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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Southern Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Shelter may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Southern Farm Bureau Insurance
• Southern Farm Bureau tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of suburban areas

Shelter or Southern 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 savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Shelter or Southern Farm Bureau, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Shelter has average rates that are around 50% a month more expensive than those from Southern Farm Bureau when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean Southern Farm Bureau will necessarily be more affordable than Shelter for each driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Arkansas, where Southern Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average premiums. Southern Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $64 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Shelter for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 Southern Farm Bureau save almost 55% a month compared to those who use Shelter.

That being said, both companies will lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Shelter policyholders drop over 55% and Southern Farm Bureau's premiums reduce about 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau? Southern Farm Bureau gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $65 less expensive than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for those who are single. That's typically 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 rates between these two carriers is significant, with Southern Farm Bureau premiums coming in at around half of Shelter's. The advantage for married policyholders with Southern Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save about $80 per month.

Shelter or Southern Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? 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, men see rates around $25 a month higher with Shelter, and about $6 more with Southern Farm Bureau.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Southern Farm Bureau offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $115 per month and women save around $96 with Southern Farm Bureau compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Shelter vs. Southern 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Southern Farm Bureau has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $54. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Southern Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging about $151 a month to Shelter's $288.

Is Shelter or Southern 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.

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Shelter or Southern Farm Bureau -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Shelter for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Southern Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 8%.

Even so, Southern Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 37% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 46% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Shelter drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under 40%, while those who have insurance through Southern Farm Bureau will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Southern Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $116 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 per month -- that's nearly a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Southern Farm Bureau tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $108 to Shelter's $277.

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

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto 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 most affordable rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Southern Farm Bureau will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Southern Farm Bureau comes in more than 56.1 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 55% with Southern Farm Bureau compared to average prices from Shelter.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Shelter when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 52% a month less with Southern Farm Bureau compared to Shelter, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 43% a month.

Is Shelter or Southern 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 big impact on your monthly rates? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable 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 Southern Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Shelter, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car each year paying about $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Southern Farm Bureau is the cheaper company.

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

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

Southern Farm Bureau boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern Farm Bureau Insurance's average premiums are around $125 less than Shelter Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $72 less with Southern Farm Bureau compared to Shelter. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $120 with Southern Farm Bureau compared to Shelter.

Shelter vs. Southern Farm Bureau 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 utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult 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 Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Shelter knocks Southern Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 different discounts to Southern Farm Bureau's four.

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

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

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

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

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

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just Shelter and Southern Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Shelter vs. Southern Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Shelter or Southern Farm Bureau cheaper?

Southern Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $103 per month with Southern Farm Bureau and $208 for Shelter. However, that doesn't mean Southern Farm Bureau will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Shelter or Southern Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

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

How do I know if Shelter or Southern 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 multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Shelter or Southern 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.