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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Dairyland offers more affordable rates than Key
• Dairyland offers more discounts than Key Insurance Company
• Key offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

Dairyland vs. Key: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Dairyland or Key, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Dairyland has average rates that are about 10% per month less expensive than those from Key.

However, Dairyland may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Dairyland or Key is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Dairyland or Key: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Key only compete against each other in Nevada, where Key offers the cheaper average rates. For Nevada residents, Key offers insurance for $285 monthly on average. Dairyland's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $312 a month.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing Dairyland over Key.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Dairyland policyholders reduce nearly $300 and Key's rates lower around $450 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 premiums you'll ever see.

When looking at Dairyland and Key specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Dairyland gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $203 per month compared to Key's $223.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Dairyland is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $49 per month cheaper than Key, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Dairyland has the edge when it comes to average rates , but the difference is less than $5.

Dairyland vs. Key: Average Rates by Gender

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

Generally, men see premiums about $10 a month higher with Dairyland, and almost $55 with Key.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Dairyland comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $50 less for men and $7 cheaper for women.

Dairyland or Key: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Dairyland generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $142 compared to Key's $196. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Dairyland again has the edge, with policies around $3 per month more affordable than Key, on average.

Is Dairyland or Key Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Key insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Dairyland policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 15%.

Even so, Key is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 7% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 21% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Dairyland climbing by over $70. Key has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Key end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $235 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Key increases average rates by more than $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Dairyland tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $236 a month compared to $483 from Key.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Key Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers 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 usually be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Dairyland. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 20% compared to Key, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $41 or 14% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $25 less with Dairyland than Key, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $14 per month with Key.

Is Dairyland or Key Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Dairyland or Key report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Dairyland comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $256 a month for both.

Dairyland vs. Key: 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 big impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Dairyland tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Key wins in suburban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Dairyland's average premiums are about $314 per month compared to Key's $386. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $234 with Key compared to Dairyland's $251 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $203 per month with Dairyland compared to Key's $234.

Dairyland vs. Key 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 challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and Key so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Dairyland knocks Key out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Key.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts. Dairyland also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Key does not.

On the flip side, Key has a unique discount of its own -- a good driving discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Key Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Dairyland or Key the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Dairyland might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly.

Key might be best for you if...

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Dairyland and Key and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Dairyland and Key. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Key FAQs

Is Dairyland or Key cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Dairyland is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $256 a month compared to $285 for Key. But Dairyland won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Dairyland or Key?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Dairyland and Key offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Key use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland or Key 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.