AAA vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Hastings Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than AAA
• AAA tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Hastings Mutual offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs

AAA vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to AAA or Hastings Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Hastings Mutual has average rates that are about 35% per month more affordable than those from AAA.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both AAA and Hastings Mutual by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

AAA or Hastings Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and Hastings Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Hastings Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual rates are over 60% cheaper than auto insurance premiums at AAA.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Hastings Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $300 less than those who use AAA.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Hastings Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. AAA's average rates reduce nearly 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between AAA and Hastings Mutual? Hastings Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 30% more affordable than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Hastings Mutual is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $138 a month cheaper than AAA, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Hastings Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over $55 per month.

AAA vs. Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men typically pay more than 10% more a month than women with AAA, while with Hastings Mutual, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Hastings Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $118 a month and women save about $89 with Hastings Mutual compared to the average AAA policyholder.

AAA or Hastings 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for several 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.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Hastings Mutual generally offers less expensive rates of $142 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Hastings Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month more affordable than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $86 a month if they get a ticket, while Hastings Mutual normally raises prices about $20 per month, on average.

But Hastings Mutual has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $104 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $170 per month with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Hastings Mutual will see around a $15 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Hastings Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $126 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Hastings Mutual will climb your rates about 77% after a DUI, while AAA's average prices climb by over 45%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, AAA tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $403 monthly compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Hastings Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Hastings Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $54 or 22% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Hastings Mutual typically offers lower premiums than AAA when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $97 a month less with Hastings Mutual compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $264 a month.

Is AAA or Hastings Mutual 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 substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for AAA, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying about $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Hastings Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

AAA vs. Hastings Mutual: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Hastings Mutual boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but Hastings Mutual comes out on top with average prices around $164 per month. Hastings Mutual also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $93 and $124 per month respective difference when compared to AAA drivers in similar areas.

AAA vs. Hastings Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

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 can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and Hastings Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

AAA knocks Hastings Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 23 more discounts than Hastings Mutual.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that Hastings Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Hastings Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, company car discounts, and workloss exclusion discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or Hastings Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and Hastings Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 a handful of carriers, not just AAA and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is AAA or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Hastings Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $211 a month compared to $314 for AAA. However, Hastings Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, AAA or Hastings Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, AAA offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Hastings Mutual is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do AAA and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors like where you park your vehicle, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and Hastings Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if AAA or Hastings Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AAA or Hastings 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.