Farm Bureau vs. State Farm: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly cheaper prices than Farm Bureau
• State Farm has more affordable premiums for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy
• State Farm offers more affordable rates for drivers who have below-average credit

Farm Bureau or State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to 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 might have narrowed your search down to Farm Bureau or State Farm, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Farm Bureau is quite a bit more expensive than State Farm, with prices averaging $343 a month compared to just $158 with State Farm when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be less expensive than Farm Bureau for every driver. Car insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. 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 or State Farm is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Farm Bureau vs. State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farm Bureau and State Farm only compete against each other in Michigan, where Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their auto insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their insurance pay almost 25% less than those who use Farm Bureau.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farm Bureau policyholders drop nearly 25% and State Farm's rates reduce almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $179 cheaper than the national average for Farm Bureau.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having several vehicles on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with State Farm premiums coming in at around half of Farm Bureau's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - State Farm has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Farm Bureau or State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for auto insurance than women do. That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Farm Bureau, both genders end up paying the same monthly rate, but with State Farm, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $191 per month and men save about $179 with State Farm compared to the average Farm Bureau policyholder.

Farm Bureau vs. State Farm: 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 many different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, State Farm has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies averaging around $216 a month to Farm Bureau's $468.

Is Farm Bureau or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Farm Bureau or State Farm -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farm Bureau for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 32% after getting a speeding ticket. State Farm policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 14%.

Even so, State Farm is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $68 and $141 cheaper, respectively, compared to Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Farm Bureau can expect to see about an $31 -- or around 13% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use State Farm for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $29 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from State Farm, with average premiums coming in at $163 compared to Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan's $233.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Farm Bureau drivers usually see a 68% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while State Farm will generally climb rates by around 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Farm Bureau and State Farm Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers 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 or State Farm 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 your monthly car insurance cost. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

State Farm tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. State Farm average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $200 cheaper than Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay just under $200 less with State Farm over Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau or State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

State Farm tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm's average prices are about $272 less than Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. People who live in suburban areas pay around $188 less with State Farm compared to Farm Bureau. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $96 with State Farm compared to Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau vs. State Farm 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Farm Bureau and State Farm offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

State Farm knocks Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Farm Bureau.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers discounts for ABS, annual mileage, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, group discounts, and term discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farm Bureau or State Farm Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Farm Bureau might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farm Bureau and State Farm 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 several companies, not just Farm Bureau and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farm Bureau vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Farm Bureau or State Farm cheaper?

State Farm is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $158 per month with State Farm and $343 for Farm Bureau. But that doesn't mean State Farm will be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Farm Bureau or State Farm?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farm Bureau and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like age, where you call home, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farm Bureau and State Farm calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Farm Bureau or State Farm 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, 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 insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farm Bureau or State Farm 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.