Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Cameron Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Cameron Mutual offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Shelter offers more discounts than Cameron Mutual Insurance Company

Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? 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 might be considering Cameron Mutual or Shelter, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Shelter is quite a bit more expensive than Cameron Mutual, with rates averaging $208 per month compared to just $124 with Cameron Mutual.

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

Wanting to know if Cameron Mutual or Shelter 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.

Cameron Mutual or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cameron Mutual and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Cameron Mutual offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Arkansas has the most noticable difference, where Cameron Mutual prices are over 20% less expensive than car insurance rates at Shelter.

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 companies calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Cameron Mutual save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Shelter.

Even so, both carriers will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Cameron Mutual policyholders reduce over $150 and Shelter's premiums drop nearly $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Cameron Mutual and Shelter? Cameron Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $62 more affordable than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something several insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cameron Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $97 per month less expensive than Shelter, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Cameron Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than 40% a month.

Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Cameron Mutual, women typically pay around $15 per month less than men, while with Shelter, the difference is closer to $25 a month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Cameron Mutual comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $78 per month and men save about $90 with Cameron Mutual compared to the average Shelter policyholder.

Cameron Mutual or Shelter: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car 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 covers the other party's property damage and injuries 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, Cameron Mutual usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $53 compared to Shelter's $129. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cameron Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $95 a month cheaper than Shelter, on average.

Is Cameron Mutual or Shelter 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

That being said, Cameron Mutual is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 23% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 39% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Shelter increasing by over $90. Cameron Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $15 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, drivers who use Cameron Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $124 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Shelter drivers usually see a 49% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Cameron Mutual will typically increase rates by around 28%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Cameron Mutual tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $152 monthly compared to $277 from Shelter.

How does Credit Score Impact Cameron Mutual and Shelter Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Car 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 at Cameron Mutual and Shelter specifically, which carrier has the lowest rates 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 Cameron Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 50% compared to Shelter, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $80 or 43% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cameron Mutual typically offers lower prices than Shelter when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $95 per month less with Cameron Mutual compared to Shelter, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $82 per month.

Is Cameron Mutual or Shelter Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly premiums. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 Cameron Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Shelter, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Cameron Mutual is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter: 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 large impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Cameron Mutual tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Cameron Mutual Insurance Company's average rates are about 43% less than Shelter Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 35% less with Cameron Mutual compared to Shelter. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 43% with Cameron Mutual compared to Shelter.

Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter Discounts

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

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

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Cameron Mutual and Shelter so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Shelter has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Cameron Mutual offers a grand total of six discounts, while Shelter has 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Shelter also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Cameron Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Cameron Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- education discounts, renewal discounts, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Cameron Mutual or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Cameron Mutual and Shelter and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 multiple carriers, not just Cameron Mutual and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cameron Mutual vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Cameron Mutual or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Cameron Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $124 a month compared to $208 for Shelter. However, Cameron Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cameron Mutual or Shelter?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Cameron Mutual and Shelter offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables such as where your home is, gender, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Cameron Mutual and Shelter calculate prices differently, 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 carriers.

How do I know if Cameron Mutual or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 information once 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 rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Cameron Mutual or Shelter 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.