Farmers Union vs. Shelter: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Union offers slightly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Farmers Union tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Shelter offers cheaper average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Farmers Union vs. Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Farmers Union or Shelter for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers Union is about $19 per month less expensive than Shelter.

Even so, that doesn't mean Farmers Union will necessarily be cheaper than Shelter for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Farmers Union or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Union and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Farmers Union offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Kansas has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Union prices are over 20% cheaper than insurance premiums at Shelter.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Farmers Union save $70 a month compared to those who use Shelter.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Farmers Union policyholders lower around $200 and Shelter's premiums reduce nearly $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Farmers Union and Shelter specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Shelter gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $141 monthly compared to Farmers Union's $148. But that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your credit score or your driving record.

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 drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Union is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $28 per month more affordable than Shelter, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Farmers Union has the edge when it comes to average rates , but the difference is less than $10.

Farmers Union vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Farmers Union, women usually pay more than $10 a month less than men, while with Shelter, the difference is closer to $25 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Farmers Union comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $12 a month and men save about $26 with Farmers Union compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Farmers Union or Shelter: 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 auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Farmers Union generally offers less expensive premiums of $107 compared to Shelter's $129. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Union again has the edge, with policies around $15 per month cheaper than Shelter, on average.

Is Farmers Union or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Farmers Union or Shelter -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers Union policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $50 a month if they get a ticket, while Shelter usually raises rates about $39 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Farmers Union tends to offer the best prices at around 3% more affordable, while Shelter has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Shelter raising by over $90. Farmers Union has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $70 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Farmers Union, with monthly rates averaging $207 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 insurance bill. For example, Shelter increases average premiums by nearly $150 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Union tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $225 per month compared to $277 from Shelter.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Union and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Farmers Union and Shelter specifically, which company has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farmers Union or Shelter 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 your monthly rates? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Farmers Union charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Shelter, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying about $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Farmers Union is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Farmers Union vs. Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

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

In urban areas, Farmers Union Insurance's average premiums are around $9 less than Shelter Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $15 less with Farmers Union compared to Shelter. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $33 with Farmers Union compared to Shelter.

Farmers Union vs. Shelter Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers Union and Shelter so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Farmers Union comes out ahead with 11 discounts to Shelter's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Farmers Union also offers distant student discounts, farm discounts, group discounts, and more that Shelter does not.

On the flip side, Shelter has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Union or Shelter Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers Union and Shelter 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Farmers Union and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Farmers Union vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Farmers Union or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Farmers Union is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $189 per month compared to $208 for Shelter. That being said, Farmers Union won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Union or Shelter?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Farmers Union offers more affordable premiums for single policyholders, while Shelter is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Farmers Union and Shelter offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farmers Union and Shelter use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Farmers Union or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers Union or Shelter 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.