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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Farmers Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than Western National
• Farmers Mutual has more affordable rates for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Western National offers more discounts than Farmers Mutual

Farmers Mutual vs. Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farmers Mutual or Western National for your next policy, but which company has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Western National has average rates that are about 40% per month more expensive than those from Farmers Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Farmers Mutual will be the more affordable option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

Farmers Mutual or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Mutual and Western National only compete against each other in one states, with Farmers Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. South Dakota has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Mutual prices are over 40% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Western National.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing Farmers Mutual over Western National.

But with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Farmers Mutual policyholders lower over 50% and Western National's prices reduce nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Farmers Mutual and Western National specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Farmers Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $48 less expensive than the national average for Western National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance rates than married policyholders. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $71 per month more affordable than Western National, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Farmers Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums.

Farmers Mutual vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is usually cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Typically, women see rates almost 10% a month less with Farmers Mutual, and about 9% less with Western National.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Farmers Mutual offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $67 less for men and $61 cheaper for women.

Farmers Mutual or Western National: 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers Mutual normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $32 compared to Western National's $60. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month more affordable than Western National, on average.

Is Farmers Mutual or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Farmers Mutual or Western National -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Farmers Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $6.

However, Farmers Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $84 a month with Farmers Mutual, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Farmers Mutual can expect to see about an $16 -- or around 19% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Western National for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $0 (or 0%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Farmers Mutual, with monthly prices averaging $86 compared to Western National Insurance Company's $154.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Farmers Mutual increases average premiums by just under $60 per month -- that's over a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $128 per month compared to $154 from Western National.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Mutual and Western National Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Car 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking at Farmers Mutual and Western National specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farmers Mutual or Western National 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 how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Farmers Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Western National, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying around $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Farmers Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Farmers Mutual vs. Western National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

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

Policyholders in suburban ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Farmers Mutual comes out on top with average rates about $87 a month. Farmers Mutual also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and rural ZIP codes -- a 47% and 43% a month respective difference when compared to Western National policyholders in similar areas.

Farmers Mutual vs. Western National Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and 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 difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Farmers Mutual and Western National so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Western National has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Farmers Mutual offers a grand total of seven discounts, while Western National has 12.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and multi-policy discounts -- but Western National also offers anti-theft discounts, corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Farmers Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- paid in full discounts, passive restraint discounts, and secondary vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Mutual or Western National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Farmers Mutual or Western National the best fit for you?

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

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Western National might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Western National has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers Mutual and Western National. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Farmers Mutual and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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 Mutual vs. Western National FAQs

Is Farmers Mutual or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Farmers Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $90 per month compared to $154 for Western National. But Farmers Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Farmers Mutual or Western National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Farmers Mutual offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Western National is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Farmers Mutual and Western National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Farmers Mutual and Western National calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers Mutual or Western National 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.