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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Motorists offers significantly cheaper rates than Central Mutual
• Central Mutual offers more discounts than Motorists Insurance Group
• Motorists offers more affordable average prices for couples purchasing car insurance together

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Central Mutual or Motorists as your top options, but which carrier has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Motorists, with premiums averaging $340 per month compared to just $251 with Motorists.

That being said, Motorists may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Central Mutual or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Motorists only compete against each other in one states, with Central Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual premiums are over 20% cheaper than auto insurance prices at Motorists.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Motorists for their car insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Central Mutual.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Central Mutual policyholders lower over $250 and Motorists's premiums drop nearly $200 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 rates you can find.

When looking at Central Mutual and Motorists specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Motorists gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $56 less expensive than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than those who are single. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Motorists is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $99 a month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Motorists offers the cheapest average premiums.

Central Mutual vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll usually end up paying more for insurance than women.

Generally, women see rates around 4% per month less with Central Mutual, and about 5% less with Motorists.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Motorists comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 26% less for men and 26% cheaper for women.

Central Mutual or Motorists: 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 terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Motorists generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $123 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Motorists again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Motorists typically raises premiums about $18 a month, on average.

However, Motorists tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 30% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 43% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Central Mutual increasing by just under $70. Motorists has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay over $35 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Motorists, with monthly rates averaging $206 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Motorists increases average prices by more than $250 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Motorists tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $442 per month compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Motorists Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Motorists. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 40% compared to Central Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $103 or 36% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Motorists typically offers lower rates than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $98 a month less with Motorists compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $57 a month.

Is Central Mutual or Motorists 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 car insurance payment. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Motorists tends to be the more affordable option. Motorists's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $89 less expensive than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $89 less with Motorists over Central Mutual.

Central Mutual vs. Motorists: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Motorists boasts the lowest average rates in urban and suburban areas, while Central Mutual wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Motorists's average prices are about $286 while Central Mutual offers rates around $529. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $215 with Motorists compared to $263 with Central Mutual. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $228 monthly with Central Mutual compared to Motorists's $252.

Central Mutual vs. Motorists Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Central Mutual and Motorists offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Central Mutual comes out ahead with 15 discounts to Motorists's 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and paid in full discounts. Central Mutual also offers book transfer policy discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, empty nester discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Central Mutual or Motorists the best fit for you?

Motorists 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 drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Central Mutual and Motorists. 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 Motorists. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Central Mutual vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Motorists is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $251 per month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. Even so, Motorists won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Motorists?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Central Mutual and Motorists offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things like where you live, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Central Mutual and Motorists calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Central Mutual or Motorists 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.