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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Western National offers slightly more affordable prices than Farm Bureau Financial Services
• Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Western National has less expensive rates for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National for your next policy, but which company will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Farm Bureau Financial Services is around $16 more a month than Western National.

Even so, that doesn't mean Western National will necessarily be less expensive than Farm Bureau Financial Services for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National only compete against each other in three states, with Farm Bureau Financial Services offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in South Dakota, Western National is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper option in Iowa and Minnesota.

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 car insurance companies determine your rates. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's typically because teen 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 Western National save over 10% per month compared to those who use Farm Bureau Financial Services.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders decrease almost 55% and Western National's rates reduce nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the lowest 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 auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National? Western National gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $109 per month compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $127.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

If you're in the market for insurance, Western National tends to have the cheapest average rates regardless of relationship status, with prices almost 10% cheaper for single policyholders and nearly 10% less expensive for married couples.

Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Surprisingly, with Farm Bureau Financial Services, men typicallypay around 3% less a month than women, and about 9% more with Western National.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Western National comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices $7 less for men and $26 cheaper for women.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Western National: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a range of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

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 if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Western National has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $60. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies averaging around $248 per month to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $253.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

However, Farm Bureau Financial Services is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 21% and 5% less expensive, respectively, compared to Western National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Farm Bureau Financial Services raising by about 35%. Western National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay 0% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Western National offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $154 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Farm Bureau Financial Services will raise your prices around 46% after a DUI, while Western National's average premiums rise by 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Western National tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $154 to Farm Bureau Financial Services's $226.

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

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking specifically at Western National and Farm Bureau Financial Services, which one has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Western National will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in nearly 44.88 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 19% with Western National compared to average premiums from Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 4% less with Western National than Farm Bureau Financial Services, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 9% a month with Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National 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 rates? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Western National tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Farm Bureau Financial Services's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under 10% more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than 10% more with Farm Bureau Financial Services over Western National.

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

Where you park your car can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Western National tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Farm Bureau Financial Services wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 2% with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Western National. People who live in suburban areas pay around 20% less with Western National compared to Farm Bureau Financial Services. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western National Insurance Company's average premiums are about 10% less than Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Western National Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Western National comes out ahead with 12 discounts to Farm Bureau Financial Services's nine.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. Western National also offers discounts for corporate, COVID-19 relief, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Farm Bureau Financial Services has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like good driving discounts, life policy discounts, paid in full discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

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

• You have a clean record.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National. 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 auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farm Bureau Financial Services vs. Western National FAQs

Is Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National cheaper?

Western National is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $154 per month with Western National and $170 for Farm Bureau Financial Services. But that doesn't mean Western National will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Farm Bureau Financial Services is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Western National offers less expensive rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

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

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farm Bureau Financial Services and Western National use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farm Bureau Financial Services or Western National 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.