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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Grinnell Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners offers more discounts than Grinnell Mutual
• Grinnell Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Auto-owners or Grinnell Mutual, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Auto-owners is quite a bit more expensive than Grinnell Mutual, with prices averaging $179 per month compared to just $115 with Grinnell Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Grinnell Mutual will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Auto-owners or Grinnell Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

Auto-owners and Grinnell Mutual only compete against each other in North Dakota, where Grinnell Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. For North Dakota residents, Grinnell Mutual offers auto insurance for $115 monthly on average. Auto-owners's average rates come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $153 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Grinnell Mutual save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Auto-owners. It's worth noting that Auto-owners offers auto insurance in 23 different states compared to Grinnell Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will reduce rates by the time drivers turn 25. Grinnell Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Auto-owners's average premiums decrease nearly 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest insurance prices you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Auto-owners and Grinnell Mutual? Grinnell Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 40% cheaper than the national average for Auto-owners.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Grinnell Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $80 per month less expensive than Auto-owners, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Grinnell Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

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

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

Men typically pay over $10 a month more than women with Auto-owners, and around $6 with Grinnell Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Grinnell Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $67 per month and women save about $62 with Grinnell Mutual compared to the average Auto-owners policyholder.

Auto-owners or Grinnell 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 pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms 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 covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Grinnell Mutual normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $47 compared to Auto-owners's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Grinnell Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $75 a month more affordable than Auto-owners, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Auto-owners or Grinnell Mutual less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Grinnell Mutual car insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Auto-owners policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about a quarter.

Even so, Grinnell Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $6 per month with Grinnell Mutual, and the same can be said for those with a ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Auto-owners policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by over $45, while those who have insurance through Grinnell Mutual will see about a $0 increase.

Overall, Grinnell Mutual offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $115 compared to Auto-Owners Insurance's $168.

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 an accident. On average, Auto-owners will climb your rates around 54% after a DUI, while Grinnell Mutual's average prices increase by 0%.

Grinnell Mutual has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $115 a month, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just one for Grinnell Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking specifically at Grinnell Mutual and Auto-owners, which carrier has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Grinnell Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Auto-owners, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $33 or 26% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Grinnell Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $60 a month less with Grinnell Mutual compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $149 monthly.

Is Auto-owners or Grinnell 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 pretty big impact on your monthly rates? Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Grinnell Mutual offers more affordable prices than Auto-owners. Grinnell Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $71 cheaper than Auto-owners. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about $58 less with Grinnell Mutual over Auto-owners.

Auto-owners vs. Grinnell 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 substantial impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Grinnell Mutual tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $45 with Grinnell Mutual compared to Auto-owners. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $54 less with Grinnell Mutual compared to Auto-owners. In urban areas, Grinnell Mutual's average premiums are around $94 less than Auto-Owners Insurance.

Auto-owners vs. Grinnell Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Auto-owners and Grinnell 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.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts. Auto-owners also offers advance quote discounts, company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Grinnell Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Grinnell Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- EFT discounts, excess vehicle discounts, new business discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Grinnell Mutual might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

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

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Grinnell Mutual only offers policies to North Dakota residents.
• You're looking for discounts -- Auto-owners has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Auto-owners and Grinnell Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 companies, not just Auto-owners and Grinnell 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Grinnell Mutual FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Grinnell Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Grinnell Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $115 per month compared to $179 for Auto-owners. But Grinnell Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Grinnell Mutual?

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

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

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like where you park your vehicle, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Auto-owners and Grinnell Mutual calculate prices 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 lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Auto-owners or Grinnell 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.