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

Quick Facts

• In general, Southern offers slightly less expensive rates than Central Mutual
• Central Mutual offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Southern tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually

Central Mutual vs. Southern: 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 big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Central Mutual or Southern as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Southern is about $18 per month more affordable than Central Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Southern will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

Central Mutual or Southern: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Southern only compete against each other in one states, with Central Mutual offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual prices are over 20% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Southern.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment 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?

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

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $150 less a month by choosing Central Mutual over Southern.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Central Mutual policyholders decrease more than $250 and Southern's rates reduce almost $450 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Central Mutual and Southern specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Southern gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $21 cheaper than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single drivers, with rates only differing around $8 per month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Southern offers the lowest average premiums.

Central Mutual vs. Southern: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, men generally pay more for insurance than women.

On average, men see rates about 4% a month higher with Central Mutual, while with Southern, the difference is closer to 11% per month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Southern offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $29 a month and men save around $7 with Southern compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual or Southern: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. 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 an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

In this case, Central Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while Southern has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Central Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $55 more affordable with Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Central Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $84 per month if they get a ticket, while Southern usually raises prices around $17 a month, on average.

Even so, Southern tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are 11% and 29% cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Central Mutual policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under $70, while those who have insurance through Southern will see about a $75 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Southern end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $293 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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Southern drivers usually see a 61% raise in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Central Mutual will usually increase prices by around 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Central Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $482 monthly compared to $548 from Southern.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Southern Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for several drivers.

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

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

Southern tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. Central Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $30 more expensive than Southern. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay nearly $10 more with Central Mutual over Southern.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Central Mutual normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Southern wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Southern's average prices are about $390 while Central Mutual offers premiums around $529. People in suburban areas pay about $263 with Central Mutual compared to Southern's $279 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $228 per month with Central Mutual compared to Southern's $298.

Central Mutual vs. Southern Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Central Mutual and Southern so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Southern has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Central Mutual offers a grand total of 15 discounts, while Southern has 20.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Southern also offers advance quote discounts, experienced operator discounts, family discounts, and more that Central Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Central Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- book transfer policy discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Southern might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Central Mutual and Southern. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 several companies, not just Central Mutual and Southern. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Southern FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Southern cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Southern is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $322 per month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. However, Southern won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Southern?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Central Mutual offers more affordable prices for single drivers, while Southern is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Central Mutual and Southern offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual and Southern calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Central Mutual or Southern 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Central Mutual or Southern 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.