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

Quick Facts

• In general, General Casualty offers significantly less expensive premiums than Central Mutual
• Central Mutual offers more discounts than General Casualty
• General Casualty offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in the suburbs

Central Mutual vs. General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or General Casualty for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, General Casualty is quite a bit cheaper than Central Mutual, with premiums averaging $139 per month compared to $340 with Central Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean General Casualty will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, auto insurance companies 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, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Central Mutual or General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $300 less a month by choosing General Casualty over Central Mutual.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Central Mutual policyholders reduce nearly 45% and General Casualty's premiums drop over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? General Casualty gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 55% more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $212 per month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - General Casualty has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Central Mutual vs. General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Generally, men see premiums nearly $15 a month higher with Central Mutual, while with General Casualty, the difference is closer to $14 per month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $201 less for men and $201 cheaper for women.

Central Mutual or General Casualty: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $82 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $300 a month cheaper than Central Mutual, on average.

Is Central Mutual or General Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Central Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $84 per month if they get a ticket, while General Casualty normally raises prices about $43 a month, on average.

Even so, General Casualty has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $152 and $193 cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Central Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over 20%, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see around a 40% increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from General Casualty, with monthly rates averaging $146 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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Central Mutual increases average prices by just under $250 per month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, General Casualty tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $186 monthly compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and General Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at Central Mutual and General Casualty, which one has the best prices for drivers 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 General Casualty 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 how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

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

Central Mutual vs. General Casualty: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable 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.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but General Casualty comes out on top with average rates around $131 per month. General Casualty also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $378 and $129 a month respective difference when compared to Central Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

Central Mutual vs. General Casualty 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 challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Central Mutual and General Casualty so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Central Mutual has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. General Casualty offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while Central Mutual has 15.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Central Mutual also offers ABS discounts, book transfer policy discounts, driver training discounts, and more that General Casualty does not.

On the flip side, General Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or General Casualty Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

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 Central Mutual and General Casualty. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 multiple carriers, not just Central Mutual and General Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do 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.

Central Mutual vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is Central Mutual or General Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, General Casualty is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $139 per month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, General Casualty won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or General Casualty?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Central Mutual and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, where you park your car, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Central Mutual and General Casualty use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. 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 Central Mutual or General Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Central Mutual or General Casualty 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.