First American Property & Casualty vs. State National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

You've probably seen ads offering big savings on car insurance, but are First American Property & Casualty or State National right for you? Which company offers the lowest rates, or the most discounts? Read on to see how First American Property & Casualty and State National compare, and to find out which carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your budget.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for insurance, State National offers slightly cheaper prices than First American Property & Casualty
  • First American Property & Casualty offers more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas
  • State National has less expensive prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years


First American Property & Casualty vs. State National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to First American Property & Casualty or State National for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable premiums?

First American Property & Casualty State National
$167$159

As you can see, State National is about $8 per month cheaper than First American Property & Casualty when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean State National will necessarily be more affordable than First American Property & Casualty for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of First American Property & Casualty or State National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

First American Property & Casualty or State National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State First American Property & Casualty State National
CA$167$159

Both First American Property & Casualty and State National only offer auto insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For California residents, State National offers insurance for $159 per month on average. First American Property & Casualty's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $167 a month.

Typically, where you call home will play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, a lot of other factors will come into play when you compare First American Property & Casualty and State National. Keep reading to learn more.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

First American Property & Casualty State National
18-year-old drivers$359$318
25-year-old drivers$155$154

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. Normally, 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State National for their insurance pay more than $40 less than those who use First American Property & Casualty.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for First American Property & Casualty policyholders reduce over 55% and State National's premiums lower more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

First American Property & Casualty State National
65+-year-old drivers$121$118

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

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? State National gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $118 monthly compared to First American Property & Casualty's $121. That being said, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Single$193$181
Married$131$131

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State National is the winner for single policyholders, with prices about $12 a month less expensive than First American Property & Casualty, on average.

First American Property & Casualty vs. State National: Average Rates by Gender

First American Property & Casualty State National
Male$167$159
Female$167$159

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

Everyone gets the same monthly premiums regardless of gender with First American Property & Casualty; and with State National, both genders end up paying the same monthly rate.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State National offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $8 less for men and $8 cheaper for women.


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First American Property & Casualty or State National: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

First American Property & Casualty State National
State Minimum*$70$79
Full Coverage**$263$240

*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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, First American Property & Casualty offers the lowest average prices for state minimum liability insurance, while State National has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with First American Property & Casualty, while full coverage comes out to be around $25 more affordable with State National.

Is First American Property & Casualty or State National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Clean Record$119$102
1 Speeding Ticket$145$142

First American Property & Casualty policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $26 per month if they get a ticket, while State National typically raises premiums about $40 a month, on average.

That being said, State National tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are $17 and $3 less expensive, respectively, compared to First American Property & Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Clean Record$119$102
1 At-Fault Accident$145$142

First American Property & Casualty policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through State National will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from State National, with monthly rates averaging $142 compared to First American Property & Casualty's $145.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Clean Record$119$102
1 DUI$256$252

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. State National drivers usually see a 60% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while First American Property & Casualty will normally raise rates by about 54%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, State National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $252 per month compared to $256 from First American Property & Casualty.


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How does Credit Score Impact First American Property & Casualty and State National Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers 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 cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Excellent Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available
Good Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

First American Property & Casualty State National
Fair Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available
Poor Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available

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Is First American Property & Casualty or State National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

First American Property & Casualty State National
6,000 Annual Miles$141$141
12,000 Annual Miles$192$178

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

Looking specifically at First American Property & Casualty and State National, First American Property & Casualty is the more affordable option for people who work from home, while First American Property & Casualty has better premiums for those with short commutes. First American Property & Casualty's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $0 cheaper than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $14 less with State National over First American Property & Casualty.

First American Property & Casualty vs. State National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

First American Property & Casualty State National
Urban Areas$172$173
Suburban Areas$188$163
Rural Areas$140$143

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, First American Property & Casualty typically comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while State National wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 2% with First American Property & Casualty compared to State National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 13% less with State National compared to First American Property & Casualty. In urban areas, First American Property & Casualty's average rates are around 1% less than State National.

First American Property & Casualty vs. State National Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both First American Property & Casualty and State National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

First American Property & Casualty State National
Anti-Theft Discount
Auto-Pilot Discount 
Distant Student Discount
Good Driving Discount
Good Student Discount
Group Discount
Mature Driver Discount
Multi-Car Discount
Multi-Policy Discount 
Passive Restraint Discount
Renewal Discount

Anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, group discounts, and passive restraint discounts are offered by both companies.


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Final Thoughts: Is First American Property & Casualty or State National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is First American Property & Casualty or State National the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

State National might be best for you if....

  • You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
  • You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
  • You have a short commute.


First American Property & Casualty might be best for you if...

  • You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
  • You live in a rural neighborhood.
  • You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between First American Property & Casualty and State National. 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 sure-fire 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 First American Property & Casualty and State National. 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.


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First American Property & Casualty vs. State National FAQs

Is First American Property & Casualty or State National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State National is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $159 per month compared to $167 for First American Property & Casualty. However, State National won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, First American Property & Casualty or State National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do First American Property & Casualty and State National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like where you park your car, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both First American Property & Casualty and State National use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if First American Property & Casualty or State National is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be First American Property & Casualty or State 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.

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