Great Northern vs. State Farm: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly more affordable prices than Great Northern
• State Farm offers less expensive average rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• State Farm offers more affordable premiums for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Great Northern or State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Great Northern or State Farm, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Great Northern has average rates that are around 70% a month more expensive than those from State Farm.

That being said, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be more affordable than Great Northern for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Great Northern and State Farm by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Great Northern vs. State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Great Northern and State Farm only compete against each other in Michigan, where Great Northern offers the cheaper average prices. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their insurance.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies determine your rates. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. That's generally 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 65% less a month by choosing State Farm over Great Northern.

But both carriers will drop premiums by the time drivers turn 25. State Farm offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Great Northern's average rates lower almost 50% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Great Northern and State Farm specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 70% less expensive than the national average for Great Northern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one vehicle, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with State Farm rates coming in at about a third of Great Northern's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - State Farm has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Great Northern or State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Women and men get the same monthly rates with Great Northern, and around $10 with State Farm.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, State Farm comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 67% less for men and 69% cheaper for women.

Great Northern vs. State Farm: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies averaging about $216 per month to Great Northern's $737.

Is Great Northern or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Great Northern or State Farm more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Great Northern insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but State Farm policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 15%.

But State Farm has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 73% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 69% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Farm raising by about 18%. Great Northern has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay 0% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, State Farm offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $163 compared to Great Northern Insurance's $496.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, State Farm will raise your rates around 25% after a DUI, while Great Northern's average premiums climb by 0%.

How does Credit Score Impact Great Northern and State Farm Rates?

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

Auto 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, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Great Northern and State Farm specifically, which company has the lowest rates 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 Great Northern or State Farm 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 premiums. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Great Northern charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for State Farm, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, State Farm is the cheaper company.

Great Northern or State Farm: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

State Farm boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $305 with State Farm compared to Great Northern. People who live in suburban areas pay about $325 less with State Farm compared to Great Northern. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State Farm's average premiums are around $385 less than Great Northern Insurance.

Great Northern vs. State Farm 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier 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 looked at all of the different discounts Great Northern and State Farm offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Farm blows Great Northern away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Great Northern's 10.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and passive restraint discounts -- but State Farm also offers discounts for annual mileage, distant student, drive safe & save, and more.

On the other hand, Great Northern has a few proprietary discounts of their own like occasional operator discounts and vehicle ownership discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Great Northern or State Farm Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Great Northern or State Farm the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

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

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Great Northern and State Farm. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Great Northern and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Great Northern vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Great Northern or State Farm cheaper?

State Farm is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $158 a month with State Farm and $496 for Great Northern. That being said, that doesn't mean State Farm will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Great Northern or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Great Northern is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while State Farm offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Great Northern and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Great Northern and State Farm calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Great Northern or State Farm 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Great Northern or State Farm 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.