21st Century vs. AAA: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, 21st Century offers significantly more affordable prices than AAA
• 21st Century offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• AAA has cheaper prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

---

---

21st Century vs. AAA: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering 21st Century or AAA as potential options, but between the two, which one has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, 21st Century is quite a bit cheaper than AAA, with rates averaging $146 per month compared to $314 with AAA.

That being said, 21st Century may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both 21st Century and AAA by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

21st Century or AAA: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

21st Century and AAA only compete against each other in one states, with 21st Century offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where 21st Century prices are less expensive than car insurance premiums at AAA.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

---

---

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have 21st Century for their insurance pay more than $450 less than those who use AAA.

Even so, both companies will lower rates by the time you turn 25. AAA offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, 21st Century still has the lowest prices at $144 monthly.

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 cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between 21st Century and AAA? 21st Century gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 50% more affordable than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are typically less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, 21st Century is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $211 a month more affordable than AAA, on average. The advantage for married drivers with 21st Century is also obvious, where drivers save over $100 per month.

21st Century vs. AAA: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly prices with 21st Century, and around 10% less with AAA.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, 21st Century offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 56% less for men and 51% cheaper for women.

---

---

21st Century or AAA: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, 21st Century normally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $79 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, 21st Century again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month less expensive than AAA, on average.

Is 21st Century or AAA Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which company -- 21st Century or AAA -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

21st Century policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $24 per month if they get a ticket, while AAA generally raises rates around $86 a month, on average.

However, 21st Century has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 56% and 61% cheaper, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

21st Century drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over 45%, while those who have insurance through AAA will see about a 35% increase.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from 21st Century, with monthly premiums averaging $173 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

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 an accident or speeding ticket. On average, AAA will climb your rates around 47% after a DUI, while 21st Century's average premiums climb by just under 55%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, 21st Century tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $200 a month compared to $403 from AAA.

---

---

How does Credit Score Impact 21st Century and AAA Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking at 21st Century and AAA specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have excellent credit. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will typically save AAA Insurance customers about 25%. On the other hand, undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with AAA Insurance. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at AAA Insurance, you may pay around $250 per month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit could find better rates with undefined over AAA Insurance.

---

---

Is 21st Century or AAA 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 pretty big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, 21st Century offers cheaper premiums than AAA. 21st Century's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $168 less expensive than AAA. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around $167 less with 21st Century over AAA.

21st Century vs. AAA: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

21st Century tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both carriers, but 21st Century comes out on top with average prices about $141 per month. 21st Century also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 61% and 52% a month respective difference when compared to AAA drivers in similar areas.

21st Century vs. AAA Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 auto 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 qualify for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts 21st Century and AAA offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

AAA blows 21st Century away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to 21st Century's 13.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that 21st Century does not.

On the flip side, 21st Century has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, deluxe discounts, and seat belt discounts.

---

---

Final Thoughts: Is 21st Century or AAA Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is 21st Century or AAA the best fit for you?

21st Century might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for discounts -- Aaa has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare 21st Century and AAA and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just 21st Century and AAA. 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 top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

---

---

21st Century vs. AAA FAQs

Is 21st Century or AAA cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, 21st Century is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $146 per month compared to $314 for AAA. Even so, 21st Century won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, 21st Century or AAA?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, 21st Century offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while AAA is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do 21st Century and AAA offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both 21st Century and AAA calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if 21st Century or AAA 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be 21st Century or AAA 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.