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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Farmers Automobile offers slightly less expensive premiums than West Bend Mutual
• Farmers Automobile has more affordable prices for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• West Bend Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in urban areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, West Bend Mutual is around $8 more a month than Farmers Automobile when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will necessarily be less expensive than West Bend Mutual for every driver. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

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

Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Farmers Automobile offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Iowa, Farmers Automobile is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. West Bend Mutual is the less expensive option in Wisconsin.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your prices. Continue reading to see 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 rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's generally 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 Farmers Automobile for their insurance pay almost 15% less than those who use West Bend Mutual.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Farmers Automobile policyholders decrease about $150 and West Bend Mutual's prices drop over $200 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 most affordable premiums you'll ever find.

When looking at Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? In this case, West Bend Mutual has the slight edge, with rates around $4 per month less than Farmers Automobile. That being said, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors (like where you live or your driving record) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the lowest prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having several vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Farmers Automobile prices coming in at around 10% less than West Bend Mutual's. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use West Bend Mutual save about 5% a month.

Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Typically, women see rates around $1 per month more affordable with Farmers Automobile, and about $15 cheaper with West Bend Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Farmers Automobile comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $16 a month and women save around $1 with Farmers Automobile compared to the average West Bend Mutual policyholder.

Farmers Automobile vs. West Bend 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. There are lots of different coverages that account for several 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.

Even so, 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, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Farmers Automobile has the slight 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 per month to West Bend Mutual's $186.

Is Farmers Automobile or West Bend 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty 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. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Farmers Automobile tends to offer the best premiums at around 0% cheaper, while West Bend Mutual has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

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 prices. Drivers who use West Bend Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $79 (or 48%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Farmers Automobile, with average premiums coming in at $117 compared to West Bend Mutual Insurance's $163.

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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Farmers Automobile drivers usually see a 51% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will normally raise rates by around 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, West Bend Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $169 to Farmers Automobile's $178.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Auto insurance companies 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.

So, which carrier offers the lowest rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Farmers Automobile will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Farmers Automobile comes in nearly 17.53 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 14% with Farmers Automobile compared to average premiums from West Bend Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 8% less with Farmers Automobile than West Bend Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 5% a month with West Bend Mutual.

Is Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill. Usually, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much West Bend Mutual charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly premiums for Farmers Automobile, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying about $21 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Farmers Automobile usually comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while West Bend Mutual wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $84 per month with Farmers Automobile and $113 with West Bend Mutual. People in suburban areas pay about $92 with Farmers Automobile compared to West Bend Mutual's $122 monthly. In urban areas, West Bend Mutual's average prices are around $158 per month compared to Farmers Automobile's $192.

Farmers Automobile vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible 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 Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, West Bend Mutual comes out ahead with 16 discounts to Farmers Automobile's 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but West Bend Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, advanced safety feature, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Farmers Automobile has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, EFT discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

Farmers Automobile 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.

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (West Bend Mutual offers the most).
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual. 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual. 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 the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Automobile vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Farmers Automobile is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $123 a month with Farmers Automobile and $131 for West Bend Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, West Bend Mutual is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Farmers Automobile offers more affordable prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers Automobile and West Bend Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 information once 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 cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farmers Automobile or West Bend 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.