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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly more affordable prices than Southern
• State Farm offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record
• State Farm has less expensive rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Southern vs. State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Southern or State Farm, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Southern is quite a bit more expensive than State Farm, with prices averaging $322 per month compared to just $158 with State Farm when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be cheaper than Southern for every driver. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among several other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Southern or State Farm is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Southern or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Southern and State Farm only compete against each other in three states, with State Farm offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where State Farm premiums are over 70% less expensive than insurance rates at Southern.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their insurance pay more than $350 less than those who use Southern.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates out there.

When looking at Southern and State Farm specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 55% cheaper than the national average for Southern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $198 a month less expensive than Southern, on average. The advantage for married drivers with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save almost 50% per month.

Southern vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see premiums over 10% a month less with Southern, while with State Farm, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, State Farm offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $176 less for men and $152 cheaper for women.

Southern 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Farm typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $99 compared to Southern's $192. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month cheaper than Southern, on average.

Is Southern 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 tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Southern or State Farm -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Southern policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $17 per month if they get a ticket, while State Farm normally raises premiums about $21 a month, on average.

But State Farm is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $82 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $78 a month with State Farm.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Southern increasing by over $75. State Farm has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $163 compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia's $293.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Southern drivers usually see a 61% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State Farm will usually increase premiums by around 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Southern and State Farm Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best rates 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 Southern 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. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, State Farm offers more affordable prices than Southern. Southern's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 50% more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 50% more with Southern over State Farm.

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

Where you park your car can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

State Farm tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, State Farm's average premiums are about 53% less than Southern Insurance Company of Virginia. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 42% less with State Farm compared to Southern. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 57% with State Farm compared to Southern.

Southern vs. State Farm Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Southern and State Farm offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Farm comes out ahead with 23 discounts to Southern's 20.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, drive safe & save discounts, and more that Southern does not.

On the flip side, Southern has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, experienced operator discounts, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Southern or State Farm Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly.

Southern might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Southern and State Farm and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 multiple carriers, not just Southern and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Southern vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Southern or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State Farm is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $322 for Southern. Even so, State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Southern or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Southern and State Farm offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like gender, where your home is, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Southern and State Farm calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Southern 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 a handful of companies 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 car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Southern 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.