California Casualty vs. Oregon Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Oregon Mutual offers significantly more affordable premiums than California Casualty
• Oregon Mutual offers more affordable rates for residents of rural areas
• Oregon Mutual offers cheaper average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

California Casualty vs. Oregon Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to California Casualty or Oregon Mutual for your next policy, but which carrier has less expensive premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Oregon Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than California Casualty, with rates averaging $135 per month compared to $201 with California Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Oregon Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than California Casualty for each driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your age, where you call home, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if California Casualty or Oregon Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

California Casualty or Oregon Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

California Casualty and Oregon Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Oregon Mutual offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Oregon has the most noticable difference, where Oregon Mutual prices are over 30% more affordable than insurance premiums at California Casualty.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost 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 car 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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Oregon Mutual save nearly $90 a month compared to those who use California Casualty.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for California Casualty policyholders reduce about $250 and Oregon Mutual's premiums lower almost $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 rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

When looking at California Casualty and Oregon Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Oregon Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 35% cheaper than the national average for California Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than single policyholders. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Oregon Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $69 per month more affordable than California Casualty, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Oregon Mutual has the edge when it comes to average rates.

California Casualty vs. Oregon Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men generally pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, women see premiums almost 10% a month less with California Casualty, and about 9% less with Oregon Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Oregon Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $68 less for men and $64 cheaper for women.

California Casualty or Oregon 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.

For most people, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Oregon Mutual usually offers less expensive rates of $97 compared to California Casualty's $122. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Oregon Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month more affordable than California Casualty, on average.

Is California Casualty or Oregon Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is California Casualty or Oregon Mutual cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

California Casualty policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $33 a month if they get a ticket, while Oregon Mutual typically raises prices about $11 per month, on average.

However, Oregon Mutual is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 19% and 28% less expensive, respectively, compared to California Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with California Casualty climbing by over $60. Oregon Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Oregon Mutual offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $133 compared to California Casualty's $198.

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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, California Casualty will increase your premiums around 54% after a DUI, while Oregon Mutual's average prices climb by over 35%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Oregon Mutual tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $171 monthly compared to $300 from California Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact California Casualty and Oregon Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

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

Looking specifically at California Casualty and Oregon Mutual, which company has the cheapest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Oregon Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to California Casualty, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $53 or 30% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Oregon Mutual typically offers lower prices than California Casualty when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $80 a month less with Oregon Mutual compared to California Casualty, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $114 a month.

Is California Casualty or Oregon 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 large impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Oregon Mutual offers cheaper rates than California Casualty. California Casualty's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 30% more expensive than Oregon Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 36% more with California Casualty over Oregon Mutual.

California Casualty vs. Oregon 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 big impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Oregon Mutual tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both companies, but Oregon Mutual comes out on top with average rates around $115 per month. Oregon Mutual also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 31% and 38% per month respective difference when compared to California Casualty policyholders in similar areas.

California Casualty vs. Oregon 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both California Casualty and Oregon Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Oregon Mutual comes out ahead with 15 discounts to California Casualty's 14.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Oregon Mutual also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, csl discounts, and more that California Casualty does not.

On the flip side, California Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, education discounts, full coverage discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is California Casualty or Oregon Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through 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 right fit for you?

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

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

California Casualty might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare California Casualty and Oregon 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just California Casualty and Oregon Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

California Casualty vs. Oregon Mutual FAQs

Is California Casualty or Oregon Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Oregon Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $135 a month compared to $201 for California Casualty. But Oregon Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, California Casualty or Oregon Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do California Casualty and Oregon Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both California Casualty and Oregon Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if California Casualty or Oregon Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be California Casualty or Oregon 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.