Farmers vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, North Star Mutual offers cheaper rates than Farmers
• Farmers offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• North Star Mutual has more affordable rates for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

Farmers vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Farmers or North Star Mutual, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Farmers is about $23 more per month than North Star Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, North Star Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Farmers or North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with North Star Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in South Dakota, Farmers is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. North Star Mutual is the less expensive option in North Dakota and Nebraska.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have North Star Mutual for their insurance pay $200 less than those who use Farmers.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Farmers policyholders reduce nearly $400 and North Star Mutual's prices lower more than $150 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 rates you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Farmers and North Star Mutual? Farmers gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $143 per month compared to North Star Mutual's $144. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your driving record or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance rates than those who are single. This usually boils down to married policyholders having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, North Star Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $46 a month less expensive than Farmers, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Farmers offers the lowest average prices , but the difference is less than $10.

Farmers vs. North Star 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 car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

With Farmers, women usually pay around $7 per month less than men, and about $4 cheaper with North Star Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, North Star Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 12% less for men and 11% cheaper for women.

Farmers or North Star 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

In this case, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Farmers has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $60 with North Star Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be around $15 more affordable with Farmers Insurance.

Is Farmers or North Star Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $44 a month if they get a ticket, while North Star Mutual typically raises premiums about $44 per month, on average.

That being said, North Star Mutual is normally the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $61 and $61 less expensive, respectively, compared to Farmers Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Farmers can expect to see around an $62 -- or about 28% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use North Star Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $73 (or 42%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $174 compared to Farmers Insurance's $224.

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 car insurance bill. North Star Mutual drivers usually see a 66% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Farmers will usually raise premiums by about 27%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $221 monthly compared to $299 from North Star Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and North Star Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Farmers and North Star Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with North Star Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Farmers, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $33 or 18% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower prices than Farmers when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $30 a month less with North Star Mutual compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $4 a month.

Is Farmers or North Star 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. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Farmers or North Star Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, North Star Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $180 per month for both.

Farmers vs. North Star 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

North Star Mutual tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $4 with North Star Mutual compared to Farmers. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $24 less with North Star Mutual compared to Farmers. In urban areas, North Star Mutual's average prices are about $43 less than Farmers Insurance.

Farmers vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers and North Star Mutual so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Farmers blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than North Star Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Farmers also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, alternative fuel discounts, and more that North Star Mutual does not.

On the flip side, North Star Mutual has a unique discount of its own -- a family discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers or North Star Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

North Star Mutual might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• Your credit score is high.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- North Star Mutual only offers policies in four states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Farmers has the most.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers and North Star Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Farmers and North Star Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Farmers vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, North Star Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $203 for Farmers. Even so, North Star Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers or North Star Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Farmers offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while North Star Mutual is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Farmers and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Factors such as gender, where your home is, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers and North Star Mutual calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Farmers or North Star Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers or North Star Mutual 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.