average Dairyland policyholder.

Dairyland vs. Houston General: 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 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Houston General has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $83. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies averaging about $236 per month to Dairyland's $370.

Is Dairyland or Houston General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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 at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Dairyland or Houston General -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Dairyland for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Houston General policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 25%.

But Houston General is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 51% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 44% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Dairyland can expect to see around an $72 -- or about 24% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Houston General for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $122 (or 52%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Houston General end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $233 compared to Dairyland's $297.

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 insurance bill. For example, Houston General increases average premiums by more than $35 a month -- that's nearly a 25% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Houston General tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $147 to Dairyland's $236.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Houston General Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning car 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 premiums, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Houston General and Dairyland, which company has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Houston General will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Houston General comes in just under 48.42 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 41% with Houston General compared to average prices from Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Houston General typically offers lower premiums than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% per month less with Houston General compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 29% a month.

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

In this case, neither Dairyland or Houston General report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Houston General comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average prices of $160 a month for both.

Dairyland or Houston General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Houston General boasts the lowest average prices 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 19% with Houston General compared to Dairyland. People who live in suburban areas pay around 41% less with Houston General compared to Dairyland. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average premiums are about 47% less than Dairyland.

Dairyland vs. Houston General 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and Houston General so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Dairyland has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Houston General offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Dairyland has 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Dairyland also offers discounts for agency transfer, defensive driver, homeowner, and more.

On the other hand, Houston General has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, distant student discounts, excess vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Dairyland or Houston General the right fit for you?

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

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Dairyland offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Houston General and that it aids in making a more informed 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Dairyland and Houston General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Houston General FAQs

Is Dairyland or Houston General cheaper?

Houston General is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $160 per month with Houston General and $256 for Dairyland. Even so, that doesn't mean Houston General will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Dairyland or Houston General?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Dairyland and Houston General offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors like age, your driving record, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Houston General calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Dairyland or Houston General 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.