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

Quick Facts

• In general, American National offers significantly cheaper premiums than Donegal Mutual
• American National has more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly
• Donegal Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than American National Insurance Company

American National or Donegal Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American National or Donegal Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, American National is quite a bit cheaper than Donegal Mutual, with premiums averaging $87 a month compared to $290 with Donegal Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean American National will be the less expensive option for each driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

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

American National vs. Donegal Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American National and Donegal Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with American National offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American National premiums are $120 less expensive than auto insurance rates at Donegal Mutual.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group on the road. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their car insurance pay almost 70% less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Donegal Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American National still has the cheapest premiums at $74 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American National and Donegal Mutual? American National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $66 a month compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with American National prices coming in at about a third of Donegal Mutual's. The advantage for married couples with American National is also obvious, where drivers save over 70% per month.

American National or Donegal Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

With American National, women generally pay around 1% a month less than men, and about 6% less with Donegal Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, American National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $194 per month and men save around $211 with American National compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

American National vs. 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, American National has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $52. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $123 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is American National or Donegal 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American National for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 20% after getting a speeding ticket. Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 19%.

But American National is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $130 and $160 less expensive, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American National drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Donegal Mutual will see around a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from American National, with average prices coming in at $95 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

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 an accident or speeding ticket. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while American National will generally increase prices by about 36%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, American National tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $104 to Donegal Mutual's $472.

How does Credit Score Impact American National and Donegal Mutual Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking specifically at Donegal Mutual and American National, 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, American National will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, American National comes in more than 75.94 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 73% with American National compared to average prices from Donegal Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American National typically offers lower premiums than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 69% per month less with American National compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 66% per month.

Is American National 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. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

American National tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. American National's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $189 less expensive than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $216 less with American National over Donegal Mutual.

American National or Donegal 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

American National tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, American National's average rates are around $104 while Donegal Mutual offers premiums about $445. People in suburban areas pay around $85 with American National compared to Donegal Mutual's $240 monthly. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $73 per month with American National compared to Donegal Mutual's $184.

American National vs. Donegal Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts American National and Donegal Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Donegal Mutual blows American National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to American National's 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, group discounts, and new business discounts. Donegal Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, family discount, and more.

On the other hand, American National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American National or Donegal Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

American National might be best for you if....

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• Your credit score is high.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American National and Donegal Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 carriers, not just American National and Donegal 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is American National or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

American National is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $87 a month with American National and $290 for Donegal Mutual. However, that doesn't mean American National will be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, American National or Donegal Mutual?

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

Why do American National and Donegal Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and Donegal Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if American National or Donegal Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American National or Donegal 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.