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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Central Mutual offers cheaper premiums than Utica National
• Central Mutual offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Utica National may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Central Mutual Insurance

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Central Mutual or Utica National, but which company has cheaper rates for car insurance?

As you can see, Utica National is around $54 more a month than Central Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, Central Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Central Mutual or Utica National 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 vs. Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average rates. Utica National drivers tend to pay about $362 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Central Mutual for their car insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group out there on the road. That's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Central Mutual for their insurance pay over 15% less than those who use Utica National.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Central Mutual policyholders drop almost 45% and Utica National's rates decrease more than 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Central Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 10% more affordable than the national average for Utica National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Central Mutual premiums coming in at about 15% less than Utica National's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Central Mutual offers the lowest average rates.

Central Mutual or Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Women typically pay around 4% a month less than men with Central Mutual, and about 7% less with Utica National.

Looking at overall affordability, Central Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $62 less for men and $46 cheaper for women.

Central Mutual vs. Utica National: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Central Mutual has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $174. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Central Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $506 per month to Utica National's $592.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great rates 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 speeding tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to 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 usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Utica National policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 16%.

Even so, Central Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $62 and $36 less expensive, respectively, compared to Utica National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Central Mutual can expect to see about an $69 -- or around 22% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Utica National for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $58 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Central Mutual offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $311 compared to Utica National's $362.

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 insurance bill. For example, Utica National increases average rates by nearly $250 a month -- that's nearly a 45% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Central Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $482 to Utica National's $548.

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

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

Looking at Central Mutual and Utica National specifically, which carrier has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Central Mutual will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Central Mutual comes in just under 34.77 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 27% with Central Mutual compared to average premiums from Utica National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 16% less with Central Mutual than Utica National, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 19% per month with Utica National.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly rates. Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

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

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

Where your home is can play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Central Mutual tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $105 with Central Mutual compared to Utica National. People who live in suburban areas pay around $53 less with Central Mutual compared to Utica National. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Central Mutual Insurance's average prices are about $4 less than Utica National.

Central Mutual vs. Utica National Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing 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 company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Central Mutual and Utica National offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Utica National has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Central Mutual offers a grand total of 15 discounts, while Utica National has 18.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, DRL discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Utica National also offers discounts for EFT, ESC, greenhouse gas, and more.

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

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Central Mutual or Utica National the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Utica National might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Utica National offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Central Mutual and Utica National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Central Mutual and Utica National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Utica National FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Utica National cheaper?

Central Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $340 a month with Central Mutual and $394 for Utica National. That being said, that doesn't mean Central Mutual will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Utica National?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Utica National is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Central Mutual offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

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

Insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables such as your driving record, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual and Utica National calculate prices using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Central Mutual or Utica National 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.