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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Farmers Union offers significantly more affordable rates than State Auto
• Farmers Union offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farmers Union Insurance

Farmers Union or State Auto: 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 large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Farmers Union or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive rates for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers Union has average rates that are around 25% a month cheaper than those from State Auto.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Farmers Union will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Farmers Union or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

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

Farmers Union and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Farmers Union offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Utah has the most noticable difference, where Farmers Union premiums are $86 less expensive than auto insurance prices at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It'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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Farmers Union save over 50% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

However, both companies will reduce rates by the time you 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 Union still has the cheapest premiums at $174 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Farmers Union gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $148 per month compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are typically cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married policyholders having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Farmers Union rates coming in at a third less than State Auto's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Farmers Union offers the lowest average prices.

Farmers Union or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Women usually pay around 6% a month less than men with Farmers Union, and almost 10% less with State Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Farmers Union comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $76 per month and women save about $63 with Farmers Union compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Farmers Union 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for a variety 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Farmers Union has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $107. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Farmers Union again has the edge, with policies averaging around $271 a month to State Auto's $369.

Is Farmers Union or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Farmers Union or State Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers Union for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 27% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

That being said, Farmers Union is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Farmers Union Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $32 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $30 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Auto increasing by about 37%. Farmers Union has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from Farmers Union, with average rates coming in at $207 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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, State Auto will raise your premiums around 55% after a DUI, while Farmers Union's average prices increase by just under 40%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Union tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $225 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Union and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking at Farmers Union and State Auto specifically, which one has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Farmers Union will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Farmers Union comes in more than 27.32 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 28% with Farmers Union compared to average rates from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers Union typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 27% per month less with Farmers Union compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 26% monthly.

Is Farmers Union or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Farmers Union or State Auto report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Farmers Union comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average prices of $189 a month for both.

Farmers Union or State Auto: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Farmers Union boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Farmers Union's average prices are about $226 per month compared to State Auto's $317. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $172 with Farmers Union compared to State Auto's $236 a month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $170 per month with Farmers Union compared to State Auto's $225.

Farmers Union vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Farmers Union and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Auto blows Farmers Union away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Farmers Union.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, advantage program , and more.

On the other hand, Farmers Union has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like farm discounts, group discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- State Auto has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers Union and State Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just Farmers Union and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Union vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Farmers Union or State Auto cheaper?

Farmers Union is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $189 a month with Farmers Union and $259 for State Auto. However, that doesn't mean Farmers Union will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Union or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Farmers Union and State Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors such as gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers Union and State Auto calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers Union or State Auto 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers Union 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.