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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Ohio Mutual offers cheaper rates than American Select
• American Select tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Ohio Mutual offers more affordable prices for residents of urban areas

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Select or Ohio Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, American Select has average rates that are about 11% per month more expensive than those from Ohio Mutual.

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

So, if you want to find out which of American Select or Ohio Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

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

American Select and Ohio Mutual only compete against each other in Ohio, where American Select offers the cheaper average rates. For Ohio residents, American Select offers insurance for $122 per month on average. Ohio Mutual's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $152 a month.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out 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 out there on the road. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, 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 nearly $20 less a month by choosing Ohio Mutual over American Select.

However, both carriers will lower rates once you turn 25. Ohio Mutual offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. American Select's average premiums drop more than 45% during that same period.

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 rates you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Ohio Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $22 more affordable than the national average for American Select.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single policyholders, with premiums only differing around $19 per month, on average. The advantage for married couples is more obvious, where drivers who use Ohio Mutual save almost $20 a month.

American Select vs. Ohio Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Women normally pay about 1% per month less than men with American Select, and around 5% less with Ohio Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Ohio Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $22 a month and men save about $15 with Ohio Mutual compared to the average American Select policyholder.

American Select or Ohio 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Ohio Mutual usually offers more affordable premiums of $74 compared to American Select's $90. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Ohio Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $20 per month cheaper than American Select, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Ohio Mutual generally raises rates about $21 per month, on average.

However, Ohio Mutual is typically the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $33 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $44 per month with Ohio Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Ohio Mutual increasing by over $40. American Select has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Ohio Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $125 compared to American Select Insurance Company's $158.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Ohio Mutual drivers usually see a 71% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while American Select will normally climb prices by around 55%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, American Select tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $258 monthly compared to $293 from Ohio Mutual.

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

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

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

Looking at American Select and Ohio Mutual specifically, which one has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Ohio Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to American Select, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $9 or 7% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Ohio Mutual typically offers lower prices than American Select when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $16 a month less with Ohio Mutual compared to American Select, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $41 a month.

Is American Select or Ohio 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 your monthly premiums. Generally, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither American Select or Ohio Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Ohio Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average premiums of $152 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Typically, 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.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Ohio Mutual usually comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while American Select wins in suburban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Ohio Mutual's average rates are around $155 while American Select offers prices about $205. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $150 with American Select compared to $153 with Ohio Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $147 per month with Ohio Mutual compared to American Select's $156.

American Select vs. Ohio 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. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Ohio Mutual so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, American Select has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Ohio Mutual offers a grand total of 17 discounts, while American Select has 20.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but American Select also offers account relationship discounts, agency transfer discounts, companion auto discounts, and more that Ohio Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Ohio Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- attentive driver discounts, continuous insurance discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Ohio Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

American Select might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (American Select offers the most).
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American Select and Ohio Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just American Select and Ohio Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Ohio Mutual FAQs

Is American Select or Ohio Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Ohio Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $152 a month compared to $170 for American Select. But Ohio Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or Ohio Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, American Select offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Ohio Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

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

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Select and Ohio Mutual calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com does 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 most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Select or Ohio 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.