Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Farmers Automobile offers significantly more affordable rates than Safe Auto
• Farmers Automobile offers cheaper average premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Safe Auto offers more discounts than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association

Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto as your top options, but which carrier will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers Automobile is quite a bit cheaper than Safe Auto, with premiums averaging $123 per month compared to $223 with Safe Auto.

However, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will necessarily be more affordable than Safe Auto for each driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Farmers Automobile offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Automobile premiums are over 30% cheaper than insurance rates at Safe Auto.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing Farmers Automobile over Safe Auto.

But with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Farmers Automobile policyholders lower over 60% and Safe Auto's premiums reduce more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto? Farmers Automobile gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $83 more affordable than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are normally cheaper for married drivers than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Automobile is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $115 per month less expensive than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Farmers Automobile is also obvious, where drivers save over 45% a month.

Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, women see premiums around $1 per month cheaper with Farmers Automobile, and more than $15 cheaper with Safe Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Farmers Automobile offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 47% less for men and 43% cheaper for women.

Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers Automobile typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $75 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Automobile again has the edge, with policies about $150 a month more affordable than Safe Auto, on average.

Is Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers Automobile policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $22 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto usually raises rates around $40 a month, on average.

Even so, Farmers Automobile is normally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are $93 and $111 more affordable, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Automobile drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Farmers Automobile, with monthly prices averaging $117 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 insurance bill. Farmers Automobile drivers usually see a 51% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Safe Auto will generally increase premiums by around 27%.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto specifically, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Safe Auto charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly rates for Farmers Automobile, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $21 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Farmers Automobile is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Farmers Automobile typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but Farmers Automobile comes out on top with average prices around $84 monthly. Farmers Automobile also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $79 and $108 per month respective difference when compared to Safe Auto drivers in similar areas.

Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safe Auto comes out ahead with 14 discounts to Farmers Automobile's 11.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and paid in full discounts -- but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Farmers Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Automobile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, EFT discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 several companies, not just Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto. 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 auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Automobile vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Farmers Automobile is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $123 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. However, Farmers Automobile won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like age, gender, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers Automobile and Safe Auto calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers Automobile or Safe Auto at all!

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.