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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Farmers
• Farmers may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
• West Bend Mutual has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Farmers or West Bend Mutual: 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 big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Farmers or West Bend Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, West Bend Mutual has average rates that are around 35% a month more affordable than those from Farmers.

That being said, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than Farmers for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Farmers and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with West Bend Mutual offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual prices are $53 more affordable than car insurance premiums at Farmers.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's usually 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 auto insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 40% less per month by choosing West Bend Mutual over Farmers. It's worth noting that Farmers offers car insurance in 25 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time drivers turn 25. West Bend Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Farmers's average prices reduce more than 70% during that same period.

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 most affordable rates you can find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Farmers and West Bend Mutual? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $51 less expensive than the national average for Farmers.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of companies will give you a discount for.

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

Farmers or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to offer women more affordable rates.

With Farmers, women generally pay about $7 a month less than men, but with West Bend Mutual, the difference is closer to $16 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, West Bend Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $68 a month and women save around $77 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Farmers policyholder.

Farmers 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for lots 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.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $186 per month to Farmers's $281.

Is Farmers 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 car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Farmers or West Bend 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 typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

That being said, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are 48% and 47% more affordable, respectively, compared to Farmers Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over $60, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see around a $80 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive premiums come from West Bend Mutual, with average prices coming in at $163 compared to Farmers Insurance's $224.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. For example, West Bend Mutual increases average rates by $85 a month -- that's more than a 50% increase.

West Bend Mutual has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $169 monthly, but it's worth noting that Farmers's average rates come from 25 states compared to just three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance companies 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 premiums.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest 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, West Bend Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, West Bend Mutual comes in over 40.85 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 38% with West Bend Mutual compared to average prices from Farmers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower rates than Farmers when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 36% per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 30% per month.

Is Farmers or West Bend Mutual 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 considerable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Generally, the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Farmers or West Bend Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, West Bend Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $131 a month for both.

Farmers or West Bend 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 big impact as well. Typically, 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.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual's average rates are around $158 while Farmers offers premiums about $251. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $122 with West Bend Mutual compared to $189 with Farmers. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $113 a month with West Bend Mutual compared to Farmers's $170.

Farmers vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto 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 can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Farmers blows West Bend Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than West Bend Mutual.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Farmers also offers discounts for advance quote, alternative fuel, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, West Bend Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- West Bend Mutual Insurance only offers policies in three states.
• You care about discounts (Farmers offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers and West Bend Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $131 per month with West Bend Mutual and $203 for Farmers. Even so, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farmers and West Bend Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Farmers or West Bend 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers 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.