Allstate vs. Central Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Allstate offers significantly cheaper premiums than Central Mutual
• Allstate tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Central Mutual has cheaper prices in GA, NM, NY, and OH

Allstate or Central Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering sizable savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Allstate or Central Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Allstate, with prices averaging $340 a month compared to just $199 with Allstate.

Even so, that doesn't mean Allstate will necessarily be more affordable than Central Mutual for every single driver. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Allstate and Central Mutual by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Allstate vs. Central Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Central Mutual compete against each other in four states, with Allstate offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Georgia or New York, Allstate is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Central Mutual is the more affordable option in New Mexico and Ohio.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Allstate save almost 25% per month compared to those who use Central Mutual.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Central Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Allstate still has the cheapest prices at $167 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Allstate and Central Mutual? Allstate gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% cheaper than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable insurance prices than single policyholders. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Allstate prices coming in at a third less than Central Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Allstate offers the most affordable average rates.

Allstate or Central Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, men see premiums around $10 a month higher with Allstate, and almost $15 with Central Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Allstate offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $144 per month and women save about $139 with Allstate compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Allstate vs. Central 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Allstate has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $108. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Allstate again has the edge, with policies averaging around $289 a month to Central Mutual's $506.

Is Allstate or Central Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Allstate or Central Mutual less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Central Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 26%.

However, Allstate is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $86 and $143 less expensive, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Central Mutual will see about a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Allstate end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $229 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Central Mutual drivers usually see a 50% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Allstate will generally increase premiums by around 31%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Allstate tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $227 to Central Mutual's $482.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Central Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect lots of policyholders 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Allstate and Central Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Allstate will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Allstate comes in nearly 43.58 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 40% with Allstate compared to average premiums from Central Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower prices than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 38% per month less with Allstate compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 43% monthly.

Is Allstate or Central Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Allstate tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Central Mutual average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $138 more expensive than Allstate. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around $145 more with Central Mutual over Allstate.

Allstate or Central Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, 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.

Allstate boasts the cheapest average rates 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 about $174 per month with Allstate and $228 with Central Mutual. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $199 with Allstate compared to Central Mutual's $263 monthly. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Allstate's average prices are about $222 a month compared to Central Mutual's $529.

Allstate vs. Central Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Allstate and Central Mutual offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Allstate knocks Central Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Allstate also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, alert driving, and more.

On the other hand, Central Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like book transfer policy discounts and group discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Central Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Georgia, New Mexico, New York, and Ohio.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and Central Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Allstate and Central Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Central Mutual FAQs

Is Allstate or Central Mutual cheaper?

Allstate is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $199 per month with Allstate and $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Central Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Allstate and Central Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Allstate and Central Mutual calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Allstate or Central Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or Central Mutual at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.