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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers cheaper prices than National Mutual
• American Select offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• National Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

American Select or National 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 large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to American Select or National Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, American Select is around $31 a month cheaper than National Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be more affordable than National Mutual for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

American Select and National Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with American Select offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where American Select prices are $102 more affordable than car insurance rates at National Mutual.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use American Select save over 35% per month compared to those who use National Mutual.

However, both companies will drop prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders decrease about $150 and National Mutual's premiums lower almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between American Select and National Mutual? In this case, National Mutual has the slight edge, with prices around $2 a month less than American Select. But that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, like your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance premiums than single drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple vehicles, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with American Select rates coming in at a quarter less than National Mutual's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - American Select offers the lowest average prices , but the difference is only $7.

American Select or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

Men normally pay about 1% more per month than women with American Select, but with National Mutual, the difference is closer to 10% a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, American Select comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $21 per month and men save around $41 with American Select compared to the average National Mutual policyholder.

American Select vs. National 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.

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

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries 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 liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, American Select has the slight edge, with average monthly premiums 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 National Mutual's $308.

Is American Select or National 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 lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 8%.

If you have gotten a ticket, National Mutual tends to offer the best premiums at around 5% more affordable, while American Select has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with National Mutual increasing by about 37%. American Select has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 25% more than you were prior to your first collision.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from American Select, with average rates coming in at $158 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. National Mutual drivers usually see a 60% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while American Select will usually climb rates by around 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, American Select tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $258 to National Mutual's $325.

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

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking specifically at National Mutual and American Select, which company has the most affordable 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 National Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither American Select or National Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, American Select comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $170 per month for both.

American Select or National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

American Select tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $33 with American Select compared to National Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $51 less with American Select compared to National Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Select Insurance Company's average premiums are around $9 less than National Mutual Insurance.

American Select vs. National 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both American Select and National Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, American Select has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. National Mutual offers a grand total of 19 discounts, while American Select has 20.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but American Select also offers discounts for ABS, account relationship, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, National Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, continuous insurance discounts, education discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in an suburban area.

National Mutual might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American Select and National Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just American Select and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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 Select vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is American Select or National Mutual cheaper?

American Select is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $170 a month with American Select and $201 for National Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean American Select will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, American Select or National Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, National Mutual is less expensive for drivers who have already retired, while American Select offers more affordable prices for single drivers.

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

Car insurance companies use several different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, age, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Select and National Mutual calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't American Select or National 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.