Southern vs. Trustgard Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Trustgard Auto offers significantly more affordable premiums than Southern
• Southern offers more discounts than Trustgard Auto Insurance
• Trustgard Auto tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of rural areas

Southern vs. Trustgard Auto: 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 sizable discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Southern or Trustgard Auto for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Trustgard Auto has average rates that are about 55% per month cheaper than those from Southern.

Even so, Trustgard Auto may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so rates could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Southern and Trustgard Auto by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Southern or Trustgard Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost 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?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Trustgard Auto save $350 a month compared to those who use Southern.

However, both companies will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Southern policyholders decrease more than 60% and Trustgard Auto's premiums drop nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Southern and Trustgard Auto? Trustgard Auto gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $158 cheaper than the national average for Southern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Trustgard Auto is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $211 per month less expensive than Southern, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Trustgard Auto is also obvious, where drivers save about $150 a month.

Southern vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Women usually pay over $35 per month less than men with Southern, and around $9 less with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $198 a month and women save about $171 with Trustgard Auto compared to the average Southern policyholder.

Southern or Trustgard Auto: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Trustgard Auto generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $79 compared to Southern's $192. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month less expensive than Southern, on average.

Is Southern or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Southern or Trustgard Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Southern policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $17 a month if they get a ticket, while Trustgard Auto normally raises premiums about $50 per month, on average.

But Trustgard Auto has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $118 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $85 per month with Trustgard Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Southern can expect to see around an $77 -- or about 26% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Trustgard Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $35 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Trustgard Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $133 compared to Southern Insurance Company of Virginia's $293.

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 ticket or even a collision. On average, Southern will raise your premiums about 61% after a DUI, while Trustgard Auto's average prices climb by just under 45%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Trustgard Auto tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $171 monthly compared to $548 from Southern.

How does Credit Score Impact Southern and Trustgard Auto Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several drivers.

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

Looking at Southern and Trustgard Auto specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Trustgard Auto. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 50% compared to Southern, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $133 or 51% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Trustgard Auto typically offers lower rates than Southern when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $189 a month less with Trustgard Auto compared to Southern, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $310 a month.

Is Southern or Trustgard Auto 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 prices? Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Trustgard Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Southern, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $30 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Trustgard Auto is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Southern vs. Trustgard Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

For policyholders in rural ZIP codes, Trustgard Auto offers rates around $134 per month compared to Southern's $298. People who live in urban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $147 per month for Trustgard Auto and $390 for Southern. Lastly, those in suburban areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $132 and $279 for Trustgard Auto and Southern respectively.

Southern vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Southern and Trustgard Auto 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, Southern has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Trustgard Auto offers a grand total of 16 discounts, while Southern has 20.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Southern also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, experienced operator discounts, and more that Trustgard Auto does not.

On the flip side, Trustgard Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advanced safety feature discounts, company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Southern or Trustgard Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Southern might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Southern and Trustgard Auto. 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Southern and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Southern vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is Southern or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Trustgard Auto is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $322 for Southern. However, Trustgard Auto won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Southern or Trustgard Auto?

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

Why do Southern and Trustgard Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as where you park your car, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Southern and Trustgard Auto calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Southern or Trustgard Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best 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 Southern or Trustgard Auto 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.