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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Automobile offers significantly cheaper premiums than Western National
• Farmers Automobile tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have below-average credit
• Western National may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association

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

So, you're considering 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 might be considering Farmers Automobile or Western National as your top options, but which carrier will offer you more affordable prices?

As you can see, Western National is around $31 more a month than Farmers Automobile when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But Farmers Automobile may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Farmers Automobile or Western National 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 vs. Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Automobile and Western National only compete against each other in two states, with Farmers Automobile offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Automobile prices are $42 less expensive than insurance premiums at Western National.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. That's normally 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 auto insurance pay over 10% less than those who use Western National.

Even so, both companies will drop premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Western National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farmers Automobile still has the lowest rates at $103 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Farmers Automobile gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 10% more affordable than the national average for Western National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Farmers Automobile premiums coming in at about 20% less than Western National's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Farmers Automobile offers the most affordable average prices.

Farmers Automobile or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men generally pay more for insurance than women? That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men normally pay around $1 per month more than women with Farmers Automobile, but with Western National, the difference is closer to $14 a month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Farmers Automobile comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $38 less for men and $25 cheaper for women.

Farmers Automobile vs. Western National: 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for a variety of 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.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Western National has the edge, while Farmers Automobile offers the cheapest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Western National Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $80 more affordable with Farmers Automobile Insurance Association.

Is Farmers Automobile or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Farmers Automobile or Western National -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National auto insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Farmers Automobile policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 20%.

That being said, Farmers Automobile has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about 44% per month with Farmers Automobile Insurance Association, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Farmers Automobile climbing by around 26%. Western National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay 0% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Farmers Automobile offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $117 compared to Western National Insurance Company's $154.

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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Farmers Automobile will raise your rates about 51% after a DUI, while Western National's average prices rise by 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Western National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $154 to Farmers Automobile's $178.

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

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Auto 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.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Western National will usually reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in nearly 13% cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 13% with Farmers Automobile compared to average prices from Western National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers Automobile typically offers lower premiums than Western National when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 20% a month less with Farmers Automobile compared to Western National, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 32% monthly.

Is Farmers Automobile or Western National 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 large impact on your monthly rates? Usually, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

Farmers Automobile tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Western National average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $40 more expensive than Farmers Automobile. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $23 more with Western National over Farmers Automobile.

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

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Farmers Automobile typically comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Western National wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $84 per month with Farmers Automobile compared to Western National's $158. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of about $92 with Farmers Automobile compared to $127 with Western National. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western National's average rates are around $177 while Farmers Automobile offers prices about $192.

Farmers Automobile vs. Western National Discounts

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

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Farmers Automobile and Western National so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Western National has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Farmers Automobile offers a grand total of 11 discounts, while Western National has 12.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Western National also offers discounts for corporate, COVID-19 relief, 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, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Automobile or Western National 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 right fit for you?

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Western National might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You live in an urban area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers Automobile and Western National and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

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

Farmers Automobile vs. Western National FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or Western National cheaper?

Farmers Automobile is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $123 per month with Farmers Automobile and $154 for Western National. However, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or Western National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

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

Insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers Automobile and Western National calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farmers Automobile or Western National 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.