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

Quick Facts

• In general, North Star Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual has cheaper premiums for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to AAA or North Star Mutual, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, North Star Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than AAA, with rates averaging $180 per month compared to $314 with AAA when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean North Star Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than AAA for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of AAA or North Star Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

AAA or North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with North Star Mutual offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Nebraska has the most noticable difference, where North Star Mutual rates are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance premiums at AAA.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, 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 North Star Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $350 less than those who use AAA.

But with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for AAA policyholders reduce over $400 and North Star Mutual's prices lower about $150 over that time.

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 most affordable rates you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $144 a month compared to AAA's $238.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, North Star Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $170 a month less expensive than AAA, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - North Star Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

AAA vs. North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men usually pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

With AAA, women typically pay more than 10% per month less than men, while with North Star Mutual, the difference is closer to 2% a month.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, North Star Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $149 less for men and $119 cheaper for women.

AAA or North Star 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range of 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.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, North Star Mutual normally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $65 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, North Star Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month more affordable than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or North Star 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.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- AAA or North Star Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $86 a month if they get a ticket, while North Star Mutual generally raises rates about $44 per month, on average.

That being said, North Star Mutual is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 53% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 52% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with AAA raising by just under $150. North Star Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly $75 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from North Star Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $174 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, North Star Mutual increases average premiums by just under $200 a month -- that's over a 65% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, North Star Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $299 per month compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and North Star Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

Insurance carriers 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 prices.

Looking at AAA and North Star Mutual specifically, which one has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with North Star Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 25% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $95 or 38% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower prices than AAA when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $125 per month less with North Star Mutual compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $287 monthly.

Is AAA or North Star 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 big impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Typically, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

AAA vs. North Star Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, North Star Mutual typically comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $166 per month with North Star Mutual and $256 with AAA. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $165 with North Star Mutual compared to $301 with AAA. In urban areas, North Star Mutual's average rates are around $208 while AAA offers premiums about $384.

AAA vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and North Star Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

AAA knocks North Star Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to North Star Mutual's six.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that North Star Mutual does not.

On the flip side, North Star Mutual has a unique discount of its own -- a family discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or North Star Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

North Star Mutual might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices increase.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Aaa has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and North Star Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just AAA and North Star Mutual. 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.

AAA vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is AAA or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, North Star Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $314 for AAA. But North Star Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, AAA or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do AAA and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things like where you park your car, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both AAA and North Star Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AAA or North Star 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.