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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Allstate offers slightly more affordable premiums than Iowa Mutual
• Allstate may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Iowa Mutual
• Iowa Mutual has less expensive prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Allstate or Iowa Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Iowa Mutual is around $12 more a month than Allstate when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, Allstate may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Allstate and Iowa Mutual by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Allstate and Iowa Mutual only compete against each other in Nebraska, where Allstate offers the cheaper average rates. Allstate drivers tend to pay about $63 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Iowa Mutual for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Allstate save over 10% a month compared to those who use Iowa Mutual. It's worth noting that Allstate offers auto insurance in 47 different states compared to Iowa Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Iowa Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Allstate still has the most affordable rates at $167 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Allstate and Iowa Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? In this case, Iowa Mutual has the slight edge, with rates about $6 per month less than Allstate. But the difference is only around 5%, so other variables will likely come into play when determining which company has the lowest prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for insurance, Allstate tends to have the cheapest average prices regardless of marital status, with prices about 3% cheaper for married policyholders and almost 10% less expensive for single policyholders.

Allstate or Iowa Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Allstate, women generally pay around $10 a month less than men, but with Iowa Mutual, the difference is closer to $33 per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Allstate comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $25 less for men and $1 cheaper for women.

Allstate vs. Iowa 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 so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Iowa Mutual has the edge, while Allstate offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Iowa Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be about $40 cheaper with Allstate.

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

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

It's no secret secret that accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Allstate or Iowa Mutual -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Allstate for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Iowa Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 6%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Iowa Mutual tends to offer the best premiums at around 4% more affordable, while Allstate has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Allstate raising by about 32%. Iowa Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 15% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Iowa Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $191 compared to Allstate's $229.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Iowa Mutual drivers usually see a 48% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Allstate will generally climb premiums by around 31%.

Allstate has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $227 monthly, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for Iowa Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Iowa Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Auto 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive rates.

So, which carrier 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, Allstate will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Allstate comes in more than 11.04 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 1% with Allstate compared to average prices from Iowa Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower rates than Iowa Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 6% a month less with Allstate compared to Iowa Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 5% a month.

Is Allstate or Iowa 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 considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment? Usually, the more milage 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 Iowa Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Allstate is the less expensive company.

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

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Allstate vs. Iowa Mutual Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Allstate and Iowa Mutual so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Allstate knocks Iowa Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 more discounts than Iowa Mutual.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Allstate also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, alert driving, and more.

On the other hand, Iowa Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like claim free discounts and hybrid vehicle discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, is Allstate or Iowa Mutual the best fit for you?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Iowa Mutual might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Allstate and Iowa Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 multiple carriers, not just Allstate and Iowa Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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.

Allstate vs. Iowa Mutual FAQs

Is Allstate or Iowa Mutual cheaper?

Allstate is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $199 per month with Allstate and $211 for Iowa Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Allstate or Iowa Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Allstate is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Iowa Mutual offers cheaper premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Allstate and Iowa Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things like where you park your car, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and Iowa Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or Iowa 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.