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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, National General offers slightly cheaper prices than Dairyland
• Dairyland offers less expensive average premiums for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself
• National General has cheaper prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Dairyland or National General as your top options, but which carrier has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, National General is about $7 per month less expensive than Dairyland.

Even so, that doesn't mean National General will necessarily be cheaper than Dairyland for each driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Dairyland or National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and National General only compete against each other in Texas, where Dairyland offers the cheaper average rates. For Texas residents, Dairyland offers car insurance for $198 per month on average. National General's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $249 a month.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any group out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $75 less a month by choosing Dairyland over National General.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Dairyland policyholders lower more than 55% and National General's prices drop over 65% 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 most affordable rates you'll ever find.

When looking at Dairyland and National General specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? National General gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $179 monthly compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are typically more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Dairyland is the winner for those who are single, with premiums about $2 per month less expensive than National General, on average.

Dairyland vs. National General: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is normally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, women see prices around 4% a month less with Dairyland, and about 6% less with National General.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, National General comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $4 per month and women save around $10 with National General compared to the average Dairyland policyholder.

Dairyland or National 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 pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

In this case, Dairyland offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while National General has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Dairyland, while full coverage comes out to be about $20 more affordable with National General Insurance.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Dairyland or National General -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 a month if they get a ticket, while National General generally raises premiums around $20 per month, on average.

However, National General tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 28% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 32% 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 about an $72 -- or around 24% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use National General for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $311 (or 66%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Dairyland end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $297 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, National General increases average rates by over $20 a month -- that's over a 10% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, National General tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $183 a month compared to $236 from Dairyland.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and National General Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies 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 carrier offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with National General. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Dairyland, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $21 or 9% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Dairyland typically offers lower prices than National General when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $2 per month less with Dairyland compared to National General, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $11 monthly.

Is Dairyland or National 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 car insurance cost. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Dairyland or National General report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, National General comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $249 a month for both.

Dairyland vs. National General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, National General normally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Dairyland wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $41 with Dairyland compared to National General. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $10 less with National General compared to Dairyland. In urban areas, National General Insurance's average premiums are about $52 less than Dairyland.

Dairyland vs. National General Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and National General so that you can see which company 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. National General offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Dairyland has 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Dairyland also offers agency transfer discounts, good student discounts, homeowner discounts, and more that National General does not.

On the flip side, National General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, group discounts, low mileage discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You live in a rural area.

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Dairyland and National General. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. National General FAQs

Is Dairyland or National General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, National General is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $249 per month compared to $256 for Dairyland. Even so, National General won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Dairyland or National General?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Dairyland offers more affordable premiums for single drivers, while National General is less expensive for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Dairyland and National General offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as where you live, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and National General calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland or National General 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.