Auto-owners vs. General Casualty: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, General Casualty offers significantly cheaper prices than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than General Casualty
• General Casualty offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

Auto-owners or General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Auto-owners or General Casualty, but which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

As you can see, General Casualty is around $40 a month cheaper than Auto-owners when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, General Casualty may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, where you call home, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Auto-owners or General Casualty 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 vs. General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and General Casualty compete against each other in five states, with General Casualty offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Illinois or Minnesota, Auto-owners is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. General Casualty is the less expensive option in Arizona, Indiana, and Utah.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group out there on the road. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 30% less per month by choosing General Casualty over Auto-owners.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Auto-owners policyholders drop about $250 and General Casualty's premiums decrease around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? General Casualty gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older about 7% cheaper than the national average for Auto-owners.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

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

Auto-owners or General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men usually pay more for car insurance than women? That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see rates over $10 a month higher with Auto-owners, and nearly $15 with General Casualty.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, General Casualty offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $39 per month and women save around $42 with General Casualty compared to the average Auto-owners policyholder.

Auto-owners vs. General Casualty: 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 insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, General Casualty has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $82. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies averaging about $195 a month to Auto-owners's $260.

Is Auto-owners or General Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 rates, but is Auto-owners or General Casualty more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Auto-owners for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 27% after getting a speeding ticket. General Casualty policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 32%.

But General Casualty tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 26% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 19% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Auto-owners drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by over $45, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see around a $55 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $146 compared to Auto-Owners Insurance's $168.

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 -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Auto-owners drivers usually see a 54% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will generally increase rates by about 52%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, General Casualty tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $186 to Auto-owners's $264.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and General Casualty Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Auto-owners will normally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Auto-owners comes in nearly 8% more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 9% with General Casualty compared to average rates from Auto-owners.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower prices than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 21% per month less with General Casualty compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 38% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly premiums. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much General Casualty charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Auto-owners, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying around $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, General Casualty is the cheaper company.

Auto-owners or General Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a large role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, General Casualty typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty's average rates are about $54 less than Auto-Owners Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around $35 less with General Casualty compared to Auto-owners. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $33 with General Casualty compared to Auto-owners.

Auto-owners vs. General Casualty 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 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Auto-owners and General Casualty so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Auto-owners blows General Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than General Casualty.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts -- but Auto-owners also offers discounts for ABS, company car, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, General Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like employee discounts, new vehicle discounts, and occupation discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or General Casualty Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

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

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Auto-owners and General Casualty. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Auto-owners and General Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is Auto-owners or General Casualty cheaper?

General Casualty is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $139 a month with General Casualty and $179 for Auto-owners. That being said, that doesn't mean General Casualty will be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Auto-owners or General Casualty?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Auto-owners is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while General Casualty offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Auto-owners and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Auto-owners and General Casualty calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Auto-owners or General Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Auto-owners or General Casualty 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.