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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers cheaper rates than Safeway
• Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable premiums for couples purchasing insurance together
• Safeway offers more discounts than Farm Bureau Financial Services

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farm Bureau Financial Services or Safeway as your top options, but between the two, which one has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Safeway is about $24 more per month than Farm Bureau Financial Services.

However, Farm Bureau Financial Services may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway only compete against each other in one states, with Safeway offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Arizona has the most noticable difference, where Safeway prices are over 20% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Farm Bureau Financial Services.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your prices. 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 -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing Farm Bureau Financial Services over Safeway.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders drop nearly $200 and Safeway's prices lower around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway? Farm Bureau Financial Services gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $127 monthly compared to Safeway's $136.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something several 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 rates around $41 per month less expensive than Safeway, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Farm Bureau Financial Services save about $0 a month.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women.

Surprisingly, men normally pay around $5 per month less than women with Farm Bureau Financial Services, while with Safeway, the difference is closer to $18 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $35 per month and women save about $12 with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to the average Safeway policyholder.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Safeway: 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $87 compared to Safeway's $130. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farm Bureau Financial Services again has the edge, with policies around $5 a month cheaper than Safeway, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 per month if they get a ticket, while Safeway usually raises premiums about $7 a month, on average.

That being said, Farm Bureau Financial Services is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $42 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $24 a month with Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Farm Bureau Financial Services raising by over $65. Safeway has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $60 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $187 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

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 auto insurance bill. For example, Farm Bureau Financial Services increases average premiums by more than $100 per month -- that's over a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Safeway tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $220 per month compared to $226 from Farm Bureau Financial Services.

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

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Insurance carriers 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 Safeway and Farm Bureau Financial Services, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Safeway 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 large impact on your monthly car insurance payment? That's because the more miles you drive, 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 Safeway charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Farm Bureau Financial Services, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

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

Farm Bureau Financial Services typically comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Safeway wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $9 with Safeway compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $42 less with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Safeway. In urban areas, Farm Bureau Financial Services's average prices are about $38 less than Safeway Insurance.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Safeway 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 auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safeway comes out ahead with 11 discounts to Farm Bureau Financial Services's nine.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Safeway also offers agency transfer discounts, full coverage discounts, homeowner 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, discounts for being a good driver, life policy discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• 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.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $194 for Safeway. However, Farm Bureau Financial Services won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farm Bureau Financial Services or Safeway?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Safeway is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

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

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Safeway calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, 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 Safeway 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.