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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, American Select offers significantly more affordable rates than Central Mutual
• American Select offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• American Select offers more discounts than Central Mutual Insurance

American Select vs. Central Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering pretty big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American Select or Central Mutual as your top options, but which company has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than American Select, with rates averaging $340 per month compared to just $170 with American Select when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be less expensive than Central Mutual for each driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select or Central Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Central Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Central Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual premiums are over 15% cheaper than car insurance prices at American Select.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your rates. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $250 less a month by choosing American Select over Central Mutual.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for American Select policyholders drop over 45% and Central Mutual's rates reduce nearly 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable 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 auto insurance.

When looking at American Select and Central Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? American Select gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $139 less expensive than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. 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, American Select is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $182 per month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - American Select has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

American Select vs. Central Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

With American Select, women normally pay around 1% a month less than men, and about 4% less with Central Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, American Select offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $176 less for men and $163 cheaper for women.

American Select or 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.

It's no secret that car 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.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, American Select typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $90 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average.

Is American Select or Central Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great rates 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 accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- American Select or Central Mutual -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Select policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $32 a month if they get a ticket, while Central Mutual normally raises rates about $84 per month, on average.

Even so, American Select tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 52% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 54% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Central Mutual will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, drivers who use American Select end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $158 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

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 ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Central Mutual increases average premiums by just under $250 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, American Select tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $258 monthly compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Central Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at American Select and Central Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much American Select charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Central Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, American Select is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

American Select vs. Central Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

American Select tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $72 with American Select compared to Central Mutual. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $113 less with American Select compared to Central Mutual. In urban areas, American Select Insurance Company's average prices are around $324 less than Central Mutual Insurance.

American Select vs. Central Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and 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 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 American Select and Central Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, American Select comes out ahead with 20 discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but American Select also offers account relationship discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Central Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Central Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- book transfer policy discounts, DRL discounts, teensmart discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Central Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right fit for you?

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

• Your credit is below-average.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Select and Central 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 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 American Select and Central 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Central Mutual FAQs

Is American Select or Central Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American Select is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, American Select won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Central Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Select and Central Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as where you live, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Central Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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 cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American Select or Central 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.