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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Auto
• Farmers may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State Auto Insurance
• Farmers offers more affordable average prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Farmers or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farmers or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Farmers has average rates that are around 22% a month less expensive than those from State Auto.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Farmers will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Farmers or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Farmers vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and State Auto compete against each other in six states, with Farmers offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Farmers prices are $103 more affordable than insurance premiums at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farmers for their car insurance pay 25% less than those who use State Auto.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farmers still has the most affordable prices at $155 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Farmers gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 15% cheaper than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something several auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Farmers rates coming in at a quarter less than State Auto's. The advantage for married drivers with Farmers is also obvious, where drivers save over 10% per month.

Farmers or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. That's because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, men see prices about $7 a month higher with Farmers, and around $25 with State Auto.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Farmers comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices $64 less for men and $47 cheaper for women.

Farmers vs. 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Farmers has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $126. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Farmers again has the edge, with policies averaging about $281 per month to State Auto's $369.

Is Farmers or State Auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

However, Farmers has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $8 and $12 more affordable, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $60, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Farmers, with average rates coming in at $224 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, State Auto will climb your premiums about 55% after a DUI, while Farmers's average rates climb by more than 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Farmers tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $221 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and State Auto Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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 cheaper prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Farmers will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Farmers comes in over 15.46 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 19% with Farmers compared to average premiums from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers typically offers lower rates than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 20% a month less with Farmers compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 27% a month.

Is Farmers 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 premiums. Typically, the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

In this case, neither Farmers or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Farmers comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $203 per month for both.

Farmers or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance cost. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Farmers typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Farmers Insurance's average premiums are around $66 less than State Auto Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $47 less with Farmers compared to State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $55 with Farmers compared to State Auto.

Farmers vs. State Auto 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 auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Farmers and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Farmers blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Farmers also offers discounts for alternative fuel, EFT, ESC, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, employee discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Farmers might be best for you if....

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Farmers and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Farmers vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Farmers or State Auto cheaper?

Farmers is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $203 a month with Farmers and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Farmers will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Farmers and State Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like age, where you call home, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers and State Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers or State Auto 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers or State Auto 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.