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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Esurance offers more affordable premiums than Central Mutual
• Central Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Esurance has cheaper prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Central Mutual or Esurance: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or Esurance, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Esurance has average rates that are around 12% a month more affordable than those from Central Mutual.

However, Esurance may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Central Mutual and Esurance by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Central Mutual vs. Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Esurance only compete against each other in three states, with Esurance offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual prices are $114 less expensive than car insurance rates at Esurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

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 group out there on the road. 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less per month by choosing Central Mutual over Esurance.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Central Mutual policyholders decrease nearly 45% and Esurance's rates lower over 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums you can 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 prices.

When looking at Central Mutual and Esurance specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Esurance gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $43 cheaper than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is not very significant, with Esurance premiums coming in at about 3% less than Central Mutual's. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Esurance offers the cheapest average rates.

Central Mutual or Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, women see prices around 4% a month less with Central Mutual, but with Esurance, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Esurance offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $38 less for men and $45 cheaper for women.

Central Mutual vs. Esurance: 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, Central Mutual has the edge, while Esurance offers the most affordable average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with Central Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $100 more affordable with Esurance.

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

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

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Central Mutual for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Esurance policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 16%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Esurance tends to offer the best prices at around 12% less expensive, while Central Mutual has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Esurance raising by about 34%. Central Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than 20% more than you were prior to your first collision.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Central Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $311 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Central Mutual drivers usually see a 50% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Esurance will typically raise rates by around 20%.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Esurance Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Central Mutual and Esurance specifically, which company has the best 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 Central Mutual or Esurance Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly auto insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Esurance tends to be the cheaper option. Esurance's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $37 less expensive than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around $46 less with Esurance over Central Mutual.

Central Mutual or Esurance: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Esurance boasts the most affordable average prices in rural and urban areas, while Central Mutual wins in suburban areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Esurance's average rates are about 25% less than Central Mutual Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 9% less with Central Mutual compared to Esurance. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 7% with Esurance compared to Central Mutual.

Central Mutual vs. Esurance Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Central Mutual and Esurance offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Esurance knocks Central Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Central Mutual's 24.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Esurance also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, education, and more.

On the other hand, Central Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like book transfer policy discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Central Mutual or Esurance the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Esurance might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Central Mutual and Esurance. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Central Mutual and Esurance. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Central Mutual vs. Esurance FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Esurance cheaper?

Esurance is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $299 a month with Esurance and $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Esurance will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Esurance?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Esurance is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Central Mutual offers more affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Central Mutual and Esurance offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual and Esurance calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Central Mutual or Esurance 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Central Mutual or Esurance 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.