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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Rockford Mutual offers significantly less expensive prices than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company
• Rockford Mutual offers more affordable average rates for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? 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've maybe even narrowed your search down to AAA or Rockford Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, AAA has average rates that are about 45% per month more expensive than those from Rockford Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Rockford Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if AAA or Rockford Mutual is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

AAA or Rockford Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $250 less a month by choosing Rockford Mutual over AAA.

Even so, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for AAA policyholders drop over $400 and Rockford Mutual's prices reduce nearly $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between AAA and Rockford Mutual? Rockford Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 50% cheaper than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Rockford Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $164 per month more affordable than AAA, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Rockford Mutual offers the most affordable average prices.

AAA vs. Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Usually, women see premiums over 10% a month less with AAA, and about 9% less with Rockford Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Rockford Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 47% less for men and 46% cheaper for women.

AAA or Rockford 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.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Rockford Mutual typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $88 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Rockford Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month cheaper than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or Rockford 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 at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- AAA or Rockford Mutual -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Rockford Mutual normally raises prices about $50 per month, on average.

But Rockford Mutual has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 44% and 43% more affordable, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by over 35%, while those who have insurance through Rockford Mutual will see around a 25% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Rockford Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $158 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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, AAA will climb your premiums about 47% after a DUI, while Rockford Mutual's average rates climb by just under 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Rockford Mutual tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $229 monthly compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Rockford Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Rockford Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 25% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $106 or 43% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Rockford Mutual typically offers lower prices than AAA when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $132 a month less with Rockford Mutual compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $310 a month.

Is AAA or Rockford 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 sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost? Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

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

AAA vs. Rockford 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Rockford Mutual normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 44% with Rockford Mutual compared to AAA. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 56% less with Rockford Mutual compared to AAA. In urban areas, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's average premiums are around 39% less than AAA Insurance.

AAA vs. Rockford Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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 section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts AAA and Rockford Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

AAA blows Rockford Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to Rockford Mutual's eight.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts. AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that Rockford Mutual does not.

Rockford Mutual's discounts come through just a few categories, including Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, Good Driving, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

AAA might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare AAA and Rockford Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just AAA and Rockford Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does 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.

AAA vs. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is AAA or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Rockford Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $169 per month compared to $314 for AAA. However, Rockford Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or Rockford Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do AAA and Rockford Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as where you live, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and Rockford Mutual calculate rates differently, 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 lots of different companies.

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

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