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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers significantly less expensive rates than Donegal Mutual
• American Select tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have below-average credit
• American Select has less expensive premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to American Select or Donegal Mutual as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Donegal Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than American Select, with prices averaging $290 a month compared to just $170 with American Select.

But that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be cheaper than Donegal Mutual for every single driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

American Select and Donegal Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with American Select offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American Select rates are $73 less expensive than insurance prices at Donegal Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use American Select save almost 50% per month compared to those who use Donegal Mutual.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders decrease around $150 and Donegal Mutual's prices drop nearly $400 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you can find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American Select and Donegal Mutual? American Select gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 35% more affordable than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with American Select prices coming in at about half of Donegal Mutual's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - American Select has the edge when it comes to average rates.

American Select or Donegal Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men.

On average, men see premiums around $1 a month higher with American Select, and about $20 with Donegal Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, American Select comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $128 per month and women save around $111 with American Select compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

American Select 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, American Select has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $90. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies averaging about $251 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is American Select 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 19%.

However, American Select tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering premiums that are 41% and 39% less expensive, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by over $40, while those who have insurance through Donegal Mutual will see around a $50 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use American Select end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $158 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. On average, Donegal Mutual will increase your prices about 58% after a DUI, while American Select's average rates increase by nearly 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, American Select tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $258 to Donegal Mutual's $472.

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

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the lowest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American Select or Donegal 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 pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment? That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file 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 pretty significant difference in monthly premiums for Donegal Mutual, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $36 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, American Select is the cheaper carrier.

American Select 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, 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 most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $28 with American Select compared to Donegal Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $90 less with American Select compared to Donegal Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Select Insurance Company's average rates are around $240 less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

American Select vs. Donegal Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

The hard 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Donegal Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

They both offer great discounts like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and group discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is American Select or Donegal Mutual the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just American Select and Donegal Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is American Select or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

American Select is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $170 per month with American Select and $290 for Donegal Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean American Select will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Donegal Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

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

Auto insurance carriers use many different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like where your home is, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Select and Donegal Mutual use different formulas, 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 many different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Select 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.