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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, General Casualty offers cheaper prices than Farm Bureau Financial Services
• General Casualty tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• General Casualty offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty, but between the two, which one has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, Farm Bureau Financial Services has average rates that are about 18% per month more expensive than those from General Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, General Casualty may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by multiple different rate factors.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty only compete against each other in three states, with General Casualty offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Minnesota, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. General Casualty is the more affordable option in Arizona and Utah.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save more than $65 a month compared to those who use Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders drop nearly $200 and General Casualty's premiums decrease over $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable car 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 prices for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? General Casualty gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $124 monthly compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $127. But that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance premiums than those who are single. That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $33 per month less expensive than Farm Bureau Financial Services, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - General Casualty has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Surprisingly, women generally pay around $5 a month more than men with Farm Bureau Financial Services, and about $15 with General Casualty.

Looking at overall affordability, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 13% less for men and 24% cheaper for women.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty: 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 a bunch of different coverages that account for many 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 end up falling into two different types of coverage -- 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 liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty usually offers slightly more affordable rates of $82 compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $87. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $60 per month cheaper than Farm Bureau Financial Services, on average.

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $25 a month if they get a ticket, while General Casualty typically raises prices about $43 per month, on average.

However, General Casualty has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 26% and 9% cheaper, respectively, compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Farm Bureau Financial Services can expect to see around an $66 -- or about 35% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use General Casualty for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $56 (or 38%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from General Casualty, with monthly rates averaging $146 compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $187.

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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Farm Bureau Financial Services drivers usually see a 46% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will generally climb premiums by about 52%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, General Casualty tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $186 a month compared to $226 from Farm Bureau Financial Services.

How does Credit Score Impact Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at General Casualty and Farm Bureau Financial Services, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 20% compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $22 or 16% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower rates than Farm Bureau Financial Services when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $21 a month less with General Casualty compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $59 per month.

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty 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 car insurance bill? Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much General Casualty charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Farm Bureau Financial Services, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, General Casualty is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. General Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, General Casualty normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but General Casualty comes out on top with average rates around $131 a month. General Casualty also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 23% and 16% per month respective difference when compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders in similar areas.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. General Casualty Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, General Casualty has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Farm Bureau Financial Services offers a grand total of nine discounts, while General Casualty has 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts. General Casualty also offers advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, employee 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 -- life policy discounts, safe young driver discounts, seasoned account discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your credit is below-average.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

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

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, General Casualty is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $139 a month compared to $170 for Farm Bureau Financial Services. But General Casualty won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty?

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

Why do Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors like your driving record, age, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farm Bureau Financial Services and General Casualty calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Farm Bureau Financial Services or General Casualty 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.