Auto-owners vs. Central Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Auto-owners offers significantly less expensive prices than Central Mutual
• Auto-owners offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs
• Central Mutual offers more affordable prices for residents in Georgia, New Mexico, New York, and Ohio

Auto-owners vs. Central Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Auto-owners or Central Mutual, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Auto-owners is quite a bit cheaper than Central Mutual, with rates averaging $179 per month compared to $340 with Central Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Auto-owners will be the more affordable option for each driver. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live 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 Auto-owners or Central Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Auto-owners or Central Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Central Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Auto-owners offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Auto-owners rates are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Central Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that 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.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $200 less a month by choosing Auto-owners over Central Mutual.

Even so, both carriers will drop prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Auto-owners policyholders reduce almost $250 and Central Mutual's rates decrease more than $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Auto-owners gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 50% more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are usually cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Auto-owners is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $162 per month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Auto-owners is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 55% a month.

Auto-owners vs. Central Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Auto-owners, women typically pay around 6% per month less than men, and about 4% less with Central Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Auto-owners comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $159 a month and men save around $162 with Auto-owners compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Auto-owners or Central 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.

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

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Auto-owners normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $99 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Auto-owners again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month cheaper than Central Mutual, on average.

Is Auto-owners or Central Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Auto-owners or Central Mutual less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Auto-owners policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $44 a month if they get a ticket, while Central Mutual generally raises premiums around $84 per month, on average.

However, Auto-owners tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 50% and 49% cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Auto-owners drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Central Mutual will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Auto-owners, with monthly premiums averaging $168 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

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 insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. Central Mutual drivers usually see a 50% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Auto-owners will typically raise prices by around 54%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Auto-owners tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $264 monthly compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Central Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Auto-owners. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 65% compared to Central Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $159 or 55% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Auto-owners typically offers lower rates than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $153 a month less with Auto-owners compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $169 a month.

Is Auto-owners or Central 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 prices. Generally, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Auto-owners offers more affordable rates than Central Mutual. Auto-owners average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $150 cheaper than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than $150 less with Auto-owners over Central Mutual.

Auto-owners vs. Central 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, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Auto-owners boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Auto-owners offers rates around $205 per month compared to Central Mutual's $529. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $169 per month for Auto-owners and $263 for Central Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $164 and $228 for Auto-owners and Central Mutual respectively.

Auto-owners vs. Central Mutual Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Auto-owners and Central Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Auto-owners blows Central Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts. Auto-owners also offers advance quote discounts, company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Central Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Central Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- book transfer policy discounts, DRL discounts, renewal discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Central Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Auto-owners or Central Mutual the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Auto-owners might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Auto-owners and Central Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Auto-owners and Central Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Central Mutual FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Central Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Auto-owners is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $179 a month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, Auto-owners won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Central Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Auto-owners and Central Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Auto-owners and Central Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Central Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Auto-owners or Central 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.