Partners Mutual vs. State Farm: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Partners Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than State Farm
• Partners Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for residents of urban areas
• State Farm has less expensive premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Partners Mutual vs. State Farm: 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 huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Partners Mutual or State Farm, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Partners Mutual is about $35 per month cheaper than State Farm when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Partners Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than State Farm for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Partners Mutual and State Farm by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Partners Mutual or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Partners Mutual and State Farm only compete against each other in Iowa, where State Farm offers the cheaper average prices. For Iowa residents, State Farm offers car insurance for $67 a month on average. Partners Mutual's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $123 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing Partners Mutual over State Farm.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Partners Mutual policyholders lower over 55% and State Farm's rates reduce nearly 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Partners Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 10% more affordable than the national average for State Farm.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $45 per month less expensive than State Farm, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Partners Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over $20 a month.

Partners Mutual vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll typically end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, women see rates almost $10 per month more affordable with Partners Mutual, and about $12 less with State Farm.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Partners Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices 23% less for men and 22% cheaper for women.

Partners Mutual or 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 pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of 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.

Even so, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Partners Mutual usually offers significantly cheaper premiums of $52 compared to State Farm's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Partners Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $20 a month less expensive than State Farm, on average.

Is Partners Mutual or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Partners Mutual or State Farm -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Partners Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $16 per month if they get a ticket, while State Farm normally raises rates about $21 a month, on average.

However, Partners Mutual has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $55 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $60 a month with Partners Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Partners Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $35, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see around a $30 increase.

Overall, Partners Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $115 compared to State Farm's $163.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Partners Mutual will increase your prices about 61% after a DUI, while State Farm's average rates climb by over 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Partners Mutual and State Farm Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking at Partners Mutual and State Farm specifically, which company has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Partners Mutual 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 how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, 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 Partners Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for State Farm, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Partners Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Partners Mutual vs. State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Partners Mutual normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $9 with Partners Mutual compared to State Farm. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $53 less with Partners Mutual compared to State Farm. In urban areas, Partners Mutual Insurance's average prices are about $42 less than State Farm.

Partners Mutual vs. State Farm Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Partners Mutual and State Farm so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

State Farm blows Partners Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Partners Mutual's eight.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, defensive driver discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Partners Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Partners Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, ESC discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Partners Mutual or State Farm Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Partners Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

State Farm might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You care about discounts (State Farm offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Partners Mutual and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Partners Mutual and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Partners Mutual vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Partners Mutual or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Partners Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $123 per month compared to $158 for State Farm. Even so, Partners Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Partners Mutual or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Partners Mutual and State Farm offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Partners Mutual and State Farm calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Partners Mutual or State Farm is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 information once 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 most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Partners Mutual or State Farm 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.