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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Oregon Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Farmers
• Farmers may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Oregon Mutual
• Oregon Mutual offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Farmers or Oregon Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Farmers or Oregon Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Farmers is quite a bit more expensive than Oregon Mutual, with premiums averaging $203 a month compared to just $135 with Oregon Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Oregon Mutual will be the less expensive option for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Farmers or Oregon Mutual is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Farmers vs. Oregon Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and Oregon Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Oregon Mutual offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Washington, Farmers is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Oregon Mutual is the more affordable option in Idaho and Oregon.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you live. 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 premiums of any other group of drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 35% less per month by choosing Oregon Mutual over Farmers. It's worth noting that Farmers offers auto insurance in 25 different states compared to Oregon Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Farmers policyholders decrease over 70% and Oregon Mutual's rates reduce nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Farmers and Oregon Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Oregon Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 30% less expensive than the national average for Farmers.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Oregon Mutual rates coming in at a third less than Farmers's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Oregon Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Farmers or Oregon Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men typically pay around 3% more a month than women with Farmers, but with Oregon Mutual, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Oregon Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $66 a month and women save about $71 with Oregon Mutual compared to the average Farmers policyholder.

Farmers vs. Oregon 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Oregon Mutual has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $97. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Oregon Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $172 per month to Farmers's $281.

Is Farmers or Oregon 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.

Speeding tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Farmers or Oregon Mutual cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Oregon Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 9%.

However, Oregon Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Oregon Mutual, drivers with a clean record can save about $51 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $84 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Farmers raising by about 28%. Oregon Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than 15% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Oregon Mutual offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $133 compared to Farmers Insurance's $224.

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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Oregon Mutual drivers usually see a 35% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Farmers will normally increase prices by around 27%.

Oregon Mutual has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $171 per month, but it's worth noting that Farmers's average rates come from 25 states compared to just three for Oregon Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and Oregon Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car 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 carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Oregon Mutual will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Oregon Mutual comes in nearly 29.27 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 35% with Oregon Mutual compared to average prices from Farmers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Oregon Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Farmers when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 38% a month less with Oregon Mutual compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 33% monthly.

Is Farmers or Oregon 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 rates. Generally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Farmers charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Oregon Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $5 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Oregon Mutual is the cheaper company.

Farmers or Oregon 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 large impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Oregon Mutual tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $115 a month with Oregon Mutual compared to Farmers's $170. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $138 with Oregon Mutual compared to Farmers's $189 monthly. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Oregon Mutual's average premiums are about $151 per month compared to Farmers's $251.

Farmers vs. Oregon Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers and Oregon Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Farmers knocks Oregon Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Oregon Mutual.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Farmers also offers discounts for ABS, alternative fuel, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Oregon Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like csl discounts, employee discounts, legacy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers or Oregon Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Farmers or Oregon Mutual the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Oregon Mutual might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Oregon Mutual is only available in three states.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers and Oregon Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Farmers and Oregon Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Farmers vs. Oregon Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers or Oregon Mutual cheaper?

Oregon Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $135 a month with Oregon Mutual and $203 for Farmers. Even so, that doesn't mean Oregon Mutual will be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are several different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Farmers or Oregon Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farmers and Oregon Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers and Oregon Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information 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 lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers or Oregon 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.