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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Allstate offers significantly more affordable prices than Donegal Mutual
• Allstate tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Donegal Mutual offers more affordable rates for residents in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

Allstate vs. Donegal Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Allstate or Donegal Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Donegal Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Allstate, with prices averaging $290 per month compared to just $199 with Allstate when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Allstate will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Allstate or Donegal Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Allstate or Donegal Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Donegal Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Donegal Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Delaware, Donegal Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Allstate is the less expensive option in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $200 less a month by choosing Allstate over Donegal Mutual.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Allstate policyholders lower almost 65% and Donegal Mutual's premiums decrease more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Allstate and Donegal Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Allstate gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $60 more affordable than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are generally cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single? That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Allstate is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $113 per month more affordable than Donegal Mutual, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Allstate has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Allstate vs. Donegal Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is normally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Typically, men see prices around 4% a month higher with Allstate, and about 6% with Donegal Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $96 per month and women save around $87 with Allstate compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Allstate or Donegal 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (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 -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Allstate usually offers significantly less expensive premiums of $108 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Allstate again has the edge, with policies about $100 a month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $27 per month if they get a ticket, while Donegal Mutual generally raises prices around $47 a month, on average.

However, Allstate has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 21% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 25% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Allstate raising by just under $75. Donegal Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly $50 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Allstate offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $229 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Donegal Mutual increases average premiums by just under $300 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Allstate tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $227 a month compared to $472 from Donegal Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Donegal Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance companies 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 more affordable premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Allstate. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 30% compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $68 or 28% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower rates than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $74 a month less with Allstate compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $155 monthly.

Is Allstate or Donegal 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 auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Allstate offers cheaper premiums than Donegal Mutual. Allstate's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 30% less expensive than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 35% less with Allstate over Donegal Mutual.

Allstate vs. Donegal Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Allstate boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Allstate comes out on top with average premiums around $174 per month. Allstate also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 50% and 17% per month respective difference when compared to Donegal Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Allstate vs. Donegal 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 challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Allstate and Donegal Mutual so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Allstate knocks Donegal Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Allstate also offers agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, annual mileage discounts, and more that Donegal Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Donegal Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You live in an urban area.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Allstate and Donegal 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Allstate and Donegal Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make 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. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is Allstate or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Allstate is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $199 a month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. But Allstate won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Donegal Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Allstate and Donegal Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like where you call home, age, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and Donegal Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Allstate or Donegal Mutual 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 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Allstate or Donegal 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.