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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, North Star Mutual offers slightly less expensive prices than Allstate
• Allstate tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• North Star Mutual has cheaper rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Allstate vs. North Star 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 sizable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Allstate or North Star Mutual as potential options, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, North Star Mutual is about $19 per month less expensive than Allstate.

But that doesn't necessarily mean North Star Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

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

Allstate and North Star Mutual compete against each other in four states, with North Star Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Nebraska or South Dakota, Allstate is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. North Star Mutual is the cheaper option in Minnesota and North Dakota.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment 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 usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's because 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.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing North Star Mutual over Allstate.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Allstate policyholders decrease nearly 65% and North Star Mutual's prices reduce over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Allstate and North Star Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $8 more affordable than the national average for Allstate.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, North Star Mutual is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $32 per month less expensive than Allstate, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use North Star Mutual save about $1 a month.

Allstate vs. North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

Normally, women see prices almost $10 per month cheaper with Allstate, and around $4 less with North Star Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, North Star Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $16 a month and men save about $21 with North Star Mutual compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

Allstate 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.

It's no secret that auto 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 that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

In this case, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Allstate has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $45 with North Star Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be around $6 more affordable with Allstate.

Is Allstate or North Star Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Allstate or North Star Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $27 per month if they get a ticket, while North Star Mutual generally raises rates about $44 a month, on average.

That being said, North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save around $55 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $38 a month with North Star Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through North Star Mutual will see around a 40% increase.

Overall, drivers who use North Star Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $174 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 car insurance bill. For example, North Star Mutual increases average rates by just under $200 per month -- that's over a 65% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Allstate tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $227 a month compared to $299 from North Star Mutual.

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

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company 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 solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with North Star Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Allstate, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $20 or 12% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower rates than Allstate when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $24 a month less with North Star Mutual compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $23 per month.

Is Allstate or North Star 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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 prices for Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, North Star Mutual is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. 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.

North Star Mutual boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, North Star Mutual's average premiums are about $208 while Allstate offers prices around $222. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $165 with North Star Mutual compared to $199 with Allstate. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $166 monthly with North Star Mutual and $174 with Allstate.

Allstate 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

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

Allstate blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to North Star Mutual's six.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but Allstate also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer 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 Allstate or North Star Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Allstate or North Star Mutual the right fit for you?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Allstate and North Star Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 Allstate and North Star Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Allstate or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, North Star Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 per month compared to $199 for Allstate. Even so, North Star Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Allstate or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Allstate offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while North Star Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and North Star Mutual calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Allstate 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.