Arbella vs. Preferred Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Arbella offers significantly less expensive premiums than Preferred Mutual
• Arbella tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Preferred Mutual has cheaper rates for drivers who have below-average credit

Arbella or Preferred Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering 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 Arbella or Preferred Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Preferred Mutual has average rates that are around 70% a month more expensive than those from Arbella.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Arbella will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Arbella or Preferred 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.

Arbella vs. Preferred Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Arbella and Preferred Mutual only compete against each other in Massachusetts, where Arbella offers the cheaper average premiums. Arbella drivers tend to pay about $8 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Preferred Mutual for their car insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about 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. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 70% less a month by choosing Arbella over Preferred Mutual.

However, both carriers will decrease prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Arbella policyholders reduce almost 65% and Preferred Mutual's prices lower more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at Arbella and Preferred Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Arbella gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 75% cheaper than the national average for Preferred Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than single policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Arbella premiums coming in at about a quarter of Preferred Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Arbella offers the most affordable average rates.

Arbella or Preferred Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Women and men get the same monthly prices with Arbella, and around 3% less with Preferred Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Arbella comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $384 per month and men save about $400 with Arbella compared to the average Preferred Mutual policyholder.

Arbella vs. Preferred 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Arbella has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $83. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Arbella again has the edge, with policies averaging around $216 a month to Preferred Mutual's $850.

Is Arbella or Preferred Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Arbella or Preferred Mutual less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Arbella for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 6% after getting a speeding ticket. Preferred Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 1%.

But Arbella is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 70% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 68% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Arbella can expect to see about an $34 -- or around 23% -- rise in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Preferred Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $97 (or 20%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, Arbella offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average premiums coming in at $151 compared to Preferred Mutual's $486.

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. Preferred Mutual drivers usually see a 57% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Arbella will usually raise premiums by around 43%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Arbella tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $206 to Preferred Mutual's $902.

How does Credit Score Impact Arbella and Preferred Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Arbella and Preferred Mutual, which company has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have stellar credit. With Preferred Mutual, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will normally save you around 10%. Because Arbella, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with Preferred Mutual. As you can see, Preferred Mutual customers with poor credit scores pay about $200 per month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, because Arbella doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Preferred Mutual.

Is Arbella or Preferred 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 considerable 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 causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Arbella tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Preferred Mutual's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 75% more expensive than Arbella. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than 70% more with Preferred Mutual over Arbella.

Arbella or Preferred 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 sizable impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Arbella boasts the lowest average rates 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 $157 with Arbella compared to Preferred Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $304 less with Arbella compared to Preferred Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Arbella Insurance's average premiums are around $716 less than Preferred Mutual.

Arbella vs. Preferred Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Arbella and Preferred Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Arbella has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Preferred Mutual offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Arbella has 18.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, group discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Arbella also offers discounts for continuous insurance, distant student, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Preferred Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, defensive driver discounts, DRL discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Arbella or Preferred Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Arbella might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Preferred Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your rates.
• Your credit score is high.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Arbella and Preferred Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Arbella and Preferred Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Arbella vs. Preferred Mutual FAQs

Is Arbella or Preferred Mutual cheaper?

Arbella is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $150 a month with Arbella and $542 for Preferred Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Arbella will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Arbella or Preferred Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Preferred Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Arbella offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Arbella and Preferred Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables such as age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Arbella and Preferred Mutual calculate premiums using different factors, 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 lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Arbella or Preferred Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the 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 make 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 carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Arbella or Preferred 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.