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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper premiums than State Farm
• State Farm offers more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau offers more affordable rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? 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 Virginia Farm Bureau for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, State Farm is quite a bit more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau, with premiums averaging $158 per month compared to just $101 with Virginia Farm Bureau when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will necessarily be more affordable than State Farm for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where State Farm offers the cheaper average premiums. For Virginia residents, State Farm offers insurance for $95 per month on average. Virginia Farm Bureau's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $101 a month.

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?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. The reason is that 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 Virginia Farm Bureau for their insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use State Farm. It's worth noting that State Farm offers auto insurance in 51 different states compared to Virginia Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for State Farm policyholders drop over $200 and Virginia Farm Bureau's rates reduce about $100 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 cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $20 less expensive than the national average for State Farm.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Virginia Farm Bureau is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $68 a month less expensive than State Farm, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Virginia Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save more than $40 per month.

State Farm vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Women typically pay about $10 a month less than men with State Farm, while with Virginia Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to $4 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Virginia Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $61 less for men and $53 cheaper for women.

State Farm or Virginia 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 car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Virginia Farm Bureau normally offers significantly more affordable prices of $66 compared to State Farm's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies around $80 a month cheaper than State Farm, on average.

Is State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

State Farm policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $21 per month if they get a ticket, while Virginia Farm Bureau generally raises premiums about $25 a month, on average.

However, Virginia Farm Bureau is typically the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save around $52 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $48 a month with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with State Farm increasing by just under $30. Virginia Farm Bureau has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Virginia Farm Bureau, with monthly prices averaging $105 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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. State Farm drivers usually see a 25% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Virginia Farm Bureau will generally climb prices by around 26%.

Virginia Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $111 monthly, but it's worth noting that State Farm's average rates come from 51 states compared to just one for Virginia Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Virginia Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 20% compared to State Farm, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $17 or 16% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower rates than State Farm when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $39 per month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to State Farm, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $158 per month.

Is State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly prices. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. State Farm's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $50 more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $60 more with State Farm over Virginia Farm Bureau.

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

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Virginia Farm Bureau usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Virginia Farm Bureau comes out on top with average prices around $78 monthly. Virginia Farm Bureau also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 41% and 28% a month respective difference when compared to State Farm policyholders in similar areas.

State Farm vs. Virginia Farm Bureau 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.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Farm knocks Virginia Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Virginia Farm Bureau's eight.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, anti-theft discounts, drive safe & save discounts, and more that Virginia Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Virginia Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- new business discounts and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year.

State Farm might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You care about discounts (State Farm offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau. 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 insurance companies in your area, all for free.

State Farm vs. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Virginia Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $101 per month compared to $158 for State Farm. That being said, Virginia Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables like age, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both State Farm and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes 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 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 State Farm or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.