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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Auto-owners offers significantly less expensive premiums than Donegal Mutual
• Auto-owners has more affordable prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Donegal Mutual offers more affordable rates for residents in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

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

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

You might be considering Auto-owners or Donegal Mutual, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Auto-owners has average rates that are about 40% per month less expensive than those from Donegal Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, Auto-owners may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Auto-owners or Donegal 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.

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

Auto-owners and Donegal Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Auto-owners offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Auto-owners prices are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance premiums at Donegal Mutual.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But 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 $250 less a month by choosing Auto-owners over Donegal Mutual.

That being said, both companies will decrease rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Auto-owners policyholders lower nearly 60% and Donegal Mutual's premiums reduce more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Auto-owners and Donegal Mutual? Auto-owners gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $79 more affordable than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Auto-owners is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $133 per month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Auto-owners offers the most affordable average rates.

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

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, women see rates over $10 a month less expensive with Auto-owners, and almost $20 with Donegal Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Auto-owners comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $114 per month and women save about $107 with Auto-owners compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Auto-owners or Donegal 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Auto-owners normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $99 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Auto-owners again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than Donegal Mutual, on average.

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

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

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Auto-owners or Donegal 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 premiums to go up an average of $44 per month if they get a ticket, while Donegal Mutual usually raises prices about $47 a month, on average.

Even so, Auto-owners is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $76 and $79 less expensive, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Auto-owners can expect to see around an $47 -- or about 28% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Donegal Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $48 (or 20%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Auto-owners, with monthly prices averaging $168 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Auto-owners will typically raise premiums by about 54%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Auto-owners tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $264 a month compared to $472 from Donegal Mutual.

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

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Auto-owners and Donegal Mutual specifically, which company has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Auto-owners. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 55% compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $111 or 46% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Auto-owners typically offers lower rates than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $101 per month less with Auto-owners compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $113 monthly.

Is Auto-owners or Donegal Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Auto-owners tends to be the less expensive option. Donegal Mutual's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $95 more expensive than Auto-owners. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay nearly $150 more with Donegal Mutual over Auto-owners.

Auto-owners vs. Donegal 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 considerable impact as well. Generally, 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.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Auto-owners comes out on top with average rates about $164 per month. Auto-owners also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $240 and $71 a month respective difference when compared to Donegal Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

Auto-owners vs. Donegal 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. 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 find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Auto-owners and Donegal Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Auto-owners comes out ahead with 24 discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Auto-owners also offers company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that Donegal Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Donegal Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Auto-owners or Donegal Mutual the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Auto-owners and Donegal 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Auto-owners and Donegal 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Auto-owners is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $179 per month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. That being said, Auto-owners won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Donegal Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where you live, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Auto-owners and Donegal Mutual calculate premiums using different formulas, 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 multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information 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 best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Auto-owners or Donegal 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.