Atlantic States vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Atlantic States offers significantly more affordable premiums than Hastings Mutual
• Atlantic States has less expensive rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company has cheaper prices for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Hastings Mutual is around $51 more a month than Atlantic States.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Atlantic States will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Atlantic States vs. Hastings Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Hastings Mutual offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual prices are $73 more affordable than car insurance premiums at Atlantic States.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Atlantic States for their car insurance pay over 20% less than those who use Hastings Mutual.

But both carriers will reduce prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Atlantic States policyholders lower about $150 and Hastings Mutual's prices drop around $150 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 most affordable premiums you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Atlantic States gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $48 cheaper than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Atlantic States premiums coming in at a quarter less than Hastings Mutual's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Atlantic States has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Usually, women see prices almost $15 per month less expensive with Atlantic States, and about $5 with Hastings Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Atlantic States offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $46 a month and women save around $55 with Atlantic States compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Atlantic States vs. Hastings 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 car 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 that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Atlantic States has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $85. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Atlantic States again has the edge, with policies averaging about $235 per month to Hastings Mutual's $279.

Is Atlantic States or Hastings 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Atlantic States for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 5% after getting a speeding ticket. Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 16%.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Atlantic States drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over $35, while those who have insurance through Hastings Mutual will see about a $15 increase.

At the end of the day, Hastings Mutual offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average rates coming in at $126 compared to Atlantic States Insurance Company's $153.

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. For example, Hastings Mutual increases average prices by more than $350 a month -- that's more than a 75% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Atlantic States tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $250 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual Rates?

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

Insurance carriers 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking at Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Atlantic States will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Atlantic States comes in nearly 18.56 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 25% with Atlantic States compared to average rates from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Atlantic States typically offers lower prices than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 25% per month less with Atlantic States compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 25% per month.

Is Atlantic States or Hastings 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 auto insurance bill. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for Atlantic States, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $18 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Atlantic States is the less expensive carrier.

Atlantic States or Hastings 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. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Atlantic States generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Atlantic States Insurance Company's average premiums are about $86 less than Hastings Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around $34 less with Atlantic States compared to Hastings Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $31 with Atlantic States compared to Hastings Mutual.

Atlantic States vs. Hastings Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Atlantic States and Hastings 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.

Atlantic States knocks Hastings Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than Hastings Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Atlantic States also offers discounts for advance quote, driver training, family discount, and more.

On the other hand, Hastings Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like company car discounts, prior carrier discounts, and workloss exclusion discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Atlantic States vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

Atlantic States is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $160 a month with Atlantic States and $211 for Hastings Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Atlantic States will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Atlantic States is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Hastings Mutual offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as gender, age, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Atlantic States and Hastings Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Atlantic States or Hastings Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Atlantic States or Hastings 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.