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

Quick Facts

• In general, Hastings Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Central Mutual
• Central Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Hastings Mutual Insurance Company
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in urban areas

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

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

You might be considering Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Hastings Mutual, with prices averaging $340 a month compared to just $211 with Hastings Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Hastings Mutual will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Hastings Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual premiums are $5 cheaper than auto insurance rates at Central Mutual.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 35% less per month by choosing Hastings Mutual over Central Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Central Mutual policyholders lower around $250 and Hastings Mutual's rates reduce more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual? Hastings Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 40% more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Hastings Mutual prices coming in at a third less than Central Mutual's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Hastings Mutual has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, men see prices about 4% a month higher with Central Mutual, but with Hastings Mutual, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Hastings Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $134 a month and women save around $125 with Hastings Mutual compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual vs. Hastings 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Hastings Mutual has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $142. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Hastings Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $279 per month to Central Mutual's $506.

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

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

Even so, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Hastings Mutual Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save around $133 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $197 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Central Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by just under $70, while those who have insurance through Hastings Mutual will see around a $15 increase.

At the end of the day, Hastings Mutual offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $126 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 auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Hastings Mutual drivers usually see a 77% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Central Mutual will typically increase premiums by about 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Hastings Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $478 to Central Mutual's $482.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking specifically at Hastings Mutual and Central Mutual, which carrier has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Hastings Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Hastings Mutual comes in more than 35.02 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 33% with Hastings Mutual compared to average prices from Central Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Hastings Mutual typically offers lower rates than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 37% a month less with Hastings Mutual compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 43% per month.

Is Central Mutual or Hastings 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 substantial impact on your monthly premiums? Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, 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 companies side-by-side, Hastings Mutual normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Hastings Mutual's average rates are about $291 per month compared to Central Mutual's $529. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $177 with Hastings Mutual compared to $263 with Central Mutual. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $164 a month with Hastings Mutual compared to Central Mutual's $228.

Central Mutual vs. Hastings Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, 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 Hastings Mutual so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Central Mutual comes out ahead with 15 discounts to Hastings Mutual's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Central Mutual also offers discounts for book transfer policy, distant student, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Hastings Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like company car discounts, good driving discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Central Mutual has the most.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

Hastings Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $211 a month with Hastings Mutual and $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Hastings Mutual will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Things like where your home is, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Central Mutual and Hastings Mutual calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Central Mutual or Hastings Mutual 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.