Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable rates than Farmers Union
• Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Farmers Union offers cheaper average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union, but which company will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, Farmers Union has average rates that are about 10% per month more expensive than those from Farm Bureau Financial Services when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Farm Bureau Financial Services will be the more affordable option for every driver. After all, insurance companies 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 could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union only compete against each other in three states, with Farm Bureau Financial Services offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where Farm Bureau Financial Services prices are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Farmers Union.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Farm Bureau Financial Services save more than $40 a month compared to those who use Farmers Union.

That being said, both carriers will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Farmers Union offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farm Bureau Financial Services still has the lowest rates at $154 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest auto insurance prices you'll ever see. 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 Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union? Farm Bureau Financial Services gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 15% cheaper than the national average for Farmers Union.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $22 per month less expensive than Farmers Union, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Farm Bureau Financial Services has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Surprisingly, men normally pay about $5 a month less than women with Farm Bureau Financial Services, while with Farmers Union, the difference is closer to $11 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Farm Bureau Financial Services comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 14% less for men and 6% cheaper for women.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farm Bureau Financial Services generally offers more affordable prices of $87 compared to Farmers Union's $107. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farm Bureau Financial Services again has the edge, with policies around $20 a month cheaper than Farmers Union, on average.

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $25 per month if they get a ticket, while Farmers Union usually raises premiums about $50 a month, on average.

However, Farm Bureau Financial Services has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $17 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $42 a month with Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farm Bureau Financial Services drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over 35%, while those who have insurance through Farmers Union will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $187 compared to Farmers Union Insurance's $207.

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. Farm Bureau Financial Services drivers usually see a 46% climb in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Farmers Union will typically increase premiums by about 39%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Union tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $225 per month compared to $226 from Farm Bureau Financial Services.

How does Credit Score Impact Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor 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 Farm Bureau Financial Services. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Farmers Union, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $24 or 15% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farm Bureau Financial Services typically offers lower premiums than Farmers Union when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $30 per month less with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Farmers Union, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $7 a month.

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Farmers Union charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Farm Bureau Financial Services, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying about $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Farm Bureau Financial Services generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers rates around $196 monthly compared to Farmers Union's $226. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $159 a month for Farm Bureau Financial Services and $172 for Farmers Union. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest prices from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $155 and $170 for Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union respectively.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Farmers Union has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Farm Bureau Financial Services offers a grand total of nine discounts, while Farmers Union has 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts. Farmers Union also offers distant student discounts, farm discounts, group discounts, and more that Farm Bureau Financial Services does not.

On the flip side, Farm Bureau Financial Services has a couple unique discounts of its own -- anti-theft discounts, life policy discounts, safe young driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

Farm Bureau Financial Services might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You live in an suburban area.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Farmers Union might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (Farmers Union offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 a handful of carriers, not just Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Farmers Union FAQs

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $189 for Farmers Union. That being said, Farm Bureau Financial Services won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Farmers Union offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Farm Bureau Financial Services is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things like where you live, age, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farmers Union calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Farm Bureau Financial Services or Farmers Union 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.