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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Union offers significantly more affordable rates than The General
• Farmers Union offers cheaper average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Farmers Union offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a short commute

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Farmers Union or The General as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Farmers Union has average rates that are about 22% per month less expensive than those from The General when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Farmers Union will necessarily be cheaper than The General for each driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Farmers Union or The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farmers Union for their auto insurance pay more than $70 less than those who use The General.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farmers Union policyholders lower around $200 and The General's rates decrease over $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Farmers Union gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $148 a month compared to The General's $195.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Union is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $63 a month cheaper than The General, on average. The advantage for married couples with Farmers Union is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $40 per month.

Farmers Union vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men generally pay more for auto insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, men see prices about 6% a month higher with Farmers Union, while with The General, the difference is closer to 12% per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Farmers Union comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $41 a month and men save around $62 with Farmers Union compared to the average The General policyholder.

Farmers Union or The General: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- 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, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers Union typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $107 compared to The General's $154. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Union again has the edge, with policies about $60 per month less expensive than The General, on average.

Is Farmers Union or The General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers Union policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $50 a month if they get a ticket, while The General normally raises premiums around $48 per month, on average.

But Farmers Union is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are $54 and $52 less expensive, respectively, compared to The General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Union drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under $70, while those who have insurance through The General will see about a $85 increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Farmers Union, with monthly premiums averaging $207 compared to The General's $279.

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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. Farmers Union drivers usually see a 39% climb in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while The General will generally raise premiums by around 24%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Union tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $225 per month compared to $254 from The General.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Union and The General Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking specifically at The General and Farmers Union, which company has the best premiums 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 Union or The General 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 your monthly car insurance cost. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Farmers Union or The General report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Farmers Union comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $189 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Farmers Union usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but Farmers Union comes out on top with average rates about $170 monthly. Farmers Union also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $84 and $53 per month respective difference when compared to The General drivers in similar areas.

Farmers Union vs. The General Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new 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 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 hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Farmers Union and The General offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Farmers Union comes out ahead with 11 discounts to The General's six.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Farmers Union also offers distant student discounts, farm discounts, good driving discounts, and more that The General does not.

On the flip side, The General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- liability only discounts and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Union or The General Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've broken down 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 profile and needs?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

The General might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers Union and The General. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple carriers, not just Farmers Union and The General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Union vs. The General FAQs

Is Farmers Union or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Farmers Union is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $189 a month compared to $241 for The General. Even so, Farmers Union won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers Union or The General?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farmers Union and The General offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers Union and The General use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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 insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers Union or The General 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.