4.8out of 3,000+ reviews
Updated August 11, 2022
AAA vs. Farmers: A Summary
If you’re looking to compare car insurance providers, two companies you may consider are AAA and Farmers. We’ll go over the similarities and differences between these companies to help you decide which is right for you. But first, here’s how these two auto insurance companies compare in terms of average monthly cost and Insurify Composite Score.
Insurance Company | Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote | Insurify Composite ScoreThe Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews. |
---|---|---|
AAA | $113 | 85 |
Farmers | $107 | 85 |
ICS Score Explanation:
The Insurify Composite Score (ICS) is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
AAA
AAA was formed over a century ago when several small motor clubs joined together. The federation of auto clubs is best known for its roadside assistance memberships, but you can purchase auto insurance directly from AAA in many states as well. In some states, AAA acts as a broker, connecting you with other insurers, such as GEICO and State Farm.
AAA members can save on auto insurance from AAA, but you don’t need a membership to get help from a AAA insurance agent. In addition to offering standard coverages, like collision and comprehensive coverage, AAA car insurance offers rental reimbursement, gap insurance, new car protection, and rideshare coverage in some regions.
AAA offers other insurance products, such as home insurance, and provides a bundling discount. AAA has an excellent financial strength rating from A.M. Best. CSAA, one of AAA’s regional clubs, was ranked above average for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, while other AAA auto clubs were ranked below average.
Pros
Excellent financial strength rating from A.M. Best
Great roadside service program
SMARTtrek telematics program in some states
Cons
Customer satisfaction rankings vary by region
Not a direct insurer in some states
Auto insurance rates exceed the industry average
Farmers
Farmers Insurance was founded in 1928 and offers a variety of insurance products, including homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and life insurance to customers in all 50 states. The company has excellent financial ratings. Farmers was ranked below average in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study but was ranked above average for claims satisfaction.
Farmers’ premiums are higher than the industry average, but the insurance provider offers a variety of discounts. Besides the standard coverage options, Farmers also offers towing and roadside service, rental car reimbursement, rideshare coverage, new car replacement coverage, and other unique options for special equipment and collectible cars.
Farmers offers a variety of discounts, but they vary by state. You can also save based on your driving behavior with the Signal telematics program.
Pros
Available in all 50 states
Ranked above average for claims satisfaction by J.D. Power
Offers rideshare coverage
Cons
Ranked below average in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study
Car insurance rates are higher than the industry average
AAA vs. Farmers — Ratings
Rating Factor | AAA | Farmers |
---|---|---|
Fitch | NR | WD |
A.M. Best | A | A |
Moody’s | NR | Baa2 |
S&P | NR | A |
J.D. Power | 834 | 868 |
The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022
Rank | Company Name | Average Monthly Quote | Insurify Composite ScoreThe Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews. |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Clearcover Best Overall | $135 | 97 |
2 | Nationwide Best for Safe Drivers | $199 | 89 |
3 | American Family Best for Families with Teen Drivers | $234 | 89 |
4 | Safeco Best for Drivers with Poor Credit | $186 | 86 |
5 | Farmers Best for Rideshare Coverage | $239 | 85 |
6 | Foremost Best for Hassle-Free Claims | $159 | 82 |
7 | Liberty Mutual Best for Accident Forgiveness | $241 | 82 |
8 | Mercury Best for Face-to-Face Service | $232 | 81 |
9 | Progressive Best for Senior Drivers | $147 | 80 |
10 | Travelers Best for Young Drivers | $163 | 80 |
AAA and Farmers are not among the best insurance companies we reviewed, but some motorists may find that one of these companies best meets their needs. For example, Farmers has coverage options not provided by other insurers, such as classic car coverage. And existing AAA members who are happy with the insurance group might want to get their insurance coverage from the same place.
Compare AAA vs. Farmers: Which Is Cheaper?
Farmers is cheaper than AAA on average. However, AAA is cheaper for teen drivers and a few other age groups. Both companies charge higher rates than the industry average, so it’s a good idea to check your rate with a handful of other insurance providers.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in 2022
Rank | Insurance Company | Average Cost Per Month | ICSThe Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews. |
---|---|---|---|
1 | USH&C | $44 | Not Rated |
2 | Metromile | $63 | Not Rated |
3 | Direct Auto | $64 | Not Rated |
4 | Travelers | $65 | 80 |
5 | Kemper | $71 | Not Rated |
6 | Progressive | $87 | Not Rated |
7 | Mile Auto | $91 | 85 |
8 | National General | $93 | 58 |
9 | Clearcover | $94 | 97 |
10 | GAINSCO | $94 | Not Rated |
Farmers and AAA are not the cheapest companies we reviewed. Both companies charge car insurance premiums that are higher than the industry average. For every type of driver, there’s another auto insurance company offering cheaper car insurance rates.
Compare AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance by Age
Age is one of the most important factors in determining car insurance rates because it directly relates to your experience on the road. Teen drivers are more likely to crash than any other group, so they pay the highest rates, while drivers in their 50s and 60’s tend to pay the lowest rates. Here’s what you can expect from each insurer based on your age.
Age | AAA | Farmers |
---|---|---|
Teen | $290 | $343 |
20s | $108 | $106 |
30s | $99 | $102 |
40s | $87 | $97 |
50s | $80 | $82 |
60s | $86 | $87 |
70s | $110 | $106 |
80s | $140 | $118 |
AAA is cheaper on average for teen drivers and motorists in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Farmers, on the other hand, is cheaper for older drivers. Both companies are more expensive than the industry average, however. For most age groups, USAA offers the cheapest rates, followed by GEICO.
Compare AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance by Gender
Most car insurance companies consider your gender when underwriting your insurance policy. Women tend to pay just slightly less than men. In the teen years, the difference is sometimes more significant since teen males have more than double the vehicle death rate that teen females have.
Insurance Company | Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote for Men | Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote for Women |
---|---|---|
AAA | $117 | $108 |
Farmers | $108 | $106 |
Farmers offers cheaper car insurance rates than AAA for both men and women.
Which is cheapest for men?
Farmers is cheaper than AAA for men, but both companies charge more than the industry average.
Gender | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Men | $117 | $108 | $78 |
Which is cheapest for women?
Women pay slightly cheaper premiums on average at Farmers than AAA, but both insurers charge more than the industry average.
Gender | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Women | $108 | $106 | $78 |
Compare AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance by Mileage
When you apply for a car insurance policy, the insurance agency or company will ask you for your estimated annual mileage. This has a minimal impact on your car insurance rates, but low-mileage drivers tend to pay slightly less than high-mileage drivers.
Keep in mind that you might achieve greater savings if you participate in a usage-based telematics program offered by your insurance company. Both AAA and Farmers offer these telematics programs, but they may not be available in all states.
Here’s what drivers pay on average for car insurance at AAA and Farmers based on their estimated annual mileage.
Which is cheapest for drivers with high mileage?
Farmers is cheaper than AAA for high-mileage drivers. However, neither company’s rates beat the industry average.
Annual Mileage | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
15,000-20,000 | $108 | $106 | $78 |
Which is cheapest for drivers with low mileage?
Farmers offers cheaper premiums than AAA for low-mileage drivers. However, both companies are more expensive than the industry average.
Annual Mileage | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
5,000 | $107 | $96 | $78 |
10,000 | $108 | $106 | $78 |
Compare AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance by Credit Score
Car insurance companies in most states use your credit-based insurance score to determine your insurance rates. Policyholders with excellent credit tend to pay the least, while drivers with poor credit pay more for car insurance. That’s because several studies found a correlation between bad credit and more claims activity.
Car insurance companies charge higher rates to drivers with bad credit to account for their risk. Here’s what you can expect from AAA and Farmers based on your credit score.
Which is cheapest for good credit?
Farmers is cheaper than AAA for drivers with good or excellent credit, but neither company’s rates beat the industry average.
Credit Tier | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Excellent | $80 | $68 | $60 |
Good | $98 | $85 | $71 |
Which is cheapest for bad credit?
Farmers is significantly cheaper than AAA for drivers with bad credit. But both companies charge more than the industry average.
Credit Tier | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Poor | $220 | $135 | $120 |
Average | $114 | $91 | $78 |
Compare AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance by Driving Record
Car insurance companies look at your driving record to determine the risk to insure you. If they see things like speeding tickets and DUIs on your record, they’ll be inclined to think you’re not taking safety precautions and charge you higher rates. Sometimes, you can take a driving course or enroll in a telematics program to offset the higher cost.
Here ’s what AAA and Farmers are charging drivers on average based on the infractions on their driving records.
Which is cheapest for good drivers?
Farmers is cheaper than AAA for motorists with a spotless driving record. But both companies charge more than the industry average.
Driver Type | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Clean Record | $114 | $91 | $78 |
Which is cheapest after a speeding ticket?
Both companies charge more to drivers with speeding tickets, but Farmers offers the cheaper rates. Neither company’s rates beat the industry average, however.
Driver Type | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
Speeding Ticket | $145 | $129 | $104 |
Which is cheapest after an accident?
Drivers who have caused crashes pay more at AAA than Farmers on average. While Farmers is cheaper, it still doesn’t beat the industry average rate for drivers with at-fault accidents.
Driver Type | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
At-Fault Accident | $158 | $127 | $113 |
Which is cheapest after a DUI?
A DUI is a serious offense that requires you to have an SR-22 on file with the DMV in most states. That’s why AAA’s rates spike for DUI drivers. Farmers is more lenient with DUI drivers but still charges them more than the industry average rate.
Driver Type | AAA | Farmers | Industry Average |
---|---|---|---|
DUI | $314 | $133 | $155 |
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AAA vs. Farmers Car Insurance: What discounts does each offer?
AAA Discounts
Paperless
Paid in full
Autopay
Telematics
Defensive driver
Multi-policy
Multi-car
Young driver
Good student
Student away
Safety device
Anti-theft device
New car
Note that these discounts vary by region. Check with an insurance agent or visit your local auto club group’s website for more details.
Farmers Discounts
Multi-policy
Multi-car
Affinity
Paperless
Good payer
Safe driver
Young driver
Good student
Student away
Defensive driver (mature driver or senior driver in some states)
Homeowner
Autopay
Paid in full
Safety device
Anti-theft device
Telematics
Farmers discounts can vary by state. Ask an insurance agent which of these discounts you may be eligible for.
Discount | AAA | Farmers |
---|---|---|
Multi-policy | ||
Multi-car | ||
Paperless | ||
Autopay | ||
Paid in full | ||
Good payer | ||
Homeowner | ||
Young driver | ||
Good student | ||
Student away | ||
Defensive driver | ||
Telematics | ||
Safety device | ||
Anti-theft device | ||
Affinity | ||
New car |
Our Methodology and How We Compared AAA and Farmers
The car insurance quotes provided in Insurify’s insurance company comparison guides are based on the analysis of over 50 thousand insurance quotes from 500 ZIP codes nationwide. Insurify’s data science team performs a comprehensive analysis of factors car insurance providers weigh to calculate rates, including driver demographics, driving record, credit score, desired coverage level, and more to give representative samples.
Insurify’s analysis also incorporates the Insurify Composite Score (ICS) assigned to each insurance provider. The ICS is a proprietary rating calculated by weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Ratings used to calculate the ICS include Financial Strength Ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
With the above insights and ranking methods, Insurify is able to offer car insurance shoppers a window into how insurance providers compare to one another in terms of both cost and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, Farmers is cheaper than AAA. However, AAA is cheaper for motorists in certain age groups, especially teen drivers. Neither company beats the industry average rate, however.
Based on our analysis of a variety of data, Farmers stands out as the better insurance company. But keep in mind that AAA is made up of several regional auto clubs, and some are better than others. Both companies are highly reputable, however, so choose the insurer that is right for you.
This insurance review covers the similarities and differences for AAA and Farmers, but the best way to compare your individual rate with these companies and others is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers. Whether you’re looking for liability insurance or full coverage, you can select your deductible and find a policy that fits into your budget.