Missouri Farm Bureau vs. Shelter: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Missouri Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Missouri Farm Bureau offers cheaper average prices for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Shelter may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance

Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Missouri Farm Bureau has average rates that are around 45% a month less expensive than those from Shelter.

But Missouri Farm Bureau may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Missouri Farm Bureau vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter only compete against each other in Missouri, where Missouri Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average premiums. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their auto insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 45% less a month by choosing Missouri Farm Bureau over Shelter.

Even so, both carriers will drop prices by the time you turn 25. Shelter offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Missouri Farm Bureau still has the cheapest premiums at $94 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable car 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 prices for auto insurance.

When looking at Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Missouri Farm Bureau gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $60 more affordable than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Missouri Farm Bureau rates coming in at about half of Shelter's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Missouri Farm Bureau offers the lowest average premiums.

Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see premiums nearly 15% per month less with Missouri Farm Bureau, and over 10% less with Shelter when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Missouri Farm Bureau offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $102 a month and women save around $94 with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Missouri Farm Bureau vs. Shelter: 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Missouri Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $51. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Missouri Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging about $170 per month to Shelter's $288.

Is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Missouri Farm Bureau for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 5% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

But Missouri Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 32% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 44% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Missouri Farm Bureau can expect to see around an $12 -- or about 11% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Shelter for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Missouri Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $109 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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. For example, Shelter increases average prices by nearly $150 a month -- that's nearly a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Missouri Farm Bureau tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $134 to Shelter's $277.

How does Credit Score Impact Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

Insurance carriers 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 best prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter 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 considerable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates 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 Missouri Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Shelter, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Missouri Farm Bureau is the less expensive carrier.

Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Missouri Farm Bureau tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $90 monthly with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to Shelter's $203. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $109 with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to Shelter's $187 per month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Missouri Farm Bureau's average premiums are about $132 per month compared to Shelter's $235.

Missouri Farm Bureau vs. Shelter Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car 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 where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Shelter comes out ahead with 10 discounts to Missouri Farm Bureau's seven.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good student, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but Shelter also offers discounts for advance quote, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Missouri Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like hybrid vehicle discounts, occupation discounts, and preferred customer discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter the right one for you and your specific needs?

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

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your rates.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter and that you can now make a more informed 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 a handful of carriers, not just Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Missouri Farm Bureau vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter cheaper?

Missouri Farm Bureau is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $111 a month with Missouri Farm Bureau and $208 for Shelter. That being said, that doesn't mean Missouri Farm Bureau will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like where you park your car, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Missouri Farm Bureau and Shelter use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Missouri Farm Bureau or Shelter 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.