Main Street America vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive rates than Main Street America
• Main Street America may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance
• South Carolina Farm Bureau offers cheaper average prices for drivers with a DUI

Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau as your top options, but which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Main Street America is quite a bit more expensive than South Carolina Farm Bureau, with premiums averaging $227 a month compared to just $111 with South Carolina Farm Bureau.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will be the less expensive option for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Main Street America vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau only compete against each other in South Carolina, where South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. South Carolina Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $66 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Main Street America for their insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use South Carolina Farm Bureau save over 55% a month compared to those who use Main Street America.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Main Street America's average premiums lower almost 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau? South Carolina Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $75 monthly compared to Main Street America's $181.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of companies will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with South Carolina Farm Bureau prices coming in at about half of Main Street America's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - South Carolina Farm Bureau has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Surprisingly, with Main Street America, men typicallypay around $6 per month less than women, and about $6 with South Carolina Farm Bureau.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices $110 less for men and $122 cheaper for women.

Main Street America vs. South Carolina 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two 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 their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $78. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging around $144 a month to Main Street America's $295.

Is Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Main Street America for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. South Carolina Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 11%.

That being said, South Carolina Farm Bureau is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering premiums that are $80 and $129 more affordable, respectively, compared to Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Main Street America can expect to see about an $40 -- or around 19% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use South Carolina Farm Bureau for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $30 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from South Carolina Farm Bureau, with average premiums coming in at $125 compared to Main Street America Insurance's $215.

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 a collision. On average, Main Street America will increase your rates around 38% after a DUI, while South Carolina Farm Bureau's average prices increase by nearly 20%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, South Carolina Farm Bureau tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $116 to Main Street America's $283.

How does Credit Score Impact Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly car insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for many drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, South Carolina Farm Bureau will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes in more than 31.19 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 31% with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to average premiums from Main Street America.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers lower rates than Main Street America when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 39% per month less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Main Street America, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 66% a month.

Is Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much South Carolina Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Main Street America, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying about $4 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the cheaper carrier.

Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau: 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 big impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, South Carolina Farm Bureau 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 around $74 with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Main Street America. People who live in suburban areas pay about $127 less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Main Street America. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance's average premiums are around $149 less than Main Street America Insurance.

Main Street America vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Main Street America knocks South Carolina Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to South Carolina Farm Bureau's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts. Main Street America also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, DRL, and more.

South Carolina Farm Bureau's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Distant Student, Driver Training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

South Carolina Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Main Street America has the most.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau. 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Main Street America vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau cheaper?

South Carolina Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $111 a month with South Carolina Farm Bureau and $227 for Main Street America. But that doesn't mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like where you park your vehicle, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Main Street America and South Carolina Farm Bureau use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Main Street America or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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.