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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, State Auto offers significantly less expensive rates than Central Mutual
• State Auto offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• State Auto tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Central Mutual vs. State Auto: 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 might be considering Central Mutual or State Auto as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Central Mutual is about $81 more per month than State Auto.

But that doesn't necessarily mean State Auto will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each 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, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Central Mutual or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and State Auto 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 over 50% less expensive than insurance premiums at State Auto.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your rates. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Central Mutual save more than $150 a month compared to those who use State Auto.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Central Mutual's average rates drop nearly 45% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Central Mutual and State Auto? State Auto 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?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State Auto is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $46 per month cheaper than Central Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - State Auto offers the lowest average prices.

Central Mutual vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for insurance than women do. This is because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Usually, men see rates about 4% a month higher with Central Mutual, while with State Auto, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, State Auto comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $86 a month and men save around $76 with State Auto compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual or State Auto: 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 can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, State Auto usually offers less expensive premiums of $149 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than Central Mutual, on average.

Is Central Mutual or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Central Mutual or State Auto less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Central Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $84 a month if they get a ticket, while State Auto generally raises premiums around $48 per month, on average.

That being said, State Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save about $72 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $108 per month with State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Central Mutual can expect to see about an $69 -- or around 22% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use State Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from State Auto, with monthly rates averaging $269 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 premiums by just under $250 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, State Auto tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $380 monthly compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and State Auto Rates?

You may not have known, but 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 a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest rates 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 State Auto. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 25% compared to Central Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $60 or 21% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower prices than Central Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $67 per month less with State Auto compared to Central Mutual, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $133 a month.

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

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

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

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

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

State Auto tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but State Auto comes out on top with average prices around $225 per month. State Auto also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 40% and 10% a month respective difference when compared to Central Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Central Mutual vs. State Auto Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Central Mutual and State Auto so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Auto comes out ahead with 18 discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and paid in full discounts. State Auto also offers advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, 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, DRL discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

State Auto might be best for you if....

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Central Mutual and State Auto. 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 a handful of companies, not just Central Mutual and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Central Mutual or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State Auto is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $259 per month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. But State Auto won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Central Mutual and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Central Mutual and State Auto calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Central Mutual or State Auto 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.