State Farm vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Western Reserve Group offers more affordable premiums than State Farm
• State Farm may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group has less expensive prices for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

State Farm or Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to State Farm or Western Reserve Group for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper rates for insurance?

As you can see, Western Reserve Group is around $21 a month more affordable than State Farm when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be less expensive than State Farm for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of State Farm or Western Reserve Group is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

State Farm vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Farm and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with State Farm offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where State Farm premiums are $62 less expensive than car insurance prices at Western Reserve Group.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group on the road. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay 25% less than those who use State Farm. It's worth noting that State Farm offers car insurance in 51 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for State Farm policyholders lower almost 60% and Western Reserve Group's premiums decrease nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between State Farm and Western Reserve Group? In this case, Western Reserve Group has the slight edge, with rates about $4 per month less than State Farm. But that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, like your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Western Reserve Group premiums coming in at around 15% less than State Farm's. The advantage for married drivers with Western Reserve Group is also obvious, where drivers save about $15 a month.

State Farm or Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women usually pay less for car insurance than men.

On average, men see prices around 7% per month higher with State Farm, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men typically pay about 1% a month less than women.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Western Reserve Group comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $28 less for men and $14 cheaper for women.

State Farm vs. Western Reserve Group: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car 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 property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western Reserve Group has the slight edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies averaging around $180 per month to State Farm's $216.

Is State Farm or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use State Farm for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 14% after getting a speeding ticket. Western Reserve Group policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 28%.

Even so, Western Reserve Group is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are $46 and $33 more affordable, respectively, compared to State Farm.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Western Reserve Group increasing by about 27%. State Farm has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Western Reserve Group end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $120 compared to State Farm's $163.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Western Reserve Group increases average rates by nearly $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

State Farm has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $179 a month, but it's worth noting that State Farm's average rates come from 51 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact State Farm and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car 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 less expensive rates.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, State Farm will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, State Farm comes in more than 22.33 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 10% with State Farm compared to average rates from Western Reserve Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower prices than State Farm when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 6% per month less with Western Reserve Group compared to State Farm, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 37% per month.

Is State Farm or Western Reserve Group 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates 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 Western Reserve Group charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for State Farm, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle each year paying about $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Western Reserve Group is the more affordable carrier.

State Farm or Western Reserve Group: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Western Reserve Group boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western Reserve Group's average rates are around 21% less than State Farm. People who live in suburban areas pay about 14% less with Western Reserve Group compared to State Farm. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 2% with Western Reserve Group compared to State Farm.

State Farm vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto 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 qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by State Farm and Western Reserve Group so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Farm blows Western Reserve Group away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers discounts for ABS, annual mileage, drive safe & save, and more.

On the other hand, Western Reserve Group has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and company car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is State Farm or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

State Farm might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between State Farm and Western Reserve Group. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 several companies, not just State Farm and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. 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. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is State Farm or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Western Reserve Group is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $137 a month with Western Reserve Group and $158 for State Farm. But that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, State Farm or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do State Farm and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like where you live, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both State Farm and Western Reserve Group use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if State Farm or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't State Farm or Western Reserve Group 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.