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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Automobile offers slightly more affordable prices than Partners Mutual
• Farmers Automobile has cheaper premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually
• Partners Mutual offers less expensive average prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

So, you're thinking about 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've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farmers Automobile or Partners Mutual, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Partners Mutual is around $0 more a month than Farmers Automobile.

Even so, Farmers Automobile may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

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

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

Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual only compete against each other in Iowa, where Farmers Automobile offers the cheaper average premiums. Farmers Automobile drivers tend to pay about $33 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Partners Mutual for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. 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 insurance than any group on the road. Generally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Partners Mutual for their auto insurance pay over 10% less than those who use Farmers Automobile.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Partners Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farmers Automobile still has the lowest premiums at $103 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable insurance prices out there. 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 Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual? In this case, Farmers Automobile has the slight edge, with prices about $3 a month less than Partners Mutual. However, the difference is only around 5%, so other variables will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the lowest premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the winner for those who are single, with premiums about 4% per month more affordable than Farmers Automobile, on average.

Farmers Automobile or Partners 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 insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Women generally pay around 1% a month less than men with Farmers Automobile, but with Partners Mutual, the difference is closer to 6% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Partners Mutual is the cheapest carrier for women. Rates with Partners Mutual are $3 cheaper for women, while with Farmers Automobile, men can save about $3.

Farmers Automobile vs. Partners 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Partners Mutual has the edge, while Farmers Automobile offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with Partners Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $25 less expensive with Farmers Automobile Insurance Association.

Is Farmers Automobile or Partners Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Farmers Automobile for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 20% after getting a speeding ticket. Partners Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 17%.

But Partners Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 9% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 13% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Farmers Automobile can expect to see about an $30 -- or around 26% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Partners Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $36 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Partners Mutual, with average rates coming in at $115 compared to Farmers Automobile Insurance Association's $117.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. Partners Mutual drivers usually see a 61% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Farmers Automobile will normally raise prices by around 51%.

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 about $178 to Partners Mutual's $203.

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

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Car insurance carriers 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.

Looking at Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual specifically, which carrier has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Farmers Automobile will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Farmers Automobile comes in nearly 13.04 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 8% with Farmers Automobile compared to average rates from Partners Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad 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 2% less with Farmers Automobile than Partners Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 12% a month with Partners Mutual.

Is Farmers Automobile or Partners Mutual 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 premiums. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident 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 Partners Mutual charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly rates for Farmers Automobile, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $21 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year.

Farmers Automobile or Partners 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Farmers Automobile normally comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Partners Mutual wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 29% with Farmers Automobile compared to Partners Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about 15% less with Farmers Automobile compared to Partners Mutual. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Partners Mutual Insurance's average rates are around 26% less than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association.

Farmers Automobile vs. Partners Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Farmers Automobile has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Partners Mutual offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Farmers Automobile has 11.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, group discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Farmers Automobile also offers discounts for defensive driver, EFT, good student, and more.

On the other hand, Partners Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, ESC discounts, and passive restraint discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Partners Mutual might be best for you if...

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Farmers Automobile vs. Partners Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or Partners Mutual cheaper?

Farmers Automobile is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $123 per month with Farmers Automobile and $123 for Partners Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or Partners Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Farmers Automobile is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while Partners Mutual offers less expensive rates for single policyholders.

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

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like where you park your vehicle, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers Automobile and Partners Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com make 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 carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers Automobile or Partners 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.