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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable premiums than Shelter
• Farm Bureau Financial Services has less expensive prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Shelter may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farm Bureau Financial Services

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter as your top options, but which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farm Bureau Financial Services has average rates that are around 18% a month more affordable than those from Shelter.

Even so, Farm Bureau Financial Services may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter only compete against each other in two states, with Farm Bureau Financial Services offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Kansas has the most noticable difference, where Farm Bureau Financial Services rates are $39 cheaper than car insurance premiums at Shelter.

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 variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farm Bureau Financial Services for their car insurance pay over 25% less than those who use Shelter.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders decrease almost 55% and Shelter's rates lower more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Farm Bureau Financial Services gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $14 more affordable than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Farm Bureau Financial Services prices coming in at a quarter less than Shelter's. The advantage for married policyholders with Farm Bureau Financial Services is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 15% per month.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Surprisingly, with Farm Bureau Financial Services, men usuallypay about 3% less a month than women, and around 11% more with Shelter.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $53 per month and women save about $23 with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Shelter: 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $87. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Farm Bureau Financial Services again has the edge, with policies averaging around $253 a month to Shelter's $288.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great rates 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farm Bureau Financial Services for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 17% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

Even so, Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Farm Bureau Financial Services, drivers with a clean record can save about $21 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $35 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Shelter raising by about 39%. Farm Bureau Financial Services has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Farm Bureau Financial Services end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $187 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Shelter increases average premiums by nearly $150 per month -- that's nearly a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $226 to Shelter's $277.

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

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many drivers out there.

Car insurance companies 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 premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter 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 how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Shelter's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 19% more expensive than Farm Bureau Financial Services. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around 18% more with Shelter over Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Farm Bureau Financial Services boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 24% with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Shelter. People who live in suburban areas pay around 15% less with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Shelter. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Farm Bureau Financial Services's average premiums are about 17% less than Shelter Insurance.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Shelter Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 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 Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter 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, Shelter comes out ahead with 10 discounts to Farm Bureau Financial Services's nine.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts -- but Shelter also offers discounts for advance quote, driver training, multi-car, and more.

On the other hand, Farm Bureau Financial Services has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like life policy discounts, safe young driver discounts, seasoned account discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter cheaper?

Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $170 a month with Farm Bureau Financial Services and $208 for Shelter. But that doesn't mean Farm Bureau Financial Services will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Auto insurance companies use several different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things like gender, where your home is, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Shelter calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company 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 Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farm Bureau Financial Services or Shelter 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.