Farmers vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Western Reserve Group offers significantly less expensive premiums than Farmers
• Farmers may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who have a short commute

Farmers or Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Farmers or Western Reserve Group as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Farmers has average rates that are around 35% a month more expensive than those from Western Reserve Group.

But that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be cheaper than Farmers for every driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Farmers and Western Reserve Group by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Farmers vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with Farmers offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Indiana, Farmers is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Western Reserve Group is the cheaper option in Ohio.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay over 50% less than those who use Farmers. It's worth noting that Farmers offers car insurance in 25 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will lower rates once you turn 25. Western Reserve Group offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Farmers's average prices drop more than 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Western Reserve Group gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $107 a month compared to Farmers's $143.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one vehicle, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Western Reserve Group premiums coming in at a third less than Farmers's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Western Reserve Group offers the cheapest average prices.

Farmers or Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men.

Men normally pay around $7 per month more than women with Farmers, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men typically pay about $2 a month less than women.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Western Reserve Group comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $71 less for men and $62 cheaper for women.

Farmers vs. Western Reserve Group: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms 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 (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers 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, Western Reserve Group has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies averaging around $180 per month to Farmers's $281.

Is Farmers or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Farmers or Western Reserve Group more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Western Reserve Group policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 28%.

Even so, Western Reserve Group has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. With Western Reserve Group, drivers with a clean record can save about $74 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $84 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Farmers can expect to see about an $62 -- or around 28% -- rise in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $32 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Western Reserve Group end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $120 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 a collision. On average, Western Reserve Group will climb your rates around 60% after a DUI, while Farmers's average premiums climb by more than 25%.

Western Reserve Group has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $218 monthly, but it's worth noting that Farmers's average rates come from 25 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and Western Reserve Group Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Western Reserve Group will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western Reserve Group comes in over 37.2 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 37% with Western Reserve Group compared to average prices from Farmers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower rates than Farmers when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 33% a month less with Western Reserve Group compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 26% per month.

Is Farmers or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Farmers or Western Reserve Group report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Western Reserve Group comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $137 per month for both.

Farmers or Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Western Reserve Group tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western Reserve Group's average prices are around 41% less than Farmers Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 26% less with Western Reserve Group compared to Farmers. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 26% with Western Reserve Group compared to Farmers.

Farmers vs. Western Reserve Group 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Farmers and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Farmers knocks Western Reserve Group out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 17 more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Farmers also offers discounts for ABS, alternative fuel, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Western Reserve Group has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in a rural area.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers and Western Reserve Group. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Farmers or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Western Reserve Group is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $137 a month with Western Reserve Group and $203 for Farmers. However, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farmers and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like where your home is, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farmers and Western Reserve Group calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farmers or Western Reserve Group 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.