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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Progressive offers significantly more affordable prices than Central Mutual
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Central Mutual Insurance
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or Progressive, but between the two, which one has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Progressive has average rates that are around 45% a month less expensive than those from Central Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Progressive will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

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

Central Mutual and Progressive compete against each other in four states, with Progressive offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Progressive premiums are $158 less expensive than car insurance prices at Central Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less per month by choosing Progressive over Central Mutual.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Central Mutual's average rates lower nearly 45% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 50% more affordable than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are generally cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers? That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Progressive premiums coming in at about 40% less than Central Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Progressive offers the most affordable average rates.

Central Mutual or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is normally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see premiums around 4% a month higher with Central Mutual, but with Progressive, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $155 a month and men save about $164 with Progressive compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual vs. Progressive: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Progressive has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $111. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies averaging around $250 per month to Central Mutual's $506.

Is Central Mutual or Progressive 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 Progressive more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Central Mutual for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Progressive policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 17%.

However, Progressive is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are 38% and 45% cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Central Mutual can expect to see about an $69 -- or around 22% -- rise in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Progressive for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $65 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Progressive end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $214 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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Central Mutual drivers usually see a 50% increase in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Progressive will typically climb rates by around 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Progressive Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking at Central Mutual and Progressive specifically, which company has the most affordable 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 Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

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

Central Mutual or Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, 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 road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Progressive generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $74 with Progressive compared to Central Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $84 less with Progressive compared to Central Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average rates are around $322 less than Central Mutual Insurance.

Central Mutual vs. Progressive Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Central Mutual and Progressive so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Progressive blows Central Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than Central Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

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

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

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 Progressive. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Central Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Progressive is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $180 a month with Progressive and $340 for Central Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Central Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like where you live, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual and Progressive calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Central Mutual or Progressive 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.