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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Automobile offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Auto
• Farmers Automobile has more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• State Auto offers more discounts than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Farmers Automobile or State Auto for your next policy, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Farmers Automobile is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with rates averaging $123 per month compared to $259 with State Auto when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But Farmers Automobile may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

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

Farmers Automobile and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Farmers Automobile offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Automobile rates are over 70% cheaper than car insurance premiums at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farmers Automobile for their car insurance pay more than $450 less than those who use State Auto.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Farmers Automobile policyholders drop over $150 and State Auto's premiums reduce about $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Farmers Automobile and State Auto? Farmers Automobile gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $71 less expensive than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Automobile is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $183 a month more affordable than State Auto, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Farmers Automobile is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 45% per month.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Farmers Automobile, women usually pay about 1% a month less than men, and around 9% less with State Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Farmers Automobile offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $148 less for men and $125 cheaper for women.

Farmers Automobile or State 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Farmers Automobile normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $75 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Automobile again has the edge, with policies about $200 per month more affordable than State Auto, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Farmers Automobile or State Auto -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers Automobile policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $22 a month if they get a ticket, while State Auto typically raises rates around $48 per month, on average.

Even so, Farmers Automobile tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $83 and $109 cheaper, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Automobile drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by $30, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a $100 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Farmers Automobile end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $117 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, State Auto will climb your rates around 55% after a DUI, while Farmers Automobile's average premiums increase by over 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Farmers Automobile tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $178 a month compared to $380 from State Auto.

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

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Farmers Automobile. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 60% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $129 or 57% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers Automobile typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $139 a month less with Farmers Automobile compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $164 per month.

Is Farmers Automobile or State Auto 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 rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into a collision 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 State Auto charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly premiums for Farmers Automobile, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car every year paying around $21 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Farmers Automobile is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Farmers Automobile tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Farmers Automobile comes out on top with average premiums about $84 monthly. Farmers Automobile also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 39% and 61% per month respective difference when compared to State Auto policyholders in similar areas.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Auto Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Farmers Automobile and State Auto so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

State Auto blows Farmers Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Farmers Automobile's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Farmers Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Automobile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- EFT discounts, group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Farmers Automobile or State Auto the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You have above-average credit.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers Automobile and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 multiple companies, not just Farmers Automobile and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or State 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 $259 for State Auto. That being said, Farmers Automobile won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or State Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

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

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where you park your car, age, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers Automobile and State Auto use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers Automobile or State 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.