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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Safe Auto offers more affordable rates than Dairyland
• Dairyland offers less expensive average prices for drivers with a DUI
• Safe Auto tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have below-average credit

Dairyland or Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Safe Auto as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Dairyland has average rates that are around 13% a month more expensive than those from Safe Auto.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Safe Auto will be the cheaper option for each driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Dairyland and Safe Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Dairyland vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Safe Auto compete against each other in four states, with Safe Auto offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Texas, Dairyland is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Safe Auto is the cheaper option in Kansas, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. 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 auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's typically because teen 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 that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 15% less per month by choosing Safe Auto over Dairyland.

However, both companies will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. Safe Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Dairyland's average premiums decrease more than 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Dairyland and Safe Auto? Safe Auto gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $179 a month compared to Dairyland's $203.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover several vehicles, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Safe Auto premiums coming in at around 15% less than Dairyland's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Safe Auto has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Dairyland or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to offer women more affordable rates.

Men typically pay about $10 a month more than women with Dairyland, and around $15 with Safe Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Safe Auto comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average premiums 11% less for men and 15% cheaper for women.

Dairyland vs. Safe Auto: 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. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a bunch of 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.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Safe Auto has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $126. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging about $320 per month to Dairyland's $370.

Is Dairyland or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great premiums 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 collisions lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Dairyland or Safe Auto -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Dairyland for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 18%.

Even so, Safe Auto is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $45 and $45 more affordable, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Dairyland drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Safe Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $246 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, Safe Auto increases average prices by $65 a month -- that's more than a 25% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Dairyland tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $236 to Safe Auto's $245.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Safe Auto Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance companies 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 more affordable prices.

So, which company offers the best 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, Safe Auto will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Safe Auto comes in over 15.38 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 9% with Safe Auto compared to average rates from Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower prices than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 12% per month less with Safe Auto compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 16% per month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance payment? That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Dairyland or Safe Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Safe Auto comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $223 a month for both.

Dairyland or Safe Auto: 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 pretty big impact as well. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Safe Auto tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Safe Auto's average prices are about $271 per month compared to Dairyland's $314. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $200 with Safe Auto compared to Dairyland's $251 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $197 a month with Safe Auto compared to Dairyland's $203.

Dairyland vs. Safe Auto 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 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Dairyland and Safe Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safe Auto has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Dairyland offers a grand total of 11 discounts, while Safe Auto has 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Safe Auto also offers discounts for claim free, driver training, military, and more.

On the other hand, Dairyland has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, good student discounts, prior insurance discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Safe Auto Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You're looking for discounts -- Safe Auto has the most.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Safe Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Dairyland and Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Dairyland or Safe Auto cheaper?

Safe Auto is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $223 a month with Safe Auto and $256 for Dairyland. That being said, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Dairyland or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Safe Auto is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Dairyland offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Dairyland and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Safe Auto calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Dairyland or Safe Auto 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.