Safe Auto vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers significantly more affordable premiums than Safe Auto
• Safe Auto 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 policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to 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 might have narrowed your search down to Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, South Carolina Farm Bureau has average rates that are around 50% a month cheaper than those from Safe Auto when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, South Carolina Farm Bureau may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Safe Auto vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Safe Auto 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 $121 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Safe Auto for their auto insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have South Carolina Farm Bureau for their auto insurance pay over 50% less than those who use Safe Auto. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers car insurance in 13 different states compared to South Carolina Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Safe Auto policyholders drop about $250 and South Carolina Farm Bureau's prices decrease around $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? South Carolina Farm Bureau gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $104 less expensive than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with South Carolina Farm Bureau premiums coming in at about half of Safe Auto's. The advantage for married policyholders with South Carolina Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save more than 50% a month.

Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Safe Auto, women usually pay around 7% per month less than men, and about 5% less with South Carolina Farm Bureau.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $106 a month and men save around $117 with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to the average Safe Auto policyholder.

Safe Auto 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to 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 about $144 per month to Safe Auto's $320.

Is Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Safe Auto for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 18% after getting a speeding ticket. South Carolina Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 11%.

Even so, South Carolina Farm Bureau is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 47% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 51% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Safe Auto drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over 25%, while those who have insurance through South Carolina Farm Bureau will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from South Carolina Farm Bureau, with average prices coming in at $125 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Safe Auto increases average rates by $65 a month -- that's more than a 25% increase.

South Carolina Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $116 per month, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just one for South Carolina Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, South Carolina Farm Bureau will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes in nearly 59.89 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 58% with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to average prices from Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers lower rates than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 52% per month less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 35% monthly.

Is Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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 auto insurance bill. Usually, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $111 a month for both.

Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

South Carolina Farm Bureau boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, South Carolina Farm Bureau's average prices are around $115 per month compared to Safe Auto's $271. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $103 with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to $200 with Safe Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $114 a month with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Safe Auto's $197.

Safe Auto 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 where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Safe Auto knocks South Carolina Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Safe Auto also offers discounts for agency transfer, anti-theft, claim free, and more.

On the other hand, South Carolina Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like distant student discounts, good student discounts, and multi-policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

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

• You're looking for the best rates in SC.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- Safe Auto has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Safe Auto vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau cheaper?

South Carolina Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $111 a month with South Carolina Farm Bureau and $223 for Safe Auto. However, that doesn't mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as age, gender, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Safe Auto and South Carolina Farm Bureau calculate premiums using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Safe Auto or South Carolina Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Safe Auto 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.