Donegal Mutual vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper rates than Donegal Mutual
• Donegal Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in urban areas

Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Donegal Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau, with prices averaging $290 a month compared to just $101 with Virginia Farm Bureau when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will necessarily be more affordable than Donegal Mutual for every driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Donegal Mutual vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. Virginia Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $144 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Donegal Mutual for their auto insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

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 generally because teen 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 70% less a month by choosing Virginia Farm Bureau over Donegal Mutual.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Donegal Mutual policyholders reduce over 60% and Virginia Farm Bureau's prices lower nearly 60% over that time.

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.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $91 per month compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover several vehicles, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Virginia Farm Bureau premiums coming in at about a third of Donegal Mutual's. The advantage for married couples with Virginia Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save around $150 per month.

Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Generally, men see prices about 6% a month higher with Donegal Mutual, and around 4% more with Virginia Farm Bureau.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Virginia Farm Bureau offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $196 per month and women save about $182 with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and terms 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 provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $66. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging around $136 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Donegal Mutual for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Virginia Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 23%.

However, Virginia Farm Bureau has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories. With Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $115 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $137 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Donegal Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under $50, while those who have insurance through Virginia Farm Bureau will see about a $25 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from Virginia Farm Bureau, with average prices coming in at $105 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Donegal Mutual increases average premiums by nearly $300 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $111 to Donegal Mutual's $472.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive rates.

Looking specifically at Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Virginia Farm Bureau will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Virginia Farm Bureau comes in just under 69.34 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 63% with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to average rates from Donegal Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 61% a month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 67% a month.

Is Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau 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 payment. That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be the cheaper option. Donegal Mutual's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 65% more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than 65% more with Donegal Mutual over Virginia Farm Bureau.

Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance cost. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Virginia Farm Bureau typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance's average rates are around 76% less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay about 52% less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Donegal Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 58% with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual vs. Virginia Farm Bureau Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Donegal Mutual blows Virginia Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student -- but Donegal Mutual also offers discounts for advance quote, anti-theft, family discount, and more.

On the other hand, Virginia Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own like distant student discounts and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau the best fit for you?

Virginia Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Virginia Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $101 per month with Virginia Farm Bureau and $290 for Donegal Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables like gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Donegal Mutual and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Donegal Mutual or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.