Buckeye vs. Central Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Buckeye offers significantly cheaper premiums than Central Mutual
• Buckeye offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Central Mutual offers more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

Buckeye vs. Central 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 have narrowed your search down to Buckeye or Central Mutual for your next policy, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Central Mutual has average rates that are about 60% per month more expensive than those from Buckeye when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Buckeye will necessarily be less expensive than Central Mutual for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Buckeye or Central Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Buckeye or Central Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and Central Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Central Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual rates are over 20% cheaper than auto insurance prices at Buckeye.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $300 less a month by choosing Buckeye over Central Mutual.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Buckeye policyholders lower over $150 and Central Mutual's rates drop around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Buckeye gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $170 more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married drivers. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Buckeye is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $223 per month less expensive than Central Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Buckeye offers the cheapest average premiums.

Buckeye vs. Central Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Typically, men see rates around $15 a month higher with Buckeye, and about $14 more with Central Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Buckeye comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 60% less for men and 62% cheaper for women.

Buckeye 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

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 a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Buckeye normally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $73 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies around $300 per month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average.

Is Buckeye or Central Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- Buckeye or Central Mutual -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Buckeye policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $6 a month if they get a ticket, while Central Mutual generally raises rates about $84 per month, on average.

But Buckeye is typically the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $161 and $239 cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Central Mutual climbing by just under $70. Buckeye has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay over $15 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Buckeye, with monthly premiums averaging $98 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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Central Mutual increases average prices by nearly $250 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Buckeye tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $263 per month compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Central Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

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

Looking specifically at Buckeye and Central Mutual, which carrier has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Buckeye or Central Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Buckeye charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Central Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Buckeye is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Buckeye vs. Central Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can have a big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but Buckeye comes out on top with average rates about $107 a month. Buckeye also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $398 and $104 per month respective difference when compared to Central Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Buckeye vs. Central Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Buckeye and Central Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Central Mutual blows Buckeye away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 15 different discounts to Buckeye's seven.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Central Mutual also offers ABS discounts, book transfer policy discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Buckeye does not.

On the flip side, Buckeye has a unique discount of its own -- a good driving discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Central Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Buckeye or Central Mutual the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Central Mutual has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Buckeye and Central Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Buckeye and Central Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Buckeye vs. Central Mutual FAQs

Is Buckeye or Central Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Buckeye is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $132 a month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. Even so, Buckeye won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Buckeye or Central Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Buckeye and Central Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Buckeye and Central Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Buckeye 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 multiple companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Buckeye 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.