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

Quick Facts

• In general, Grange offers significantly less expensive rates than Central Mutual
• Grange offers more affordable average premiums for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy
• Grange may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Central Mutual Insurance

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

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or Grange, but between the two, which one has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Grange, with rates averaging $340 a month compared to just $249 with Grange.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Grange will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Central Mutual and Grange by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Central Mutual and Grange only compete against each other in one states, with Grange offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Grange prices are $6 cheaper than car insurance rates at Central Mutual.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Grange save almost 5% per month compared to those who use Central Mutual.

That being said, both companies will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Central Mutual policyholders lower nearly 45% and Grange's rates decrease almost 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Central Mutual and Grange? Grange gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 25% more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Grange prices coming in at a quarter less than Central Mutual's. The advantage for married policyholders with Grange is also obvious, where drivers save around $100 a month.

Central Mutual or Grange: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see rates about $15 per month more affordable with Central Mutual, and around $12 less with Grange.

Looking at overall affordability, Grange comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 27% less for men and 27% cheaper for women.

Central Mutual vs. Grange: 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 so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Central Mutual has the edge, while Grange offers the cheapest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Central Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $200 cheaper with Grange Insurance.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Central Mutual or Grange less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Central Mutual for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Grange policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 23%.

Even so, Grange is normally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are $62 and $91 less expensive, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Grange increasing by around 32%. Central Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Grange offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $266 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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Central Mutual increases average premiums by nearly $250 a month -- that's nearly a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Grange tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $314 to Central Mutual's $482.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Grange Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at Central Mutual and Grange specifically, which company has the best rates 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 Grange 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 substantial impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Grange tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Central Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 26% more expensive than Grange. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 28% more with Central Mutual over Grange.

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

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 4% with Grange compared to Central Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about 11% less with Grange compared to Central Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Grange Insurance's average premiums are around 45% less than Central Mutual Insurance.

Central Mutual vs. Grange Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Central Mutual and Grange so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Grange blows Central Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Grange also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, annual mileage, and more.

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

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance carriers 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 one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Grange might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Central Mutual and Grange and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 companies, not just Central Mutual and Grange. 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Grange FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Grange cheaper?

Grange is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $249 per month with Grange and $340 for Central Mutual. But that doesn't mean Grange will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are several different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Grange?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Central Mutual and Grange offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as your driving record, gender, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Central Mutual and Grange calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Central Mutual or Grange 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 carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Central Mutual or Grange 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.