Farmers Union vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, West Bend Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than Farmers Union
• West Bend Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farmers Union Insurance
• West Bend Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in urban areas

Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, West Bend Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Farmers Union, with rates averaging $131 a month compared to $189 with Farmers Union.

That being said, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than Farmers Union for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

Farmers Union vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with West Bend Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual rates are $62 more affordable than car insurance premiums at Farmers Union.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because teen 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 10% less per month by choosing West Bend Mutual over Farmers Union.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farmers Union policyholders lower almost 55% and West Bend Mutual's prices decrease more than 65% over that time.

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 out there.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $56 less expensive than the national average for Farmers Union.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with West Bend Mutual prices coming in at a quarter less than Farmers Union's. The advantage for married drivers with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over 40% a month.

Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Farmers Union, women usually pay around $10 per month less than men, and more than $15 cheaper with West Bend Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, West Bend Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $56 a month and women save about $61 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Farmers Union policyholder.

Farmers Union vs. West Bend Mutual: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage 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 liability limits, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $186 per month to Farmers Union's $271.

Is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers Union for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 27% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 23%.

That being said, West Bend Mutual is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are 39% and 42% more affordable, respectively, compared to Farmers Union Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Union drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $70, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see about a $80 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from West Bend Mutual, with average rates coming in at $163 compared to Farmers Union Insurance's $207.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Farmers Union drivers usually see a 39% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will generally climb prices by around 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, West Bend Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $169 to Farmers Union's $225.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, West Bend Mutual will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, West Bend Mutual comes in more than 31.21 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 30% with West Bend Mutual compared to average rates from Farmers Union.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower prices than Farmers Union when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 30% a month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Farmers Union, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 31% per month.

Is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual 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 car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. West Bend Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average rates of $131 per month for both.

Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, West Bend Mutual normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $57 with West Bend Mutual compared to Farmers Union. People who live in suburban areas pay around $50 less with West Bend Mutual compared to Farmers Union. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual Insurance's average prices are about $68 less than Farmers Union Insurance.

Farmers Union vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, West Bend Mutual has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Farmers Union offers a grand total of 11 discounts, while West Bend Mutual has 16.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but West Bend Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, advanced safety feature, anti-theft, and more.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Farmers Union might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers Union vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $131 a month with West Bend Mutual and $189 for Farmers Union. But that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like your driving record, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers Union and West Bend Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Farmers Union or West Bend Mutual 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.