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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers slightly cheaper premiums than Vermont Mutual
• State Farm has less expensive rates for residents of suburban areas
• Vermont Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to State Farm or Vermont Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, State Farm is about $15 per month less expensive than Vermont Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, State Farm may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

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

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Vermont Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $10 less than those who use State Farm.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for State Farm policyholders decrease nearly 60% and Vermont Mutual's premiums reduce over 50% 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 prices you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between State Farm and Vermont Mutual? State Farm gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $111 per month compared to Vermont Mutual's $131.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with rates only differing about $15 a month, on average. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - State Farm has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

State Farm vs. Vermont Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men usually pay more than $10 per month more than women with State Farm, and around $14 more with Vermont Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $16 less for men and $14 cheaper for women.

State Farm or Vermont Mutual: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are many different coverages that account for a variety 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

In this case, Vermont Mutual offers the lowest average rates for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while State Farm has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Vermont Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be about $45 more affordable with State Farm.

Is State Farm or Vermont Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

State Farm policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $21 a month if they get a ticket, while Vermont Mutual normally raises prices around $7 per month, on average.

That being said, Vermont Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $17 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $31 per month with Vermont Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Farm policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through Vermont Mutual will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Vermont Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $144 compared to State Farm's $163.

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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Vermont Mutual drivers usually see a 62% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State Farm will generally raise premiums by around 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, State Farm tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $179 a month compared to $307 from Vermont Mutual.

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

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive rates.

Looking specifically at Vermont Mutual and State Farm, which one has the best premiums for drivers 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 State Farm. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to Vermont Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $16 or 13% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $14 less with State Farm than Vermont Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $10 a month with Vermont Mutual.

Is State Farm or Vermont Mutual 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 car insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Vermont Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for State Farm, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, State Farm is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Farm typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but State Farm comes out on top with average rates about $127 monthly. State Farm also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $14 and $8 per month respective difference when compared to Vermont Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

State Farm vs. Vermont Mutual 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 what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by State Farm and Vermont Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

State Farm blows Vermont Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Vermont Mutual's 14.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers defensive driver discounts, drive safe & save discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Vermont Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Vermont Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, experienced operator discounts, and paid in full discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

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

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You live in a rural area.

Vermont Mutual might be best for you if...

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between State Farm and Vermont Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just State Farm and Vermont Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Farm vs. Vermont Mutual FAQs

Is State Farm or Vermont Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State Farm is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 a month compared to $173 for Vermont Mutual. But State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, State Farm or Vermont Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both State Farm and Vermont Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be State Farm or Vermont Mutual 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.