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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Mendakota offers slightly more affordable rates than Dairyland
• Dairyland has less expensive prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Mendakota offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Dairyland or Mendakota: 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 sizable savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Mendakota, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Dairyland is around $12 more a month than Mendakota.

That being said, Mendakota may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every 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 could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Dairyland and Mendakota by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Dairyland vs. Mendakota: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Mendakota only compete against each other in Nevada, where Mendakota offers the cheaper average premiums. Mendakota drivers tend to pay about $68 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Dairyland for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 15% less a month by choosing Mendakota over Dairyland.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Dairyland and Mendakota specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Mendakota gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 10% more affordable than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Mendakota is the winner for single drivers, with prices nearly 10% per month cheaper than Dairyland, on average.

Dairyland or Mendakota: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, women see premiums about $10 a month less expensive with Dairyland, but with Mendakota, the difference is closer to $18 per month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Mendakota offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 3% less for men and 6% cheaper for women.

Dairyland vs. Mendakota: 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, Dairyland has the edge, while Mendakota offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Dairyland, while full coverage comes out to be around $55 more affordable with Mendakota Insurance Company.

Is Dairyland or Mendakota Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great rates 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 accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- Dairyland or Mendakota -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Dairyland for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Mendakota policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

Even so, Mendakota tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Mendakota Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save about $4 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $25 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Dairyland can expect to see about an $72 -- or around 24% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Mendakota for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $52 (or 19%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Mendakota end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $273 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 ticket or even an accident. For example, Mendakota increases average premiums by $20 a month -- that's nearly a 10% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Dairyland tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $236 to Mendakota's $241.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Mendakota Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Dairyland will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Dairyland comes in just under NaN more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 0% with Dairyland compared to average rates from Mendakota.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Mendakota typically offers lower prices than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 6% per month less with Mendakota compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 18% a month.

Is Dairyland or Mendakota 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 car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Dairyland or Mendakota report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Mendakota comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle each year, with average prices of $244 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Normally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Mendakota boasts the most affordable average rates in rural and suburban areas, while Dairyland wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $65 with Mendakota compared to Dairyland. People who live in suburban areas pay about $75 less with Mendakota compared to Dairyland. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Dairyland's average premiums are around $104 less than Mendakota Insurance Company.

Dairyland vs. Mendakota Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Dairyland and Mendakota so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Dairyland knocks Mendakota out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 11 different discounts to Mendakota's five.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but Dairyland also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, anti-theft, and more.

Mendakota's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Homeowner, Multi-Car, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Mendakota 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, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Mendakota might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You already have a great credit score.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Mendakota and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto 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 Dairyland and Mendakota. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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. Mendakota FAQs

Is Dairyland or Mendakota cheaper?

Mendakota is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $244 per month with Mendakota and $256 for Dairyland. But that doesn't mean Mendakota will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Dairyland or Mendakota?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Dairyland and Mendakota offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Mendakota calculate premiums using different factors, 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 many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Dairyland or Mendakota 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.