Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Texas Farm Bureau offers less expensive premiums than Houston General
• Houston General tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Texas Farm Bureau offers more affordable rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Houston General is about $21 more per month than Texas Farm Bureau when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Texas Farm Bureau will necessarily be less expensive than Houston General for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau only offer insurance in Texas, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Texas residents, Texas Farm Bureau offers auto insurance for $139 monthly on average. Houston General's average premiums come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $160 a month.

Typically, where you call home will play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance, but since both companies only do business in Texas, a whole bunch of other factors will come into play when you compare Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau. 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 insurance than any other group of drivers. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Texas Farm Bureau save nearly $75 a month compared to those who use Houston General.

That being said, both carriers will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Houston General policyholders lower almost 45% and Texas Farm Bureau's prices decrease nearly 40% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

When looking at Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Texas Farm Bureau gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $6 more affordable than the national average for Houston General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover more than one car, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Texas Farm Bureau is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $20 per month more affordable than Houston General, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Texas Farm Bureau offers the most affordable average rates.

Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is usually more expensive for men than for women. This is because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Houston General, women normally pay about 7% a month less than men, and around 11% less with Texas Farm Bureau.

Looking at overall affordability, Texas Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $18 less for men and $23 cheaper for women.

Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau: 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. There are a variety of different coverages that account for multiple 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 provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Houston General offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Texas Farm Bureau has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $4 with Houston General Insurance Exchange, while full coverage comes out to be about $45 less expensive with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance.

Is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Texas Farm Bureau car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Houston General policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 25%.

But Texas Farm Bureau is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 36% and 52% less expensive, respectively, compared to Houston General Insurance Exchange.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Houston General drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through Texas Farm Bureau will see about a $45 increase.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Texas Farm Bureau, with monthly prices averaging $114 compared to Houston General Insurance Exchange's $233.

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 speeding ticket. For example, Texas Farm Bureau increases average rates by just under $250 per month -- that's over a 75% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Houston General tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $147 per month compared to $300 from Texas Farm Bureau.

How does Credit Score Impact Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies 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.

Looking at Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau specifically, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Texas Farm Bureau. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 45% compared to Houston General, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $37 or 26% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $23 less with Texas Farm Bureau than Houston General, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $31 a month with Houston General.

Is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a substantial impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? 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 Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Texas Farm Bureau comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average premiums of $139 per month for both.

Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Policyholders in suburban ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but Texas Farm Bureau comes out on top with average prices about $128 a month. Texas Farm Bureau also has more affordable average premiums for drivers in urban and rural ZIP codes -- a 5% and 20% a month respective difference when compared to Houston General policyholders in similar areas.

Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Houston General has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Texas Farm Bureau offers a grand total of six discounts, while Houston General has eight.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Houston General also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Texas Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Texas Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- academic discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Texas Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your credit score is high.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Houston General might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 companies, not just Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau. 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Houston General vs. Texas Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Texas Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $139 per month compared to $160 for Houston General. However, Texas Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Texas Farm Bureau offers less expensive rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Houston General is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Factors like gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Houston General and Texas Farm Bureau calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Houston General or Texas Farm Bureau 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.