Farmers Automobile vs. National Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Farmers Automobile offers significantly more affordable premiums than National Mutual
• Farmers Automobile has less expensive prices for drivers who have below-average credit
• National Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association

Farmers Automobile or National Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Farmers Automobile or National Mutual, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers Automobile is quite a bit cheaper than National Mutual, with premiums averaging $123 a month compared to $201 with National Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will necessarily be cheaper than National Mutual for every single driver. Car insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Farmers Automobile and National Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Farmers Automobile vs. National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Automobile and National Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Farmers Automobile offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Automobile prices are $129 cheaper than auto insurance premiums at National Mutual.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 45% less per month by choosing Farmers Automobile over National Mutual.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. National Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farmers Automobile still has the lowest premiums at $103 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Farmers Automobile gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 30% less expensive than the national average for National Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one vehicle, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Farmers Automobile premiums coming in at a third less than National Mutual's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Farmers Automobile has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Farmers Automobile or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men generally pay around $1 a month more than women with Farmers Automobile, and about $20 with National Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Farmers Automobile comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $69 per month and men save around $89 with Farmers Automobile compared to the average National Mutual policyholder.

Farmers Automobile vs. National Mutual: 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 limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Farmers Automobile has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $75. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Farmers Automobile again has the edge, with policies averaging about $170 a month to National Mutual's $308.

Is Farmers Automobile or National Mutual 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 speeding tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- Farmers Automobile or National Mutual -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers Automobile for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 20% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 8%.

However, Farmers Automobile has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 34% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 23% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Automobile drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over 25%, while those who have insurance through National Mutual will see around a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Farmers Automobile end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $117 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

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. On average, National Mutual will climb your premiums about 60% after a DUI, while Farmers Automobile's average rates rise by more than 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Farmers Automobile tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $178 to National Mutual's $325.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Automobile and National Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at Farmers Automobile and National Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Farmers Automobile will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Farmers Automobile comes in over 36.51 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 39% with Farmers Automobile compared to average prices from National Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers Automobile typically offers lower rates than National Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 44% per month less with Farmers Automobile compared to National Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 36% a month.

Is Farmers Automobile or National Mutual 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 big impact on your monthly premiums? Normally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much National Mutual charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly prices for Farmers Automobile, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car each year paying around $21 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Farmers Automobile is the less expensive carrier.

Farmers Automobile or National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, 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.

Farmers Automobile boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Farmers Automobile Insurance Association's average rates are about $22 less than National Mutual Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around $109 less with Farmers Automobile compared to National Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $105 with Farmers Automobile compared to National Mutual.

Farmers Automobile vs. National Mutual Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult 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 Farmers Automobile and National Mutual so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

National Mutual blows Farmers Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 different discounts to Farmers Automobile's 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but National Mutual also offers discounts for claim free, continuous insurance, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Farmers Automobile has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and seat belt discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Automobile or National Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

Farmers Automobile might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums increase.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

National Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- National Mutual has the most.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers Automobile and National Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Farmers Automobile and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Automobile vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or National Mutual cheaper?

Farmers Automobile is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $123 a month with Farmers Automobile and $201 for National Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are many different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or National Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Farmers Automobile and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables like where your home is, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farmers Automobile and National Mutual calculate premiums using different factors, 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 a range of different companies.

How do I know if Farmers Automobile or National Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farmers Automobile or National Mutual 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.