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

Quick Facts

• In general, National Mutual offers significantly more affordable rates than Central Mutual
• National Mutual offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy
• National Mutual offers cheaper average rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or National Mutual as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Central Mutual has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from National Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean National Mutual will be the less expensive option for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Central Mutual and National Mutual 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 prices are $58 more affordable than auto insurance rates at National Mutual.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's generally 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 20% less per month by choosing National Mutual over Central Mutual.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Central Mutual policyholders reduce about $250 and National Mutual's rates decrease around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? National Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 50% less expensive than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for those who are single. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

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

Central Mutual or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men usually pay about 4% more a month than women with Central Mutual, and around 10% more with National Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, National Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $142 per month and men save about $135 with National Mutual compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual vs. National 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms 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 property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, National Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, National Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $308 a month to Central Mutual's $506.

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

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

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Central Mutual or National Mutual more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

However, National Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering rates that are $111 and $184 less expensive, 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 premiums increase by just under $70, while those who have insurance through National Mutual will see about a $75 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use National Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $207 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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Central Mutual increases average rates by nearly $250 per month -- that's nearly a 50% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, National Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $325 to Central Mutual's $482.

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

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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

So, which carrier offers the cheapest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, National Mutual will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, National Mutual comes in more than 50.97 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 44% with National Mutual compared to average prices from Central Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 33% a month less with National Mutual compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 39% per month.

Is Central Mutual or National Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly rates. Usually, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

National Mutual boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, National Mutual Insurance's average prices are about 60% less than Central Mutual Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 24% less with National Mutual compared to Central Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 17% with National Mutual compared to Central Mutual.

Central Mutual vs. National Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Central Mutual and National Mutual so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, National Mutual comes out ahead with 19 discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but National Mutual also offers discounts for advance quote, claim free, continuous insurance, and more.

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

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Central Mutual or National Mutual the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You have above-average credit.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Central Mutual and National Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Central Mutual and National Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Central Mutual or National Mutual cheaper?

National Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $201 per month with National Mutual and $340 for Central Mutual. But that doesn't mean National Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or National Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things like age, gender, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Central Mutual and National Mutual calculate rates using different factors, 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Central Mutual or National 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.